Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox)

Chapter Twenty Two: A Bloody Encounter

The four wolves moved through the dense woods, weaving between the towering trees. Aria and

Shana led the way while Sophia and Melody trailed behind, their steps hesitant.

The silence enveloped them. Melody, unable to bear the quiet any longer, finally spoke up as she

addressed Sophia, "How do you do it?"

Sophia paused, surprised by the sudden initiation of conversation, before continuing to walk. "Do

what?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Melody let out a breath, "Not care about what anyone thinks of you."

Sophia's lips curled into a slight smile, but her eyes betrayed a depth of emotions. "Who says I don't

care?" she responded, her voice carrying a tinge of weariness.

"It just seems that way," Melody pressed on. "When you and Knox started sleeping together, there were

a lot of whispers around the pack. Some said things right in front of you, but they never seemed to faze

you."

Sophia's smile faded, and she let out a deep breath before sharing her thoughts. "Or maybe I just got

really good at pretending like they didn't." she confessed, her voice holding a touch of resignation.

"You want to know the real reason I left my pack?" Sophia asked.

Curiosity piqued, Melody nodded, her expression encouraging Sophia to continue.

"I got rejected," Sophia revealed, her words laced with a bitter edge. Melody's eyebrows furrowed in

surprise and concern."What?" Melody exclaimed, struggling to comprehend Sophia's revelation.

"Yes," Sophia confirmed. "There was this new wolf that just came into the pack. The first time I saw

him, I knew. He felt it too. Andrew took one look at me and turned away. I tried to talk to him, but he

never said a single word. And a year later, he was mated to another wolf. Well, maybe he didn't open

his mouth and say the words 'I reject you,' but I guess it was pretty obvious, right?" Sophia's laughter

held a tinge of bitterness, tinged with the pain of rejection.

Melody's voice quivered with sympathy, "I'm really sorry, Sophia."

Tears glistened in Sophia's eyes as she wiped away an escaped teardrop from her cheek. "You want to

know the worst part? I don't even know what I did. I mean, I don't understand why he would take one

look at me and decide that he didn't want me. I tried. I really tried to act like it was okay, and I got really

good at pretending like it was. Then I heard about Knox and how he took in wolves that wanted to

escape their past, so I packed a bag and came here. I was so angry. I am still so angry and bitter. I let

myself become this hateful person."

Her voice heavy with a mix of pain and regret, Sophia continued, "Then I thought if I could become

Knox's Luna, then I could finally show him that I was good enough. But I'm guessing you know how that

worked out. They even have a pup together now. I don't want to be this angry, but I just can't help it. So

no, I don't know how to not care about what people think, but I have just gotten really good at

pretending that I don't," Sophia confessed, her voice resignation.

"I'm really sorry, Sophia," she repeated, her voice filled with sincerity.

"Thank you," Sophia responded, her gratitude laced with a touch of sadness. Feeling a desire to offer

guidance, she looked directly into Melody's eyes and spoke from the depths of her own experiences.

"Can I give you a piece of advice?"

Melody nodded.

"Don't become like me," Sophia urged, her voice carrying a weight of caution. "Don't let the pain and

bitterness consume you. I allowed myself to become defined by rejection and anger, and it changed

me. It's a heavy burden to bear, and it can lead you down a path you never intended to walk."

Melody's gaze held a mixture of understanding and determination. "I hear you, Sophia." And I

Sophia's eyes softened as she observed Melody's earnestness. A small smile tugged at the corners of

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As their conversation reached a moment of quiet reflection, Shana, who had been leading the group,

turned her head and noticed the intimate exchange happening between Sophia and Melody. She raised

an eyebrow and remarked to Aria, "Those two seem to be having a heart-to-heart back there."

Aria hummed in response, her attention seemingly elsewhere. "Hmm, hmm," she acknowledged

absentmindedly.

Shana folded her hands, looking slightly offended. "You didn't even look back," she said, her voice filled

with playful accusation.

Aria's gaze remained fixed on the path ahead, her thoughts evidently preoccupied. "I can see them,"

she replied cryptically.

Confusion etched across Shana's face. "How?" she inquired, genuinely curious.

Aria let out a sigh, her frustration evident. "Fine. I'm sorry. I'm just a little distracted," she confessed, her

voice tinged with a touch of exasperation.

Concern flickered in Shana's eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice softening.

"My wolf is irritating me," Aria admitted, her frustration palpable. She clenched her jaw as her wolf

growled at her in annoyance, an internal struggle playing out within her.

Shana's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand how you can have such a strong connection to

your wolf and not be able to shift."

Aria's footsteps halted abruptly, her eyes flashing with her wolf, "I don't understand why you can't mind

your business."

Caught off guard by Aria's sudden intensity, Shana took a step back, her eyes widening in surprise. "I...

I didn't mean to intrude."

Aria's features softened, her shoulders slumping as she let out a deep sigh. "Shit. I'm so sorry, Shana,"

she murmured, her voice laced with genuine remorse. "I don't know what is wrong with me. It's just...

it's getting harder to control."

Shana's eyes flickered to the delicate necklace hanging around her neck.

Aria let out a deep sigh. "Mathias really killed a whole pack and wasn't aware of what he was doing?"

Shana nodded sadly.

