Chapter Seventeen: The Bond of Family


    The witch stood up with a smile.


    Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Elizabeth." She nodded at the other witches to give her a chance to pass. She walked directly in


    Shana''s direction.


    "Judging by the look on your face, you were alive during the time my ancestor made the Crystal?"


    Shana nodded.


    Elizabeth continued, "The story about how it came to be was twisted in my bloodline. Something had


    always felt off about it. So I read many old books and did more research. I guess there was a reason


    the moon goddess pushed me to. It was said that the Crystal was created to keep the bearers of the


    mark in check but I don''t think anything created to corrupt should have been created in the first ce."


    "The Alpha did not really give me much details. Your friend? The marked wolf, how long has she been


    wearing it?"


    "For a day now."


    Elizabeth nodded, "That''s good. She still has a little bit more time. I haven''t found a permanent solution


    but I won''t stop until I get it."


    She turned to one of the other witches in the room who all sat quietly, listening.


    One of them stepped forward, handing something over to her in return she gave it to Shana.


    "Have your friend wear this. It won''t stop the darkness from growing. But it will give her a much longer


    time before it consumes her. It''s not going to be an easy battle from here on out. She is going to have


    to fight."


    Kira curiously stepped forward to see, "What is it?"


    The witch turned to her with a smile, "It''s a ring. I spelled it. While the Crystal amplifies darkness. The


    ring will find the light within her. Which is why I said it was going to be a battle."


    Shana finally spoke, "So she is going to be at battle with herself for the rest of her life?"


    "I''m hoping that won''t be the case. The solution would be finding a spell that will remove the Crystal


    while she is still alive. My witches and I have been trying to find the perfect spell. We weren''t in a race


    against time until now. I am going to do anything I can to find that spell and once I do, I will send word."


    Shana studied Elizabeth, "Why are you so eager to help?"


    Elizabeth smiled sadly, "I know what really happened over five hundred years ago. I saw it."


    "How?"


    Sheughed, "Oh no I wasn''t alive back then. I used a spell to put myself to sleep. It was like a dream


    only that it was real. No one deserves to experience the pain my ancestor put them through and I have


    experienced first hand what it feels like to lose someone you love."


    Shana wiped a tear from her eyes, "Thank you."


    "It''s okay. Now better get going. The sooner that ring is on her finger the better."


    Shana nodded, saying onest thank you.


    She was about the step out of the room when Elizabeth''s voice stopped her.


    "Shana?"


    "Yes?"


    "You haven''t aged a bit."


    ************


    Sophia and Jackson''s wolves jumped and pushed at each other. Finally Sophia transformed back and


    Jackson followed suit.


    Shey down on the bare grass panting,"Your wolf is still so exhausting."


    Jacksonughedying next to her, " A simrity he shares with you."


    "You are such an ass Jackson." Then she turned serious, "Is it hard? Being the Alpha."


    Jackson sat up, "Things have always been so easy in the pack but still there''s still a lot of pressure. I


    can''t do the things I used to like simplyy here on the grass or stay in my wolf form all day long. It''s


    like I''m trapped with a responsibility that I never even wanted in the first ce."


    Sophia ced her hand on his squeezing, "I''m really sorry J."


    "I know. But things would be easier if you were here."


    Sophia stood up, going behind one the trees where the wolves kept clothing.


    She emerged fully clothed. Jacksony there still staring at her with sadness in his eyes, "You know I


    can''te back J."


    He sighed, "I know."


    "How is he?"


    "Sophia you don''t have to do that to yourself."


    "I know but I really want to know."


    "He is fine. He has a pup now with her."


    Sophia sucked in a deep breath before saying, "It''s fine. Rejection is a part of life."


    Jackson smiled sadly at his sister, "Doesn''t mean anyone should get to experience it."


    Quiet followed as the two of them just simply sat staring at the sky.


    "What''s the Nightshade pack like?"


