Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox)

Chapter Thirty Eight: The Whispering Woods

Lilian anxiously paced outside the closed door, her heart pounding with anticipation. The room seemed

to grow smaller with each passing second, suffocating her with worry. She had been waiting for what

felt like an eternity, her mind filled with thoughts of the healer's verdict. She knew, deep down, that

there was nothing more that could be done, but the glimmer of hope clung stubbornly to her heart.

Finally, the door creaked open, and the healer emerged, wearing a solemn expression on her face.

Lilian's heart sank at the sight, as if the weight of her fears had materialized before her. She didn't need

to ask; the healer's countenance spoke volumes. There was nothing that could be done to restore her

son's wolf.

The healer bowed her head, her voice laced with regret. "I'm truly sorry, Luna, but there is nothing more

I can do. I've heard stories of latent wolves and some whose wolves are asleep, but I have never

encountered a case where a wolf is lost."

Lilian's mind raced, desperately searching for a glimmer of hope. She took a deep breath, attempting to

compose herself before speaking. "Is there anyone else you could consult? Another healer, perhaps?"

The healer's expression turned skeptical, a mix of caution and doubt.

"Clara, please," Lilian pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation. "I cannot bring myself to accept that

my son's wolf is gone forever. There must be someone else we can turn to."

After a moment of contemplation, the healer sighed. "There is one healer—an ancient one. But seeking

her assistance always comes at a price. If anyone would know the truth about JB's wolf, it would be

her. However, she resides deep within the Whispering Woods."

Lilian's body stiffened, her eyes widening in disbelief. "The Whispering Woods? But no one has ever

ventured in there and returned. I cannot bear to ask any of our wolves to face such danger in search of

answers."

The healer nodded in understanding, a mixture of sympathy and trepidation in her eyes.

"You won't have to." Lilian and the healer turned their attention to the doorway, where JB stood, his

expression resolute. He leaned against the frame, edging his body against it.

Lilian's voice trembled as she addressed her son, her worry overpowering her attempts at composure.

"You can't possibly be considering entering those—"

"I'm going into the Whispering Woods myself." JB completed.

Lilian paced anxiously round the waiting on her mate. Bones cracked behind her. Lilian didn't let him

fully compose herself before she stroked, "You can't possibly be thinking of letting him go in there."

Randy let out a weary sigh as he dressed himself nearby. "JB is a grown man, Lilian," he said, his voice

tinged with resignation. "A trained sentinel. You know as well as I do that once he sets his mind to

something, there's no stopping him."

"But he's your son. Make him listen to you." Lilian protested, her voice cracking with emotion.

Randy paused, frustration etched on his face. He ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture of

exasperation. "And he's your son too," he snapped, his words sharper than intended. Realizing his

outburst, he immediately softened his tone. "I'm sorry, Lilian. I didn't mean to snap at you. But you know

JB—once he has a purpose, there's no turning him back."

Lilian flinched, taking a step back, wounded by his words. Her eyes welled up with tears, but she fought

to hold them back. "Randy," she whispered, her voice trembling with hurt. "I just... I can't bear the

thought of losing our son. What if he–"

Randy's heart softened as he witnessed the pain etched across Lilian's face. He reached out and

gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist. "I understand your fears, my love," he

murmured, his voice filled with empathy. "But we need to have a little faith in JB. This is something he

feels compelled to do, and if there's a chance that the healer holds answers or a solution to bring back

his wolf, he needs to pursue it."

Tears welled in Lilian's eyes, shimmering like liquid crystals. She nestled her face against Randy's

chest, seeking solace in his familiar warmth. "But what if it's all just a wild goose chase?" she

whispered, her voice laced with vulnerability. "What if our son ventures into those treacherous woods

and never returns to us?"

Randy held her tighter, his embrace providing a shield against the onslaught of doubt and fear. "We

cannot let ourselves drown in the depths of 'what ifs,' my love," he said, his voice tinged with

determination. "JB is strong, resilient, and resourceful. He is our son, and he carries our spirit within

him. We must believe in his ability to navigate the unknown."

