CROWNED IN THE ECLIPSE

CHAPTER 2 : THE FROST AND THE FANG

The storm roared like an angry beast ready to devour any trespasser.

Snow whipped across Ayla's face, as she struggled to remain standing.

The dark figure emerging from the blizzard was enormous. Far larger than any wolf she had ever seen.

Ayla's heart pounded, fear crawled through every vein in her body.

Her body had already had enough of the mate rejection . The exile had already drained the little strength she had left.

Now this.

A predator.

A monster.

A death sentence. What was it? She thought shivering.

The creature stepped a bit closer. Its golden eyes gleamed in the storm.

Watching her. Studying her.

Again the silver light flickered inside her. A sharp pain tore through her chest; her knees buckled.

Again the wolf stirred violently.... now with recognition.

What's ......happening?

The words barely left her mouth. The beast froze.

Another scent reached Ayla.

More wolves. Many more.

They were surrounding her.

Her face paled and her blood turned cold.

The dark figure let out a massive growl. It's sound vibrated through the mountain air.

A warning sign. Not directed to her. But to the others. And the hidden wolves retreated.

Surprised; confused! Why would they obey him?

Then it struck.

He's an Alpha, Ayla realized. The exile had already drained the little strength she had left.

A powerful Alpha. Perhaps the strongest she had ever come across. The giant wolf moved closer, his gaze fixed on her.

Ayla tried to step back but her legs failed her.

The silver light beneath her skin brightened and the wolf stared slightly his eyes wide open.

For the first time, genuine surprise dawned on both.

Then the Pain hit. It struck so hard.

Ayla screamed. It felt as though molten fire was spreading through her veins. Her bones ached, her muscles cracked; the silver glow burst across her arms.

The giant wolf growled again.

Now urgently, out of concern.

Ayla collapsed into the snow; everything blurred.

The storm, the mountains, the beast, the world.

The last thing she saw was the massive wolf rushing toward her. Then nothing

-----

Warmth; That was the first thing she noticed.

Soft blankets surrounded her. The scent of cedarwood filled the air.

Ayla slowly opened her eyes. For several seconds she simply stared upward. The ceiling above her was crafted from dark polished wood. Elegant, expensive; definitely not the freezing wilderness she remembered.

Confusion settled in. Where was she? She sat up too quickly. The pain shot through her body, and a groan escaped her lips. At the same time the door opened, a woman in her early forties entered carrying a tray.

Her silver hair tied neatly at the back of her head. A sign of relief flashed across her face as she saw Ayla awake.

'Thank the moon goddess' she said with a soft smile.

Where am I? "Ayla asked" without any hesitation.

The Eclipse Fortress. "The woman answered ".

Ayla froze. Every werewolf knew that name; the Eclipse pack, the strongest and most feared pack in the Northern territories.

They are independent, smart, powerful, untouchable; infact every Alpha thinks twice before challenging them.

Rumor had it that; stories of elite warriors, unmatched wealth, ancient bloodlines and one terrifying Alpha.

"Alpha Kaelen, the Shadow King ".

Eclipse Fortress...? She nodded. You were found unconscious near Black Ridge Mountain".

Found. By whom? "She asked ".

Before the woman could answer, the door opened again.

A heavy silence filled the room. The woman immediately lowered her head.

A sign of respect, fear, and obedience.

Ayla slowly turned. Her breath caught. The man standing in the doorway was breathtaking.

He's tall, broad-shouldered, dangerous with a black hair framing a sharply handsome face. He possessed the kind of beauty that made people nervous.

Golden eyes locked onto hers. The same eyes from the wolf back then at the mountain.

Her pulse skipped. It was him, 'she thought', the beast from the storm; Alpha Kaelen.

Every instinct inside her screamed. A predator, power, danger is here.

As Kaelen stepped into the room, the air itself seemed to shift around him.

The woman quickly excused herself and left.

Now they were alone. Ayla tightened her grip on the blanket. Kaelen studied her silently, his gaze lingered on her face, her hands, her eyes; as though searching for something.

Then finally, he spoke, "You should be dead." Ayla blinked, this wasn't the greeting she expected. " what?" She exclaimed nervously.

His expression remained unreadable as he continued his speech, "the rejection should have killed you."

Now the memory hit like a knife. Jace, Sienna, the betrayal, the rejection, the humiliation; the pain twisted inside her chest.

Kaelen noticed. His jaw tightened slightly as though he disliked seeing her hurt. He continued "you survived something most wolves wouldn't ". Ayla looked away. " I wasn't given much choice ". For a moment a silence settled between them.

Then Kaelen surprised her. "What happened?" He asked, the question sounded so genuine. It wasn't out of curiosity rather on a concerned state.

Ayla laughed bitterly, the sound was hollow. "My mate decided I wasn't enough so he found someone better." Kaelen's eyes darkened. "Better? She shrugged. "That's what he believes."

A dangerous look crossed Kaelen's face, one that made even Ayla nervous. Now the room seemed colder, the shadows deeper.

Then the Alpha lowered his voice. "Then he's a fool."

Ayla blinked numerous times. Nobody had defended her since that night, not even the ones that called themselves her parents, not her friends, not her pack, yet this stranger just did without any hesitation. Now something shifted inside her, she felt it; it was small, fragile but real.

Kaelen approached the bed. The closer he came, the more powerful his scent became. He smelled of cedar, smoke, winter rain, her wolf reacted Immediately; it became restless, alert and interested; though Ayla ignored it.

Kaelen reached for his coat and brought out three copies of folded documents, he handed it over to Ayla. What is this? " Medical results " he answered.

She frowned. Medical results? " she thought ". Slowly, she unfolded the papers. The first copy contained blood analysis, the second contained genetic records, the third made her freeze. ' Silver Bloodline '. Ancient Royal Heritage Detected.

Ayla stared, then stared harder, surely she was reading it wrong. " she thought ". "This isn't possible, right?"

Kaelen's expression remained serious"It is."

"My family isn't royal, they lied." The room spun. Everything she thought she knew suddenly felt uncertain.

Kaelen folded his arms. "Your bloodline is older than Bloodmoon Pack." Ayla's heart raced. "How do you know?"

For the first time, something unreadable flashed through his eyes. It was recognition, memory flashed back or possibly shock.

"Because I've spent years searching for it." Ayla's breath caught.

Searching for her bloodline, why?

Before she could ask another question, a loud alarm suddenly echoed through the fortress.

Kaelen turned instantly, his entire demeanor transformed, Now to a 'Warrior, Alpha, and Leader.

The door burst open, a guard rushed inside. "Alpha!" Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "What happened?"

The warrior looked directly at Ayla then back at Kaelen his face pale, "The scouts confirmed it."

Ayla felt unease down her stomach. Confirmed what? She dared not ask.

The guard swallowed hard. "The Silver Heir has awakened." Immediately the room fell silent. Kaelen's gaze slowly shifted toward Ayla, his golden eyes burned with radiance.

Ayla's pulse rumbled. Because for the first time since she arrived, she realized something terrifying;

The storm hadn't brought her to Black Ridge by accident.

Someone had been waiting.

Watching.

Patiently.

Searching.

And somehow...

someone had been searching for her all along.