Eclipsed Destiny

Celia gasped in short breaths, holding on to Aziel. Her body was weak, but alive. His warmth held her anchored; the steady beat of his heart against her ear was a reminder that she had made it back.

But something was off.

The healer's tent was too quiet. The energy in the air was charged, heavy, like a storm about to break. The weight of unseen eyes pressed against Celia's skin, and despite the warmth of Aziel's touch, a chill spread through her chest.

She lifted her head slightly, her gaze flicking past Aziel's shoulder.

And froze.

Kaelen stood before the entrance of the tent, his golden eyes unreadable, his body tense. To his right, Marcus stood with arms crossed over his chest, an aura around him that spelled disapproval.

Celia's stomach twisted. Something was off.

"Why does it feel like I missed something?" she murmured, voice hoarse.noveldrama

Marcus's jaw clenched, but it was Kaelen who spoke first.

"Because while you were fighting for your life, the pack was being played."

Celia's blood froze.

A Shadow Within the Pack

Aziel spun sharply, his blue eyes narrowing. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Kaelen exhaled slowly, stepping inside. "There was a traitor."

Silence slammed into the room.

Celia's heart pounded. "Who?"

Kaelen hesitated for just a second.

Then the tent flap opened again.

And standing there-bound in chains, flanked by two warriors-was Rowan.

Celia's breath caught.

Rowan. A warrior who had fought alongside them since the start. A wolf she had trusted. A friend.

And yet, there he stood.

A prisoner. A traitor.

His face unreadable, dark eyes sharp as they locked onto hers.

Celia's voice was barely a whisper. "Tell me it's not true."

Rowan said nothing.

But his silence was confirmation enough.

The Truth Revealed

Aziel was the first to move, shoving forward with deathly intent. "You set us up," he growled, reaching out to grab Rowan by the front of his torn shirt. "How long?"

Rowan didn't flinch. "Long enough."

Aziel's claws extended. "Give me a reason not to rip your throat out right now." Kaelen stepped forward. "We need answers first."

Aziel's jaw set. His whole body vibrated with tension that barely kept from erupting into full-blown rage. But he stepped back and pushed Rowan back so hard, he almost fell over.

Celia really needed to sit up. Her body shrieked at her to stop it, but she ignored that plea. "Why?"

Rowan's lips pulled into a tight line. "Because you were never going to win this war."

A chill seeped into Celia's bones.

Aziel snarled. "You were colluding with the rogues."

Rowan did not say anything to contradict that.

Celia's mind was racing. Why? How? She had trusted him. The pack had trusted him.

"I did what I had to," Rowan said, his voice flat.

"Betray us?" Celia snapped. "Sell out the pack that raised you? That fought for you?"

Rowan's face grew darker. "Fought for me?" He let out a hollow laugh. "You mean used me."

Celia stiffened. "No one used you."

Did they not?" Rowan's eyes moved to Aziel. "Tell me, Alpha, did you ever see me as anything other than a soldier? Anything more than a discardable piece of your war?" Aziel's eyes flared. "I trusted you."

Rowan's lips curled. "Then that was your first mistake."

The Scope of the Deceit

Kaelen's voice pierced the heavy air. "Rowan didn't just feed them information. He led them here."

Celia's stomach twisted.

Marcus growled. "That's how the rogues kept avoiding our scouts. He was feeding them our locations."

Aziel's fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. "How many of our people are dead because of you?"

Rowan never broke eye contact.

Aziel was a flash of movement. One moment he stood there still, and the next he pinned Rowan to the wooden post, claws at his throat.

"Tell me," Aziel growled, low and dangerous. "Why shouldn't I kill you right now?" Rowan's breath was steady. "Because I'm not the only one."

Silence crashed into the tent.

Celia's pulse spiked.

Aziel's grip tightened. "Explain."

Rowan's lips twitched. "There's another traitor in the pack. And you'll never find them in time."

A Pack Divided

The room erupted.

Marcus cursed. Kaelen's face darkened. Celia felt like the ground had just been ripped out from under her.

"Lies," Aziel spat.

Rowan smirked. "You think I was the only one? There are more. Wolves who are tired of fighting for a war they never chose."

Celia's head spun. Someone else was working against them? Someone still free?

Aziel slammed Rowan back against the post. "Give me a name."

Rowan chuckled. "Kill me, and you'll never know."

Aziel bared his fangs. "I swear, if you "

"Enough," Celia said, her voice sharp despite her exhaustion.

Aziel's eyes darted to her.

Celia stepped forward, unbalanced but resolute. "Rowan wants us to lose control. Wants us to kill him before he talks." She turned to him, her gaze icy. "You don't get an easy death."

Rowan's sneer wavered.

Aziel's chest pistoned in fury but stepped back.

Marcus nodded to the guards. "Take him to the holding cell. He doesn't eat until he talks.

Rowan was pulled out, a smirk reemerging as he met Celia's gaze for the last time.

"You are running out of time, Luna," he whispered. "You cannot fight what you cannot

see."

The flap of the tent closed.

The silence that settled was oppressive.

Celia's hands shook. She couldn't tell if it was from rage or exhaustion.

Aziel spun to Kaelen. "Find out who the other traitor is. Now."

Kaelen nodded sharply and stepped out.

Marcus took a deep breath, running one hand over his face. "We should have seen this

coming."

Celia closed her eyes for a moment. "We couldn't have."

Aziel's hands were still trembling. He took a slow, steady breath, but Celia could see

the anger across him.

She reached for him, touching his wrist. "Aziel."

His shoulders pulled up. Then, slowly, his eyes met hers.

For the first time, Celia saw fear in them.

Not of fighting. Not of hurting.

But at the price of losing everything.

And at a loss to whom he might still trust.

A Spy Among Them

Celia sat, her body protesting in pain, but her mind whirling in desperation.

Another turncoat. Still within the pack.

Observing. Anticipating.

She had escaped only once by skin of teeth.

Would luck play out this time?

Out, the gale screamed.

And in darkness, the hidden foe waited.