Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox)

Chapter One Hundred: Unexpected Support

Tension crackled in the air like electricity as Knox finally snapped out of his surprise and stood up. His

wolf growled low in his chest, irritation radiating from him like a palpable force.

His voice carried a hint of a dangerous edge as he demanded, "How did you get past my sentinels?"

Nicholas held his ground, his hands still raised in surrender. He repeated his plea, his voice

unwavering, "I really don't want any trouble. I just want to help."

Ryder, who had been quiet until now, reached up to touch the scar on his face, his eyes never leaving

Nicholas. He whispered softly, "Why?"

Nicholas turned to face Ryder, his expression heavy with a mixture of emotions. "Because I've hated

you for so long," he admitted, his voice raw with honesty. He looked around the room at the gathered

pack members, his gaze lingering on each face. "I've hated all of you for so long."

Then, his focus returned to Ryder, "I didn't think you would still be alive," Nicholas confessed, his voice

laden with regret. "But when I sat in my room, with the thought that you were dead, I thought I would

feel redeemed, but instead I felt..."

Ryder finished his sentence, understanding the weight of those unspoken words. "Nothing."

Nicholas nodded slowly, his gaze locked with Ryder's, as if a silent understanding passed between

them.

Lydia, unable to contain her anger any longer, stood up, her wolf's growl rumbling through the room like

a thunderclap. "He is the one who tried to kill you," she accused, her eyes blazing with fury, her

protective instincts in full force.

Ryder held up a hand, signaling for Lydia to stop. His gaze remained locked with Nicholas's, a complex

mix of emotions swirling in his eyes.

Aria Nightshade pack, had remained quiet throughout this exchange, her sharp intellect absorbing

every detail. She now spoke, her voice carrying a calm authority, "Who is Malachi, and who are you?"

All eyes turned to Isolde, who had been standing quietly by the entrance.

Nicholas shifted his attention to Isolde, awaiting her response. She took a step forward, her eyes filled

with a deep sense of foreboding. "My name is Isolde, and I am a member of the order," she began, her

voice carrying a weight of responsibility. "It is our job to keep and maintain balance, and I'm afraid that

balance will be disrupted when he is set free."

Aria broke the silence with a hint of confusion in her tone. "I don't understand."

Shana finally spoke, her eyes fixed on Isolde as if seeking confirmation. "Malachi is a werewolf that

was banished many years ago. He brought chaos to the realm. The Order had no choice but to

separate him from his wolf spirit and banish him," she explained, her voice carrying the weight of

history. She looked back at Isolde as if inviting her to continue.

Isolde nodded in agreement. "I'm afraid that he is going to return on the day of the celestial eclipse."

Melody who had been listening intently, spoke up with a trace of hope in her voice, "Isn't there a way

you and your people can stop him, The order?"

Isolde's response was a somber shake of her head. "No," she replied, her eyes filled with the sorrow of

inevitability.

Aria, her protective instincts as a mother kicking in, held her stomach protectively, her gaze narrowing

as she sought more information. "Why will he come for my pup?"

Isolde's response held a sense of profound dread. "I sensed it even from far away. That pup is

powerful. The pup will hold extreme power, the kind of power Malachi will need to reunite with his wolf

spirit. Once that happens..." She trailed off, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the room, "I'm afraid

there will be no stopping him."

The revelation hung in the air like a heavy shroud, casting a pall over the Nightshade pack. Uncertainty

gnawed at them, and Tyler gave voice to their deepest fears. His voice trembled with anxiety as he

uttered the words they all dreaded, "So we are doomed. We are all going to die."

Jamie swatted her brother on the arm. "Don't talk like that," she scolded gently, though her own fears

mirrored his.

The pack house erupted into chaos afterwards. Voices overlapped, questions and concerns flying in a

cacophonous storm of anxiety and dread. Everyone was talking at once, each voice competing to be

heard above the rest.

"Enough," Knox's voice rumbled, his eyes scanning the room, ensuring that his command was heeded.

He turned to Nicholas, the intruder who had disrupted their world, his expression stern and unyielding.

"What are you here to help with?" His voice held a note of suspicion, a skepticism that was well-

founded given the circumstances.

Nicholas sighed, a heavy weight of regret settling upon him. "It was my idea," he began, his voice filled

with remorse. "To kidnap the pup. We were going to use it as a weapon to kill all wolves that the

hunters couldn't reach during the eclipse."

Knox's arms were folded across his chest, his eyes locked onto Nicholas. "And you expect me to

believe that you had a change of mind. Just like that?"

Nicholas shook his head, his gaze sincere, even if it was too late for trust. "I don't expect you to believe

me, but—"

Knox's voice cut through the air, cold and final. "Get out."

Ryder attempted to intervene, his voice carrying a note of sympathy. But Knox shook his head, his

authority unwavering. He wouldn't allow the pack to be put in further danger by trusting an enemy.

Nicholas bowed his head, his expression one of resignation. "Okay," he replied, a sense of acceptance

in his voice, "There are a lot of monsters in this story. I am sorry for thinking all of you were them."

As he turned to leave, the weight of his actions, the lives he had endangered, weighed heavily on him.

But just as he reached the threshold, Knox's voice stopped him.

Nicholas turned around slowly, his eyes meeting Knox's with a mixture of apprehension and hope.

Knox could feel Aria's tug at his heart, urging him to do what he knew was right.

With a heavy sigh, Knox relented, realizing that their situation was dire and they needed all the help

they could get. "What do you have that will be of help to us?"

Nicholas swallowed hard, the gravity of the moment not lost on him. "Information," he replied, his voice

carrying the weight of his knowledge. "I know the hunters' plans, their strategies, and their weaknesses.

I know how they think, and I know how to make sure you have the upper hand."

**************

Knox, Ryder, and Jacob sat in Knox's study, their expressions grave, as they contemplated the weight

of the situation that had unfolded in their pack house. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows

on the walls, mirroring the uncertainty that now loomed over them.

Jacob broke the silence with a question that weighed heavily on his mind. "Do you really think it was a

good idea to let Isolde cast a spell on your pup?" His voice held a note of concern, his eyes focused on

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Knox leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him. His gaze was distant for a moment,

lost in thought. "I don't know her," he admitted, his voice low and thoughtful. "But my wolf... my wolf

feels something about her. It's like a resonance, an instinctual trust." He paused, considering his words

carefully. "I can't explain it, but it feels right."

Ryder nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting the same sense of trust in his alpha's judgment. "I feel

it too," he confessed, his voice steady. "There's something about her, something ancient and powerful."

With the matter of Isolde settled, their conversation shifted to the looming battle, the impending clash

with Malachi, and the hunters who would descend upon them during the celestial eclipse.

Jacob leaned forward, his brows furrowing in concentration. "We need a plan," he stated, his voice firm.

"Nicholas told us about the hunters' strategies, their weaknesses. We need to use that information to

our advantage."

Knox nodded, his alpha instincts guiding his thoughts. "We should gather as much information as we

can, about Malachi, about the hunters, and about their plans. We need to know our enemy inside and

out."

Ryder chimed in, his voice determined. "And we need allies. We can't face this alone." His gaze met

Knox's, a silent understanding passing between them.

Knox's lips formed a determined line. "We'll need to reach out to other packs, form alliances, and build

a network of support. We can't underestimate the threat we're facing."

Ryder voiced what they all knew to be true. "We're going to need a lot of help," he said, his voice

tinged with the weight of their reality.

Knox met Ryder's gaze, his eyes unwavering. "No Ryder, we're going to need everyone's help,"