Shadows of the pack novel Chapter 44

The wolf in the middle, with piercing eyes and a commanding presence, took a deliberate step closer to Aria. His voice was low and threatening as he warned her to remain silent, emphasizing the swiftness of her impending demise.
Aria's curiosity and defiance compelled her to ask, "Who are you?" She desperately hoped for any shred of information that could give her a glimpse into their motives or identity.
Sensing the tension in the air, Aria's wolf bristled with readiness. Her instincts kicked into high gear, sensing the imminent danger and preparing to defend her human counterpart with every ounce of its being.
The apparent leader of the three standing in the middle, dismissed Aria's question with a dismissive wave of his hand. His response was cryptic and only heightened Aria's confusion and apprehension. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this encounter than met the eye.
Aria's wolf, with a deep connection to their mate, reached out psychically, sending out a desperate call for help. She hoped against hope that her mate, wherever they were, would sense the distress and come to their aid but Aria wasn't so sure. She knew Knox must be tired of the endless drama that accompanied since she joined his pack.
Just as the tension reached its breaking point, the three wolves launched themselves at Aria simultaneously, their primal instincts taking over. Aria's heart raced as the air filled with the sounds of growls, snarls, and the cracking of bones.
Aria's survival instincts kicked in, and she fought back with every ounce of strength she possessed. The odds were against her, but her determination and will to live pushed her beyond her limits.
The ferocious battle between Aria and the three wolves raged on, her room echoing with the sounds of their struggle. Blood, sweat, and adrenaline mixed in the air as each party fought tooth and claw to gain the upper hand.
In a moment of sheer willpower, Aria managed to deliver a decisive blow, incapacitating one of her assailants. The remaining wolves, sensing their own vulnerability, hesitated for a split second, giving Aria a chance to regroup and plan her next move.
Aria's mind raced, her survival instincts kicked into high gear, allowing her to perceive every detail with heightened clarity. She knew she couldn't afford any hesitation. Aria focused on her adversaries, searching for any weaknesses she could exploit.
One of the wolves lunged at her, jaws snapping, but Aria's reflexes kicked in just in time. She sidestepped, narrowly evading the attack, and swiftly countered with a well-placed kick to the wolf's flank. It stumbled, giving her a brief opening.
Her wolf reached out to Knox again but she got nothing. Of course he wouldn't come to her side yet again, and what an absolutely worst time to realize her room was indeed soundproof.
Suddenly the door to her room burst open, Knox wasted no time in shifting into his wolf form and attacking. It didn't take seconds and her mate gained the upper hand. With a single slice of his claws, the first wolf fell to the ground.
Knox's wolf bit into one of the wolf's fur and blood spilled everywhere as he let out a painful howl.
The largest of them, the one that had spoken to her growl facing Knox directly. Without a second more, his wolf lunged at Knox.
At that moment Aria realized why Knox's name was spoken of with fear.
She had refused to see Knox as he was for the longest time but right there, she saw it, she felt it.
Knox was the most powerful Alpha see had ever seen.
Her mate's wolf raised his paw to deliver the final strike but then something caught her eyes on one of the wounded wolf's fur–a mark she had seen on JB and Lilian's shoulder.
"Wait." Aria screamed.
Knox's head turned to her, "Moonlight pack. They are wolves from the Moonlight pack." She panted, still trying to catch her breath.
The wolf lunged at him but Knox's wolf was faster.
He delivered a strike but it wasn't one to kill him.
Time froze as Aria stood staring at her mate's wolf because yes, she knew without a doubt that they were mates.
His wolf titled his head, studying her. She took careful steps towards it.
She stretched out her hand, testing. He moved towards her, giving her silent go ahead.
She gasped as her hand met his fur. It was so soft. She ran her hand through it then her second went to his ear. She gave it a small scratch and he growled in approval.
Aria smiled, "You like that?"
She did it again and he moved closer to her, his fur tickling her skin. Her own wolf pushed, urging her to set her free. She wanted to meet their mate.
Aria glanced back to the three fallen wolves in her room.
Knox wolf growled and surprisedly she understood. His beta would take care of it and almost immediately Ryder stepped into the room.
He surveyed the damage in the room, his eyes glancing from the three injured wolves to Knox's wolf then Aria.
"They attacked me. They are from the Moonlight Pack."
"That must be the only reason Knox kept them alive."
Knox's wolf growled in irritation. He didn't like that their mate was paying someone else so much attention.
Ryder smiled, "I think someone is jealous." causing Knox to growl again.
Her wolf lunged to the surface and so she gave her freedom. They stared at each other, his black fur in contrast to her completely white fur. Her wolf stepped towards their mate's wolf giving it a quick lick, an invitation to play before dashing out of the room.
Knox wolf let out a loud howl that traveled through the pack before giving his mate a chase.
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"Hey", Mark stepped into Sophia's room, his gaze fixed on her as she turned to meet his eyes. Her smile was small, but it conveyed a hint of warmth. "Hey, Mark," she greeted him.
He stood there for a moment, his eyes lingering on her, before finally gathering the courage to voice his concerns. "What's wrong?" Sophia asked, sensing his unease.
