Shadows Of The Pack (Aria and Knox)

Chapter Ninety Eight: The Double Edged Sword

The hunters gathered in a dimly lit, cavernous chamber, their faces etched with a sense of urgency.

The final battle, the culmination of months of planning and preparation, was upon them. Antonio stood

at the front of the assembly, his presence commanding attention.

His voice, firm and unyielding, cut through the charged atmosphere. "The time has come," he declared,

his words echoing off the stone walls. "The celestial eclipse approaches, and with it, the moment when

the wolves lose their ability to shift. We will strike when they are at their most vulnerable."

The hunters nodded in solemn agreement, their resolve unwavering. They had trained relentlessly for

this moment, honing their skills and fortifying their spirits for the battle that loomed on the horizon.

Antonio continued, his voice carrying the weight of their shared purpose. "My orders are clear. We will

launch a coordinated attack on all wolf factions. We will spare none of them. Every werewolf must be

eliminated."

A hushed silence fell over the assembly as his words sank in. The gravity of their mission hung heavy

in the air. They were warriors, driven by a deep-seated hatred for werewolves, and they were prepared

to do whatever it took to eradicate them.

But then, a single voice pierced the silence, a question that had been lingering on the minds of many.

"What about the child?" It was one of the hunters, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Antonio's gaze turned to her, his eyes cold and unyielding. "That," he said, his tone dripping with

resolve, "will be my battle."

A heavy silence followed, the implications of Antonio's statement sinking in. The fate of the child, the

one who bore the potential to bring an end to the realm as they knew it, rested solely on Antonio's

shoulders. The hunters were well aware of the stakes.

Marcel cleared his throat, his voice a stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air. "Where is

Nicholas?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

Antonio's eyes hardened, and for a moment, a shadow of frustration crossed his face. "We do not

speak of betrayals," he declared, his words final.

Antonio's eyes swept over the assembly, his gaze unwavering, his words carrying the weight of their

impending mission. "Listen closely," he said, his voice low and commanding. "This is how we'll

proceed."

He began to lay out their intricate plan, detailing each step with precision. The hunters listened intently,

their expressions growing increasingly focused as Antonio unfolded the strategy. Their unity and

discipline were evident as they absorbed every word, knowing that their success depended on flawless

execution.

"We will distribute ourselves across the known wolf factions," Antonio explained. "Each of you will be

assigned a specific role. Some will serve as decoys to draw their attention, while others will infiltrate

their ranks and as for me, I will go after the pup."

A voice rose from the back, belonging to one of the hunters. "Why not simply kill the pup? Eliminate the

threat at its source."

Antonio fixed his steely gaze on the questioner, his response unyielding. "I am a realist," he said, his

voice devoid of emotion. "Not all wolves will fall. The child is the next weapon. According to the

prophecy, it will hold great powers in his hands, and we will use that power to eliminate any wolf that

still stands after the eclipse."

Another hunter, emboldened by the discussion, spoke up. "And what if the child isn't born before the

celestial eclipse? What then?"

Antonio's lips curled into a calculated smile. "Then we take the mother," he stated matter-of-factly. "We

wait until the child is born, and once its purpose has been served, we discard of her. Swiftly."

As he concluded his address, Antonio's eyes bore into each member of the assembly, a silent reminder

of their shared mission. "Remember our mantra," he declared, his voice ringing with finality. "Death to

all werewolves."

The hunters nodded in grim agreement, their hearts filled with unwavering resolve. The final battle was

drawing near, and they were prepared to do whatever it took to emerge victorious.

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

Rebecca carried her pup, moving around the pack ground with a grace that belied the inner turmoil

she concealed. Her ears were attuned to the conversations around her, every word and whisper noted,

every secret observed.

Seraphina stood at a corner, watching her. She finally spoke up, her voice tinged with caution, "It's

going to end in your death, you know."

Rebecca continued to walk, her steps measured and unhurried. She turned to face Seraphina, her

gaze steady, her expression calm. "Then why haven't you sold me out yet? To make the death

quicker?"

Seraphina's eyes bore into Rebecca's, her own resolve unwavering. "Because I don't care about your

fate," she admitted, her tone unapologetic. "If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the Moon Goddess

favors Aria. No matter what you plan, no matter the schemes or plots, she will prevail. You won't be an

obstacle."

Rebecca remained silent, her eyes fixed on her pup. After a moment, she spoke, her voice filled with

resolve, "There is always a start for a change. This will be it."

Seraphina sighed, "I spent so much of my life consumed by hatred. Now, all I want is a chance to live a

simple life. Whatever you're planning, it won't work. History has shown that whenever Aria is involved,

the odds tip in her favor. I just wish you had taken the second chance they offered you just like I did."

With those final words, Seraphina walked away, leaving Rebecca alone with her pup and her thoughts.

She stared at him cradled in her arms. Every single feature that was intricately formed on his face

reminded her of Nikolai.

Knox had taken him away from her and there was nothing they would stop her from having her

revenge, not even the moon goddess herself.

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Rebecca moved through the Nightshade pack's territory, her pup nestled securely in her arms. Her

determination had solidified, and her decision was made. The moonlight cast a silvery sheen over the

landscape, lending an air of quiet contemplation to the night.

As she made her way to the final meeting with the wolves, her thoughts were a whirlwind of conflicting

emotions. She had spent so much of her life consumed by hatred, her heart hardened by vengeance.

The night was thick with tension as Rebecca entered the gathering of wolves. Her pup nestled securely

in her arms, she walked with purpose, her steps echoing in the silence that fell upon her arrival.

Caleb, flanked by Selene and Erik, regarded her with a cautious curiosity. His voice was gruff as he

addressed her, "It's been a minute since we last saw you."

Rebecca met his gaze with unwavering determination. "I've been a little preoccupied," she replied

tersely, her eyes flickering with a hint of annoyance.

Caleb leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "What news do you bring?"

She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around her pup. "The pup will be born soon," she

declared, her words carrying the weight of her revelation.

Liam, ever the voice of skepticism, chimed in with a pointed question. "When? Before or after the

eclipse?"

Rebecca's irritation flared, but she held her temper in check. "I don't know," she admitted begrudgingly.

Liam clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Then what point is your information?" he pressed.

Before tensions could escalate further, Erik intervened, his voice a calm and soothing presence.

"There's no need to argue amongst ourselves. We're all on the same side here."

He turned to Liam, his tone laced with a warning. "We all know that Rebecca has been of great use to

us. So behave yourself."

Caleb redirected their focus to the matter at hand. "The celestial eclipse," he began, "will be the best

time to strike."

Selene's voice, as unwavering as ever, completed his thought. "But that's also the day when we, as

wolves, will lose our ability to shift. It's a double-edged sword."

Caleb nodded in agreement. "Exactly. The hunters want the child, and they want the wolves

defenseless. That's why it's the perfect time for us to strike. They won't see it coming."

Erik's eyes gleamed with determination. "With the Nightshade wolves preoccupied with protecting the

pup, we'll have the opportunity to swoop in and take what we need."

Rebecca, recognizing the need to make amends with Liam, extended a peace offering. She spoke with

a cool determination, "I will ensure that Seraphina is in the same room as Aria during the eclipse. That

way, you can eliminate her."

Liam's expression softened, and he nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a plan."

Caleb spoke the final words, his voice filled with conviction. "So it's settled. On the day of the celestial

eclipse, we attack the Nightshade pack and claim the pup."