Shadows of the pack novel Chapter 42

"Did you get across to Knox? Aria, I'm talking to you."
Aria blinked, her gaze shifting from Shana to Sophia. She hesitated for a moment before responding, "I think I did. I mean, yes, I reached him psychically."
Melody, unable to contain her anxiety, paced back and forth in the room. "Shit, shit, shit," she muttered under her breath, her movements mirroring the racing thoughts in her mind.
"Melody, please stop pacing," snapped Sophia, her frustration evident. "You're not helping matters, and you're making us all nervous."
Melody's eyes narrowed, her agitation growing. "There's a dead wolf on the floor near my feet, and Shana's pulse is weakening by the moment. I'll pace if I damn well please."
Feeling the tension escalating, Aria interjected, pleading with them, "Please, both of you, stop. We need to focus. Shana just stirred."
In an instant, both Melody and Shana rushed to Shana's side, their concern overriding their previous argument. The room fell silent as they anxiously monitored her condition.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the room, causing the air to shift. Knox strode in, his expression determined, with Ryder and Jacob following closely behind him. His gaze moved from the lifeless wolf on the ground to the three she-wolves surrounding Shana's still body.
His voice carried a stern edge. "I expect an explanation as to why the four of you left the pack grounds in the first place, and it had better be a damn good one."
Turning to his Beta and Gamma, Knox instructed, "Take care of the body." He then knelt down beside Shana, his hands enveloping her body as he lifted her off the ground. "Let's go."
Without hesitation, they followed Knox out of the room, leaving Aria to steal a glance at the motionless wolf on the floor. Doubts began to creep into her mind, and she contemplated Lucas's words—maybe there was no hope for her, and embracing the darkness was the only way out.
"Aria," Knox's firm voice broke her train of thought, urging her to move.
The car ride back to the pack grounds was engulfed in an eerie silence. The others had shifted into their wolf forms to make their way home, leaving only Knox, Aria, and an unconscious Shana in the car.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," Aria finally whispered, her voice filled with remorse. "I didn't even know—"
Knox interrupted her, his tone commanding. "Aria, I know. But you shouldn't have left the pack grounds in the first place. Why can't the four of you just listen?"
Her voice barely audible, Aria apologized, her gaze fixed on her fidgeting fingers. Shana stirred again, her body showing signs of unrest.
"Do you think she's going to be alright?" Aria asked, concern etched across her face as she peered down at Shana.
Knox sighed heavily, the weight of responsibility evident in his voice. "She'd better be. We need to get that damn necklace off you. We've let it stay there for far too long. When Sophia's family arrives, I don't care if it means postponing the mating ceremony, the witches are getting it off however they want to do it."
Aria's brows furrowed with worry, but before she could protest, Knox asserted himself. "No 'buts,' Aria."
The remainder of the car ride was engulfed in a heavy silence, the weight of their current situation hanging in the air. As they finally reached the pack grounds, Knox was the first to exit the vehicle, carefully carrying Shana in his arms. His gaze locked with Aria's, conveying an unspoken message that made her wolf purr in approval.
He wanted to talk about the mating bond, a topic she wasn't sure she was ready to discuss just yet. With a mix of anticipation and trepidation, Aria followed Knox, knowing that their conversation would hold pivotal significance for their future.
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Sophia's heart raced as she dashed towards Jackson, throwing her hand across him in an exuberant embrace.
 "I missed you too, Sophia," Jackson said, reciprocating the hug with a tight grip. As they held each other, Sophia couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and familiarity, something she didn't realize she needed to feel.
Her eyes scanned the territory, searching for the familiar faces of their parents. "Where are Mum and Dad?" she asked, her voice filled with both anticipation and concern.
Jackson's gaze traveled up and down Sophia's disheveled appearance, his eyebrows knitting together in mild confusion. "The better question is why aren't you putting on any clothes?" he quipped, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
Sighing deeply, Sophia ran her fingers through her tangled hair. "It's a long story," she muttered, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and weariness.
Just then, Sophia's mother, Keena, emerged from the back, her eyes brimming with joy and relief. She enveloped her daughter in a warm embrace, holding her tightly as if trying to make up for lost time. "Sophia, honey," Keena said, her voice filled with love and concern, "Why aren't you dressed?"
That's what I asked." Jackson said.
Sophia huffed, folding her arms and feigning a pout."Quit picking on me." She retorted, her tone tinged with playful annoyance.
Keena's embrace softened, and she gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Sophia's face. "Nobody is picking on you, Sophia," she assured, her eyes filled with motherly tenderness. "Just go put on some clothes, sweetheart. You're blinding me."
Sophia couldn't help but smile at her mother's gentle scolding. Swatting Jackson lightly on the arm, she made him burst into laughter. The sound echoed through the air, filling it with a contagious warmth that eased the lingering tension.
But the laughter died down as their attention turned to the sight of the Alpha of the Nightshade pack approaching, cradling Shana in his strong arms. Knox came to a halt before them, his presence commanding and his wolf sensing the powerful Alpha vibes emanating from the male in front of him.
The air crackled with unspoken tension as Knox and Jackson locked eyes, each assessing the other with guarded curiosity. Sophia couldn't help but feel a mixture of anxiety and anticipation, knowing that this encounter held immense significance for their intertwined fates.
Breaking the silence and diffusing the tension, Sophia spoke up, her voice laced with a touch of nervousness. "Knox, this is my brother Jackson and my mother, Keena," she introduced, her words a bridge between two worlds.
