Chapter 9 Betrayal

Randy listened to Knox intently. He waited a minute for Knox to completely conclude before speaking.

"I am still trying to understand why Nikolai is coming after the territory after all these years. It's been more than ten years right?"

Knox nodded at Randy.

Randy went silent again then finally he said, "You can consider me an ally."

Knox blinked unsure, "You are just going to agree to an alliance like that? Without talking it over with your Beta or Gamma?"

Randy smiled, "I lead the way I want to be led. With the alliance formed between the Bloodmoon and Silvercrest pack, they will never stop laying claims to more territory, growing their army over time. It is better to stop them before that happens."

Knox nodded with respect for the older Alpha.

Randy continued, "You have my support but I will never be a part of an unprovoked attack. I will stand by you if need be. You have my word. Now if you will excuse me, I need to answer my mate's psychic call."

He wiggled his eyebrows.

Jacob made a sound, "Please no."

Randy tapped his son affectionately on the back giving him a go ahead to continue with the meeting.

Jacob smiled at Aria again as soon as he took his father's seat.

Knox didn't like it and neither did his wolf.

Jacob cleared his throat, "Is there anything else we would need to know about the other packs and by the way I prefer to go by JB."

His gaze flickered again to Aria who sat picking at her nails quietly.

Knox ground his teeth. He had come here seeking an alliance.That was the only reason his claws were not deep into the other wolf's throat.

"No." Knox ground out.

Ryder tried to hide his smile, "Actually JB. I would really like a tour round the territory. The view from outside was eyes stopping. If that's not too much trouble."

JB stood up shaking his head, "Of course."

He turned to Aria, "Would you like to come with us?"

"Thank you but no." She declined politely.

Knox watched with satisfaction as the smile fell from JB's face. He led Ryder outside, his former enthusiasm long forgotten.

Aria and Knox sat in silence.

Her wolf rolled and purred. She loved being surrounded by his scent.

"My wolf thinks you are his mate." Knox finally broke the silence.

She sighed, "My wolf thinks that too."

There was a pause before she continued, "I already found my mate. I felt the pull of the bond, everything you are supposed to feel when you find your mate but with you it's different. There is a pull but it's different, it's overwhelming, consuming and most of all scary." She finished with a whisper.

"I formed the bond with Rebecca. Everything about her felt right, like we were destined to be then again", He stopped to chuckle darkly, "Maybe I was wrong. Maybe we were both wrong."

Aria hummed before speaking again, "I don't feel a bond."

"Neither do I. But the pull that I do feel. Plus my wolf relaxes when you are around and when you are not-"

"She lunges to the surface trying to get to you." She finished for him.

Knox sighed tiredly, "I swore to be bound to Rebecca for the rest of my days. I do not break my promises."

"I never said I wanted a bond. I don't want anything from you Knox and I never will. I have found my mate and I got rejected. That's all there will ever be to it."

She got up and walked away. His wolf moved around in his head pushing Knox to go after her but Knox knew better. Whatever they tried to bring out of what they felt would only end in pain.

Maybe they were just two wolves destined to be alone for the rest of their lives.

Aria kicked the stone angrily. Who did he think he was? Speaking like she was desperately begging for a mating bond.

She kicked another stone again angrily.

"Those stones must have really upset you."

She looked around.

"Up here", the voice said again.

She looked up. A little girl hung upside down from a tree branch. She waved at Aria smiling.

"Ummm. Hi." Aria waved back.

The girl propelled herself forward as her legs left the tree branch. In one fluid movement, she gracefully landed on her feet.

She tossed her long hair behind her then her curious blue eyes fixated on Aria.

"I haven't seen you around before. Are you a new pack member?"

Aria squatted down to her level, "No. I'm not. I'm just visiting."

The girl grinned revealing her gap tooth, "You are really pretty."

Aria smiled, "I think you are pretty too. What is your name?"

"I'm Lily. You?"

"Aria. And how old are you Lily?"

"Aria" Lily repeated, " I am nine years old. Do you want to be friends?"

"No." Aria answered, making Lily frown. "I wasn't done. No, I want to be best friends."

"Yayyyyyy!!!!. I have a new best friend."

Aria watched with a smile as Lily ran around announcing that she had a new best friend.

She wondered what it would be like to just be a child again. Without all the worries of life.

Lilian walked towards Aria, the wind blowing through her hair.

"You look just like Maria." She said as she stood beside Aria, "She was the most beautiful wolf I had ever met, both inside and out."

Hearing about her mother had always been something that left her with mixed feelings.

It was hard to miss someone that you never got the chance to meet.

"I don't really know much about her. Talking about her was a painful topic for my father. The few things I was able to gather from some pack were never enough and maybe I didn't want to learn too much so I won't ever get the chance to miss her."

Lilian smiled sadly, "I'm sorry you never got a chance to meet her. But it's fine if you don't want to hear-"

"No", Aria stopped her, "I think it's time I stopped running from my past."

