Eclipsed Destiny

The forest was eerily quiet except for the rustling leaves beneath one's feet and, once in a while, a howl carried away on the wind. Celia walked beside Aziel, with thoughts all muddled, mixed emotions of fear and confusion. It had taken her a good long time to forget the rogue Alpha's final words, so laced with malice.

"You can't protect her forever."

Aziel had told her not to worry, to trust in him and the pack, but Celia wasn't sure she could. She barely knew these people barely knew him. And yet, there was a part of her, deep and instinctual, that wanted to believe him. To trust the bond that tied them together.

The pack had dispersed to patrol and ensure the rogues really were gone. Aziel had insisted on taking her back to the pack's territory, saying it was the safest place for her. Celia wanted to argue, demand answers, but the weariness in his eyes and the tension in his shoulders halted her. He carried more weight than she could comprehend.

"Are you always this stubborn?" Aziel asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence.

Celia blinked, startled. "What?"

Aziel glanced over his shoulder at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You've been frowning since we left the clearing. If you have something to say, say it."

Celia crossed her arms, taking a faltering step back. "I don't even know where to start," she admitted. "You keep throwing all these. these truths at me, and I'm supposed to just accept them? My whole life has been turned upside down, Aziel. I think I'm allowed to be confused.

Aziel stopped, turning his body to face her completely. The smirk was gone, replaced by a seriousness that made her heart skip a beat. "You're right," he said, surprising her. "You deserve answers. And I'll give them to you. But first, we need to get back to the pack. It's not safe out here.

Celia's temper flared, but she gulped down her retort. He wasn't wrong. The forest felt more ominous than ever, shadows stretching longer, darker as if something watched them.

They reached the edge of the pack's territory just as the moon reached its zenith. Celia hesitated, her gaze sweeping over the landscape before her. The pack's settlement was nestled in a hidden valley, surrounded by dense forest. The houses were simple but sturdy, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

But it wasn't the buildings that caught her attention it was the people.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Wolves in human shape walked through the village, moving with an ethereal grace and intent. Some raised their eyes toward her, some of their features indistinguishable, while others ignored her, as if she didn't exist at all. It was thick with tension; Celia couldn't believe she didn't belong here, either.

Aziel laid his hand on her back and urged her forward. "They'll come around," he said, as if reading her thoughts. "You're new, and this world is. different. But they'll accept you in time.

Celia bit back on her lip, her mind racing. She wasn't sure she wanted to be accepted. She didn't even want to be here. But there was no denying the pull she felt toward this place, this pack. It was as if something inside of her recognized it as home.

Aziel took her into the central hall, a massive wooden affair, the heart of the pack. Inside, the air was warm and inviting, redolent of woodsmoke and herbs that filled her senses. An older woman came out toward them, silver hair drawn up in a braid behind her sharp eyes raking over Celia, sending shivers along her back.

This is Luna," Aziel said respectfully. "She is a pack's healer-and one of the very few people I completely trust."

Luna's lips turned into a faint smile. "It is wonderful finally to meet you, Celia," she said in soft but firm tone. "You've certainly had it tough, haven't you?

Celia nodded hesitantly, unsure of what to say. Luna's gaze seemed to pierce straight through her, as if she could see every thought, every fear, hidden beneath the surface.

"You're stronger than you think," Luna said, her smile widening slightly. "The moon wouldn't have chosen you if you weren't."

Celia frowned, confusion flickering across her face. "The moon?"

Luna exchanged a glance with Aziel, who sighed and gestured for Celia to sit. "It's time you learned the truth," he said.

Over the next hour, Aziel and Luna explained the history of the pack, the blessing of the moon, and Celia's connection to it all.

Long ago, the moon had chosen certain bloodlines to carry its blessing-a powerful gift intended to protect the balance between shifters and the natural world. Celia's mother had been one of the last keepers of that blessing, tasked with guarding its secrets and ensuring it did not fall into the wrong hands.

"But why me?" Celia asked, her voice shaking. "I don't even know how to use this. this power. I don't even want it."

Luna's expression softened. "The moon doesn't choose lightly," she said. "You may not feel ready, but the blessing is part of who you are. Denying it won't change that. Celia looked down at her hands, her mind spinning. She had spent her whole life running from the truth, trying to be normal. But she wasn't normal. She never had been. Aziel leaned forward; his gaze intense. "The rogues know who you are now," he said. "They'll come for you again. And they won't stop until they have the blessing." Celia's stomach curled in on itself. "Why? What do they want with it?"

Aziel's jaw clamped down. "Power. Control. If they get their hands on the blessing, they'll use it to dominate the packs and destroy anyone who opposes them."

Heavy silence fell over the room as Celia soaked his words in. She was trapped between a world she didn't understand and danger she couldn't escape.

"I didn't ask for this," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"I know," Aziel said quietly. "But you're not alone. You have me. You have the pack. We'll stand with you, no matter what."

That night, Celia spent in one of the guest rooms, her mind awake, thinking. The warmth on the necklace was a persistent reminder of the power she carried, her sense of responsibility that wouldn't let her go.

During these moments of drifting off between wakefulness and sleep, the faint whisper was buzzing about. It was quite low, almost inaudible but gave her a chill from top to bottom.

Celia.

She sat up with a jolt, her heart racing. The room was empty, the shadows still. But the whisper came again, louder this time.

Find the truth. beneath the moon.

Celia's breath caught as the necklace warmed to her touch, its glow faint but steady. She clutched it hard, her mind racing. What truth? What was she supposed to find? Before she could think further, a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Celia?" Aziel's voice was low, but there was an urgency to it that made her heart race.

She opened the door to find him standing there, his expression grim.

"We have a problem," he said. "The rogues. they're moving again. And they're closer than we thought."

Celia's grip on the necklace tightened as the weight of Aziel's words sunk into her. The whisper once more echoed in her mind-a cryptic warning that sent chills down her spine: Beneath the moon, the truth awaits. But will it save you-or destroy you?