Eclipsed Destiny

The air in the settlement was unnervingly still, usual hum of activity subdued as tension rippled through the pack. Wolves moved with careful precision; every step, every movement underscored by the looming shadow of another rogue attack. Celia paced near the edge of the central hall; her thoughts scattered as she tried to focus on the restless energy of the blessing throbbing under her skin.

The mark on her arm had been strangely silent after the skirmish at the southern border, but now it pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat that was out of rhythm with her own. Not pain-it was a warning. She felt it in her chest, a low hum of something waiting just beyond her reach.

Aziel came out of the hall, his blue eyes surveying the clearing with a leader's keen sharpness as though trusting nothing to chance. At sight of him, the turmoil of Celia's racing mind steadied. He'd not stopped for an instant in the days following the attack, striving to build their defenses and to rally the pack. She admired the strength even as she worried for what it was doing to him.

"Anything out of the ordinary?" Aziel asked, his voice smooth but laced with the weight of his responsibilities.

"Not yet," Celia said, though her fingers brushed instinctively over the mark on her arm. "But it feels. wrong. Like something's coming."

Aziel nodded his head, his expression hardening. "The rogues aren't finished with us. We need to remain vigilant."

Celia hesitated before speaking, her voice softer this time. "What if it's not just the rogues? What if there's something else something bigger-driving them?"

Aziel's jaw tightened, but he didn't dismiss her concerns. "Then we'll face it. Together."

7---

That night, uneasiness was at a deeper level still. Celia lay wide awake in her small room and shadows cast by the dim glimmer of candlelight wandered upon the walls. Her own sense was restless, like that pulse which kept the blood running with some unyielding tension; she could hardly get into sleep.

Her thoughts returned to the rogue Alpha's lieutenant and his taunting words echoing in her mind like a specter: Weakness. It was a bitter taste that filled her mind-a sharp reminder of her own doubts. She had fought to prove herself, protect her pack, but his words had etched a crack in her resolve.

A sudden noise outside pulled her out of her thoughts. It was faint-a rustle of leaves, the snap of a branch-but enough to set her on edge. She slipped from her bed, her movements careful as she made her way to the window. The moonlight cast a pale glow over the clearing, illuminating the trees that surrounded the settlement.

At first, she saw nothing. Then, a shadow moved a figure darting between the trees with an inhuman speed.

Celia's breath caught. She wanted to call for Aziel, but something restrained her. The mark on her arm flared with heat, the energy surging through her like a wave. Whoever or whatever was out there, it was connected to the blessing. Grabbing her cloak, she slipped out of the room and into the cool night air. The settlement was quiet, the wolves asleep or guarding the perimeter. Celia moved cautiously, her heart pounding as she followed the figure into the forest. The trees closed in on her, their twisted branches sending strange shadows upon the earth. The figure moved ahead, out of her reach, but the power of the blessing guided her, tugging her forward like a string she could not ignore. She came to a halt because suddenly a figure appeared. The shape of a man existed beneath his dark cloak when he pivoted around to face her. Shadows obscured his facial features as the wind whipped back through the folds of fabric from behind him.

"Celia," he said. Low, rough, such was his voice, which boomed out like distant thunder.

She stiffened, her mark flaring with heat. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The man stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. "You already know who I am," he said. "And you know what I want. The blessing belongs to me."

The realization hit her like a blow. This wasn't just another rogue this was something far more dangerous.

The blessing isn't yours," she said, her voice shaking but firm. "It chose me."

The man laughed, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. "And what makes you think you're worthy of it? You can barely control its power."

Celia raised her hand, the blessing's energy crackling around her fingers. "I don't have to control it to stop you.

He nodded, red eyes shining as he advances upon her. "You don't even know what you're fighting for, do you? The blessing isn't a gift-it's a curse. One that'll destroy you and everyone you care about."

Celia's breath caught, but she steeled herself, standing her ground. "You're lying.

Am I?" the man said in almost mocking tone. "You've felt it, haven't you? The way it eats away at you, piece by piece. How long do you think you can hold it before it consumes you?

The words struck a chord of fear deep within her, but she didn't let it show. "I won't let you take it," she said, her voice steady. "Whatever it is, it's mine to bear." The man's smile widened, and he raised a clawed hand. "Then let's see if you're strong enough to keep it."

The attack came without warning. The man lunged, his movements blindingly fast as he struck at her with claws that gleamed like obsidian. Celia released a burst of light, the blessing's energy slamming into him and forcing him back. But he recovered quickly, his red eyes narrowing as he circled her like a predator. "Not bad," he said. "But you'll have to do better than that."

Celia's heart pounded in her chest as she dodged his next attack, the blessing surging within her as she countered with another burst of energy. The light struck him, but this time he absorbed it, the glow dimming as it disappeared into his form.

"You still don't understand," he said, his voice calm but menacing. "The blessing doesn't belong to you. It belongs to me. And I'll take it, one way or another."

Celia stumbled back, her mark burning like fire as she struggled to contain the blessing's power. She felt it slipping, the energy wild and uncontrollable as the man advanced.

Just as he would have gotten to her, an ear-piercing sound broke through the air. Aziel ran into the clearing with his wolf form - a blur of strength and fury - and ran at the man. The two of them clashed in a tangle of claws and teeth, too fast for Celia to follow.

Aziel reverted back to his human form. Anger blazed in his blue eyes, and he positioned himself between Celia and the man. "If you want her, you'll have to go through me," he said in a low voice, filled with danger.

The man let out a loud chuckle. His red eyes were glinting in amusement. "Gladly," he said.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

The battle was vicious, the clearing filled with snarls and the clash of power. Celia watched, her heart pounding as Aziel fought to protect her. But even as he held his ground, she could see the strain in his movements, the toll the battle was taking on him.

The man was strong-stronger than any rogue she'd ever met. But Aziel was relentless, his determination unwavering as he pushed the man back step by step.

Finally, with a roar that shook the ground, Aziel landed a blow that sent the man crashing into a tree. The force of the impact splintered the trunk, and the man slumped to the ground, motionless.

Aziel turned to Celia, his breathing heavy but his eyes filled with concern. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Celia nodded, though her hands trembled as she lowered them. "I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aziel's gaze softened, and he reached out to steady her. "Come on," he said. "Let's get back to the settlement."

\---

As they turned to leave, the man's laughter boomed through the clearing, low and sinister. "You think this is over?" he said, his voice dripping with malice. "This is only the beginning." Celia froze, her mark burning with renewed intensity as the man's red eyes glowed brighter. The battle wasn't over-not yet.