Eclipsed by Fate

CHAPTER 1

Selene Ashford used to sit on the edge of a cliff, patiently staring at the more distant horizon where the thickets of Shadowvale blended with the fading thaw. The cold wind blew and wrapped her hair and she did not mind. It was her only comfort now. Life had once been simple—quiet, almost peaceful. But that had been before the prophecy, before the council had come looking for her to take her to the dark forest.

Ashford was still a sore subject for her; the name of the Alpha who had been taken by the darkness before treachery became his middle name. Now, she was the only one in his bloodline, who was running away from a world that asked for so much.

A sound of a branch breaking in the trees below made her turn around. For a moment she had felt as if his eyes were upon her, the instinct of the hunted quickening her senses, she rose to her feet and was ready to escape. Staying alone had made her very careful—there was always trouble around the corner.

“Selene.”

The sound of the deep voice reverberated in the woods and she felt goose pimples running down her spine. She swiveled around to find Marcus Blackwood staring at her from a distance of about five feet; he was a muscular man who blocked the view of the rough terrain behind him. He looked at her silver eyes with passion.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, her voice strained. The man she dreaded most was Marcus, the last person she expected to see out of everybody. It didn’t matter how much he looked like he cared or was protecting them, his allegiance to the Werewolf Council made him a threat.

“They’ve sent me to bring you back,” Marcus said slowly moving towards me, his voice calm, but firm. They know about your lineage, the council does.” They are aware of the prophecy.”

Selene felt the thud in her chest as she felt a growing fear in her. The curse, the words that had been haunting her as the shadow since she heard the first words in the beams of the village. She had hoped, in the deepest soul which the council would never discover that she was there. That she could remain unknown and unnoticed for the rest of her life.

“I’m not going back,” she said, determinedly. “I won’t be a puppet to them.”

Marcus frowned. This is not as easy as before. They will get you no matter if you want it or not. There is an option now, you can come willingly or they will force you back in chains.

“I’d like to see them try.”

She spoke these words fearlessly but deep down she was a trembling mess. The weight of the prophecy was like a storm brewing at the horizon, and she could already feel it on her. The rise of the Alpha Queen. Her fate had been determined by her father’s death, but she still did not want to surrender to it. To embrace it meant becoming the chess piece in a game she didn’t sign up to play in the first place.

“They will surely murder you if you try to do that,” Marcus said in a gentle voice as he approached me. “I don’t want to see that happen, Selene.”

“And what about you?” she asked, frowning. “Are you here to save me or are you here to ensure I do as they planned?”

Marcus just stood still for a moment, his jaw clenching. She could notice that he was struggling, she could see the battle in his eyes. He was not just the council’s fighter—there was something else behind it. Something that caused a moment of indecision in him.

“I’m here to protect you,” he said after a while. “But I won’t lie, Selene. If it comes to it, I will do what I have to do.”

She folded her hands into fists, wondering whether to believe him and whether she should keep him at arm’s length. The council had sent him, but she was more than duty when he looked at her. She noticed a man, who had the same load as her on his back.

She could not reply before a low growl came from the bushes behind her. Selene’s instincts kicked in and she turned around. Stepping from the darkness was Ronan Stormrider, his gaze ablaze with barely suppressed hatred.

“I knew I’d find you here,” he growled, looking from her to Marcus and back again. “You really believe you can keep things from me Selene?” After what your family did?”

Having Ronan near her felt as if a sharp weapon has been thrust into her chest. He had never forgiven her family for the state of his life and blamed them for the recent events. She has attempted to run away from his anger but it appeared that it was impossible to avoid.

“Ronan,” she said, her voice husky, yet calm, although her heart throbbed with a wild beat. “This isn’t the time.”

Ronan raised his hands into fists and moved closer to the other man. “It’s always the time when it comes to you, Ashford.” You are the last of your line and I will ensure that you are the last of your lineage.”

Marcus stepped in front of them and prepared to fight. “The way you are behaving, you will have to get past me first.”

Ronan let out a bitter laugh. ‘I have no fear of you Blackwood.’ This is between me and her.”

The tension rose to the level of lighting and thunder. Selene could sense the tension that has been building up for the confrontation but there was more. It was not only her family Ronan despised, but the prophecy, the council’s manipulations as well.

“I’m not the enemy, Ronan,” she said, her voice very level. “Well, you don’t know the whole truth.”

“I don’t care about the truth,” he said angrily. “All I care about is getting even”.

Before anyone could open their mouth again, the air shivered with it and Selene blinked, finding herself staring at Lyra Moonshadow standing in front of her with wide, pale eyes, obviously terrified.

“The council,” replied Lyra, she was trying to breathe heavily. “They’re coming. You have to leave—now!”

Realization set in and the ground seemed to open beneath them. The council was no longer happy to sit back and watch as the events unfolded. They were coming for her and there would be no escape this time.

Selene felt the blood rush to her face as she looked at Marcus then at Ronan. Now both men were in the same position that she had endeavored to escape from all her life.

“We’ll sort it out later,” she told Ronan and her voice was like ice. “At the moment, it’s all about living.”

The distant baying of the council’s hounds, cut through the trees and she shivered. The hunt had started and Selene had no idea that there was possibility to retreat.