Fated Meeting

The battle between Aziel and the rogue was fierce, but Celia did not take her eyes from the Alpha. Every movement on his part was precise as well as his control on the wolf form. The rogue let out snarls as he moved through the forest, warning anyone daring enough to challenge him. Aziel was unrelenting, but Celia felt a deep sense of foreboding in the pit of her chest.

She hadn't chosen this life, this destiny, but fate seemed bent on dragging her into it. She couldn't even look away. Even in the chaos, there was something magnetic about Aziel's presence. She felt it—the undeniable pull—the bond that was slowly but surely forming between them. And it terrified her.

Having downed the rogue, Aziel shifted back into his human form, the clash of the battle between them still resonating through the air. He was wheezing for breath; his chest was rising and falling with the effort of being. The rogue lay still, defeated, but something in Celia made her feel that this was a long way from over.

In one swift move, Aziel towered and walked to her, never breaking the piercing, unnerving stare into his. However, now his gaze softened, became a morn; it wasn't entirely about the power behind this stare. It's because he was gazing upon her as if everything important in his life relied solely on her.

She took a step back, her heart pounding. "Why are you doing this?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "I didn't ask for any of this. I'm not your mate, not even part of your world!

Aziel stopped in front of her, his eyes searching hers as if weighing her words. The forest seemed to fall silent around them, with the only sound being that of quiet rustling of leaves in the wind. He looked different now, not like the ruthless Alpha who had declared their bond a while ago, but more like a man who seems to be conflicted and uncertain.

You are part of my world whether you accept it or not," Aziel replied, his voice quiet but firm. "Your bloodline, your power-it's all tied to this world. You were never meant to live in the shadows, Celia. You were meant to lead.

Celia shook her head, disbelief clouding her thoughts. “I can’t lead anything. I’m just. just a girl who’s been running her whole life. A girl who doesn’t know anything about who she really is.” Her voice broke on the last words. She was so tired of running, of hiding from the truth.

Aziel took another step closer, and Celia instinctively took another step back. His presence was overwhelming, even now. But his eyes softened, and for a moment, the tension between them seemed to fade.

"You don't have to run anymore," Aziel said softly, his voice smoother than she'd ever had it. "I'm not your enemy, Celia. Never was. You were never meant to be lonely. I've been taking care of you, keeping watch over you, just waiting for you to find it out."

Celia looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. The words hit her harder than she could have imagined. She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to be swept into his world. But the bond, the strange connection that she could no longer deny, was undeniable.

She wanted to fight it; she wanted to push him away, but she couldn't. The pull between them was too strong, too consuming. And worse, she didn't know how to fight it.

I don't understand," she whispered. "You say you have been watching over me. All this time, you have been. what? Waiting for me to accept this?" She gestured around them, the invisible threads that bound them. "How can you expect me to just accept this? I'm not. I'm not like you, Aziel.

You're more like me than you think," Aziel said, his voice low, almost tender. "Your power-it's been dormant, but it's waking up. You feel it, don't you?

Celia felt it skip a beat inside. She felt it-the peculiar electricity that ran through her system each time Aziel is nearby. It was a sense she felt, too-deeper, more elemental and primal, yet it scares the life out of her. For now, she could hardly grasp and master it.

"I can't do this," she breathed softly. "I am not ready for this."

Aziel reached for her, his hand gently cupping her cheek. “You don’t have to be ready,” he said, his voice full of quiet authority. “I’m here, and I’ll help you. I’ll protect you.”

Celia's breath hitched as she felt the warmth of his hand against her skin. His touch ran over her like a caressing ice cube, but this wasn't fear alone she could feel. It was something more, something harder. She could feel them locking into each other more solidly, a bonding, and she couldn't wriggle free of it.

Before she could answer that, a noise broke out into the moment—loud steps approaching from behind. She turned around to see several wolves emerging from the shadows as their eyes gleamed abnormally in the dark.

Aziel's face hardened. He stood tall, his body rigid, as the pack members moved into formation around him. They were all Alpha-level wolves, their power evident in their every movement. The tension was palpable, the air thick with anticipation.

One of the wolves took a step forward. His fur was a dark silver; his eyes were cold, calculating. "Alpha," the wolf said, bowing his head slightly. "The pack is in position. The rogue's followers are on the move. We need to make our move before they get too close.

Aziel nodded once, his gaze never leaving Celia. “We move now. Keep her safe.” His eyes flicked to the wolves around him, his voice commanding. “If anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me.”

Celia gulped, panic rising up from her chest. She never wanted to be a part of this. She did not want to be the one to cause this; the fight that was to explode soon. But the wolves were closing in and nothing was to be done; she was caught in the middle of a world in which she had no acquaintance, and her only remaining option was to face that head-on.

“Aziel, I.” she started, but her voice trailed off as the pack moved forward, surrounding them like an impenetrable wall.

“Stay close,” Aziel said, his hand gripping hers firmly. “You’re not alone anymore.”

But as they moved deeper into the forest, the haunting howls of the rogue wolves echoed in the distance, and Celia couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

The pack moved forward, but Celia's mind ran. She was no longer just a girl running from her past. She was someone's mate, tied to a world she didn't understand. And as the wolves closed in, she knew the truth: there was no turning back now. But as they approached the battlefront, the sound of a new, more menacing howl filled the air—one that sent a cold chill through her spine.