Eclipsed Destiny

The morning after the battle dawned in uneasy silence. Pack moved with grim determination, their faces etched with exhaustion and resolution as they worked to rebuild the settlement. Celia sat on the edge of the central clearing, her body aching from the strain of the blessing's power the night before. Her hands quivered slightly as she wrapped her arms around her knees and stared out at the trees.

Aziel had been gone for hours. He had left before sunrise, leading a small group to scout the perimeter for signs of lingering rogues. Despite his reassurances that he would return by midday, a nagging sense of unease gnawed at Celia. She couldn't shake the memory of the rogue Alpha's monstrous second-in-command, a figure that seemed to embody pure malice. Though they had shoved the rogues back, she knew the fight was far from over.

A hand on her shoulder startled her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Luna standing over her, a small smile on her face despite the dark circles under her eyes. The healer looked as worn as Celia felt, but her presence steadied Celia. "You should eat something," Luna said, her voice soft. "You won't do anyone any good if you collapse."

Celia nodded, though the idea of food made her stomach turn. "I'm not hungry."

"You still need to take care of yourself," Luna said, sitting beside her. "The blessing takes a toll, Celia. You can't ignore that."

Celia looked down at the mark on her arm, where the faint glow told her that power was inside of her. "It's not just the blessing," she admitted. "I keep thinking about what's next. The prophecy, the rogues. it feels like no matter what I do, it's never enough.

Luna sighed, her eyes relaxing. "No one expects you to know everything. The prophecy chose you for a reason, but that doesn't mean you have to carry everything on your own.

Celia didn't reply, but Luna's words stayed with her as the healer stood and returned to her work. She watched the pack moving about their tasks, their unity and resilience a quiet source of strength. Even in the face of uncertainty, they kept fighting, rebuilding. It was a reminder she wasn't alone in this.

She turned at the sound of hoofbeats; Aziel rode into the settlement, his face grim. Behind him rode Marcus and the rest of the scouts, each face tight with tension. The pack assembled rapidly, hope and dread intermixed in their hasty movements.

Aziel slid from his saddle and swept his blue gaze around the assembly, until they locked on Celia. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stood up, feeling her way to him.

"What did you find?" Marcus asked, the question cutting through the mumbled words of the gathered wolves.

Aziel's jaw hardened into a line, and with a deep breath, he began his report. "The rogues are regrouping, he said. "We tracked them to the north valley edge. They're gathering more forces and mustering up for another attack". A shiver ran through the crowd. Celia's stomach twisted inside her. The north valley was so close to the core of their land. If the rogues broke through, the pack would have nowhere to go to in case of retreating. "We cannot let them take a step forward," Marcus said, his voice firm. "If they have reached this point, we should strike before they can advance.

Aziel nodded. "I agree. But this isn't just a matter of defense anymore. The rogues are after something specific-something tied to the blessing. We need to find out what it is and we must halt it before it's too late." Celia felt the weight of his words settle over her like a heavy cloak. She didn't need to ask what he meant. The blessing was at the center of all of this, and by extension, so was she.

"I'm coming with you," she said, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her chest.

Aziel turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Celia—"

No," she broke in, her eyes fixing on his. "This battle isn't just yours, Aziel. It's mine too. If the rogues are coming for the blessing, then I need to be there."

The tension between them was almost palpable in that moment. Then Aziel exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just a little. "You are right," he said softly. "But you stay close to me. No exceptions.

Celia nodded, relief and apprehension flooding her in equal measure. She didn't know what they would find in the northern valley, but she knew she could not stand by, allowing others to fight her battles for her.

The pack prepared quickly, their movements efficient and well-coordinated. Aziel's leadership was evident in the way they followed his commands without even a flicker of hesitation, his trust in him unwavering. Celia watched him closely as he moved among them, his presence steady and unyielding, though she knew the weight he carried. She wondered if he ever allowed himself to feel the weight of it or if he had simply learned to bear it without faltering.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting long shadows over the forest, the group set out. Celia rode beside Aziel, her heart pounding as they made their way toward the northern valley. The forest grew darker about them as they travelled- the trees closing in around them like silent sentinels-and the air was heavy with tension with every rustle of leaves and snap of a branch.

