Eclipsed Destiny

The fire in the middle of camp had burned down to just embers, sending flickering shadows over the tired faces of the pack. Celia stood on the edge of the clearing, her mark still twitching faintly since the rogue lieutenant left. But although the battle was over, the air felt tight and charged, stifling.

We are not alone.

The words hung in her mind, refusing to let her sleep. Aziel had put additional patrols around the periphery, but it did nothing to calm the tempest brewing inside of her. Someone-or something-was watching them. "Celia."

Aziel's voice broke into her thoughts, steady and grounding. She turned to see him approaching, his expression hard but unreadable.

"The council wants to see you," he said.

She blinked. "The council?"

Aziel nodded, his sharp blue eyes. "There is unrest in the pack. With the lieutenant's warning, they're asking for answers-on you, on the bond, and the blessing."

Celia's stomach twisted. "They blame me."

"Not exactly," Aziel softened. "But they're frightened. The blessing is attached to you now, and now the rogues are targeting you head on. People are beginning to wonder.

Celia swallowed hard, weighed down by his words. "What do they want me to do?"

Aziel hesitated, looking away. "They want you to make a decision. They want you to officially step into the role of Luna."

Celia stared at him, her heart thundering in her chest. "What?

"You're already bonded to me," Aziel said carefully. "The pack sees that. They see your power, your connection to the blessing. But they need reassurance. They need someone to follow."

Celia took a step back, shaking her head. "I can't do this, Aziel. I'm not a Luna. I'm not even part of the pack."

You're more a part of this pack than you realize," Aziel said firmly. "They've seen you fight. They've seen what you can do. They trust you, Celia even if you don't trust yourself."

Her chest tightened, her breath coming in shallow gasps. "This isn't fair," she whispered. "I never asked for any of this.

He takes one more step nearer to her, his presence steady. "Neither did I," he says softly. "But it doesn't matter what we asked for. The pack needs you, Celia. I need you."

The bond glows faintly between them, warm and reassuring, but it isn't enough to quell the doubts screaming in her mind.

"What if I fail?" she asks him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You won't," Aziel said, his voice unshakeable. "You're stronger than you think."

Celia looked up at him, searching his face for answers. For the first time, she saw something other than strength in his eyes-she saw trust, belief, and something deeper that she couldn't yet name. "Will you stand with me?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Aziel nodded, his face softening. "Always."

7---

The council sat in Aziel's cabin, the faces etched with suspicion and weariness. Marcus stood by Aziel's side, silent in his show of support, but Kael lingered near the door, his face unreadable.

Celia stood in the middle of the room, every eye on her as if waiting for her to crack. The weight of their gazes was suffocating, but she made herself stand tall, even as her heart pounded in her chest. "Why are we here?" one of the elders asked, his voice sharp.

Aziel stepped forward, his eyes sweeping across the room. "We come to reunite this pack. The rogue lieutenant seeks to drive us apart, and we can't allow him to succeed."

"And what of her?" another elder demanded, pointing a gnarled finger at Celia. "The rogues came for her. They've said as much. How do we know she's not the reason we're being targeted? Celia flinched, but Aziel's voice rang out, strong and commanding. "Celia is not to blame for this. The blessing chose her-it's our greatest weapon against the rogues. Without her, we'd already be lost." The room fell silent, the truth of his words hanging in the air.

"And yet," Kael drawled, breaking the silence, "it's the blessing that's putting us at risk. Maybe we'd be better off without it."

Aziel's eyes narrowed. "Watch your words."

Kael shrugged, his smirk infuriatingly calm. "I'm only saying what others are thinking. The rogues aren't attacking us for land or power-they're attacking us for her. The girl with the blessing. And you expect us to pretend that's not a problem?" Celia's fingers curled into fists at her sides, the heat of anger flaring in her chest. "I didn't ask for this," she said, her voice steady even though there was a slight tremble beneath it. "But I'm here. And I'm fighting for this pack just as much as any of you."

Kael's smirk began to fade, but his gaze remained sharp. "Fighting isn't enough. If you want us to trust you, prove it.

Enough," Aziel growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Celia has already proven herself. She's risked her life for this pack."

Kael turned to Aziel, his smirk returning. "Then make it official. Declare her as Luna."

The room fell into a tense silence, every face turning to Celia.

Her breath caught, her pulse thundering in her ears. This was what they wanted to tie her to the pack, to make her a symbol of unity. But it wasn't unity she felt in the room. It was doubt, fear, and suspicion.

Aziel looked at her, his gaze steady. "Celia?"

Celia's heart ached as she looked around the room. These were the people she was supposed to protect, the people she was supposed to lead. But how could she lead them when they didn't trust her? When didn't she even trust herself? "I'll do it," she said finally, her voice soft but firm. "If that's what the pack needs, I'll step into the role of Luna."

The tension in the room shifted, but Celia could still feel the doubt lingering in the air. Aziel stepped forward to stand beside her, his presence a quiet reassurance as he turned to the council.

"You have your Luna," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "And we will stand together, no matter what comes."

The council nodded reluctantly, though Kael's smirk remained. Celia met his gaze, and for the first time, she saw something dangerous lurking behind his eyes-something she couldn't quite name.

7---NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Later that night, Celia sat alone outside her tent, the cold air biting at her skin. She stared at the mark on her arm, the blessing's faint glow a constant reminder of the weight she now carried. "You did the right thing," Aziel said softly, sitting beside her.

"Did I?" Celia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "They don't trust me, Aziel. I could see it in their eyes."

"They'll come around," Aziel said. "Once they see what you're capable of, they'll follow you."

Celia looked at him, her heart aching. "What if I fail?"

"You won't," Aziel said, his voice steady. "Because you're not alone."

The bond between them pulsed softly, a quiet reassurance that settled in her chest. Celia nodded, though the unease still lingered. The council had accepted her, but Kael's words gnawed at the edges of her mind. Prove it.

A rustle in the distance drew her attention, and her mark flared suddenly, its heat sharp and searing. She turned toward the shadows, her breath catching as she felt it-

Someone was watching them.

\---

Celia rose to her feet, her voice tense. "Aziel, we're not alone."

Aziel was by her side in a heartbeat, his eyes keen as he scanned the tree line. "Show yourself," he growled, his voice carrying through the darkness.

For a long moment, there was silence. Then, a figure stepped into view-one Celia never expected to see.

"Hello, Celia," Kael said, his smirk colder than ever. "We need to talk."