"Did you know your parents weren't true mates?"

Aria's eyes widened, "No. I always thought they were."

"It's so hard to believe otherwise. I remember the first time Maria saw Gabriel, she fell for him on the spot. She would blush every time their eyes met then would hide until he returned to his pack. It went on like that for months until I eventually wrote a letter to your father confessing your mother's love for him, signing Maria's name on it."

"You knew my mother that well?"

"Your mother was part of the Moonlight pack before she married your father." Lilian smiled, her voice conveying sadness and fondness, "We were best friends. I know you don't remember me but for the first few years of your life, I took care of you. I don't know why Gabriel stopped it, maybe too many memories surrounding his past. Jacob was very fond of you."

"I'm really sorry that I don't remember any of this. My father hardly ever talked about her."

"I don't blame you. You were too little to remember. I heard about what happened. I wouldn't know which hurts more, a rejection or the death of your mate. I'm really sorry. Even as a child, Seraphina always wanted everything you had. I would have called it adorable but there was always something more to it. A type of envy and jealousy that no child should carry. I tried to talk to your father about it but Gabriel never scolded her, I think he felt guilty with the circumstances that surrounded her birth. He always felt like he was at fault for what happened."

Aria turned her head to stare at the older wolf, "You mean surrounding our birth?"

Lilian's eyes went round with realization, "Oh I'm so sorry. I just thought after all these years your father would have told you."

"Told me what?"

"I don't think it's in my place, Aria. If Gabriel wanted you to know then he would have told you himself."

Aria sighed, "Please. I already have so much going on. My life went from peaceful to chaotic in a number of days. I don't want to add not knowing the list of things I have to worry about."

Lilian contemplated on what to do for a few minutes. She eventually gave in. There was no way she could say no with the amount of sadness Aria's eyes conveyed.

"Seraphina is not your twin sister. She is the daughter of your father's twin brother who was banished from the Silvercrest pack many years ago."

**************

Seraphina moaned as Julian ran his length along her entrance.

Wolves were sexual creatures. They couldn't exist without sex, and that desire fed into their human counterpart.

"Julian." She moaned.

With a groan he entered her. He pounded into her until an orgasm rippled through her and she screamed out his name.

A satisfied smile played on her lips as she turned to Liam who was this laying on the floor gasping for air, "That is how you fuck."

Julian pulled her closer to him. "You are a vile woman." He said with laughter in his voice.

She ran her finger up his chest, "One of the reasons you love me. Now tell me all about that crystal. You were distracting me."

He raised the crystal again, the energy intensifying the darkness in the room.

"According to legend, the bearers of the mark are born pure, their purity calling out to the moon goddess. An ancient witch believed that no one could be as pure as they said, she said darkness lined within everyone so she used her magic, forging this crystal. It was made specially for the bearers of the mark to corrupt their purity and expose the darkness within. They would battle within themselves to pick a side and be eventually driven to madness. A completely different type of savage, with the power they possess, the wolves community would be left with no choice."

"Has it ever been used before and how did you get it?"

"Once and I have been making plans for it for a very long time. All we need to do is get Aria to wear it. Once it is put on, only in death can it be removed."

Seraphina smiled, "Perfect. We just need to figure out how to get Aria to put it on."

"I have a meeting scheduled with the wolf from Knox's pack. I don't know why she refuses to tell me her name."

******************

Seraphina tied the rope on her robe as Julian led her to his study.

Julian entered first, turning to the wolf seated. He nodded his head at her, "Did you make sure that no one followed you?"

The wolf nodded.

"How is Aria? Is she adjusting well to the Nightshade pack life?"

"I would like to think so. The Nightshade pack members are really welcoming."

Julian smiled, "Well I have some good news. I need you to do one more task for me and your debt to me will be paid."

The wolf's eyes widened, "All of it?"

"Yes."

"And I will be free?"

"Yes."

"What do you need me to do?"

Julian took a step towards her, raising the crystal, "This is the Shadowbane Crystal. Have you heard of it?"

"I've heard about it but I don't exactly know what it does."

"It holds the power to bring out the darkness in wolves. It was forged specifically for the wolves that are marked by the moon goddess. I need you to make sure it is around Aria's neck before the next full moon."

"Why?"

"Because as an Alpha, one of the hardest parts of the job is eliminating threats. Aria is a threat to my claim. This crystal will change that. It will drive her to a brink of madness, she will lose control of her powers. She will become a savage wolf."

"But-"

"But nothing", Seraphina interrupted her.

The wolf bowed her head in resignation, "Won't she know what it is?"

"There's a cloaking spell surrounding. Aria will only see what I want her to see and the wolves around her will see what Aria sees.

"If I do this. I am free?"

"You have my word."

"Okay."

She turned to leave.

"One more thing." The wolf stopped but didn't turn back, "I still don't know your name."

The wolf smiled, "My name isn't important but if you must know. It starts with-"

Her bones cracked and she shifted running into the woods."