A tremor passed through Lilian's body as she took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to find the strength

to hold onto hope. She lifted her gaze to meet Randy's, her eyes searching his face for reassurance. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"What if he never returns?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Randy's expression softened, his eyes filled with a mixture of love and unwavering faith. "He will return,

Lilian. He has to."

Aria carefully picked up a dress in a deep shade of sapphire blue, its fabric flowing like water and

adorned with delicate silver embroidery. She held it up to Sophia with a knowing smile.

"I think this one would look really nice on you," Aria suggested.

Sophia took the dress from her friend's hands and surveyed it, her eyes lingering on the intricate

details. Her fingers delicately tracing the intricate patterns woven into the fabric. She stepped closer to

the grand mirror, allowing her reflection to be bathed in the dress's ethereal glow. However, uncertainty

clouded her features, and she sank down onto one of the plush sofas, her brows furrowing in

contemplation.

"I don't know, Aria," Sophia sighed, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Nothing is speaking to me. What

if I'm making a mistake?"

Aria gracefully seated herself on the floor, crossing her legs and leaning in closer to Sophia. Concern

filled her eyes as she asked, "Do you truly feel like you're making a mistake?"

Sophia released a heavy breath, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "I don't know, Aria. Maybe I'm

just desperate for a mate because I was rejected."

Aria's expression softened, realizing the depth of Sophia's pain. "Oh…I didn't know that. I'm really

sorry," she murmured, her voice filled with empathy.

A bittersweet smile graced Sophia's lips. "That doesn't make up for me being a total bitch to you when

we first met. I should have been the one that understood what you were going through the most but I

was just so angry. Angry at him, angry at the world, angry at the moon goddess for seemingly choosing

someone so cruel for me."

Aria's voice grew softer, laced with vulnerability, as she started. "Julian wasn't always my father's beta.

It was my relationship with Liam that brought him close enough to the family for my father to choose

him."

Aria's fingers instinctively touched the delicate necklace adorning her neck, her mother's necklace. Her

eyes reflected a mix of sadness and understanding. "Sometimes I think if I hadn't fallen in love with

Liam, all of this would have never happened. Julian would have never had a taste of power to fuel his

ambitions."

Curiosity tinged Sophia's voice as she asked, "Do you still love him?"

Aria's smile held a tinge of melancholy. "You never truly fall out of love with your first love. A part of me

wants to return to the pack just to make sure he is okay, but deep down, I know it's not the right path for

me."

Aria's eyes grew distant, her thoughts wandering. "You know, the most ironic thing, Sophia? Liam

rejected me and chose my sister, who didn't even want him. I can't help but wonder how long she has

been plotting with Julian against my father's back."

"And to think…" Aria's voice trailed off as she took a deep breath, her emotions threatening to

overwhelm her. "To think that there's a possibility that Gabriel might not even be my real father.

Everything in my life went up in flames from the moment Liam rejected me."

Sophia interjected gently, sensing Aria's despair. "I don't think that's what happened."

"What do you mean, Sophia?"

Sophia let out a breath,"I think your rejection,Aria, was the turning point in your story. If you had been

mated to Liam, your path would have been dictated by someone else's choices, plain and simple. But

here you are, every day fighting to write your own story, to shape your own destiny."

The weight of Aria's realization began to lift, replaced by a glimmer of hope. "I never thought about it

like that," she murmured, her voice tinged with newfound strength. "But I'm still scared, Sophia."

Her fingers instinctively grasped the Crystal necklace adorning her neck, her fingers yanking at it

"Before, I used to hear them—the voices in my mind—when my mark wasn't fully blackened. They

pushed me, urged me to kill for blood. But now, everything is so quiet. They're silent, and it's terrifying."

Sophia leaned in, her eyes filled with empathy. "Maybe it's over? Maybe you've found a way to silence

them."

Sophia's words sparked a flicker of hope in Aria's heart, but doubt still lingered. "No, Lucas said it's not

over until I fully embrace the darkness within me. Until there's no more purity for the Crystal to feed on."

Sophia's voice carried a mixture of curiosity and trepidation as Aria mentioned Lucas. "Lucas? The wolf

who returned? The one everyone is scared of?"

