Chapter 5 BETRAYED HEART

**Point of View: Lila**

Over Sarah and me, the scarred guy stands with his knife gleaming in the moonlight. My stomach trembles at his rumble. Beside Clara's tent, we are apprehended attempting to retrieve the box containing her fictitious documents. Sarah tightens her fingers and takes hold of my hand. Although my legs feel like jelly, I still want to run.

The guy approaches and says, "You shouldn't be here." Like a wolf poised to strike, his eyes are ruthless.

Sarah draws me away. "Leave us alone!" she exclaims in a courageous voice.

His chuckle is deep and menacing. According to Clara, you're trouble. It's time to go.

Half-open on the mud, I gaze at the box. Clara is lying about my being a traitor, and the documents are there as evidence. They must reveal the truth to Ethan. I inhale deeply before lunging for the box. Sarah pulls the guy away as he swings his knife. When he falters, I grab a piece of paper and hold on to it tightly.

"Lila, run!" Sarah shouts.

With the paper crinkling in my palm, I run into the darkness. I hear the guy pursuing us, but Sarah is behind me. My face is scratched by branches, and my heart is racing. I don't turn around. As the moon illuminates our path, we avoid trees. It's silent in the camp, but I can hear the guy approaching with heavy footsteps.

Panting, we slip behind a large rock. Sarah has large eyes. "You got it?" she asks in a whisper.

I hold out the document and nod. I can read it even if it's crumpled. I'm meeting rogues to harm the pack, it says. All of it is false. The thought of Ethan believing this makes my chest ache.

I say, "We have to find Ethan." "This must be seen by him."

Sarah nods, but fear is visible on her face. "What if he doesn't pay attention?"

That's not something I want to consider. My friend is Ethan. He must trust me. We remain low and sneak back into camp. Most of the wolves are sleeping, and the fire is almost out. The flap of Ethan's tent is open when I notice it. My heart leaps. I may be able to speak with him now.

As we approach, I hear Clara's voice. Ethan's tent is where she is. My stomach twists, and I pause. I'm pulled behind a tree by Sarah. While lurking in the shadows, we listen.

Clara responds, "Ethan, you made the right decision." "Lila isn't beneficial to the pack."

Ethan sighs, and I hear it. "I'm not sure, Clara. She is my partner. She is a part of my heart.

It hurts my eyes. Does he still sense me? Clara, however, chuckles cruelly. She is a traitor. You seen the evidence. I am the kind of powerful person you need.

I grip the page more tightly. Ethan is unaware that it is a phony. Sarah stops me from running in and showing him.

"Hold on," she murmurs. "We must have a plan."

My heart is hurting, yet I nod. Ethan is silent for a while. "I need to think," he adds. Clara, leave me alone.

With her blond hair bouncing, Clara sighs and storms away. She is not aware of us. I wait for her to go before slinking over to Ethan's tent. Sarah remains behind, keeping an eye out for the guy with the scars. I take a look inside. With his head in his hands, Ethan is seated on his bed. He seems depressed, as if he had lost something.

"Ethan," I interrupt in a whisper.

His hazel eyes widen as he glances up. "Lila? You're expected to go!

With trembling hands, I raise the paper. "Clara is telling lies. This claims that I am a traitor, yet it is untrue. She created it in order to get rid of me.

His expression bewildered, he accepts the paper. His eyes are moving quickly as he reads it. "From where did you obtain this?"

I say, "From Clara's tent." She has a guy working with her. In order for her to be your partner, they want me gone.

Ethan gives a headshake. "This isn't possible. Clara is assisting the group.

My cheeks well up with tears. "You don't think I'm real? Ethan, I'm your mate!

His face is ripped as he stands. "The elders gave me evidence, Lilia. Plans, letters. You're among rogues, they say.

"It's all phony!" I exclaim, raising my voice. "Everyone is being duped by Clara!"

He glances at me after glancing over the page once more. "I am unsure of what to believe."

It crushes my heart even more. I step forward and take his hand. "Ethan, feel me. I would never harm the pack, you know.

For a moment, his eyes are compassionate as he examines our hands. Then, however, he withdraws. "I can't, Lilia. My strength is needed by the pack.

I back off, tears streaming down my face. "You're going with Clara?"

He merely stares at the ground without responding. My chest hurts so much that I can't breathe, so I turn and flee. Sarah is waiting, her expression anxious.

She says, "He didn't believe you?"

I weep and shake my head. "He believes that I am a traitor."

Sarah gives me a hug. "We'll figure something other out. Hurry up.

With a sorrowful heart, we dash back to the jungle. Even though the moon is still brilliant, it seems to be mocking me. We take cover in a dense thicket to gather our breath. The paper is still in my fingers, crushed. It's my only means of demonstrating my goodness.

"Now what?" Sarah queries.

I say, "We have to show someone else." "Elder Mary, maybe. She is reasonable.

Sarah gives a nod. "All well, but we must exercise caution. There is still that dude out there.

The thought of the scar-faced man's knife makes me shudder. We remain silent as we make our way through the woodland. Even if the camp is sleeping, I can sense eyes on it. We approach the tent of Elder Mary. It has flowers outside and is little. She has always treated me with kindness.

I gently tap the pole of the tent. "Elder Mary?" I mumble.

Mary's kind face emerges when the flap unfolds. Sleep has left her gray hair disheveled. "Lila? Sarah? What's the matter?

I will extend the article. "Clara is telling lies about me." This is her way of saying, "I'm a traitor."

Mary picks up the paper and reads it with her eyes narrowed. "This is a major matter. Enter the house.

I tell her everything as we sit in her tent, including the phony documents, the scarred guy, and Clara's whispers. Mary listens, her expression solemn. She declares, "This is bad." However, the elders have faith in Clara. We need further evidence.

It breaks my heart. "What should I do?"

Mary gives me a hand pat. "Remain concealed. It will take some time, but I will speak with the other elders.

Sarah gives a nod. "Until it's safe, we'll remain in the forest."

We stealthily return to the forest after leaving Mary's tent. My mind is racing. I'm not believed by Ethan, and Clara is winning. Sarah's eyes are intense, yet I want to give up.

"We're not finished," she declares. "We'll discover more evidence."

I try to be bold and nod. We locate a hollow tree where we may hide. We squeeze in despite the cramped space. It's calm in the forest, but I can hear a wolf howling in the distance. My skin prickles from it. I worry whether Ethan will ever trust me again when I think about him.

When morning arrives, we remain hidden. Sarah emerges. "It's obvious," she states. "Let's find more of Clara's belongings."

My heart is racing as we make our way back toward Clara's tent. I hear wolves conversing as the camp begins to awaken. I see the box on the mud as we get to the tent. A shadow moves behind us as I grab for it. Clara is there when I turn, her eyes icy. The scarred guy emerges smiling as she clutches a rope in her hand.

"Are you going somewhere?" Clara's voice sounds like the hiss of a snake.