Shadows of the pack novel Chapter 61

The tension in the air was palpable as the Nightshade pack prepared for the impending battle. Knox stood at the front, his muscles tensed, and his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Ryder and Jacob flanked him, their eyes locked on the dark horizon where Lucas would emerge.
The other Alphas, including Jackson, stood resolute behind Knox, ready to face the malevolent force that threatened their existence. Shana stood next to Jackson, her hand firmly clasped in his, offering silent support. The rest of the pack, both wolves and witches, stood behind their leaders, united in their resolve to protect their home and loved ones.
The forest seemed to hold its breath as they awaited Lucas's arrival. The wind rustled through the leaves, and the air felt charged with energy. Aria's premonition weighed heavily on everyone's minds, knowing that the release of darkness could mean their doom.
As the seconds stretched into minutes, the silence was broken by a low growl from Knox. "Stay alert, everyone. Lucas won't waste any time," he warned, his voice steady but laced with tension.
Just then, a sinister laughter echoed through the trees, sending chills down their spines. The ground trembled, and the ominous shadow from before seemed to deepen, suffocating the once serene landscape.
"Here he comes," Ryder muttered, his claws extracting.
The ground shook beneath their feet as the pounding of paws against the ground echoed through the forest.
Emerging from the shadows, Lucas appeared in his nightmarish form, towering over them like a creature from their darkest fears. His glowing eyes scanned the defiant faces before him, relishing the fear he saw in their expressions.
"I am the Alpha of all Alphas," Lucas's voice boomed, the very ground shaking in response. "And now, I shall claim what is rightfully mine."
Knox stepped forward, his eyes locked with Lucas's malevolent gaze. "You won't destroy us," he declared, his voice firm. "We will fight to protect our pack and everything we hold dear."
The battle began with a deafening roar, both sides charging at each other with primal fury. Knox led the charge, his heart pounding with adrenaline and determination. He shifted into his wolf just before he clashed with Lucas, their strength matched in a brutal dance of claws and fangs.
Ryder and Jacob fought fiercely by Knox's side, their loyalty to their Alpha driving them forward. Spells flew through the air as the witches used their powers to support the wolves in the fight. Elizabeth's voice rang out, channeling her magic to shield her pack and inflict harm upon their formidable enemy.
The forest became a whirlwind of chaos and emotion, with every swing of a weapon, every burst of power, and every cry of pain adding to the intensity of the battle. Fear, anger, and courage intertwined as the combatants faced the darkness that threatened to consume them all.
Jackson fought with a ferocity he hadn't known before. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Shana or his pack to Lucas's malevolence. His heart raced, and a mix of emotions surged within him—fear for his loved ones, anger at the darkness that threatened them, and a deep sense of duty to protect his pack.
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Amidst the chaotic battle outside, inside the pack house, Aria paced back and forth, her anxiety visible in every step. Her eyes darted from person to person, and her mind was filled with worries and questions. "Why wasn't I allowed to join the battle? I am the marked wolf, after all," she thought aloud, frustration tainting her words.
Sarah approached Aria and gently placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Aria, my dear, you have a crucial role to play here. You must protect our pup; he is the future of our pack," she said, her voice soothing but firm.
Jamie interjected, fear evident in her trembling voice, "What if there is no future, Sarah? What if Lucas wins?"
Aria's heart sank at the thought, and her pacing grew more restless. "No, we can't think like that. We must have hope and fight with all our strength," she said, trying to bolster her own spirits as well as those around her.
Sarah nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Aria. We can't lose hope. The pack's strength lies not just in the battle outside but in the support we provide to one another. We must stay strong together," she reassured.
As the battle raged on, emotions inside the pack house ran high. Nicole, usually composed and strong, sat in a corner, admitting her fear with trembling hands and a tear-streaked face. "I'm scared," she confessed softly, feeling vulnerable in the face of such malevolence.
Sophia, who had been distant from Nicole due to recent conflicts, saw her distress and felt a pang of empathy. She moved towards her, casting aside their disagreements for the moment. Sophia wrapped her arms around Nicole in a comforting embrace, offering solace in their shared fear.
Jamie's eyes welled with tears, and she wiped them away with frustration. "I hate this! I hate that he's out there risking his life," she cried, feeling helpless and torn.
Lydia who had been quiet staring out the window feeling each painful strike against her mate finally spoke, "They are losing."
As Lydia's words hung in the air everyone in the house turned to look at her, their expressions a mix of concern and fear.
Keena closed her eyes, her features etched with worry. "I feel it too," she said softly. "I can sense his weakening presence, and it's tearing me apart. I shouldn't have let him fight. He is too old for this."
Sophia released Nicole before stepping towards her mother. She wrapped her hands around her, tears already streaking down her own face, "They are going to be fine. They have to be." The last part she said more to herself.
Sarah stepped forward, her eyes filled with both sorrow and determination. "We knew this battle would be intense and dangerous," she said. "But we also knew that standing together was the only way to protect our pack and everything we hold dear. We must have faith in our loved ones and their abilities."
Nicole looked up at her mother with tear-filled eyes. "I've never been so scared in my life," she admitted. "I don't want to die."
Sarah went to her daughter, wrapping her arms around her in a gesture of comfort and solidarity. "We are all feeling the weight of this battle," Sarah said, her voice steady despite the concern in her eyes. "But no one is dying today."
