Shadows of the pack novel Chapter 76

Tension hung heavy in the air as silence settled between Antonio and Nicholas as they sat quietly in the underground chamber. The silence between them seemed to reverberate with unspoken thoughts and emotions, the echoes of their recent revelations still resonating.
Finally, Antonio broke the quiet, his voice gentle yet firm. "Nicholas, I know you're angry. Your thirst for revenge is understandable, but we had to leave to restrategize."
Nicholas's gaze remained distant, his emotions a tempest within him, but he acknowledged Antonio's words with a nod, his jaw clenched.
Antonio continued, his voice steady. "I understand that you want to avenge your sister, but right now, there's something more pressing. We've discovered the mother of the pup—she holds the key to the prophecy. That pup, Nicholas, is a greater threat than Ryder alone."
Nicholas's fingers tightened into fists, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of fury and conflicted emotions. The rage that had fueled him for years now warred with the realization that there was something even more significant at stake.
Antonio's voice held a rare vulnerability as he spoke, his gaze unwavering. "I know you want your revenge, and you will have it. But right now, we must prioritize. We need to focus on the bigger picture."
Nicholas's silence was heavy, his thoughts a tumultuous storm that raged within him. The desire for revenge burned bright, but Antonio's words were a reminder that their path was no longer a straightforward one.
Antonio's voice softened, a hint of empathy in his tone. "Nicholas, I know you're upset, and you have every right to be."
Nicholas's gaze met Antonio's, his eyes reflecting a swirl of conflicting emotions—anger, grief, determination.
Antonio's voice held a note of reassurance. "We will find a way to bring Ryder to justice, but for now, we must follow the path that fate has set before us."
Nicholas nodded, his understanding clear, but his gaze remained intense and unwavering, like a wolf's stare fixated on its prey.
As the heavy air hung between them, Nicholas finally broke the silence with a question that had been gnawing at him. "So now that we know who the mother of the pup is... what's our plan? Do we eliminate her or wait for the celestial eclipse?""
Antonio's response was measured and thoughtful. "She seems close to giving birth, and we don't know what might happen when the pup is born. It could mean the end for all of us."
Nicholas's mind whirred with the implications. "So, do we ready the hunters and take her out before that happens?"
Antonio's response was swift and firm. "No. She is the mate of the Alpha, and we've heard whispers about wolves marked by the goddess of the moon. She won't be an easy target.
Nicholas's eyes narrowed as a sudden idea sparked in his mind. "What if we kidnap the pup?
Antonio's brows furrowed in surprise, his curiosity piqued. "What?"
Nicholas's voice was strong, his thoughts racing ahead. "If the pup is born before the eclipse, we kidnap it. We can turn it into our weapon. Eliminate the wolves that remain after the eclipse using it. Once we're done, we can kill the pup."
Antonio's surprise morphed into something akin to admiration, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I knew there was a reason I chose you as my right-hand man."
Nicholas smiled, liking the compliment before he continued, "Think about it, Antonio. The pup might hold immense power, given its lineage. We could manipulate that power to our advantage. It could become a weapon that none of those wolves expect."
Antonio's fingers drummed thoughtfully on the edge of the table before him, his mind clearly racing as he processed Nicholas's words. "Kidnapping the pup would certainly be a bold move, but it's not without risks. We'd have to ensure our plan is executed flawlessly, without any chances for failure."
Nicholas nodded, his mind already envisioning the intricate details of the operation. "We'd need to gather information—find out when and where the pup will be born, the circumstances surrounding its birth. We'll have to anticipate every move, every possible outcome."
Antonio's eyes gleamed with a newfound fire, his expression determined. "And once we have the pup, we use it as a tool of destruction. We make them pay for what they've done."
Nicholas's voice was unyielding, his conviction unwavering. "Exactly. We turn their own creation against them. And when the time comes, when our vengeance is complete, we end it."
Antonio's gaze bore into Nicholas's, a shared understanding passing between them. "It won't be an easy path, my friend. But with this plan, we are bound to win."
Nicholas's lips curved into a fierce smile, his eyes reflecting the fire within his soul. "They won't see this coming. We'll use their own weaknesses against them."
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Knox stood by the counter, his attention focused on the pot of simmering gently on the stove.
Aria let out a small laugh behind. He turned around facing her with a mock glare on his face, "What is it now?"
Aria raised her hand in surrender, "Nothing. You just look funny standing in front of the stove."
Knox let out a low growl, "Stop laughing. I'm really trying here."
Aria rolled her eyes, stepping closer to him. She wrapped her hands around his neck. She placed a small kiss on his lips.
"Aria." Knox sighed, "We talked about this. Our pup is on the way. You know I get too rough."
Aria ran her hand down his chest moving to his loose shorts. Her eyes glinted, "I don't quite remember that conversation." Her lips brushed against his ear, she bit down and he let out a groan, "I want you Knox."
His wolf growled as the scent of her arousal surrounded him.
His body was already reacting to her touch. His cock throbbed, begging for release. "You're not going to give me a chance to talk are you?" Knox asked, his voice strained.
Aria's fingers curled into his hair, pulling him closer. "No," she whispered before kissing him hard. Her tongue pushed inside his mouth, dueling with his own. He groaned at her taste, his cock twitching.
A clearing of throat had them pulling away from each other. Knox's lips curled into a low growl, his wolfish irritation evident in the tension of his muscles.
Aria stepped away from him, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Her voice was laced with amusement, a touch of smugness evident as she communicated with him through their bond, "You should probably take care of that."
Knox's eyes narrowed, his growl directed at her, a mixture of irritation and desire coursing through their mating bond. He could practically hear the smile in her voice, a testament to how well she knew the effect she had on him. Aria's laughter bubbled forth as she turned away, her attention now on her sister.
Seraphina had been watching the scene unfold with a mix of curiosity and amusement. As Aria approached her, she raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, that was an interesting moment."
Aria's smile was impish as she leaned in to whisper to Seraphina, their voices too low for Knox to hear, "A moment you just interrupted."
Seraphina rolled her eyes, "We are in the kitchen. Satisfy your wolves someplace else. A she wolf would really love to eat without thinking of the nasty stuff."
Aria let out a small laugh as she playfully nudged her sister.
Just as the tension between Knox and Aria seemed to be fading, the atmosphere shifted once again as Rebecca entered the kitchen. The lightness that had momentarily filled the room seemed to evaporate, replaced by an undercurrent of unease and unresolved emotions
The air grew heavy with unspoken words as the four of them stood. Knox's glare was like a tangible force, directed at Rebecca. Seraphina shifted uncomfortably, her gaze darting between the two of them as if caught in the crossfire of their animosity. Rebecca's eyes avoided Knox's, her own discomfort palpable as she shifted her attention to other corners of the room. Aria eyes glanced around and despite the uncomfortable situation, she felt a laugh bubbling inside her.
Suddenly, Shana burst into the kitchen with Jackson following closely behind. Shana's eyes immediately sought out Knox, her expression a mix of urgency and concern. She opened her mouth to speak, "Knox there is something I need yo talk to you about. It's urgent and-"
Her words halted as a new scent caught her attention.
Her gaze locked onto Rebecca as she shifted get gaze, her eyes hardening with an intensity that was hard to ignore, "What the hell is this bitch doing here?"