Eclipsed Destiny

It was heavy with silence as they made their way back to camp. Aziel led the way, his shoulders tense and claws extended as if he expected another attack. Marcus followed close behind, his blade resting at his side but ready to strike if needed. Celia trailed behind them, her mind a whirlwind of questions and doubts.

The word echoed in her mind, the blessing's warning sharp and insistent: "Traitor."

It couldn't be. Not again. The pack was already broken from Toran's betrayal. Another would shatter them completely within their ranks.

Then they see the camp looming, its fires burning low, casting flickering shadows across the clearing. The pack gathers as they approach, their faces creased with worry and exhaustion. The news of the rogue lieutenant's return and the failed ambush has spread quickly, and the air is thick with unease.

Aziel stood in the middle of the clearing, sweeping his eyes over all the gathered wolves. "The rogues attacked," he began to say in a steady yet hard voice. "They're getting bolder, showing off their numbers, their strength. But this isn't a battle. This is a warning."

Murmurs ran through the crowd, and tension built. Celia felt the weight of their eyes on her, their unease palpable. They looked to her, their new Luna, for answers she didn't have.

"They're testing us," Aziel said. "Looking for weaknesses. But we won't give them the satisfaction. We stand together, or we fall apart."

The murmurs quieted, but the doubt in the air remained. Celia's mark tingled faintly, a warning that set her nerves on edge. She glanced at the faces of the pack, searching for something-anything-that might reveal the source of her unease. Marcus stepped forward, his voice cutting through the silence. "The rogues didn't attack without reason. They knew we'd be there. Someone tipped them off."

The murmurs returned, louder this time, laced with suspicion. Celia's stomach twisted as she watched the pack turn on each other, their trust fraying before her eyes.

"That's enough," Aziel growled, his voice sharp. "We won't descend into chaos. We'll find the truth, but we'll do it together."

Celia stepped forward, her voice shaking but unwavering. "We cannot let them divide us. The rogues want us to turn against each other. If we give into that, then they win."

The pack fell silent, her words hanging in the air like a fragile thread. But the unease didn't dissipate. The trust that held them together was already unraveling, and Celia could feel it slipping through her fingers.

7---

Later that night, Celia sat alone by the fire, her thoughts a tangled mess. The blessing's warning replayed in her mind, over and over, until she felt like she might go mad. "Traitor." The word was a blade, cutting deeper with every repetition.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She couldn't let the doubt consume her. She had to find the truth-had to protect the pack from falling apart.

"You're up late," Aziel's voice broke through her thoughts. He approached, his expression softening as he sat beside her. "You should be resting."

"I can't," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "The blessing... it's warning me. There's something wrong, Aziel. Someone here isn't who they say they are."

Aziel's jaw tightened, his blue eyes darkening. "You think there's another traitor."

Celia nodded. Her chest tightened. "The blessing hasn't been wrong before. It's telling me to look closer. But I don't know where to start.

Aziel reached out and took her hand, his touch warm and stabilizing. "We will find a way. Together."

She looked up to meet his eyes, finding solace in the strength they showed her. Still, doubt nagged at the fringes of her mind.

7---

The next day, Celia moved through the camp, sensing everything. She watched the wolves closely to see if any of them would betray her. Tension filled the pack-their movements sharp, and their conversations hushed. The fear was palpable and only a matter of time before it boiled over.

As she passed a group of scouts, she caught a snippet of conversation that made her pause.

"I saw him near the perimeter," one wolf said quietly. "He said he was scouting, but I don't buy it."

"Who?" another wolf asked suspiciously.

"Kael."

Celia's blood ran cold. Kael had always been a thorn in her side, and his distrust of her obvious. But could he be the traitor the blessing warned of? The thought sent a shiver through her.

She turned on her heel, her steps quick as she made her way toward Aziel's cabin. She found him inside, bent over a map with Marcus, their voices low and urgent.

"Aziel," she said, her voice cutting through the tension. "We need to talk."

Aziel looked up, his expression darkening as he saw the look on her face. "What is it?

"It's Kael," she said, her voice trembling. "The blessing-it's warning me. I think he's the traitor."

Marcus frowned, his gaze flicking to Aziel. "Kael's been trouble for a while now. If he's working with the rogues..."

"We can't jump to conclusions," Aziel said, his voice firm. "We need proof."

Celia nodded, though her chest tightened with frustration. She wanted to act, to confront Kael and demand answers. But Aziel was right. Without proof, they risked dividing the pack even further.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"I'll keep an eye on him," Marcus said, his tone grim. "If he's up to something, we'll find out."

7---

That night, Celia ended up at the fringe of the camp, gazing out into the forest. The blessing throbbed feebly, its energy always reminding her of how deep the danger was. She felt like time was almost over, that the traitor would strike before they had a chance to stop him.

"You're not alone, you know."

Celia turned to see Aziel approaching, his expression soft but tired. He stopped beside her, his presence steadying.

"I know," she said quietly. "But it feels like it. The blessing... it's like it's alive, Aziel. It knows things I can't explain, and it's warning me. But I don't know if I'm strong enough to stop what's coming."

Aziel placed his hand on her shoulder, the warmth in his touch soothing. "You are strong enough," he said. "You have proven it time and time again. The pack believes in you. I believe in you."

Celia looked at him, heart aching at the weight of his words. She wanted to believe him, to trust in her own strength. But she couldn't help but have the fear of failure; it lingered, and she couldn't shake that shadow.

"I just want this to be over," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I want the pack to be safe."

Aziel's gaze softened, and he stepped closer, his hand brushing against her cheek. "We'll get through this. Together."

The bond between them pulsed, a steady rhythm that filled her with a small measure of hope. She nodded, leaning into his touch as the weight on her chest lifted, if only slightly.

\---

As the night darkened, Celia's mark flared suddenly, the heat sharp and insistent. She gasped, clutching her arm as the blessing's energy surged through her.

A single word echoed in her mind, louder this time, more urgent: "Kael."