Chapter Sixty Three: The Uninvited Guest


    The days flew by in the Nightshade pack, everything was calm. The storm had passed, Unfortunately


    the same could not be said for Aria as she bent over the sink throwing up into the basin.


    Well don’t you look like shit.” Shana said, breaking intoughter.


    Aria wiped her mouth with a napkin before turning to Shana. “Knox told you to stop picking on me.”


    “How am I picking on you? And it''s really hard for me to take you seriously when you look so round,"


    she said, gesturing toward Aria''s growing baby bump.


    Aria let out a low growl in irritation. Shana finally rolled her eyes, attempting to pacify her friend''s


    frustration. "Oh, don''t be a big baby. I''m just messing with you. Get the joke? Baby?" she teased.


    "Shana," Aria warned, but before she could say more, she felt a strong presence behind her.


    Knox stood there with narrowed eyes, his disapproval evident. "Leave Aria alone. Your jokes aren''t


    funny, and shouldn''t you be with Jackson? So we don''t have to deal with your nonsense for a few


    days," he said firmly.


    Shanaughed even harder, "Ever since you two became soon-to-be parents, you lost all your sense of


    humor," she taunted.


    Knox''s expression softened as he looked at Aria, who was still irritated by Shana''s teasing before


    looking at Shana, "When are you leaving?"


    Shaba ignored him as she continued,"Well, you never did have one, but you, Aria, I expected so much


    more from you," She said yfully.


    Aria and Knox growled in unison, expressing their annoyance at Shana''s constant teasing. Shana


    tossed her hair behind her back as she strolled toward the exit, "You two are just proving my point," she


    said with a smirk before disappearing outside.


    As the door shut behind Shana, Knox swiftly moved to stand in front of Aria. "My mouth smells like—"


    Aria began to say, but his words were cut short as he crushed his lips against hers. Aria was taken


    aback for a moment but quickly melted into the kiss.


    When they finally broke apart, Aria''s eyes twinkled with affection. "I missed you," Knox said, his voice


    filled with warmth.


    Aria smiled, her heart fluttering. "I know," she replied, her voice soft and loving,


    "By the way, Lilian is responding to the witches magic. Elizabeth hopes she regains consciousness and


    I''m really worried about JB."


    Knox sighed, "I know. I''m really trying to get through to him. Losing a parent isn''t an easy thing but I will


    keep trying."


    "While you are at it can you please talk to Shana?"


    ""Shana can be annoying sometimes," Knox said with a chuckle, "but she means well."


    He pulled her closer to him, rubbing circles around her back, knowing how much she loved him.


    "I know," Aria sighed leaning more into him, her irritation fading as she thought about Shana''s yful


    nature, "It''s just my hormones everywhere."


    Knox nodded, understanding her concerns. "I''ll talk to her, let her know that her jokes are not helping,"


    he said reassuringly.


    Aria smiled, ?"Thank you," she said, leaning in to give him a gentle kiss on the lips."


    "I love you," Aria said, her voice filled with sincerity.


    "I love you too," Knox replied.


    "And I love you guys too." Shana said from the other side of the door.


    "Shana." Knox and Aria growled at the same time.


    Knox sat in his study after leaving Aria to rest The recent attack by Lucas had brought about


    unexpected alliances among the werewolf packs, uniting them against amon enemy.


    The sound of the door creaking open pulled Knox from his thoughts, and he looked up to see Ryder


    entering the study. Ryder''s smirk apanied his entrance, "I think I liked you better when you were


    grumpy like an old wolf," Ryder teased, leaning against the door frame.


    Knox huffed in amusement, "Ah, the good old days," he retorted, his tone teasing, "But I suppose


    change is inevitable, and I''m surprised Lydia let you step away from her."


    Ryder chuckled, "But it''s nice to see you smile. Aria''s been good for you." and then he sighed, "I''m


    getting frustrated. She won''t stop watching me like a hawk ever since the battle."


    Knox smiled in understanding, "She almost lost you. I think it''s understandable. So why are you here?"


    Ryder walked over and took a seat across from Knox, his posture rxed but attentive. "I wanted to


    talk to you about something," he said, his tone serious. "There are other Alphas who want to form


    alliances with us."