    Sophia made a sound at the back of her throat, "It''s great. Just great. Everyone is just great."


    Sophia wiped the first tear, then the second. Unfortunately the rest came together and she couldn''t stop


    herself as they came pouring down.


    Jackson pulled his little sister into his arms as she cried, "I''m so sorry Soph."


    "I don''t want to be this angry or so hateful but I can''t help myself."


    Jackson rubbed her back as she cried, "You will find someone that will choose you first. I promise you."


    Sophia finally stopped crying and looked up at him, "Have you found anyone?"


    "No. But that''s not something I would worry about. At this rate, Mum will have a number of she wolves


    waiting to im the role of a Luna."


    "Why don''t you find someone before she does."


    Jackson rolled his eyes, "Geez, why didn''t I think of that?"


    "Haha. Very funny J."


    Jackson looked back to the house where Shana and Kira went inside.


    Sophia waited for him to ask but he kept quiet. She kissed her teeth, "Aren''t you going to ask me about


    her?"


    Jackson raised a brow at his little sister, "About who?"


    "Don''t y dumb with me. You know exactly who I''m talking about?"


    "Oh. I was going to ask. Why is that little girl with you?"


    Sophia growled at him yfully, "You know that''s not the person I was referring to."


    "Fine. Shana."


    Sophia pped her hand gleefully, "I knew it. Well we''ve never really gotten along. But that''s because


    I''m mostly being a bitch to everyone in the pack but I guess she is cool. She likes to stay in her wolf


    form most of the time and she is best friends with another wolf Melody who looks so innocent but I


    know she is hiding something. Well that''s all."


    "Wow. That was so informative."


    Sophia stood up cing her hand on her hip, "Don''t sass me. Nowe on and please put on some


    clothes. No one wants to see what you are packing."


    Jackson went behind a tree and reemerged clothed.


    As they walked, Jackson took her hand, "They''ve missed you."


    "I know."


    Kira and Shana walked out of the room, going to look for Sophia so they could leave.


    "So…."


    Shana looked down at the teenage wolf, "So what?"


    "Nothing. I was just trying to make a conversation."


    "Okay. What do you want to talk about?"


    "I don''t know that''s why I said so."


    "Well if you don''t have anything you want to say isn''t it just better you kept quiet."


    Kira stomped her feet on the ground pouting, "Why do you always have to be so mean?"


    "Why do you have to be so annoying?"


    "Let me guess, sisters right?"


    Shana and Kira turned at the same time to the person that spoke behind them.


    "My children argue like this all the time. Or at least they used to." Her eyes turned sad, "I haven''t seen


    my daughter in a long time."


    The woman looked so familiar and then it clicked in Shana''s head.


    "You are Sophia''s mother."


    "Yes. You know my daughter?"


    "Yes. Actually she is-"


    "Right here." Sophiapleted for Shana. With her eyes widened in disbelief, the woman pulled her


    daughter into her arms for a hug, "I can''t believe you are here."


    Sophia hugged her back, "Hey Mum."


    Within seconds, Sophia''s mum dragged Sophia away, probably to go find her father.


    "Sophia said your parents let her leave. It seems they didn''t want her gone in the first ce."


    Jackson took a step towards her. Shana''s wolf purred and her nipples hardened from him being so


    close. He smelt like trees and rainfall.


    To Shana''s wolf, he smelt divine.


    "My sister''s story is moreplicated than that." He stared directly into her eyes hoping that she


    understood the next words he said clearly, "There is more to my sister than she lets people see."


    Kira made a sound before rolling her eyes, "Could you two just get on with it? The googly eyes are


    bing tiring."


    Jackson''sugh cut Shana''s scolding. Jackson fixed his gaze on Kira, she blushed before he asked,


    "Get on with what?"


    She looked down at her feet, her cheek turning even redder.


    Jackson smiled, having gotten the reaction he wanted.


