Eclipsed Destiny

The hush in the valley was crushing, only broken by the faint rustle of leaves and distant howls of wolves still locked in a tangle of battle. Celia's heart pounded as she stared at the lieutenant of the rogue Alpha, a monstrous figure shrouded in an aura of darkness. His red eyes gleamed with malice, locked onto her as if she were a caught prey in a trap. On her arm, the mark burned strongly; its heat was almost unbearable, a reaction of the blessing to the evil so overwhelming before her.

Aziel moved in front of her protectively, his broad shoulder acting as a shield against the rogue's piercing gaze. "You cross our land for the last time," he growled low with fury.

The lieutenant laughed darkly, the bulk of his frame seeming to exude an unnatural menace. "Your lands? How quaint," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "These lands belong to no one but the strong, and you, Alpha, are losing your grip."

What Celia saw was the lieutenant's gaze flicking to her. The air seemed heavier, charged with a tension that made it impossible to breathe. "And the keeper of the blessing," he went on, his tone turning almost reverent. "You're the reason we're here. Do you even know the power you hold?

Aziel's eyes hardened, his muscles coiled like a spring ready to snap. "She's not yours to take," he said coldly.

The rogue's laugh echoed through the valley, making Celia shiver inside. "Ah, but she's not yours, is she?" he said, his eyes glinting with a wicked amusement. "The bond you share is forbidden. An Alpha tied to the keeper of the blessing-it's unnatural. Dangerous.

Her stomach dropped at his words, her gaze jolting to Aziel. The bond between them throbbed faintly, a steady rhythm that was reassuring even as doubt slipped quietly into the crevices of her mind. Was the bond truly forbidden? Had they unknowingly crossed a line that would damn them both?Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Aziel's growl deepened, his anger palpable. "You don't know anything about us.

The rogue tilted his head, his expression mocking. "Don't I? The blessing chose her, and it's tied to her fate. But you, Alpha. you're nothing more than a distraction. A weakness."

But the rogue was quicker, lunging at Aziel with his massive claws slicing through the air. Aziel met him head-on, their collision sending shockwaves through the ground. Celia stumbled back, her hands trembling as she watched the two titans clash. This battle was brutal as every impact in the valley rippled like a thunderclap.

"Aziel!" she screamed, her voice cracking. She could feel the power of the blessing building inside her, screaming to be set free. But fear held her back - the fear of losing control, losing herself, and worse, causing more damage than good. "Celia, run!" Aziel barked, his voice strained as he dodged the rogue's powerful swipe. "Get to safety!"

No," she exclaimed, her mark brightening as the energy of the blessing reached a crescendo. She couldn't leave him. Not now. Not ever.

Summoning every ounce of courage she possessed, Celia stepped forward, her hand raised and releasing a burst of light. The energy clashed with the rogue, forcing him to stumble backward with a snarl. Aziel used the chance to strike him with a powerful blow that made the rogue crash to the ground.

The pack surged around them, its cohesiveness a stark contrast to the mad chaos of the rogues. The battle was turned; the rogues retreated under the pack's strength and the blessing's power.

And yet, even so close to victory, Celia's heart sank. The rogue lieutenant slowly rose, his red eyes blazing with fury. "You think this is over?" he hissed. "This is only the beginning."

1---

At the time the battle had died down, the valley was eerily silent, but it was over for the rogues. They were gone with the faint stench of their presence, leaving only the weight of their threat behind. The pack began regathering, moving with an air of weariness but determination to tend to their wounds, strengthen their defenses.

Celia stood at the edge of the clearing, her hands still shaking from the battle. The mark on her arm pulsed with weak energy, spent but not gone. She could sense Aziel coming before she saw him, his presence a steadying force that calmed the storm inside her.

"You shouldn't have stayed," he said quietly, his voice a mixture of anger and relief. "I told you to run."

She faced him, her eyes running with tears she held back. "I couldn't leave you," she said. "I couldn't just stand by and do nothing."

Aziel's face softened. He reached out to stroke a lock of hair back from her face. "You're braver than I deserve," he said. "But you can't put yourself in danger like this. The blessing-"

The blessing is part of me," she said, her voice strong. "I won't run from it. And I won't run from you."

The tie between them felt stronger than ever, a steady rhythm that seemed to echo the beating of their hearts. For a moment, the world around them faded into nothing as the two of them stood in the quiet flurry after the battle had subsided. But the moment was fleeting. For Marcus approached, his face grim. "We must talk," he said, his eyes darting from Aziel to Celia. "What that thief said. about the bond. Is it true?"

Aziel's jaw clenched, and he looked at Celia before speaking. "The bond exists," he admitted. "But it's not what they think. It's not a weakness.

Marcus frowned, his concern evident. "The pack won't see it that way. They'll question it, Aziel. They'll question you."

Celia's chest tightened at his words. She hadn't considered how the bond might affect Aziel's leadership, how it might be perceived by the pack. "This isn't his fault," she said quickly. "If anyone's to blame, it's me."

Aziel shook his head. "No one's to blame," he said firmly. "The bond is what it is. And if the pack has questions, I'll answer them."

Marcus hesitated, then nodded. "They trust you, Aziel. But this is new territory. Be careful."

1---

The following days were stifling with tension. The pack labored tirelessly to rebuild, but whispers about the bond flapped their tongues like wildfire. Celia sensed their eyes on her wherever she went, their curiosity and suspicion a persistent heaviness on her shoulders. She avoided their gazes, concentrating instead on learning the blessing's power under Luna's tutelage.

Aziel also suffered the weight of uncertainty carried in the pack. Although he remained strong and decisive, Celia could see that it was taking its toll on him. He was spending long hours in the central hall, meeting with Marcus and other pack leaders to come up with a strategy and plan for the rogues' next move.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Aziel found Celia sitting alone near the edge of the forest. She looked up as he approached, her expression weary but grateful. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked, sitting beside her.

She shook her head. "It's hard to sleep when half the pack thinks you're a liability."

Aziel frowned, his gaze softening. "They don't think that."

They do," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "And I don't blame them. The blessing, the bond. it's all so much bigger than me."

Aziel reached out, his hand covering hers. "You're not a liability, Celia. You're part of this pack. Part of me."

Her breath hitched at his words, and she looked at him, her eyes searching his. "Do you ever regret it? The bond, I mean.

He shook his head without hesitation. "Never," he said. "The bond isn't a weakness, no matter what anyone says. It's what gives us strength. And it's what will see us through this."

The bond pulsed between them, a steady rhythm that seemed to echo their unspoken connection. For the first time in days, Celia felt a flicker of hope. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she knew she wouldn't face them alone.

But when the first stars twinkled in the black darkness of night, a lonely howl pierced the quiet. Aziel's face set in a look of severity, and he sprang upright, standing stiffly on his feet.

"They come," he whispered.

Celia stood beside him, her heart racing. The rogues hadn't given up. And now that the bond had been exposed, the risks were greater than ever.

7---

The forest around them seemed to be holding its breath, because the howls grew louder and closer. Celia felt the blessing stirring within her, energy building as if anticipating what was to come. She glanced at Aziel, their bond thrumming with silent determination.

"Together," he said, his voice steady.

"Together," she repeated, her mark glowing faintly as they prepared to face what was to come.