    Knox nodded, his mind already churning with the possibilities and implications of such alliances. "We


    have to be cautious and ensure that these alliances are mutually beneficial and don''tpromise our


    pack''s safety."


    Ryder nodded in agreement. "I''ve been vetting them, going through their histories and assessing their


    intentions," he said. "So far, there are a few that seem promising."


    "Keep me updated on your findings," Knox said, his tone firm but trusting. "We''ll discuss this further


    with the rest of the pack and make a collective decision."


    Ryder shifted the conversation, his eyes curious. "Speaking of decisions," he began, "when do you


    and Aria n to have your mating ceremony?"


    Knox''s expression softened, a tender smile spreading across his face. "We haven''t decided on a date


    yet," he admitted.


    Ryder nodded, understanding the weight of the responsibility that rested on their shoulders. "Take your


    time," a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Well, whenever you decide, I''ll make sure to throw you both the


    best celebration the pack has ever seen," he dered.


    Knoxughed, "Now I know something is definitely wrong in the world."


    A knock sounded on the door causing the two male wolves to turn their heads.


    Knox regarded her carefully. Seraphina had yed a significant role in Aria''s past, and while he still


    had reservations about her, he acknowledged the sacrifice she had made for his mate.


    "What can I help you with, Seraphina?" Knox asked, his toneposed.


    She looked from Ryder to him before turning to him, " I have been talking to some wolves at the


    Silvercrest pack," she began. "With Julian gone, there is no Alpha. I was wondering if you would let


    them join your pack."


    Ryder looked at her with a raised eyebrow, his tone skeptical. "I thought you wanted to be the Alpha.


    Why don''t you go back and lead them?"


    Seraphina''s eyes flickered with irritation, but she maintained herposure. "It''s not that simple," she


    exined. "The dynamics at Silvercrest have changed, and I believe it would be better for them to join


    a strong pack like Nightshade."


    Knox considered her words carefully, knowing that her motives might not be as straightforward as she


    portrayed them. "Why do you believe they would be better off with us?" Knox inquired, his eyes


    searching Seraphina''s face for any hint of deception.


    Seraphina took a moment before responding, "Silvercrest is in turmoil. Without a strong leader, they


    are vulnerable to outside threats," she exined. "Joining the Nightshade pack would provide them


    with the protection and stability they need."


    Ryder leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "And what do you get out of it?" he


    asked, his voice skeptical.


    She folded her hands affronted. She knew she hadn''t been the most straightforward person but she


    was trying to change,"I''m not getting anything out of it. I just don''t wanted my pack to keep suffering."


    Knox narrowed his eyes. He knew that she had her own agenda, and he couldn''t shake the feeling that


    she was hiding something.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "I''ll consider your proposal," Knox said cautiously. "But I need more information about the wolves from


    Silvercrest before we make any decisions and I have to talk to my mate."


    Seraphina nodded, "Of course, Alpha Knox," she said respectfully. She stood still staring at Knox.


    Knox looked at her expectantly, his eyes searching hers for any sign of hesitation. "Is there anything


    else?" he asked.


    She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Before the battle with Lucas," she began, "Julian had


    a n."


    Ryder interjected with a smirk, "You mean the one where he pretended to be dead and sent you here to


    feed him information?"


    Seraphina clenched her fists, feeling a mix of annoyance and frustration. "Yes, that one," she replied


    through gritted teeth, "I was asked to hide someone."


    Knox leaned forward, intrigued. "And who is this person you were told to hide?"


    Seraphina hesitated, her gaze shifting to the floor. "With Niki gone and the Bloodmoon pack fallen,"


    she said slowly, "she has nowhere else to go."


    The realization hit Knox like a punch to the gut. He knew exactly who Seraphina was referring to. "No,"


    he said firmly, his eyes narrowing.


    Seraphina fidgeted with her fingers, her nerves getting the better of her. "About that," she began, her


    voice trailing off.


    Knox''s wolf sensed the change in the air before he did. The familiar scent filled his nostrils, and he


    recoiled as if struck. He turned his head slowly, and there she was, standing at the entrance of his


    study with wary eyes.


    "Hello, Knox," Reba greeted as she stepped into his study.