Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox)
Chapter Thirty One: Chasing Shadows
Knox stood in the dimly lit room, his heart pounding in his chest as he desperately hoped that his worst fears hadn't come true. His gaze fixated on JB, lying motionless on the floor, a pool of blood spreading around him. The moonlight streaming through the window cast an eerie glow on the scene, amplifying the sense of dread that hung in the air.
With a surge of hope, JB stirred.
Knox's wolf urged him to go after Aria, but against his will, his legs carried him to the wounded wolf's side. Kneeling down beside JB.
"JB, can you hear me?" Knox's said barely audible. JB let out a weak sigh, a mere breath escaping his lips.
"Aria," he whispered, his voice barely reaching Knox's ears, before succumbing to unconsciousness once again.
Lilian walked to the room, her steps urgent and filled with horror. Her face paled at the sight before her, a mixture of fear and concern etched deeply into her features. She turned to Sandra, the oldest healer, seeking answers amidst the chaos.
"What happened?" Lilian's voice trembled with raw emotion.
Sandra sighed, her weary eyes meeting Lilian's gaze. "I do not know. The Alpha from the Nightshade pack brought him in. JB is a strong wolf, and he is healing remarkably fast, despite the severity of his wounds." Her gaze drifted down to JB's battered body, claw marks etched into his flesh, revealing the bones beneath.
A gasp escaped Lilian's lips, her hands flying to cover her mouth in shock. Sensing her distress, Sandra placed a gentle, reassuring hand on Lilian's arm, trying to offer solace amidst the turmoil.
"Do not fear, Luna. He is going to be fine," Sandra said with a voice laced with conviction. "But I will need you to excuse us so we can tend to his wounds."
Lilian's eyes flickered between JB's unconscious form and Sandra's face, her heart torn between concern and the need to trust the healer's words. She opened her mouth to protest, but Sandra's plea stopped her in her tracks.
"Please, Luna. I promise you, he will be fine."
Reluctantly, Lilian nodded, her eyes filled with worry and love. She cast one last glance at JB's still figure before turning to leave the room, a trail of questions and unease following in her wake.
As Lilian emerged from the room, Knox's pacing figure caught her attention. His footsteps echoed in the quiet corridor as he wrestled with his emotions, his wolf urging him to find their missing mate. Lilian approached him, her usual warmth now replaced by a cold, piercing stare.
"What happened to my son?" Her voice was stern, demanding answers.
Knox turned to face her, meeting her gaze with a mixture of guilt and desperation. "I didn't do anything to him, Lilian. I found him in Aria's room."
A flicker of realization crossed Lilian's face. "The Crystal," she breathed, her voice filled with a mixture of dread and understanding.
Knox let out a weary sigh, his shoulders slumping under the weight of the situation. "The powers must be growing within her. I looked into her eyes, and even I was scared."
A wave of empathy washed over Lilian as she grasped the gravity of the situation.
Lilian nodded, her expression heavy with resignation. "I know. Aria would never harm JB intentionally."
Lilian's nod held both acceptance and sadness. "I know. Where is Aria now? Someone should be with her."
The snarl of agreement from Knox's wolf echoed their unspoken truth. He bowed his head, his voice filled with remorse. "She is gone. She ran into the woods."
Lilian's eyes widened, disbelief etched across her face. "And you are still standing here?" Her voice rose in a mixture of shock and urgency. Time was slipping away, and they needed to find Aria before darkness swallowed her whole.
"I needed to explain," Knox attempted to justify, his words faltering under Lilian's piercing gaze.
But before he could finish his explanation, Knox's wolf surged to the surface, overpowering him with a snarl that spoke volumes of its determination. Without hesitation, it propelled him forward, his legs transforming into a blur of motion as he dashed off into the night, chasing after their lost mate.
**************
Sophia stood in front of the mirror, holding up a delicate, lacy top. The fabric shimmered in the sunlight that streamed through the window, and she twirled it in the air, hoping for a sudden inspiration to strike her. "What about this one?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.
