Chapter 4 CLARA'S LIES

**Point of View: Lila**

The group is shouting, and the fire is brilliant. With a voice as icy as ice, Ethan just commanded me to go. Pointing at me, the scarred guy accuses me of betraying my country. Clara's eyes are cruel and she's grinning. Sarah is gripping my arm tightly when I hear someone mutter, "Run, Lila, now!" in my ear. Sarah isn't there. It sounds like the wind. I'm not sure why, but I pay attention.

I break free of Sarah and take off running. I swerve between tents as my feet reach the ground. Loud, angry screams from the group pursue me. Even when I hear Ethan yell my name, I continue. I'm afraid he will fall for Clara's falsehoods. The moon illuminates my path across the gloomy jungle. Tree branches scrape my arms as I rush past them. Even though my breath aches, I continue.

With my chest heaving, I shelter behind a large rock. The shouting lessens. Shadows move in the camp as I look out. Clara is being told where I fled by the scarred guy. My stomach turns. They are pursuing me. I tighten my fists, yet I want to weep. I must have courage.

I keep low and crawl farther into the trees. The ground is soft with leaves, and the trees are towering. Ethan comes to mind. Why did he not defend me? He is my friend. Our love is meant to last a lifetime. But as if he didn't care, he turned his head aside. My eyes hurt from tears, but I quickly wiped them away. I can't allow Clara to prevail.

I hear leaves crackling underfoot. I hold my breath and hide behind a tree. Sarah is here. Her expression is troubled as she looks around. "Lila," she murmurs. "Where are you?"

With my pulse pounding, I go. I whisper, "Here, Sarah."

She rushes over to give me a strong embrace. "I was very afraid. Ethan did it, but why?

I give a headshake. "Clara told a lie. He believed her when she stated, "I am a traitor."

Sarah scowls. "That is incorrect. You are loved by Ethan. Perhaps he is perplexed.

I'm not sure anymore. "Clara has a sinister scheme. She told me she wanted me to go.

Sarah opens her eyes wide. "We must inform someone. Elder Mary, maybe. She is pleasant.

I'm afraid, yet I nod. The other elders pay attention to Clara, but Elder Mary is kind. This time, I hear heavier footsteps. I'm pulled down behind a bush by Sarah. The scarred guy sniffs the air as he passes. Like us, he is a werewolf, and he is pursuing me. Sarah gives my trembling hands a squeeze.

She murmurs, "He's gone." "Let's go."

We remain silent as we make our way through the woodland. Now when the moon is up, everything is silver. The whisper I heard comes to mind. Was it authentic? I was rescued by it. We locate a little cavern and take refuge there. Despite the cold, it seems secure. Sarah wraps her arm around me as she sits close.

"We'll fix this, Lilia," she promises. "You're not betraying anyone."

My heart aches too much for me to trust her. "Ethan did not defend me," I murmur, my voice cracking. "He allowed them to insult me."

Sarah gives me a closer embrace. "He is mistaken. We will reveal the truth to everyone.

I don't know how, but I nod. Clara is intelligent, and the elders support her. The guy with the scars comes to mind. Who is he? He's assisting Clara, but why? I attempt to think while closing my eyes. Even though the cave is silent, I can hear an owl hooting outside. I leap at it.

Sarah says, "Lila, take a little nap." "I'll observe."

Despite my inability to fall asleep, I recline against the cave wall. Ethan's face keeps shifting away from mine. I remember how much fun we had laughing and racing through the forest. I'm his forever, he used to declare while holding my hand. Now that he's with Clara, I'm hiding like a dog in fear.

When morning arrives, the cave is cold. Sarah is awake and watching. "We must have a strategy," she adds. "We can't remain here indefinitely."

I give a nod. "I'm looking for evidence that Clara is lying. Then maybe Ethan will pay attention.

Sarah grinned. That's my Lila. Let's return, but we'll be cunning.

We make our leisurely way out of the cave. Even though the jungle is silent, I can sense eyes on me. We approach the camp and hide behind trees. I observe Clara conversing with Elder John by the fire. She is grinning as if nothing is wrong. Ethan is also present, with his head down. I'm furious, yet my heart hurts.

I murmur, "Let's listen," to Sarah.

We hide among bushes and move closer. Clara speaks loudly. She claims that Ethan is the finest alpha. However, we must be secure. Lila was conversing with outlaws.

I tighten my fists. That is untrue! Elder John gives a nod. "Traitors are not acceptable. You made the proper decision, Ethan.

Nothing is spoken by Ethan. He doesn't protest, but he seems dejected. Sarah stops me from yelling as I want to rush outside.

"Hold on," she murmurs. "We require evidence."

With burning eyes, I nod. Clara is seen making her way to a tent. They have a hushed conversation as the scarred guy emerges. Clara gives him something sparkling, but I can't hear. It seems to be a knife. My stomach turns around. Do they want to do harm to anyone?

Sarah draws me away. "We must adhere to them," she states.

We follow, keeping a safe distance to avoid detection. They go to the camp's outskirts, where there are many trees. Clara pauses and surveys the area. I'm afraid she'll see us, so I hold my breath. The scarred guy pulls back leaves while kneeling. A box is buried in the ground. I notice papers inside as he opens it.

"What is that?" Sarah murmurs.

I give a headshake. With a solemn expression, Clara picks up a piece of paper and reads it. She claims that this demonstrates Lila's involvement with rogues. "Tonight, show it to the elders."

The guy with the scar nods. "Then?"

Clara gives a nasty grin. "Then Lila is permanently gone."

My heart stops. They are fabricating evidence to incite hatred against me. I reach for the papers, but Sarah stops me. "No," she responds. "We'll pick them up later."

While my mind is whirling, we steal back into the trees. Ethan is allowing Clara to lie to everyone. I feel like my insides are exploding. Sarah locates a hollow log where we may hide. We fit, although it's tight. My hand is in hers.

She responds, "We'll get those papers." "We'll prove to everyone that Clara is the bad guy."

I'm afraid, yet I nod. What if we are unable to? What happens if Ethan doesn't trust me? Now that the sun has risen, the camp is silent. In the distance, I hear wolves roaring. I get chills from that. Sarah stares out with courage on her face.

She says, "We'll wait until nightfall." "Then we'll enter covertly."

I agree, yet I'm feeling sad. I wonder whether Ethan misses me when I think about him. The whisper that advised me to flee comes to mind. Did the moon cause it? It's brilliant in the sky when I gaze up. There are no answers.

We sneak back to camp as night falls. The majority of the wolves are sleeping, and the fire is low. The box was in Clara's tent, which we approached covertly. As we approach, my hands tremble. Sarah gestures toward the floor. Beneath the foliage, the box remains.

A twig cracks behind us as I grab for it. The scarred guy is there as I turn, his knife gleaming in the moonlight. Growling, he says, "Got you."