Eclipsed Destiny

The instant suspended, the battlefield deathly quiet even in the chaos that surrounded them. Kael's blade dangled just inches from Celia's chest, the sharp edge catching the firelight dancing upon the faces of the warriors.

Her glowing blade pressed against his throat, her mark blazing with an intensity that lit up the darkness surrounding them.

"Why didn't you kill me?" Kael's whisper trembled; his eyes flickered, a mixture of confusion and anguish.

Celia's chest heaved with the effort of holding her stance, her voice steady but trembling with emotion. "Because this isn't who you are, Kael. You're better than this."

The words seemed to cut deeper than her blade ever could. For a fleeting moment, Kael's grip on his weapon slackened, and his gaze dropped. But the rogue lieutenant's voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding.

"Kill her, Kael. Or you're nothing."

Kael's head snapped up, his red-tinged eyes locking onto the lieutenant. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, but the venomous words seemed to solidify his resolve. He tightened his grip on his weapon, the lines of his jaw hardening.noveldrama

"You're wrong," Celia said, her voice cutting through the noise. "He's not nothing. He's one of us. He always has been."

Kael's blade trembled, his breathing ragged as he stared at her. "I don't... I don't know who I am anymore."

Aziel's growl broke through the moment, his presence looming behind Celia as he stepped forward. "Enough of this," he snarled, his claws gleaming as they extended. "If he can't make a choice, I'll make it for him.

No!" Celia's voice cracked as she shifted to stand in his path, her free hand flattened on his chest. "There is still a chance. He is fighting it."

"Celia, move aside," Aziel said, his tone low but full of warning. "I will not take the risk for the pack on him.

She met his gaze, her heart throbbing as she stood strong. "He's still one of us, Aziel. If we are to give up on him now, what does it make us?"

The pulsing bond between them vibrated, a steady heartbeat that seemed to temper the fury in Aziel's eyes. He hesitated, his jaw clenching as he turned the gaze to Kael.

"You have one chance," Aziel said, his voice cold and sharp. "Prove that you're still loyal. Or I'll end this myself."

Kael's blade lowered slightly, his expression a mix of guilt and desperation. He looked at Celia, his voice barely audible. "I don't know how to fix this."

"Start by standing with us," Celia said, her voice steady. "Fight for the pack. For yourself."

\---

The moment was shattered by a deafening roar.

The rogue lieutenant stepped forward, his red eyes blazing with fury as he surveyed the scene. "Enough of this weakness," he spat. "Kael, you had potential. But you're nothing more than a failure."

Kael flinched at the words, his grip on his weapon faltering. The lieutenant raised his hand, dark energy crackling around him as he prepared to strike.

"Celia, move!" Aziel shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

Celia reacted instinctively, drawing Kael back just in time as the lieutenant's attack surged forward. The earth where they'd been standing erupted in a storm of dirt and debris, the power of the blast sending shockwaves through the clearing.

Aziel lunged toward the lieutenant, his claws flashing as he attacked with unrelenting ferocity. The two clashed with a force that shook the ground, their movements a blur as they fought for dominance.

Celia turned to Kael, her heart pounding as she helped him to his feet. "You have to decide, Kael. Right now. Are you with us or against us?"

His gaze flicked to the battle, where Aziel and the lieutenant fought with brutal intensity. His expression hardened, and he nodded, his voice steady. "I'm with you."

Relief flooded through Celia, but there was no time to dwell on it. The rogues surged forward, their movements coordinated and deadly as they pressed the attack. The small group of pack warriors fought valiantly, but they were being overwhelmed. Stay close," Celia said, her blade glowing as the blessing's energy flared within her. "We hold the line."

Kael moved to her side, his blade flashing as he joined the fight. The rogues came at them in waves, their snarls and growls filling the air as the battle intensified. Celia's movements were fluid and precise, the blessing guiding her strikes as she cut through the enemies that came too close.

The battlefield was chaos, a blur of motion and sound. Aziel and the rogue lieutenant continued their brutal clash, their power shaking the very ground beneath them. Celia's heart ached as she watched Aziel fight, his strength and determination unmatched. But the lieutenant was strong-stronger than she had anticipated. The dark energy surrounding him pulsed with each strike, his attacks growing more ferocious with every passing moment.

"Aziel!" she shouted, her voice full of desperation.

He looked at her, his blue eyes fierce and unyielding. "Stay back, Celia. This is my fight."

Her chest tightened, but she obeyed, focusing her energy on holding the line with Kael and the others. The rogues were relentless, their attacks pushing the pack to their limits.

Celia's mark burned with sudden intensity, the blessing's energy flooding her like a tidal wave. She gasped, her vision blurring as the power threatened to overwhelm her. "Celia!" Kael's voice cut through the haze, grounding her.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus. The blessing settled, its power steady as she channeled it into her strikes. The rogues fell before her, but the battle was far from over.

7---

As Celia turned to look over at Aziel, her heart stopped. The rogue lieutenant stood over him, dripping with blood from his claws. Aziel was on the ground, his breathing shallow, his blue eyes flickering with pain.

The lieutenant's gaze shifted to Celia, his smirk growing wider. "Your Alpha falls tonight, Luna. What will you do now?"

Celia's mark blazed with light, the blessing's energy surging as she stepped forward, her blade raised. "I'll finish this."