"I'm really scared, Shana. I think it's getting worse. The whispers in my head are getting louder. What if

it hadn't been squirrels? What if they had been actual wolves?"

Shana pulled Aria in for a hug. She rubbed circles on her back, "We will figure it out Aria. I promise you

even if it means that I have to go back to Sophia's pack."

As if summoned by their conversation, Sophia and Melody finally caught up with them. Sophia's eyes

darted between Aria and Shana, "What's going on?" she inquired, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity

and concern.

Shana shrugged, still holding Aria close. "We were just having our own heart-to-heart," she replied.

Aria wiped away the remnants of tears and pulled away from the embrace, her expression resolute.

"We should keep moving," she suggested, her voice steady. Her gaze shifted to Shana, "You don't

need to go back to Sophia's pack. The witches said they would send word. So we will wait."

Sophia's lips curved into a gentle smile, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Oh, I don't think that is the only

reason she is offering," she chimed in, her voice teasing.

Shana shot her a glare, "Don't start," she warned playfully.

Melody, who had been observing the exchange with growing curiosity, couldn't contain her confusion

any longer. "I don't understand. What is going on?" she asked.

Aria, now fully present and more composed, met Melody's gaze. "I would really like to know too," she

chimed in, her voice tinged with a hint of curiosity.

Shana's glare held its ground, but Sophia rolled her eyes playfully. "I'm not scared of you, Shana," she

stated firmly, her voice laced with unwavering confidence. "And I'm definitely not Jamie."

Aria burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the trees and reverberating with warmth. "I can't

believe you sent her to her room, Shana," she managed to say between fits of giggles. "Who does

that?"

Shana's smile widened, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "She was being so annoying," she defended

herself, her voice filled with amusement. "We had hardly even taken three steps into the woods, and

she was already shaking like a leaf. I know Knox would kick us out of the pack if he finds out, but

still..She didn't have to be like Oh Knox is going to kill us. Oh Knox is so high and mighty. Oh Knoxy

Knox."

The laughter spread contagiously among the she-wolves, momentarily lifting the weight of their worries

and burdens.

Sophia, wiping away a tear of laughter from the corner of her eye, spoke amidst the fading giggles. "We

are going to be in a lot of trouble for this," she predicted, her voice carrying a blend of mischievousness

and amusement.

"Well we can't be as much trouble as Melody already is in."

Melody's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Shana.

"Finally, the glare is back. I've missed it," Shana teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. A small smile

tugged at the corners of her lips as she continued, "The somber look was becoming really tiring."

Unable to resist Shana's playful banter, Melody grinned back, "You are the absolute worst Shana."

"Tsk Tsk. You know you love me," Shana retorted, her voice laced with amusement.

Turning her attention to Sophia, Melody couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "Come on, spill the

beans. What's the story?"

Sophia chuckled, eager to tell. "Well... Shana here happens to have a crush on my brother."

Aria and Melody exchanged surprised glances. "You have a brother?" they asked in unison, their

voices filled with genuine astonishment.

Sophia raised an eyebrow, amused by their reaction. "Yes, I do. Why do you both sound so surprised?"

Aria, always quick with her words, couldn't help but add a playful jab. "Well, you happen to have the

bitchy attitude of an only child, so it's hard to imagine you having any familial connections."

Sophia feigned offense, placing a hand over her heart. "Since I was really mean to you when you got

here, I'll let that one slide," she said, her voice tinged with mock generosity. "But yes, I have a brother.

His name is Jackson, and he's the Alpha of my pack."

The revelation left Aria and Melody momentarily speechless. "Your brother is the Alpha?" they asked

again in disbelief.

Sophia sighed, a playful frown gracing her features. "This is becoming old," she remarked, rolling her

eyes in jest. "Yes, he is. And our lovely friend here has a giant crush on him."

Shana blushed, her attempts at denial falling short. "No, I don't!" she protested, folding her arms

defensively. "I don't even know him. I only spoke to him for like three seconds" But the blush reddening

of her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.

Sophia smirked, clearly enjoying the situation. "If you say so, Shana," she remarked, her tone dripping

with sarcasm. "But that blush says something else entirely."

With a dismissive wave of her hand, Shana retorted, "Whatever. I'm too old for this," before turning and

stomping away. The other she-wolves followed behind, their laughter echoing through the woods.

But their laughter was abruptly interrupted as Shana abruptly came to a halt. Aria collided with Shana's

back. "Shana! Why did you stop?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Shana stood frozen in place, her gaze fixed on something ahead. Sensing her tension, Melody's eyes

widened . "Is that...?" she began, her voice trailing off as she followed Shana's gaze.

The other wolves turned their focus to what she was looking at.

Sophia's eyes went round, "Is that someone's hand?"

Suddenly a massive wolf covered in blood emerged, staring viciously at them.Its fur was matted with

blood, and its eyes gleamed with a menacing glint. It stared at them with an intensity that sent a chill

down their spines.

Instinctively, Shana, Melody, and Sophia shifted into their wolf forms, their bodies transforming ready to

fight. The bloodied wolf let out a snarl, its gaze fixated on Aria. The wolf studied her for a moment and

then, in a swift motion, it shifted back into its human form, revealing a man covered in blood and dirt.

Aria's gasp escaped her lips, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Dad?"