Aria nodded solemnly, her gaze filled with a mixture of respect and unease. "Yes, that's him. I don't

think anyone should just be scared of Lucas. They should be petrified. His wolf is unlike anything I've

ever seen."

Sophia's eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "Have you been meeting with him?"

Aria shook her head, her expression serious. "No, he found me after I ran away from the Moonlight

territory. He's marked too, and when his wolf stood before me, I could feel the darkness pouring out of

him, seeping from his very pores. If he ever comes for us, I don't think we will survive."

A shiver ran down Sophia's spine, the weight of the looming danger settling upon her shoulders. "Let's

hope he doesn't," she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of apprehension and determination.

Sophia paused, her thoughts swirling, before a determined smile graced her lips. "Aria, I don't think I

should get mated to Mark. What if—"

Aria interrupted her, refusing to let fear take hold. "What if this is your way of rewriting your own

narrative? The Moon Goddess choosing your mate would have been a story written for you, but here

you are, standing on the precipice of defining your own fate."

Sophia couldn't help but laugh, a spark of newfound confidence shining in her eyes. " Maybe you're

right, Aria but way to flip it around."

Aria rose gracefully from the floor, her resolve mirroring Sophia's. "So…?"

Sophia stood up, a newfound sense of purpose radiating from her. "So I think we had better find the

perfect dress."

Alpha Randy stood tall, his powerful frame exuding an air of authority as he patted his son on the back.

His voice carried a mixture of pride and concern. "Come back home, JB. Your mother and I will be

waiting for you."

JB nodded, his gaze steady and determined. "I will, father. I promise."

Lilian stood at the side, her heart heavy with worry. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill

over. She reached out to touch JB's arm, her touch filled with both love and fear. "You promise you will

come back home. You won't go searching for further answers if you can't find one with the healer?"

JB turned to face Lilian, his eyes filled with unwavering determination. He gently wiped away her tears,

his touch a fleeting comfort amidst the turmoil. "I promise you. I will come back right here, to this very

spot, and accept whatever fate awaits me. But for now, I have to try."

Lilian nodded, her voice filled with a mix of understanding and anxiety. "I know, JB. Just... be careful out

there. The Whispering Woods hold ancient secrets and dangers that few have encountered. I fear what

perils may lurk within its depths."

JB's grip tightened around Lilian's trembling hands, his voice filled with resolve. "I will tread cautiously. I

won't let anything happen to me. I have too much to fight for, too much to return to."

As JB turned away, taking a step towards the unknown depths of the Whispering Woods, a sense of

foreboding settled upon Lilian's shoulders like a heavy cloak. She watched JB's figure vanish amidst

the towering trees, his determination guiding him forward.

Alpha Randy pulled Lilian into his arms, his embrace providing a momentary solace. He held her close,

his voice filled with reassurance. "He is going to be fine, Lilian. JB is strong, just like you. He will find

the answers he seeks and return to us."

Lilian clung to Randy, seeking strength in his embrace. After a few minutes, Randy reluctantly pulled

away, his duty calling him. "I have to meet with a few sentinels, my love. There are matters that require

my attention."

Lilian raised her head to him, curiosity mingling with her worry. "What is the meeting about, Randy? Is

something troubling the pack?"

Randy's expression hardened ever so slightly, a flicker of concern crossing his features. He cupped

Lilian's face gently, his gaze filled with a mix of love and protectiveness. "Nothing you need to worry

about, my love. It's just extra precautions, additional measures to ensure the safety of our pack. We

cannot afford to let any harm befall our loved ones again."

With a final, lingering kiss, Alpha Randy stood tall, his hands clasped behind his back, emanating an air

of command. His sentinels, loyal and vigilant, stood before him, their eyes reflecting a mixture of

respect and apprehension.

One of the sentinels finally spoke, his voice cautious yet tinged with conviction. "Are you sure about

this, Alpha?."

Randy sighed heavily, the weight of his decision etched upon his weary face. He met the sentinel's

gaze with a solemn look. "I wish it weren't so, Richard. But the truth is undeniable. Make it quick and

with precision. Aria is a threat to all of us and she needs to be put down."