As the sounds of battle continued to echo outside, the emotions inside the pack house intensified. The minutes felt like hours, and every second that passed without news from the battlefield only deepened their worry.
Aria paced again, her mind swirling with thoughts of Knox. Unlike the other wolves in the room who were mated, Knox wasn't letting her feel his pain and she hated it.
 Memories of their time together flooded her thoughts—the laughter, the love, the moments they had shared.
Suddenly something registered in her head. She glanced around. "Seraphina. Has anyone seen my sister?"
Seraphina unlocked Nikolai's cell, "Hurry the battle has started already. We need to move quickly."
Nikolai gave her a glare, "Don't tell be what you do. You weren't the one locked in a cell for over a month. I will move as fast as I deem fit."
Seraphina hissed, "Don't start with me Nikolai. Now is not the time. Lucas has unleashed his darkness and Knox is losing."
 "Where's Julian?" he asked.
Seraphina's face tightened with determination, "Julian is on the battlefield, waiting for the perfect time to strike. We can't afford to waste any more time. If he needs our help, we must be ready."
Outside, the battlefield was a whirlwind of chaos and destruction. The Moonlight pack fought with every ounce of strength they had, but Lucas's malevolence seemed unyielding.
 Aria's heart pounded in her chest, filled with worry and frustration. She closed her eyes, attempting to reach out to Knox through their bond. She wanted to lend him some of her strength, to reassure him that she was there for him, but he seemed to be blocking her out. Her connection with him felt like a wall of resistance, leaving her feeling even more anxious.
Melody approached Aria, her concern evident in her expression. "What do you think you are doing?" she asked, her voice laced with worry as Aria stood up.
Aria turned to face Melody, defiance shining through her eyes. "I can't sit back and wait any longer," she said, her voice determined. "Shana is out there fighting, so why can't I be?"
Melody stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm. "Shana has been trained to fight," she explained. "You have incredible strength, but going out there without proper training and being pregnant... it's too risky."
Aria's eyes flashed, and she struggled to hold back her wolf. "I can't just stand here and do nothing," she said, frustration evident in her tone. "I have the power to help Knox, to support our pack. Why won't you let me?"
Melody exchanged a glance with Lydia, who had stepped forward to join them. "Aria, we understand your feelings, but you need to think of the pup," Lydia said gently, placing a comforting hand on Aria's shoulder. "You are carrying the future of our pack. We can't put that at risk."
Aria's eyes welled with tears as she wrestled with her emotions. She knew they were right, that she had to consider the safety of her unborn child. But the thought of being away from Knox, unable to help him in his time of need, was agonizing.
As emotions swirled inside her, Aria's wolf stirred within, longing to be by Knox's side, to protect and support him. She felt torn between her duty as a mother and her responsibility as a member of the pack.
Melody's voice softened, and she reached out to hold Aria's hands. "We all want to protect the pack and those we love," she said. "But we also have to make sacrifices for their well-being. Your strength is vital, Aria, but it can be used in different ways right now."
Aria took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She knew deep down that Melody and Lydia were right, that she couldn't risk her child's safety. But the desire to be with Knox, to share in the battle, was overwhelming.
"I understand," Aria said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it hurts. I feel so helpless just waiting here."
Melody pulled her into a comforting embrace. "We are all in this together," she said softly. "Your love and support for Knox are felt, even if you can't be there physically. We will keep him in our thoughts, and we will fight for him and the pack."
Suddenly Aria pulled away feeling a sharp pain at her side.
"Are you okay?" Melody asked as she tried to steady herself.
"Yes. I just—" The pain cut through again and she let out a loud scream, "Knox!!!" The pain seemed to radiate from the very core of her being.
Her scream sent a powerful wave of energy through the room, knocking Melody and Lydia off their feet, creating a gust of force that rattled the surroundings. Aria's eyes widened in shock as she realized the strength of her outburst, but her focus remained on one thing—getting to her mate.
Ignoring the pain and the concerned calls of her pack members, Aria ran outside with an urgency that eclipsed everything else. Her instincts were driving her forward, the bond she shared with Knox pulling her like a magnetic force. She couldn't bear the thought of him in pain or in danger.
As she emerged into the chaos of the battlefield, her eyes darted around, searching for any sign of Knox. The ground shook with the intensity of the fight, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and magic. The sounds of clashing claws and fierce roars filled her ears.
Aria's heart pounded in her chest, fear and determination warring within her. She pushed forward, her wolf guiding her steps as she navigated through the battleground. Her vision blurred with tears, and she called out for Knox, hoping he could hear her voice over the noise of battle.
"Knox, Where are you?" she cried, her voice carrying a mix of desperation and love.
Her senses honed in on a familiar presence not too far away. She could feel his strength, his essence, but it was laced with pain and exhaustion. Her instincts led her closer to the source, and she soon caught sight of him, locked in combat with Lucas.
Knox's wolf once sleek fur was now matted with dirt and blood, his eyes a fierce mixture of determination and weariness. He fought valiantly, but it was evident that the battle was taking a toll on him.
Seeing Knox in such a state only fueled Aria's resolve. Without a second thought, she leaped into the fray, her instincts propelling her forward.
At that moment Lucas sent out a wave of energy aiming for Knox.
Aria jumped in front of Knox's wolf. She heard Knox's loud howl of pain just before the blast hit her and her world went black.