Chapter Eighty Seven: Vengeful Intentions


    Aria''s heart raced as she faced Knox, the weight of their unspoken tensions hanging heavy in the air


    between them. She took a deep breath, her eyes locked onto his, searching for the answers she


    needed.


    "Knox, we need to talk," Aria''s voice was soft but resolute, a reflection of the determination that burned


    within her. She watched as his gaze met hers, different emotions swirling within his beautiful pools.


    Her wolf purred, finally happy to be surrounded by her mate''s scent, but there was something else—


    something off about the way he looked at her.


    He hesitated for a moment, as if considering his response. Then, he nodded, "Yeah, Aria. We do."


    The room seemed to exhale a collective breath, the atmosphere shifting as they acknowledged the


    necessity of the conversation they were about to have. Aria''s fingers curled around the edges of the


    table.


    She took a moment, gathering her thoughts before speaking again. "What''s been happening between


    us, Knox?" Aria''s voice was gentle, her intent not usatory but seeking understanding.


    Knox''s gaze dropped for a moment, his fingers tracing an absent pattern on the table. When he finally


    looked up, his expression was a mix of emotions—hesitation, vulnerability, and a hint of regret. "I''ve


    been blocking you out, Aria. Keeping my thoughts and emotions guarded."


    Aria nodded slowly, her gaze never leaving his face. "Why?" she asked, genuine curiositycing her


    words.


    Knox''s eyes met hers, a mixture of resignation and protection in his gaze. "I was trying to protect you,


    Aria. The less you knew, the safer you''d be."


    Her wolf bristled at his words, she let out a growl in irritation, "I can''t protect our pup if you keep me in


    the dark, Knox. We need to work together."


    You''re right," he admitted, his voice carrying a sense of surrender. "I shouldn''t have shut you out. But


    this situation... it''s dangerous, and I wanted to shield you from it."


    Aria''s fingers tightened around the edges of the table, her resolve unwavering. "I understand the risks,


    Knox. But we''re in this together. The pup''s safety is our priority. We need your knowledge and


    guidance."


    His gaze met hers and she finally figured out what was wrong, there was a tinge there, something she


    had never felt from him before —fear.


    "You are afraid?" but the way she said it wasn''t like a question but a statement.


    He let out a sigh, "Yes.Aria, I just... I don''t know what to do. I''m afraid. I could hardly protect you when


    Lucas'' threatened to destroy us all and now, our pup is involved. What if I''m not powerful enough?"


    Aria took a step closer, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. "Knox, I''m scared too," her voice was


    sincere, her eyes locked onto his. "Especially now that we have a pup involved. But I''m not letting that


    fear rule me, and you shouldn''t either."


    His shoulders sagged further, the weight of his emotions evident. "I know," he said, his voice softer.


    "The Celestial Eclipse Aria. We lose our ability to shift. What am I without my wolf and what if—"


    Aria''s fingers curled around his arm, her grip gentle but firm. "We''re a team, Knox. We''ll face whatever


    the triumphs. That''s what mates do but you have to stop blocking me out Knox."


    Aria''s hand remained on Knox''s arm, her touch a grounding presence as their conversation took on a


    newfound rity. "We''ll face everything together, Knox," she said, "Blocking me out won''t protect me or


    our pup. It''ll only keep us apart when we need each other the most."


    Knox''s eyes met hers, "You''re right, Aria," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "I


    should''ve trusted in our bond more. I won''t keep you in the dark anymore."


    Her smile was soft, a reflection of her relief and the mending of their fractured connection. Just as they


    were on the precipice of a newfound understanding, a realization swept over her. Her hand instinctively


    drifted to her stomach, cradling the life that thrived within her. A spark of joy lit up her eyes.


    Knox noticed the shift in her expression, curiosity piqued as he observed her. "What is it, Aria?"


    Aria''s smile widened, a mixture of delight and wonder ying across her features. "The moon goddess


    blessed us with a male," she said, her voice carrying a note of joy.