Kira, who was perched on the edge of the bed, made a sound at the back of her throat before plastering a smile on her face. "It's beautiful," she replied, trying her best to be supportive. However, her forced expression betrayed her true thoughts. Sophia noticed the discrepancy and gave Kira a questioning look.
"Seriously, Kira, I need you to be serious here," Sophia urged, her voice tinged with frustration. "I have no idea what I'm going to wear for the mating ceremony."
Kira sighed and dropped her gaze for a moment before meeting Sophia's eyes. "Okay, I'm sorry," she apologized sincerely. "I'm just trying to understand how you're getting mated to a wolf you do not like."
Sophia let out a heavy sigh and let the top slip from her fingers. "It doesn't matter," she said, her voice tinged with resignation. "I'm getting mated, and that is the end of it. And I never said I didn't like Mark. He is a really nice wolf."
A flicker of confusion passed over Kira's face. "But when I met you and Shana, you said he was boring," she reminded Sophia gently.
Sophia's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she recalled what happened near the border. "Maybe I was wrong," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Besides, every wolf needs a mate. One day, you're going to understand that. You will find your true mate, or maybe not. But in the end, you wouldn't want to be alone."
A shade of pink crept onto Kira's cheeks as she ducked her head, her voice barely audible. "Uhmmm, Sophia..."
"Please don't tell me you're getting mated too," Sophia interjected, her eyes widening playfully.
Kira laughed nervously, fidgeting with her fingers. "No, nothing like that. Tyler kissed me," she confessed, a shy smile playing on her lips.
A small smile graced Sophia's face as she sat down on the bed next to the teenage wolf. "That's really sweet," she said warmly. "But that is the only first you'll be having for a really long time."
Sophia stared at Kira, hoping she understood the underlying message. Kira nodded shyly, her cheeks flushed. "Yes, of course. I don't think I'm ready for that yet. But I do like Tyler. My wolf likes him too."
"Maybe you'll understand it sooner than I thought," Sophia mused. "I didn't expect this to happen, but it has. Mark and I will have our mating ceremony, and I would really appreciate it if you helped me get ready for it."
Kira's brow furrowed with uncertainty. "But I'm only fourteen. Shouldn't you be asking someone older, like Shana or Melody? I heard Aria left."
Sophia sighed, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I haven't exactly made myself the most likable wolf since I got here, so I'm not sure I have anyone else to ask," she admitted. "Except Nicole, but she's mad at me for not asking her permission to 'get' marked."
"You mean the she-wolf who's always filing her claws and kissing her teeth at everyone?" Kira asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
Sophia nodded, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yes, that's the one. And that me a few weeks ago." she confirmed. "
Kira leaned back against the headboard, contemplating Sophia's words. "And what about Melody and Shana?" she inquired. "Have you asked them for help?"
A cloud of uncertainty crossed Sophia's face as she lowered her gaze. "I haven't actually spoken to Shana since... well, you know," she admitted with a tinge of regret. "And Melody... I don't think she approves. The way she looked at me the day I announced it, I could sense her disapproval."
Shana and Melody stood outside the closed door, engaged in a hushed argument. Their whispers filled with tension and disagreement.
"Come on, Shana, knock on the door," Melody urged, frustration lacing her voice.
Shana crossed her arms and shot a defiant glare at Melody. "Why do I have to do it? You knock on the door," she retorted.
Rolling her eyes, Melody sighed in exasperation. "You're older than me," she countered, hoping to sway the argument in her favor.
Shana's expression hardened, and her gaze intensified. "Stop bringing my age up to win the argument," she snapped. "Just knock! You heard her, she thinks we don't care."
Caught off guard, Sophia's voice rang out from the other side of the door. "Why don't you just come in? I can hear you," she called out, her tone a mix of amusement and exasperation.