Ties that Bind
The clash of Alphas was a thunderous storm that echoed through the rogue power. Aziel and the rogue Alpha clashed with raw ferocity, their movements a blur of strength and speed. Each snarl and growl reverberated in the clearing, shaking the ground beneath Celia's feet. She stood frozen, torn between the instinct to run and the pull of the monolith behind her.
The monolith pulsed again, and its dark energy beckoned her. It wasn't just power-it was something more, something ancient and demanding. Celia's necklace grew hot against her skin, its glow intensifying with each beat of her heart. She took a hesitant step forward, her trembling hand reaching for the monolith once more. But before her fingers could touch the stone, Aziel's voice cut through the chaos. "Celia, don't!"
It was a warning that was sharp and full of urgency that forced her to hesitate. She turned to see him battling for life with the rogue Alpha; their claws and teeth were tearing at each other as blood stained the ground under them, but Aziel's eyes remained steadfastly upon her in the heat of battle.
"You don't know what it'll do to you," he growled through a strained voice.
Celia's heart thudded as she looked from Aziel to the monolith. She didn't know what it would do either, but something deep within her-something primal-told her that this was the key to everything. The visions she had seen, the whispers that haunted her, the bond she shared with Aziel-it all led back to this moment.
Her hesitation was all the rogue Alpha needed.
With a brutal shove, he sent Aziel crashing to the ground, his massive form landing with a sickening thud. Celia's breath caught as the rogue Alpha turned toward her, his red eyes blazing with triumph.
"You're mine now," he said, his voice dripping with malice.
The rogue Alpha launched himself towards Celia with his claws spreading out. She automatically held up her hand, and the mark on her forearm flared to life; energy spilled from her body, slamming into the rogue alpha, who was hurled back into the darkness.
The clearing fell silent, the power lingering in the air like static. Celia stared at her glowing arm, her chest heaving. She had felt the bond between her and Aziel strengthen in that moment, like a lifeline tethering her to him.
Aziel struggled to his feet, blood dripping from a gash on his shoulder. His gaze locked on Celia, his expression a mix of awe and relief.
You did it," he murmured, his voice low.
But the rogue Alpha was not done.
He sprang to his feet with a snarl, eyes ablaze with fury. "You think your little trick is going to save you?" he spat. "The blessing is mine, and I'll take it from you one way or another.
Before Celia could respond, Aziel stepped between them, his body tense and ready for another fight. "You'll have to go through me first," he said, his voice cold and unyielding. The rogue Alpha smirked. "Gladly."
The battle didn't end with fists and claws; it ended with Aziel dragging Celia through the Veil, his grip on her arm firm as the rogue Alpha's laughter echoed behind them. The transition was just as disorienting as before, but Celia barely noticed. Her mind was racing, her body trembling with adrenaline.
The pack was waiting for them on the other side. Marcus pushed ahead, his eyes scanning Aziel and Celia for injuries.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"The rogue Alpha," Aziel said, voice grim. "He's stronger than we thought."
Marcus's jaw tightened, and he exchanged a worried glance with Luna, who had joined the group. "We need to regroup," he said. "If he's after Celia, we can't afford to let our guard down."
Aziel nodded, his hand still gripping Celia's. "Double the patrols. No one goes anywhere alone."
Celia could hardly hear them talking. Her mind had been stunned by what went on in the rogue realm. She could feel the unleashed power and the connection through the monolith, now also feeling a bond through Aziel, and it just was all too much to process.
"Celia?" Luna's voice cut into her thoughts.
Celia looked up, seeing the healer watching over her with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Are you all right?
"I don't know," Celia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Luna's face relaxed, and she reached out, placing a comforting hand on Celia's shoulder. "Come with me," she said. "We need to talk."
In the quiet of Luna's cabin, Celia sat by the fire, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Luna moved around the room, preparing tea with the same calm efficiency she always had.
"What you felt in the rogue realm was no accident," Luna said, handing Celia a steaming cup. "The monolith is somehow connected to the blessing, ways that we don't fully understand. It is a gateway, a conduit to the power inside of you." Celia furrowed her brow, tightening her fingers on the cup. "But why would it call me? Why does it feel. as though it is a part of me?
Luna's face was thoughtful. "Because it is. The blessing is woven into your very being, Celia. It's not just a gift-it's a responsibility. And the monolith is a reminder of that."
Celia's chest tightened as Luna's words sank in. She had spent so long running from her past, from her heritage, but now there was no escaping it. The blessing was hers, whether she wanted it or not.Property © 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.
What happens if the rogues get their hands on it?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Luna's eyes grew dark. "They would twist it, corrupt it, just as they have corrupted the rogue realm. The balance would be shattered, and our world would be plunged into chaos."
Celia swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her responsibility bearing down on her. She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't strong enough.
"You're not alone in this," Luna said gently, as if sensing her thoughts. "You have the pack. And you have Aziel."
Celia looked away, her heart racing at the mention of his name. The bond between them was stronger than ever, but it was also confusing, overwhelming. She didn't know how to navigate the feelings that came with it.
Later that night, Celia found herself standing outside Aziel's cabin, her hand hovering over the door. She wasn't sure why she had come. Maybe it was the bond pulling her here, or maybe it was the lingering fear from the rogue realm. She didn't have time to question herself because the door opened, and Aziel stood before her, his expression unreadable.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.
Celia shook her head, drawing her arms around herself. "I just. needed to talk."
Aziel stepped aside, gesturing her to enter. The cabin was simple but warm. Flickering shadows played across the walls from the fire. Celia sat on the edge of a worn leather couch, her fingers playing nervously.
I don't know what I'm doing," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I'm drowning in all of this-the blessing, the bond, the rogues. It's too much."
Aziel sat across from her, his eyes steady. "You are stronger than you think, Celia. I have seen it. You just need to trust yourself.
She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "How do you do it? How do you carry the weight of being Alpha without falling apart?"
Aziel hesitated, his expression softening. "I don't have a choice," he said quietly. "My pack depends on me. And now, so do you."
The vulnerability in his voice surprised her, and she found herself feeling guilty for having doubted him. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his.
"I don't want to be a burden," she said.
"You're not," he replied firmly. "You're my mate, Celia. That means we carry this burden together."
The next morning, Aziel brought the pack together in the central clearing. The air was charged with tension as he spoke to them, his voice carrying authority and resolution.
"The rogues are getting bolder," he said. "They hear about the blessing, and they won't rest until they get it. But we are not going to let them."
The pack murmured in unison, showing their absolute loyalty to Aziel.
"We stand together," Aziel continued. "As one pack, one family. And we will protect what is ours."
Celia stood at his side, her heart swelling with a mixture of fear and determination. She didn't know what the future held, but for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope. Together, they might just stand a chance. Just as the pack cheered into the clearing, a messenger wolf stumbled into their midst with his body battered and panic in his eyes.
"They're coming," he panted. "The rogues. they're already here."