Eclipsed Destiny

The forest was unnervingly quiet as the pack moved toward the rogues' camp.

Flickering firelight danced in the distance, casting shadows that stretched across the ground like grasping hands. The air was heavy with tension, each breath thick with the promise of violence.

With leading, Celia let her blade hum softly as she felt the energies of the blessing simmering underneath her skin. Her mark pulsated steadily against her skin and was a steady reminder of all that she now carried. She glanced over to Kaelen, who strode ahead several paces; his golden eyes were fixed steadily on the road ahead.

"Do you really know what you're doing?" Marcus asked quietly as he fell back to walk at Celia's right side.

"No," Celia said, her voice firm against the queasiness in her stomach. "But if he is telling the truth, we have to go with it."

Marcus's expression furrowed. He glanced over at Kaelen. "I don't trust him."

"Neither do I," Celia said softly. "But we don't have room for doubt now."

The pack halted at the edge of the clearing, their movements silent as they crouched among the trees. The rogues' camp was larger than Celia had expected, its perimeter guarded by patrols that moved with sharp efficiency. The glow of firelight revealed rows of tents and makeshift structures, their shadows dancing across the ground.

Kaelen turned to Celia, his voice low. "They'll have reinforcements deeper in the forest," he said. "If we don't take out their leaders quickly, we'll be overwhelmed."

Celia nodded, her gaze scanning the camp. "What's their weak point?"

"The eastern side," Kaelen said. "It's less fortified, but it's also closer to their command tent. If we hit hard and fast, we can disrupt their coordination."

Celia's chest constricted as she weighed his words. The plan wasn't safe, but it was their greatest opportunity to put the advantage ahead. She looked to the pack, her voice sure. "We split into two groups. One would make a diversion on the west side. The other would go along the east flank and penetrate their leadership ranks.

Aziel advanced, his eyes, blue like the night sky, meeting hers. "I will lead the distraction," he declared.

Celia's heart quivered at the words, but the bond connecting them was there, a strength that flowed without words. "Be careful," she whispered softly.

Aziel's fingers lightly touched hers; his touch earthed her. "You too.

Light flashed, and the wolves charged in. The western side of Aziel's cohorts delivered the precision strike that was needed to draw the attention of the rogues. The clash of battle sounds was forth in steel and the snarls of the wolves echoing throughout the clearing.

Celia led the infiltration team, her blade flashing as she moved through the shadows. The blessing's energy surged within her, guiding her strikes as she cut through the rogues that crossed her path. The eastern side was less guarded, but the tension was palpable, every step a reminder of how close they were to the heart of the enemy's operations.

Kaelen slid alongside her, his golden gaze sweeping across the landscape with sharp focus. He fought with precision, his movements economical, deliberate. Celia didn't trust the soldier, but she couldn't deny his skill-or his zeal for the mission. "Command tent's just ahead," Kaelen said, his voice low. "We need to move quickly." Celia nodded, her chest tightening as the group pressed forward. The firelight grew brighter, the heat of the battle pressing down on them like a physical weight.

The command tent was larger than the others, its entrance guarded by two rogue wolves. Celia signaled for her team to halt, her blade glowing faintly as she assessed the situation.

"Leave them to me," Kaelen said, his tone calm.

Before Celia could answer him, he shifted forward, his figure melting into the light as his body changed, becoming the wolf. The rogues had only a moment of reaction before they were tackled with speed and sharpness by this wolf. A few seconds into the fight and the rogues were motionless on the floor.

Kaelen shifted back, his gold eyes focusing at Celia's. "Move.

Her chest ached as she entered the tent, the mark flaring with heat. The air was dim and reeked of blood and smoke. On the table was spread a map of the area surrounding them, covered in strategic notes and positions.

A figure stood in the center of the room, their back to the entrance. The air around them was crackling with raw energy, suffocating. When they turned, Celia's breath caught.

It was the rogue leader-a wolf she had fought before, their eyes cold and calculating as they studied her.noveldrama

"Luna," the leader said, their voice dripping with mockery. "You're bolder than I expected.

Celia tightened her grip on her blade, her chest tightening. "This ends now," she said firmly.

The leader smirked, their gaze shifting to Kaelen. "And you," they said, their tone sharp. "I should have known you'd betray us."

Kaelen's expression darkened, his voice low. "You betrayed me first."

The fight was hard, the rebellious leader punching with a brutality that left Celia on edge. The blessed energy flared, lighting her way through this darkness as they struck at him with equal might. Kaelen fought on her side with precision and hard intent as she tried to make their opponent wish he'd taken the other offered seat.

But the leader was strong, their strikes calculated and precise. Celia's chest ached with the strain, her breath coming in short gasps as she pushed herself to keep up. The blessing's power surged, its light blazing as it guided her movements.

"You're strong," the leader said, their voice sharp. "But strength alone won't save you."

Celia gritted her teeth. Her blade slammed through the air with fresh ferocity, cutting a pattern that seemed less than rational: it was precision, not merely strength. Unity. Something that would never reach his understanding.

With one last burst of effort, Celia struck. The rogue leader fell, their shape dissolving to shadow as they dropped.

But before she could take a breath, the earth shook beneath her feet, and a low growl rumbled through the clearing.

Celia's mark flared with burning intensity as she turned, her chest constricting with dread.

The shadows were coalescing, growing into something bigger, something deadlier. "Celia," Kaelen said, his voice shaking. "This isn't over.