Knox nodded his head, a show of respect for their presence. "Welcome to my territory," he greeted, his tone carrying a sense of authority and strength. "I apologize, but I have to leave unfortunately. I have something urgent to take care of. I trust Lydia is making you feel well settled?"
Keena smiled warmly, her eyes shining with appreciation. "She is the sweetest," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude. Her gaze shifted to Shana, worry etching lines on her forehead. "What happened to her?"
Knox's face tightened, his eyes narrowing as he directed a glare towards Sophia. "Sophia can explain that to you," he responded curtly, his tone revealing a hint of frustration. "Right now, I need to get her to the healers."
Jackson, who had been quietly observing the scene, finally spoke up. His voice was calm yet resolute, as he addressed Knox. "I will take her to the witches," he offered, his eyes meeting Knox's in a silent display of understanding. "The witches are known as the best healers. Shana will receive the care she needs with them."
Knox stared at Jackson, his expression inscrutable. After a moment of silence, he sighed, reluctantly conceding. "The witch—the one who gave Aria the ring, is she here?" he inquired, his voice laced with a mix of urgency and concern.
Keena nodded, her gaze locked with Knox's. "Yes," she confirmed, her voice steady. "She is here."
"I need to speak with her," Knox declared firmly, his tone brooking no argument. "I will take Shana to the witches myself."
Jackson nodded, acknowledging the Alpha's authority and the importance of his request. "Understood," he replied, his voice tinged with respect. "They will make sure Shana receives the best care possible."
As the conversation unfolded, Sophia couldn't help but interject, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Why don't we all go to the witches?" she suggested, her eyes scanning, "And where is Aria?"
Knox's gaze flickered to Sophia, a mixture of annoyance and irritation in his eyes. "Aria is in her room," he answered,. "That's where she should have been in the first place."
He didn't say it but his eyes told her.
"Where you should have all been in the first place."
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A gentle breeze swept through the clearing, causing strands of Sophia's hair to dance in the air. She closed her eyes, relishing the sensation of the wind against her skin, and let out a deep breath. In that moment, she allowed herself to simply be, to embrace the present and the emotions swirling within her.
Keena, sensing her daughter's need for a moment of stillness, took a seat beside Sophia. They sat side by side, the connection between them unspoken yet palpable. The silence enveloped them, offering solace in its embrace.
After a while, Keena broke the tranquility with a gentle yet probing question. "Are you going to tell me the real reason you're agreeing to be mated? And don't tell me it's solely because you feel a connection to him," she said, her voice laced with concern and maternal intuition.
Sophia's breath caught in her throat, the weight of her thoughts heavy upon her. "He took one look at me and decided he didn't want me," she confessed, her voice tinged with a mixture of sadness and confusion. "The worst part is, I don't even know why. Maybe I'll never be good enough, but at least I won't be alone."
Keena's heart ached for her daughter, her arms instinctively wrapping around Sophia in a comforting embrace. "I'm so sorry you have to go through this, my love," she murmured, her voice filled with compassion. "But honey, mating bonds are for life. You can't choose to be mated to a wolf you don't feel anything for."
Sophia let out a sigh, her voice wavering slightly. "I know, Mum. But maybe... maybe I could," she said, her words laced with uncertainty. "I mean, Mark is sweet, and I already bear his mark. It almost feels fated."
Keena's gaze shifted upward, her eyes searching the vast expanse of the sky. "Sometimes," she began, her voice soft and introspective, "I try to understand the moon goddess, to see the reasons why she allows certain things to happen. But she remains a puzzle I'll never be able to fully piece together."
Sophia's expression mirrored her mother's contemplation as she nodded slowly. "I feel it, Mum," she admitted, a hint of resolution seeping into her voice. "Even though the circumstances aren't what I would have hoped for, getting mated to him just... it feels right. That's why I agreed to it so quickly."
Keena offered a supportive nod, her eyes filled with understanding. "If that's what your heart truly wants, then follow it, my dear," she encouraged, her voice filled with unwavering love. "But now, I need you to tell me all about that unconscious wolf."
Sophia's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with innocence, though a glimmer of apprehension danced in her eyes.
"I felt the shift in your brother," Keena revealed, her smile holding a mix of amusement and knowing. "So tell me about it."
Sophia attempted to feign ignorance, a playful smirk on her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about," she deflected, though her mother's penetrating gaze made it clear that her charade was futile. "Jackson and Shana only met once."
Keena shook her head, a gentle smile still playing on her lips. "Oh, my dear, I can see the lie written all over your face," she said, her tone filled with warmth. "And even if I couldn't, your brother's pacing outside her room, despite Elizabeth assuring him that she would be fine, says everything."
Sophia's facade crumbled, replaced by a mix of surprise and resignation. "Well, I don't really know what it is," she confessed, her voice tinged with curiosity. "But Shana told me she feels a connection."
Keena's eyes widened, the realization dawning upon her. "They're mates?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.
Sophia shook her head, her expression solemn. "No, Shana found her mate a long time ago, and things didn't quite end well," she explained, her voice carrying a touch of sadness.
Keena nodded, "But if there's even a possibility—"
Sophia interrupted her mother, a flicker of caution in her eyes. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," she interjected gently, "Let's allow fate to unfold as it's meant to. Now come on, we have a mating ceremony to get ready for."