The journey was long and arduous, weighing on their mission with every passing mile. Celia found herself constantly looking at Aziel as if he was a source of strength. The danger ahead did little to ease her nerves but he radiated a sort of calm determination that was steadying.

When they reached the edge of the valley, Aziel signaled for the group to halt. They dismounted silently, their movements careful as they approached the ridge overlooking the rogue encampment. Celia crouched beside Aziel, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the scene below.

The rogues had set up camp in a wide clearing, and their numbers were far more than she had anticipated. Dozens of them moved about the encampment, their forms shadowy in the fading light. At the center of the clearing stood a massive stone structure, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the dark.NôvelDrama.Org © content.

Celia felt the mark on her arm burn, a searing heat that made her wince. The blessing was reacting to the structure, its energy resonating with the runes in a way that left her breathless.

"What is that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Aziel's expression darkened. "It's an altar," he said. "One of the old places of power. The rogues must be trying to harness its energy."

"Or corrupt it," Marcus added grimly.

Celia's stomach twisted as she watched the rogues moving about the altar, their movements precise and deliberate. Whatever they were doing, it was clear that they had a purpose-a purpose tied to the blessing. "We can't let them finish," Aziel said, his voice low but firm. "If they succeed, it could tip the balance in their favor."

Marcus nodded. "Then we strike now, before they get any chance to react."

Aziel turned to Celia, his eyes fixed. "Stay close to me," he said. "Whatever happens, don't let them separate us."

Celia nodded, her heart racing as she dug her hand into the dagger at her side. The blessing burned hotter now, the energy within her surging as if in anticipation of the battle ahead.

Aziel indicated to the group, and they moved quickly down the ridge, making no sound whatsoever, with precise steps. Celia followed Aziel, who breathed shallowly, as they drew closer to the edge of the encampment.

First was a flash of impact. Aziel led it, his form becoming merely a whirlwind of fur and motion, as he thrust himself through the nearest throng of rogues. The rest followed, not in disorganization, as the rogues were behaving, but as one movement, with no room in their unity or precision.

Celia raised her hand, letting loose a burst of energy that sent a rogue flying backward. The power surged through her, wild and unchained, but she fought herself to concentrate, to throttle it into controlled strikes.

The battle continued on, the air full of snarls and growls as the two sides clashed. Celia stayed close to Aziel, her mark glowing brightly as she fought to keep the rogues at bay. But as the minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the tide of the battle began to shift.

The rogues never ceased, their count endless. Celia could feel her strength dwindling; the energy of the blessing ran like wildfire through her veins. She stumbled, vision blurring with exhaustion threatening to consume her. Aziel was beside her in an instant, his presence steadying her as he took the rogue's blow meant for her. "Celia!" he bellowed over the mayhem. "Hang on!

She nodded weakly, pushing herself to stand as the bond between them pulsed with renewed strength. She couldn't give up. Not now.

The battle was at its peak, a deafening roar echoing through the valley. Celia turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows, its form shrouded in darkness. The rogues parted as it approached, their movements reverent as the figure advanced toward the altar.

It was the rogue Alpha's second-in-command, his presence radiating an aura of power and malice. His red eyes locked onto Celia, and she felt the mark on her arm sear with pain. Aziel stepped in front

of her, his stance protective as he faced the monstrous rogue. "You won't touch her," he growled, his voice filled with defiance.

A low, menacing laugh exploded from the rogue Alpha's lieutenant as he spoke. His voice rumbled like thunder. "You can't stop me, Alpha. This blessing is ours now."

Celia felt the blessing surge within her, building to a peak as the figure advanced. The battle around them faded into the background as she faced the rogue, her heart pounding with equal parts fear and determination.

This was it. The moment the prophecy had been leading up to. The line between light and darkness was blurred as the power of the blessing reached its peak, and Celia knew that the choice she made here would shape the future of them all.