Chapter 44
The morning after my vision of Ryder’s ritual, I found myself pacing in my room. Today was the day I’d formally introduce Aiden to the pack, and despite the looming threat of Ryder, I knew this couldn’t be put off any longer. Aiden had to feel like he belonged with us if we were going to handle the challenges ahead as a team.
I inhaled deeply, straightening my shirt while I checked myself in the mirror. The young woman looking back appeared weary, anxious, yet resolute. I knew I had to succeed, not just for Aiden but for everyone in our pack.
Xander gently tapped on my door. “Are you prepared?” he inquired, his kind eyes catching mine in the mirror’s reflection.
I agreed, facing him directly. “As prepared as I can be. How’s Aiden doing?”
“Nervous,” Xander admitted. “But he’s holding up. He understands how important this is.”
Together, we made our way to the large clearing where pack gatherings were held. My heart raced as I saw the crowd that had already assembled. It seemed like every member of the Blackstone pack was there, along with representatives from some of our allied packs. I spotted familiar faces – Selene, Jaxon, even Asher lurking at the edges of the group.
As we got closer, the quiet talking stopped. Everyone looked at us, and I felt the pressure of their hopes on me. I held Xander’s hand tightly for a moment before moving ahead.
“Thanks for being here,” I started, my words reaching everyone in the open space. “You know I just got back from Ryder’s clutches thanks to my mate and everyone in the pack.”
“During that time, we were able to rescue several prisoners. Among those prisoners was someone very special to me-my brother, Aiden, also the mystery wolf we went to save.”
A wave of shock spread among the pack. I motioned for Aiden to come to me, and he moved from where he was standing at the side of the clearing.
As Aiden came closer, I noticed the effects his time in captivity had left on him. His steps were slightly unsteady, his face pale. But his eyes were clear and determined as he faced the pack.
“This is Aiden,” I announced, gently touching his arm for support. “He’s my brother, whom I believed was gone forever. He’s endured hardships beyond what we can comprehend, but here with us now.”
Aiden tried to speak, but he wobbled unsteadily. I quickly moved to assist him, sensing a wave of concern. This situation was unexpected.
“I’m sorry,” Aiden murmured, his tone quiet yet clear. “I’m still getting over what happened with Ryder. But I want everyone to know how thankful I am to be here, to see my sister again, and to have another opportunity to be part of something positive.”
The people in the room showed a mixture of understanding and doubt, their voices softly filling the area. Before the mood could turn, Xander stepped forward.
“I know many of you have questions and concerns,” he said, his strong voice commanding attention. “But I want you all to know that I vouch for Aiden personally. He fought bravely alongside us against Ryder, and his power, combined with Aurora’s, maybe our best hope against the threats we face.”
A pack member moved forward, his face serious. I recognized him. His name is Aldrin, one of the oldest and most respected members of our pack.
“Young Aiden,” Aldrin said, his voice gravelly with age. “We welcome you, but we must also be cautious. Tell us, what can you share about your time with Ryder? What are his plans?”
I tensed, worried about how Aiden would handle this interrogation in his weakened state. But Aiden straightened, meeting Aldrin’s gaze steadily.
“Ryder’s ultimate goal,” Aiden said, his voice growing stronger, “is to merge the human world with the supernatural one. He believes that by doing so, he can rule over both as a god-like figure.”
A shocked silence fell over the gathering. I felt my breath catch in my throat. This was even worse than I had thought.
As I started to understand what Aiden was saying, I saw people moving in the crowd. A young woman from the Clearwater pack was staring at Aiden with an intensity that made me pause. There was something in her gaze that spoke of more than just curiosity or concern. Could she be…? I filed the thought away for later, focusing back on the matter at hand.
The silence was broken by whispers, some loud enough for me to catch fragments of doubt. “Can we trust him?” “What if he’s still under Ryder’s influence?” The words stung, even though I understood their caution.
Before I could address their concerns, Aiden suddenly went pale, his knees buckling. I caught him before he could fall, fear gripping my heart.
“We need to get him to the healer,” I said urgently to Xander. He nodded, helping me support Aiden as we made our way through the dispersing crowd.
As we walked, I leaned close to Xander. “They don’t trust him,” I whispered, unable to keep the worry from my voice.
“Give them time,” Xander reassured me. “They’ll see who he really is.”
We took Aiden to Zara, our pack’s healer. Her hands moved gently over Aiden, her eyes closed in concentration.
“He’s stable,” she said finally, opening her eyes. “But weak. Whatever Ryder did to him, it’s taking time to heal. He needs rest, but…” she hesitated, looking at me. “If he has information that could help against Ryder, we may need it sooner rather than later.”
I nodded, torn between concern for Aiden’s health and the urgent need for information. “Let him rest for now,” I decided. “I’ll gather a small group to hear what he knows when he’s stronger.”
