Eclipsed Destiny
Torn Allegiances

The camp was eerily quiet once Kael stepped into the clearing, his figure a dark silhouette against the bright backdrop of the moonlit forest. The only thing that seemed to have broken the stillness was the whispering of the wind, leaving little to drown out the tension hanging in the air while rustling the leaves in its wake.

Celia stood stock still, her heart thundering in her chest, while Kael's eyes clashed with hers. Aziel shifted to stand by her, his strength making her feel slightly safer, but even it couldn't remove the iciness running up her spine. "What do you want, Kael?" Aziel's voice was low, dripping with restrained fury.

Kael's smirk never wavered as he took a slow step forward, his red eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of a game he'd been playing for far too long. "We need to talk, Aziel. About Celia."

Celia's stomach churned. She could feel the weight of his words even before he spoke to them. "About me?" she asked, her voice unsteady.

Kael's gaze slid from Aziel to Celia, the mocking smile still in place. "Of course," he said smoothly. "We should discuss how the newest Luna is handling the pack."

Aziel's jaw clenched, his body tensing beside her. "You're crossing a line, Kael," he warned.

Kael raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just curious. Celia's new role is. interesting. She's tied to the blessing, tied to the pack, and now she's tied to you." He looked at Celia, his eyes glacial. "But the question remains, Celia: how long will that last?"

Aziel stepped forward, his presence practically radiating warning. "That's enough. You have no place here.

Celia held up her hand, cutting Aziel off. Her voice was soft but firm as she spoke to Kael. "What are you really after, Kael?

He chuckled, sending a shiver down her spine from the sound. "Simple. I am after what's best for the pack, for their good. Aziel seems to think that making you Luna is the answer; how can you lead them, Celia? You are an outsider. You will never truly belong.

The words stung, cutting through the fragile confidence Celia had only just started to rebuild. She swallowed, the weight of her doubts pressing down on her. "I'm not an outsider. I'm doing my best to protect this pack."

Kael's eyes glinted with amusement. "Oh, I have no doubt about that. But you have to understand something no matter how much you fight, the bond between you and Aziel, the blessing-it won't protect you when the pack turns against you.

Celia clenched her fists, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the power of the blessing stirring within her, her mark flaring with sudden intensity. The words Kael spoke were like poison, and they were beginning to take root in her mind.

"You're wrong," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I'm not weak. I'll never let anyone tear this pack apart."

Kael's smile widened, but there was no humor in it-only cold calculation. "We'll see. Trust is fragile, Celia. And once it's broken, it's nearly impossible to rebuild."

Aziel moved to stand in front of her, his body blocking Kael's view of her. "Leave. Now."

Kael's gaze flickered to Aziel, and for a moment, something dangerous flashed behind his eyes. "This isn't over," he said quietly. "I'm not going anywhere. And neither are the rogues. You'll all see soon enough-everything will fall apart. The pack will turn on you."

Before either Celia or Aziel could respond, Kael turned and disappeared into the night, his form swallowed by the shadows of the forest.

Celia stood in the silence that followed, her heart still racing. The weight of Kael's words lingered, like a dark cloud that refused to disperse. She felt Aziel's presence beside her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder.

"Don't listen to him," Aziel said softly, his voice full of reassurance. "He's trying to manipulate you."

"I know," Celia said, but even as she spoke the words, doubt gnawed at her. What if he was right? What if the pack couldn't accept her as Luna?

"You're strong, Celia," Aziel said, his voice firm and decisive. "You're more than this bond. The pack sees you as I do they'll follow you. They'll believe in you."

"I.I don't know if I believe in myself," she whispered, the words shaken out of her by waves of uncertainty. "What Kael says.he's right on one point. I am not them. I never can be.

Aziel's grip on her shoulder tightened. "You are like them, Celia. More than you know. And no one can take that away from you."

She nodded, though the unease still lingered. The bond between them pulsed quietly, a steady warmth that reassured her at least for now.

But in the back of her mind, Kael's words echoed like a warning.

7---

Later that evening, the air in the camp was thick with distrust. The pack was edgy following the confrontation with Kael, and the air felt almost suffocating as the wolves moved through their duties, wary glances exchanged in every direction. Celia stood with Aziel, observing the pack. The tension was palpable, and Celia's heart twisted with each glance she caught from the wolves. She could feel the weight of their eyes on her-some of them hesitant, others doubtful. "This is what he wants," Aziel muttered beside her. "He wants to see us torn apart.

Celia nodded, though it did little to relax the constriction in her chest. The weight of responsibility felt too heavy tonight.

"There is no way to stop the fear," Aziel said, his tone resigned. "The rogues are pushing us to our limits, and now we have Kael stirring the pot. It's not just the rogues we need to fight anymore.

Celia turned to face him. "What do we do, then?"

Aziel met her gaze, his eyes fierce. "We hold the line. We remind them of what we're fighting for. If we give in to doubt, we'll lose. The pack will fall.

The words hit her like a punch to the gut, and she realized just how much was riding on her shoulders. She wasn't just leading them into battle; she was holding them together. She had to replace a way to silence the doubts-her own and theirs. "I won't let them break us," she said, her voice firm.

Aziel nodded, his lips twitching upwards. "I know you won't."

7---

The night dragged on, the fire crackling in the center of camp, but Celia found no comfort in its warmth. She walked to the edge of the clearing, her thoughts spiraling as she tried to make sense of the lies Kael had planted. The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps and Celia turned to see Luna approaching, her face drawn and serious.

"You look troubled," Luna said softly, standing beside her.

"I am," Celia admitted. "Kael's words-they're getting to me."

Luna's eyes softened. "He's good at that, isn't he?"

I'm not even sure what is and what's not anymore," Celia whispered, her voice breaking. "The pack's split and I have no idea if I can keep it intact. What if Kael is right? What if they can never truly trust me?

Luna placed a hand on her shoulder, steady in her grip. "You will never make everyone trust you, Celia. But you can make them believe in you. You've proven yourself in battle. You've proven yourself to Aziel." Celia's gaze met hers, and the pain in her heart ached at the sight. "What about the rest of them?

"Trust is earned, not given," Luna said softly. "And you're earning it every day. You don't need their full belief right now. You need enough to get through this war. The rest will come."

Celia's heart tightened at the kindness in Luna's words. "Thank you," she whispered.

Luna gave a small smile. "No, thank you. You're exactly what we need, Celia. You just have to believe it yourself."

\---

Just as Luna turned to leave, Celia felt a familiar, terrifying presence behind her. A sharp gust of wind whipped through the clearing, carrying with it a low, guttural growl. She spun around, her heart leaping into her throat. In the darkness, a shadow moved a figure, cloaked and silent, standing just outside the firelight.

The rogue lieutenant's voice echoed in the stillness:

"You can't outrun fate, Celia. You'll betray them before it's over."