Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox)

Chapter One Hundred and Five: The Luna's Choice

Lydia and Elara exchanged glances, their expressions a mirror of Aria's turmoil. It was Lydia who finally

spoke, her voice gentle but laced with unease. "Winter, what you're asking is... it's beyond anything

we've ever considered."

Winter's eyes, still locked onto the child in Aria's arms, showed a depth of sorrow and resolve that was

difficult to comprehend. "I know," she replied, her voice laden with the weight of responsibility. "But it's

the only way. The child's power is a beacon, and it will lead the ancient wolf straight to him. The more

he grows, the stronger that pull will become. You've seen what's happening out there. The battles, the

bloodshed. It won't end until the ancient wolf gets what he wants."

Aria's gaze flickered between her child and Winter, torn between her maternal instincts and the dire

reality of the situation. "But how do we even do that? How do we separate the wolf spirit from my son?"

Winter's expression remained somber as she explained, "There are ancient rituals, spells older than

time itself. But they come with risks, Aria. The process is dangerous, and it may not work. It could harm

your son irreparably."

Elara finally spoke up, her voice trembling with emotion. "And if we go through with this, if we separate

the wolf spirit, what happens to it? To the spirit itself?"

Winter's response was somber. "It will dissipate, return to the essence of the moon goddess. It will

cease to exist as a separate entity."

The room fell into an even heavier silence, the weight of their choices bearing down upon them. Aria's

son, nestled in her arms, remained oblivious to the grave conversation unfolding around him. She

couldn't help but think of the future, of what life would be like for him without the presence of a wolf

spirit, without the ancient bond that had defined their kind for generations.

With a heavy heart, she looked at Winter. "We need time to think about this. To discuss it with Knox and

the rest of the pack. It's not a decision to be made lightly."

Winter nodded, her expression sympathetic. "I understand. But time is a luxury we may not have. The

ancient wolf is relentless, and the longer we wait, the more lives will be lost." Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Lydia's voice wavered with uncertainty as she voiced her concerns. "What if we can't get to Knox in

time? What if the battle consumes him?"

Aria's heart constricted at the thought, her eyes reflecting her fear for her mate. "Knox is strong. He'll

hold his ground until we can reach him."

Elara's expression mirrored Lydia's apprehension. "But what if we're wrong? What if the ancient wolf

gets to him before we do? We can't risk losing both of them."

Winter's gaze remained fixed on the child, her thoughts shrouded in a heavy veil of responsibility. "We

must find a way to buy time. To protect the child until we can perform the ritual."

Aria's resolve solidified. "Then let's gather the pack inside. All the she wolves. We'll create a protective

barrier around the child and make our stand here. We'll hold off the ancient wolf and his forces for as

long as it takes."

Lydia and Elara exchanged a resolute glance, their commitment to the pack's survival unwavering.

"We're with you, Aria," Lydia affirmed.

Aria looked down at her son, her heart swelling with love . "We won't let them take you, little one."

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

The battle raged on, the clash between hunters and wolves reaching a fever pitch. Knox, despite the

loss of his ability to shift, fought valiantly to protect his pack. However, as the battle wore on, he grew

fatigued, and a momentary lapse in judgment proved costly.

In a swift and brutal maneuver, Antonio exploited Knox's momentary vulnerability and landed a

punishing blow to his side. Knox staggered, pain lancing through him, and fell to one knee. Antonio,

sensing victory at hand, raised his blade, ready to deliver the final, fatal strike.

But just as the deadly blow was about to descend, a figure blurred into view, intercepting Antonio's

attack. It was Nicholas, his eyes blazing with determination and his own blade raised in defense.

The clash of steel against steel echoed through the battlefield as Nicholas and Antonio engaged in a

fierce duel. The two circled each other, their blades dancing in a deadly waltz.

Antonio's lips curled into a cruel smile as he taunted Nicholas, his words dripping with scorn. "Nicholas,

Nicholas," he sneered. "You always did look weak on the side of the wolves. Abandoning your own kind

for a bunch of beasts. How noble."