"Do you... do you really want to go through with this?" Mark asked hesitantly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Confusion flickered across Sophia's face. "Go through with what?"
"Our mating ceremony," Mark clarified, his tone laden with doubt. "I can't help but feel like you're avoiding me. And when I try to talk to you, it seems like you're always busy or preoccupied."
Startled, Sophia dropped the clothes she had been arranging, her eyes widening. "Why would you think that? Our mating ceremony is tomorrow. I've been preparing for it."
Mark took a step closer, but Sophia instinctively backed away, creating a distance between them. "Please, don't come any closer,"
"Why? This is exactly what I've been feeling. You've been avoiding me for days. I had to introduce myself to your family, and every time I try to talk to you, it feels like you're pushing me away," Mark explained, frustration edging into his voice.
Defensively, Sophia folded her arms, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and hurt. "I am busy, Mark. Can't you see that? I've been preparing for our mating ceremony, trying to make it perfect."
Mark let out a deep sigh, his voice filled with resignation. "I don't think we should go through with it."
"What?" Sophia's voice caught in her throat, disbelief etched across her features.
"You clearly don't want this. Your mother told me you've already found your mate and rejected you." Mark revealed, his words hanging in the air.
Sophia felt a sharp sting at the mention of her rejected mate. "And so?" she retorted, her voice laced with bitterness. "Are you here to do the same? Just reject me and leave? If that's the case, then why don't you get on with it so you can get the hell out of my room?" she snapped.
Mark's expression softened, and he took a step closer, reaching out as if to touch her, but then thought better of it and withdrew his hand. "No, Sophia. I want to be mated to you. I've liked you from the very first day I saw you. I would stutter because I didn't know what to say. I was captivated," he confessed, his voice filled with sincerity.
Sophia's initial anger subsided, replaced by curiosity and a hint of vulnerability. She wanted to speak, but Mark cut her off, "I'm not done talking Sophia."
Her mouth clamped shut and her wolf liked his display of dominance.
"Every time you said those mean things to me, unprovoked, I wanted to hate you, but I just couldn't. And then that night we had sex..." He paused, his voice trembling with remorse. "It was my first time, and I didn't know what to do. I should have acted like I did, and I'm sorry. And then the day in the woods happened..."
A blush crept onto Sophia's cheeks as she recalled the passionate encounter he referred to. "What about it?" she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I marked you on purpose," Mark admitted, his gaze downcast. "My wolf wanted to claim you. But I know it was wrong of me, and I don't want to force you into a bond you don't want."
Sophia's mind raced, trying to process the jumble of emotions flooding through her. The dominance in Mark's demeanor ignited a primal response within her, and her wolf seemed to approve of his display. She clamped her mouth shut, her eyes gleaming with a newfound appreciation for his words.
"Are you done? Can I talk now?"
"I didn't mean to shut you up."
Sophia smiled, "I like it. My wolf likes it too. I hated that you were so weak, unsure of yourself that was why I was always mean plus I was angry at the world and I'm sorry."
Sophia's gaze softened, her anger dissipating further. "My mate rejected me, indirectly, and maybe that's why I agreed to form the bond with you. But now..." She paused, searching for the right words. "I want to give it a try. I'm not entirely sure, but one thing I do know is that I don't want to be alone. And more importantly, my wolf likes you, Mark."
He smiled at her unsurely, "You don't like me?"
Sophia rolled her eyes, "You are very attractive, I like it when you are dominant and I would like you even more when we are mated."
A tentative smile formed on Mark's face, mirroring the flicker of hope in his eyes. "So, you want to proceed with the mating ceremony?"
Sophia's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes scanning the room where preparations were in full swing. "Everyone is so eager, putting in so much effort. Let's not take that away from them," she suggested, her voice tinged with a newfound determination. "And you know what would make me like you even more?"
Mark's curiosity piqued, he leaned in slightly. "What would that be?"
With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Sophia closed the remaining distance between them, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. Mark's surprise quickly gave way to eager reciprocation, and Sophia shifted her position, straddling him.
He grabbed her top, tearing it off her with his hand. His eyes went to his mark and he growled.
Sophia felt it all over her especially in the place where she was aching.
She lowered her lips to his ear, giving it a tiny nip, "Are you going to fuck me yet?"
Without a single word, he changed position, lifted her skirt, tore off her pants and entered her in one hard thrust.
Sophia gasped as he fucked her into the bed, the sheet muffling her moans. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room.
His hand went to her hair pulling it tightly, he fucked her even harder.
"Mark please." She gasped out.
"Please what Sophia? You like the way I fuck you don't you?"
He moved even faster making his point known.
"Yes. I love it."
He slipped out of her then turned her back to the bed and he entered her again.
They stared at each other as he moved slower. He bent his head, capturing her lips in his.
He wasn't fucking her anymore, he was making love to her. He continued moving slowly, his eyes never leaving hers until she felt her orgasm rippling through her. She came crying out his name.
He groaned, finding his release and then collapsed on top of her.
Sophia felt at peace as the hands of sleep carried her away, but not before she heard him whisper the words, "I love you."