    Knox''s lips curved into a smile, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "A male," he repeated, his voice


    warm. "Our pup."


    The gravity of the situation lingered in the air, but for a brief moment, their shared realization brought a


    sense of lightness to the room.


    Aria''s gaze met Knox''s once again, weariness recing the momentary joy that had passed between


    them. "A male who will have the power to destroy the realm as they know it," she acknowledged, her


    voice steady.


    Knox''s expression grew serious, his eyes locking onto hers. "Yes," he replied, his voice tinged with a


    hint of solemnity. "But also a male who will have the potential to change its course for the better."


    Aria''s lips curved into a determined smile, her fingers tightening around Knox''s hand. "That''s the path


    we''ll guide him towards, Knox. We''ll shape his power with wisdom,passion, and the strength of our


    bond."


    Knox nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Together, Aria. Our bond, our pack, and our love will be his


    foundation."


    ***************


    The forest was a symphony of rustling leaves and whispering winds as Ryder sprinted through it in his


    wolf form. His paws pounded against the earth, each rhythmic thud a cathartic release for the tumult of


    emotions that had been building within him. The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow


    that painted the world in shades of shadow and light.


    As he ran, the chaos of the pack''s troubles seemed to melt away, reced by the simple, primal rhythm


    of his own existence. The wind rushed past him, the scents of the forest filling his senses. For a brief


    moment, he was free from the weight of his responsibilities, the decisions that had haunted him.


    Eventually, his limbs began to slow, and then bones cracked as he shifted into his human form.


    It was then that he heard the voice, a sudden intrusion into his solitude. "It had always amazed me how


    you creatures are able to shift from one form to another so easily."


    Ryder''s head snapped around, his gazending on a figure emerging from the shadows. Nichs


    stood there, his gaze fixed on the mark on Ryder''s face—the mark that bore the scar of theirst


    encounter.


    "The scar didn''t heal," Nichs stated, his voice tinged with a mix of bitterness and something darker.


    Ryder''s expression tightened as he regarded the young man before him. "And you are?" he inquired,


    his voice guarded, his muscles tense.


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    Nichs'' lips curled into a cold smile. "No surprise you''ve forgotten who I am. With all the lives you''ve


    taken, it must be hard to keep track." His eyes flicked to the mark again, his gaze lingering on the scar.


    Recognition sparked in Ryder''s eyes, memories resurfacing like shards of ss. "You''re... the little


    boy," he whispered, the weight of guilt settling heavily in his chest.


    Nichs'' eyes hardened. "I''m not so little anymore."


    In an instant, a de was drawn from the shadows, glinting in the moonlight. Ryder''s instincts red,


    but he found himself rooted to the spot, the weight of his past actions paralyzing him.


    "It was a mistake," Ryder''s voice cracked, desperationcing his words. "I didn''t mean to kill your sister.


    It has haunted me every day since then."


    Nichs'' face twisted with rage, his grip on the de tightening. "Words won''t bring her back," he spat,


    lunging forward with a feral cry.


    Ryder''s heart raced as the world seemed to slow down. His instincts surged, and he dove to the side,


    narrowly avoiding Nichs'' de as it whistled through the air. He stumbled to his feet, his mind racing


    to find a way to reason with the vengeful young man not wanting to spill blood after the first time.


    "It doesn''t have to be like this," Ryder panted, his voice strained. "I didn''t want her to die. I want to


    make amends"


    Nichs'' eyes zed with anger, his chest heaving as he advanced again. "Amends?" he scoffed.


    "There''s no amends for taking a life."


    Ryder''s back pressed against a tree, his heart pounded in his chest. He raised his hands in a gesture


    of surrender, his eyes locked onto the de that glinted dangerously in Nichs'' grip, "I don''t want to


    harm you. I am not your enemy and I won''t fight you."


    Nichs'' lips twisted into a malicious grin as he raised the de high, the moonlight catching its edge.


    "This is for my sister," he whispered and then he plunged the silver de into Ryder''s chest.