    He turned back to Shana, "Were the witches able to help?"


    "Yes. But not fully. Elizabeth said once she finds a spell to remove the Crystal from Aria''s neck she


    would send word."


    Jackson nodded, "I wille right away."


    "You wille?"


    "Yes. So I can see Sophia."


    Kira snorted and they both red at her.


    Sophia came back. She threw her hands around Jackson.


    "I''m really going to miss you."


    "Maybe we could talk to Knox about forming an alliance." Shana blurted out before she could stop


    herself.


    She cleared her throat as all eyes turned to her, "I mean with the uing battle."


    The man who had a striking resemnce to Jackson spoke, "What battle?"


    Sophia turned to her father, "The Silvercrest pack and Bloodmoon pack have formed an alliance and


    they are iming Knox''s territory. I''m very sure that if they manage to win, they won''t stop at just his


    territory. Shana is right. An alliance would be the best y plus the witches."


    "You know the witches don''t use their powers to fight."


    Sophia rolled her eyes at the older male wolf, "Yes I know. I was going to say, could help heal."


    "Everyone knows you are lying Soph." Sophiaughed as all eyes turned to Jackson.


    "So?"


    "I guess it''s up to Knox. I don''t have a problem with it."


    "I will talk to him once we get back. Speaking of which, we have to get going."


    Sophia nodded.


    Her mother stepped out handing Sophia a bag, "For your journey."


    "I love you guys, you know that right?"


    "Yes we know honey."


    Sophia and Shana started walking but Kira stood ying with her fingers.


    Shana stopped, "Why are you standing there?"


    "Uhmmm."


    Shana and Sophia nced at each other.


    Shana started, "You will tune it down with the sass."


    "And don''t even think for one moment of stealing from Knox. His wolf will tear you to pieces in


    seconds."


    "Oh and onest thing." Shana said.


    "Get your ass moving. We have to get back home." Sophiapleted.


    Kira raised her head, "You want me toe with you?"


    Shana rolled her eyes, "Who do you think will carry all these bags?"


    Kira stepped forward. Shana handed her the bag.


    Shana the reluctance in her eyes "Lydia is going to love you don''t worry."


    Reba rested her back against a tree rubbing her stomach.


    "So it''s true." All the hair on her body froze.


    Knox stood in front of her with a nk expression on his face.


    "Knox." She whispered, her voice shaking.


    "Reba."


    His eyes went to the mark on her shoulder and his gaze hardened.


    "How long?"


    "How long what?"


    "How long did it take you to let him mark you?"


    "Knox." She tried to move.


    "If you move another inch, that will be thest thing you will ever do."


    Reba swallowed.


    "Answer the question."


    "A few months."


    "How are you alive? I watched you die."


    "We. I. Niki. We nned it. After the attack, we would fake my death so you would leave me behind


    thinking I was dead."


    "How long?"


    "I already answered the question, Knox."


    "How long were you two fucking behind my back? If you say anything that is not an answer to my


    question I swear Reba." His eyes shed wolf.


    "A really long time."


    Finally he let his pain seep through, "Why? I don''t understand why. We were mates."


    "No." She whispered.


    "What?"


    "No. We are not mates. I made you think we were. A witch gave me a ne. It was to make you


    think that we were. I grew up with nothing so I wanted to prove that I could be powerful. You were going


    to be Alpha. You were perfect. You felt a pull but it was all just magic. We were never mates from the


    start and then I found out that Niki was nning a coup and even more, I felt the mating pull with


    him."


    Realization hit him from all angles, his wolf paced. He didn''t need to second guess it again.


    Aria was his true mate.


    He stared at the lying she wolf in front of him as his gaze hardened, "I have onest question. Which of


    you?"


    "What?"


    "Which of you do I kill first? You or your pups?


    Reba''s eyes widened as Knox''s ws extracted. She let out a gasp as he raised them up and then


    shed.