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Eclipse Of The Fated Mate

Eclipse Of The Fated Mate

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**In a world where mate bonds are sacred, theirs is a chain of thorns.** Selina gave Xander everything-her blood, her heart, the remnants of her once-proud pack. But to him, she remains the daughter of his parents' alleged killer, a pawn in his ruthless quest for vengeance. Now, a terminal illness eats at her veins, and the Alpha who swore to cherish her demands she bleed herself dry for the she-wolf who stole his loyalty. Lillian's lies are venom. Her brother's schemes run deeper than the scars etched into Selina's spirit. And Xander? He watches his mate unravel, his icy disdain masking secrets even his wolf can't escape. But when a buried truth emerges-*Selina* saved him years ago, not the silver-tongued Lillian-the fragile threads of their bond snap. Rejected and dying, Selina vows to expose the festering lies rotting their packs... even if it destroys the man she once loved. **He believes she'll vanish without a fight. He's wrong.** Beneath the bloodstained snow, a dormant wolf stirs. And she's prepared to raze every shadow to ashes... if it means reclaiming her destiny.

Chapter 1 Nightmare's Shadow

The moon hung heavy outside our bedroom window, its silver light slicing through the curtains like a blade. I lay still, listening to Xander's ragged breaths beside me. Even in sleep, his body was tense, fists clenched against the sheets. I knew what was coming.

It started with a low growl, deep in his throat. Then his muscles twitched, legs thrashing as if running from something unseen. *The nightmare again.* I reached for him, my fingers brushing his arm. "Xander-"

He jolted upright, eyes wild, sweat glistening on his skin. For a heartbeat, he stared at me-*really* stared-like he used to before the hatred took root. Then his gaze hardened, sharp as winter frost.

"Don't," he snarled, recoiling from my touch.

I pulled my hand back, the sting of his rejection familiar now. "You were dreaming about them again. Your parents."

His jaw tightened. "And you care *why*?"

I swallowed the ache in my throat. Of course I cared. I'd spent three years watching these nightmares claw at him, three years pretending not to notice how he blamed me for ghosts I didn't create. But arguing was useless. The truth-that my father hadn't killed his parents-was a song he'd never let himself hear.

He swung his legs off the bed, his broad shoulders blocking the moonlight. "You shouldn't be here."

*Where else would I be?* This cold, gilded room was my prison as much as his. Our mating had been a transaction-peace for his Red Moon Pack, power for my father's crumbling Shining Pack. I'd believed in the fairy tales once, that mates were written in the stars. Now I knew better. Stars lied.

The phone on his nightstand buzzed, shrill in the silence. He grabbed it, his voice softening in a way it never did for me. "Lillian? What's wrong?"

I didn't need to hear her reply. Lillian's "illnesses" always struck at night, always required *his* comfort, *his* arms around her instead of mine. I dug my nails into my palm, focusing on the pain instead of the hollow space between my ribs.

He stood, pulling on a shirt. "I have to go."

"Don't." The word slipped out before I could stop it. Pathetic.

He paused, glancing over his shoulder. "You don't get to ask me for anything."

The door slammed.

I curled into the space where he'd lain, still warm from his body. The scent of pine and smoke clung to the sheets-a cruel reminder of the man he'd been before the anger. The man who'd traced the curve of my smile on our bonding night and whispered, *"Mine."*

A shudder racked my body, and I coughed into my sleeve. When I pulled it away, crimson speckled the fabric. *Not again.* The pack doctor's warning echoed in my head: *"The blood donations are draining you. Your wolf can't heal this."* But Xander insisted Lillian needed my blood-her "condition" required it. How could I refuse when every drop bought another day of his fleeting, poisoned kindness?

I stumbled to the bathroom, splashing water on my face. The mirror showed a stranger-pale skin, hollow cheeks, eyes too big for her face. The lively she-wolf who'd once challenged Xander to midnight races through the woods was gone. What remained was a ghost, fading with every sunrise.

Dawn crept in, gray and unwelcome. I dressed mechanically, my fingers fumbling over buttons. The packhouse was quiet, the usual bustle of warriors and Omegas muted. They all knew. Knew their Alpha despised his Luna, knew I was a breath away from being replaced.

I paused outside Xander's study, hearing his voice through the door. "-track the rogues near the eastern border. And send more guards to Lillian's quarters."

*Of course.* Always protecting her. Never me.

"Alpha?" An Omega's timid voice snapped me back. "Your breakfast..."

"I'm not hungry."

She hesitated, clutching a tray of honey-drenched pastries-his favorite. "He asked for you. In the dining hall."

My pulse flickered. *He asked for me?*

But hope was a dangerous thing. I followed her, each step heavier than the last.

He stood at the head of the table, arms crossed, face unreadable. Lillian perched beside his chair, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders like a crown. She smiled, all sweetness. "Selina! We've been waiting."

Xander didn't look at me. "Sit."

I obeyed, the chair scraping loudly.

Lillian pushed a document toward me, her perfume cloying. "Xander thinks it's time to make our... *arrangement* official."

I stared at the paper. *Blood Donation Agreement.* Section 3a: *The donor (Selina Shining) will provide monthly transfusions to the recipient (Lillian Silver) indefinitely.*

My vision blurred. "I can't. Not again. The doctor said-"

Xander's fist hit the table. "You think I care what some quack says? You owe her this."

*Owe her.* For what? For stealing my mate? For clawing her way into the cracks of our broken bond?

Lillian touched his arm. "Don't be harsh. She's just scared." Her voice dripped faux sympathy, but her eyes glinted. *Win again.*

I stood, the room tilting. "I won't sign it."

Xander moved faster than I could blink, gripping my wrist. "You don't get a choice."

Pain shot up my arm, and I cried out. His grip loosened-just enough-and I yanked free, stumbling back. Black spots danced in my vision.

"Selina?" His voice wavered, almost like concern.

But then Lillian whimpered, clutching her chest. "Xander, it hurts..."

He was at her side in an instant, cradling her. "I've got you."

I fled.

The forest swallowed me, its shadows a balm. I leaned against a tree, gasping. This wasn't a life-this slow unraveling, this death by a thousand cuts. But where could I go? My father's pack was weak, and my wolf... My wolf was dying.

A twig snapped. I whirled, heart racing.

Xander stood there, his expression unreadable. "You shouldn't be out here alone."

"Why not?" I laughed, the sound brittle. "Afraid I'll get lost?"

He stepped closer. "Afraid you'll *leave*."

The air crackled between us, charged with something raw and ancient. For a heartbeat, I let myself imagine it-his hands gentle on my face, his lips whispering apologies instead of curses.

Then his eyes narrowed. "You're shaking."

"I'm fine."

He reached for me, but I backed away. "Don't."

Something like pain flickered in his gaze. Or maybe it was the light.

"You're sick," he said quietly.

I wrapped my arms around myself. "And you care?"

The silence stretched, thick with everything unsaid.

His phone buzzed. Lillian's name flashed on the screen.

He turned, walking away without another word.

I sank to the ground, the forest spinning. *This is how it ends,* I thought. Not in battle, not in glory. In the dirt, alone, while the man who owned my soul walked away.

But then I felt it-a tiny spark in my chest. A wolf's stubborn growl. *Not yet.*

I stood, wiping mud from my jeans. Maybe I was a ghost. Maybe I was broken. But I'd be damned if I let Lillian watch me fade.

The pack doctor's words haunted me. *"You need treatment."*

Tomorrow, I'd go to him.

Tonight, I'd survive.

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Latest Release: Chapter 5 Hidden Guilt   04-15 17:30
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