As Aiden slept, I paced outside the room, my mind racing. Xander found me there, worry etched on his face.
“What is the problem, Aurora,” he whispered, holding my hands.
I gazed at him, feeling the tears I had been trying to hold back begin to fall. “What if they never accept him, Xander? What if they always see him as a threat because of what Ryder did to him?”
Xander pulled me into a tight embrace. “They will,” he said firmly. “They’ll see what I see – a brave, loyal wolf who’s been through hell and comes out fighting. Give them time.”
I nodded against his chest, drawing strength from his certainty.
A few hours later, Zara came out of the room. “He’s conscious now,” she announced. “And strong enough to talk, if you’re ready.”
I quickly gathered a small group – Xander, Asher, and a few pack members. As we entered the room, I saw Aiden sitting up, looking pale but alert.
“Thank you all for coming, Aiden said, sounding more confident. I know you’re looking for answers, and I’ll try my best to answer.”
During the following hour, Aiden explained all the details he was aware of regarding Ryder’s strategies. He told us about magical artifacts Ryder had collected, each one amplifying his power in different ways. He described the rituals Ryder used, pointing out potential weaknesses in the complex magical formulas.
“The key,” Aiden said, his eyes intense, “is disrupting his connection to these artifacts. Without them, he’s still powerful, but not invincible.”
As Aiden talked, I started to feel a little bit of hope in my heart. It was the first time since we had that tough meeting with Ryder that I thought we could possibly succeed.
“There’s one more thing,” I told Aiden, looking at him. He nodded, showing he knew what I was going to ask even before I said it.
“Aurora and I,” Aiden said, “when we use our powers together, we can do things that we can’t do by ourselves. I think… I think it might be enough to stand against Ryder.”
To demonstrate, Aiden and I joined hands. I felt the usual surge of energy, where our abilities combined and made each other stronger. A gentle light came from our connected hands, making the small hut warm and bright.
The pack members whispered in surprise, and I noticed a spark of hope in their eyes, which was the same as mine.
After the meeting ended, I felt a fresh feeling of determination. We have a possible plan, and above all, we have hope.
As we left the room, I noticed the young woman from the Clearwater pack waiting nearby. She approached hesitantly, her eyes darting between Aiden and me.
“Lily,” she introduced herself, her voice soft. “I… I have some knowledge of herbal remedies. I thought I could assist in Aiden’s healing if you’re okay with that.”
I looked at her closely, noticing how her eyes repeatedly went back to Aiden and the light pink color on her face. My earlier suspicion strengthened. Could she be Aiden’s mate? The thought filled me with a mix of joy and apprehension.
“Of course,” I said finally. “Any assistance would be appreciated.”
In the following days, I observed Aiden becoming stronger. The treatments Lily provided appeared to be effective, and I noticed how Aiden’s eyes brightened each time she came into the room. Gradually, he started to adjust to life within the pack. I saw him chatting with younger pack members, sharing stories, and laughing. The sight warmed my heart, easing some of the worry that had been my constant companion.
As Aiden recovered, we began to practice combining our powers more intensively. Each day, we pushed ourselves further, discovering new ways to merge our abilities.
It was during one of these training sessions that everything changed. Aiden and I stood facing each other, hands clasped, focusing on channeling our energy together. As usual, I felt the familiar rush of power, the comforting warmth of our combined strength.
But this time, something was different. The energy between us grew, intensifying beyond anything we’ve experienced before. I opened my eyes and saw Aiden looking at me with surprise. Our hands were glowing so bright that it was painful to look at them directly.
Then suddenly, there was an outburst of energy from us, moving in a visible wave. I heard shouts of alarm from nearby pack members as the wave passed through them, rattling windows and shaking trees.
As the energy dissipated, Aiden and I stumbled apart, both of us breathing heavily. I looked around, seeing the stunned and somewhat fearful faces of our pack mates.
“What… what was that?” Aiden gasped, looking as shocked as I felt.
Before I could answer, Xander came running up, his face a mix of concern and awe. “Aurora, Aiden, are you alright? What happened?”
I shook my head, and I still was trying to comprehend what had just happened. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “We were just practicing, and then…”
My words faded as I felt a change in the air around us. It felt charged, giving me a tingling feeling that made the hair on my arms stand up. In the distance, where the energy had spread, I could see strange, wavy patterns in the air.
As the pack came together, their expressions were filled with fear and curiosity, I understood that we had unintentionally gone too far. We had accessed a strong force, something we didn’t completely comprehend.
“Aurora,” Xander said, his tone serious and pressing. “What does this mean?”
I looked into his eyes. “I don’t know,” I confessed. “But I think we just changed the game entirely.”