Nicholas's expression remained resolute as he parried Antonio's strikes with skill and precision. "I

made a choice, Antonio," he replied, his voice steady. "A choice to stand against senseless bloodshed

and seek a better way."

Antonio's attacks grew more aggressive, his strikes relentless. "A better way, you say?" he mocked.

"Look around you, Nicholas. This is the way of the world. The strong survive, and the weak perish."

Nicholas blocked a particularly vicious strike, his gaze unwavering. "Survival doesn't justify cruelty and

destruction. We can coexist, find a path of peace."

Their blades clashed again and again, sparks flying as the two Alphas dueled with everything they had.

Antonio's taunts continued, his voice a venomous undercurrent in the chaos of battle.

"You always were the idealist, weren't you?" Antonio jeered. "But ideals won't save you now. You're

outnumbered, outmatched. The hunters will win, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Nicholas countered Antonio's strikes with a fiercely "I spent just a few hours with the wolves but it was

enough to know that they won’t give up. Open your eyes, Antonio. You will see that there is no need for

this war. The bad ones might have hurt you and in my case a misunderstanding but you have to stop.”

He finished with a rush of breath.

Antonio raised his sword, his eyes gleaming with so much hate, “They are all monsters.”

Isolde and Malachi continued their fierce battle. Isolde's gaze shifted to the sky, and she noticed a

subtle change. The moon was aligning, and the celestial eclipse that had robbed the wolves of their

shapeshifting abilities was nearing its end.

Malachi, too, observed the shifting sky, his senses heightened by the impending change. He glanced at

Isolde, who wore a subtle smile despite the intensity of their battle. "It's almost over," she whispered,

her voice carrying a note of triumph.

Malachi's wolf growled deep within him, feeding him a surge of energy and resolve. He could feel the

power coursing through his veins, his strength and speed heightened. With newfound determination, he

pressed his attack, redoubling his efforts to overpower Isolde.

Their clash intensified, and the ground beneath them trembled with the ferocity of their battle. Malachi's

strikes grew swifter and more potent, each blow delivered with deadly precision. Isolde fought valiantly,

but the celestial eclipse's end had invigorated Malachi, granting him an edge.

With a final, decisive strike, Malachi managed to break through Isolde's defenses. He disarmed her and

sent her sprawling to the ground.

With a malevolent grin, he ignored Isolde's attempts to stop him and headed directly for the pup.

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

Inside the packhouse, Shana, Melody, Sophia, Seraphina, and several other she-wolves had gathered

around the door, as requested by Aria. Inside the room, Aria cradled the child protectively, her heart

heavy with worry for the ongoing battle outside. Lydia, who stood nearby, closed her eyes, sensing the

return of their wolves as the celestial eclipse neared its end.

As the lunar magic waned, their wolves surged back to the surface, reawakening with renewed strength

and clarity. Lydia's connection with Ryder was reestablished, and through that bond, she could feel his

pain and anguish. Her eyes flickered with concern as she turned to Aria. "They are not winning out

there," she stated, her voice laced with worry. "I can feel his pain, and it's overwhelming."

Winter, who had reentered the room, spoke cryptically. "It is not a battle the wolves were meant to win."

Aria's gaze shifted between her son and the pup. Her heart ached with the weight of the decision she

was about to make. She closed her eyes, trying to reach out to Knox, but all she could sense was his

suffering and the chaos of battle. With one last longing look at her child, she whispered, "Do it."

Winter wasted no time. She stepped forward, her eyes filled with purpose. Chanting ancient words

taught to her by her mother, she began a ritual, her voice carrying a haunting melody that seemed to

resonate with the very essence of the moon goddess's magic.

Just as Winter reached the climax of the spell, the door burst open, and Malachi stormed into the room,

his eyes wide with fury and desperation. Winter's eyes gleamed with determination as she uttered the

final words of the incantation, a moment that coincided with Malachi's desperate shout of "No!"