Chapter 2 THREE DAY BEFORE

[Lyra's POV]

"In the dark, memories are louder than voices."

I sat in the dark. The stone was cold under me. My arms are wrapped around my knees. I listen to my own breath. I hear water drip. I hear nothing else.

I try to remember how I got here. I try to remember every step, every word. I want to know when everything changed.

They called me a traitor. I heard the word again and again. It did not feel real. Not until I saw Lila's face.

It started three days before they dragged me here. I was in the kitchen with Mira. We were kneading dough. Lila came in. She looked tired. She did not smile. She watched me with cold eyes. I asked if she was okay. She shrugged.

That night, I heard voices outside my window. I looked out. I saw Lila talking to Elder Rowan. She was crying. I could not hear them. I wanted to go outside, but I stayed in bed.

The next morning, Bran came to my door. He said the elders wanted to see me. I followed him. My hands shook.

I kept thinking about Lila's face. She did not look scared. She did not look sad. She looked angry. I wondered what I did to her. I tried to remember if I hurt her. I could not think of anything.

The walk to the elders' hall felt long. My heart beat fast. My hands would not stay still. Bran did not speak. He walked ahead. I watched his back.

I thought about my mother, Leah. She was not there. She left days ago. She said she had to help someone in another town. She hugged me before she left. I tried to remember her hug. It felt far away now. I wished she was here. If she was, maybe things would be different. Maybe Lila would not be so bold. Maybe the elders would listen to me.

I wondered if Lila waited until my mother was gone on purpose. Maybe she knew I would be alone. Maybe she planned it.

We reached the elders' hall. Bran opened the door. I went inside. The elders sat in a circle. Lila stood in the middle. She did not look at me.

Elder Rowan spoke. "Lyra, you are here because of a serious accusation."

I nodded. My throat was dry.

He looked at Lila. "Tell us what you saw."

Lila's voice was quiet. "I saw Lyra meet with a stranger by the river. I followed her. She gave him a map."

I stared at her. "That's not true."

She kept her eyes down. "I saw it," she said.

I looked at the elders. "I was in my room. Ask Mira. I was with her most of the night."

Mira stepped forward. She looked nervous. "She left the kitchen before dark. I didn't see her after that."

Elder Rowan nodded. "We found a map in your room, Lyra. It showed the supply hut and the guard posts."

My chest hurt. "That's not mine."

Lila spoke again. "She wrote names on it. Times when the guards change. I saw her give it to the man."

I wanted to scream. "You're lying!"

The elders talked in low voices. I could not hear them. Lila still would not look at me.

Kaden was there. He stood at the back. He did not say a word.

Elder Rowan looked at me. "Do you have anything else to say?"

I tried to speak, but my mouth was dry. "I didn't do it," I whispered.

They did not listen.

After the meeting, I walked outside. The sun was bright. It hurt my eyes. I sat on the steps. I tried to breathe.

I thought about Lila's words. Why would she lie? Was it just about Kaden? She liked him. I knew that. But would she do all this just for him? Or was there more?

I remembered seeing her with Elder Rowan. She was crying. Was she scared? Or was she acting? Maybe she was hiding something. Maybe she was working with someone else. Maybe even with the rival pack. The thought made me sick.

I tried to remember if I saw her talking to anyone else. I thought about the stranger by the river. I never saw anyone there. But what if Lila did? What if she met someone and blamed it on me? Maybe she needed someone to take the fall.

I wondered if she was scared of something. Maybe someone threatened her. Maybe she was desperate.

But then I remembered her smile. The way she looked at me when I was dragged away. She did not look scared. She looked satisfied.

I thought about my mother again. Why did she have to leave now? Why did she have to go so far away? I wished I could talk to her. I wanted her to tell me what to do.

I walked back to my room. I sat on my bed and stared at the wall. My head hurt. My heart hurt more.

I tried to talk to my wolf. She was quiet. I felt empty.

I heard footsteps outside. I stayed quiet. I did not want to see anyone.

I thought about running away. If I left, would they come after me? Would my mother find me gone when she came back? I did not want to hurt her.

I thought about Kaden. He did not say anything. He did not defend me. Maybe he believed Lila. Maybe he never cared about me at all.

I thought about Mira. She looked scared. I wondered if she believed me. I hoped she did.

I tried to remember every moment with Lila. When did things start to go wrong? We used to be friends. We used to laugh together. We used to talk about the future. Now she wanted me gone.

The map? I never saw it before. But they found it in my room. How did it get there? Did Lila put it there? Did someone else? I tried to remember if anyone came into my room. I could not think of anyone.

Maybe Lila had help. Maybe someone else wanted me gone. Maybe the elders were scared. Maybe they wanted someone to blame.

I lay down on my bed. I stared at the ceiling. I tried to breathe.

I thought about my mother again. I wondered if she was safe. I wondered if she missed me. I wondered if she would believe me.

I wished she was here.

I closed my eyes. I tried to sleep but my mind would not stop thinking.

I dreamed about Lila. She stood by the river. She called my name, but her voice was cold. She turned away from me. I tried to follow, but my feet would not move.

I wondered if Lila was working with the rivals. Maybe she wanted me gone so she could do something worse. Maybe she wanted to hurt the pack. Maybe she wanted to hurt me.

I tried to think of a way to prove I was innocent. I thought about talking to Elder Rowan again. I thought about asking Kaden to help me. I thought about running away.

I did nothing.

That night, I heard voices outside my window. I looked out. I saw Lila walking with Elder Rowan again. She was smiling this time. I wondered what they were talking about. I wondered if they were planning something else.

I thought about my mother again. I wished she would come back.

I whispered, "Please come back, Mom," but no one answered.

Now, I sit in the dark in the dungeon. The stone is still cold. I wrap my arms around my knees. I listen to the water drip. I wait for morning. I wait for someone to believe me.

The silence presses in. I closed my eyes and tried to hold on.