Chapter 4 Eclipse Awakening
Elliott’s cave became my safe place. He didn’t talk much, but he always showed up with food and water when I needed it. He gathered herbs to fix the small cuts all over my body. Days passed, quiet like the calm before a storm. But I knew it wouldn’t last. The Bloodclaws wouldn’t let me go—an ex-wife who’s still alive is a stain on their name.
Hatred and shame wrapped around my heart like poison vines, day and night. I had nightmares about Lucas’s cold eyes, his mom’s cruel face. I’d wake up sweating, scared.
Elliott stood guard at the cave entrance, quiet as a stone. His presence made me feel a little safe, even if it was fragile.
“You’re full of hate,” Elliott said one night, poking the fire. His voice was deep, not a question—just a fact.
I huddled by the fire, didn’t bother lying. “Shouldn’t I be? Ten years of loving him, and he called me worthless. Threw me away like trash.”
“Hate can push you,” he said, looking up. His dark green eyes were deep, like pools in the firelight. “But don’t let it eat you. Your worth isn’t what others say—especially not fools.”
“But they did decide! The whole Bloodclaw family, all werewolves! I’m just a barren, useless woman!” I yelled, all the feelings I’d held back spilling out.
Elliott watched me, quiet, until I calmed down. Then he spoke slow “They only judge what they know—their little Bloodclaw bloodline. But the world’s bigger than that. Blood secrets are way more than a family like theirs can understand.”
He stood up, walked to the cave entrance, stared at the dark night. “Tonight’s an eclipse.”
I looked up at the clouds covering the sky.
“During an eclipse, shadow power’s strongest. It’s when old, forgotten bloodlines… wake up easiest.” Elliott’s voice was soft, like he was telling a secret. “Close your eyes, Isabella. Don’t look—feel. Feel the shadows around you. They aren’t empty. They’re light in another way. Another kind of power.”
I was skeptical, but I tried. I closed my eyes, cleared my mind. At first, I only heard the fire crackle. But slowly, I felt something.
I could “touch” the line between light and shadow in the cave—those long, flickering shadows from the fire. They weren’t just dark. They were alive, moving slow.
A faint hum started in my bones, like they were talking to the shadows.
“Can you feel it?” Elliott’s voice sounded far away. “That’s not a flaw, Isabella. It’s a gift. The Eclipse Bloodline—It comes from shadows themselves.”
Eclipse Bloodline! The words hit me like lightning!
Just then, the clouds outside moved—like something pushed them. The moon came out, bright and full. Then a black shadow started covering it—the eclipse began!
When the moon was fully covered, power exploded from my bones—like a dam breaking! Not a faint hum, a full awakening!
“Ah!” I screamed, pain shooting through me. It felt like every bone, every muscle was being crushed and put back together! Hot and cold clashed inside me!
Silver light burst out of me, wrapping around me like a cocoon! My light brown hair turned silver, shining like mercury! My eyes—they felt different. I looked down, saw my pupils were pure silver!
A strong pressure pushed out from me. The fire went out—no wind, just the shadows swallowing it! Outside, wolves howled—scared, submission in their voices!
The pain stopped suddenly. I felt calm, in control. I could feel every shadow in the cave—like they were my hands, my feet. I could make them do anything.
I held up my hand, thought hard. A little shadow curled around my finger, like a pet.
Elliott dropped to one knee, his head bowed. His voice was full of awe “Welcome back, Your Highness. The Eclipse Bloodline’s finally awake.”
I looked at my hands, felt the power in my veins. It was true. Cold and despair had woken me up. I was never worthless.
Lucas. Just wait.
