Chapter 13-Aria's Return

     The night was not peaceful. Wolves whispered in every corner of the pack. Some were scared of Elara, some wanted her dead, some just wanted to see what would happen next.  

Elara could not sleep. Her body was weak from the cavern, but her mind was stronger. She sat by the window of her room, looking at the moon.  

Then she heard a voice. Soft, familiar.  

“Elara?”  

Her heart jumped. She turned quick. At the door stood a girl with bright eyes and long dark hair. The moment Elara saw her, tears filled her eyes.  

“Aria…”  

They ran into each other’s arms. Elara held her tight, not wanting to let go. Aria was her best friend from the old village, before the trials, before the pain. They grew up together, laughed together, cried together.  

“I thought I lost you,” Elara whispered.  

Aria pulled back a little, smiling. “You can never lose me. I came as soon as I heard about the trials. I had to see you.”  

Elara wiped her eyes. For the first time in weeks, she felt safe.  

They sat on the bed, talking in low voices.  

“Elara, the whole pack is talking about you,” Aria said. “Some say you are cursed. Some say the moon goddess marked you herself. They don’t know what to believe.”  

Elara sighed. “I don’t even know what to believe. But I can’t give up, Aria. If I die in these trials, then fine. But I will not let them break me.”  

Aria looked at her with pride. “That’s the Elara I know. Brave, even when the world hates you.”  

Elara smiled weakly. “Not brave. Just stubborn.”  

They laughed softly, but the joy did not last long. A loud knock came at the door.  

It was Clara. She stepped inside without waiting, her curvy body covered in a red gown. Her eyes locked on Aria.  

“Who is this?”  

Aria stood up quickly. “I am Aria, Elara’s friend. And you?”  

Clara smirked. “I am the one who belongs here. You don’t.”  

Elara stood between them. “Clara, leave us.”  

But Clara did not move. She came closer, her voice sharp. “You think this girl will save you? She can’t. No one can. You will fall, Elara. And when you do, Damien will be mine.”  

Aria’s eyes burned. “You speak too much for someone who hides behind lies.”  

Clara slapped her words with a cold laugh. “Watch yourself, stranger. Or you will vanish like the rest.”  

Then she turned and left, slamming the door.  

Elara felt anger rise in her chest, but Aria touched her arm gently. “Ignore her. She wants to see you break. Don’t give her that joy.”  

Elara nodded, but deep inside, she knew Clara was not done.  

***  

The next morning, the pack gathered again. The fossils had called another meeting. The trials were moving faster now, as if they wanted to see Elara fall quickly.  

Aria stayed close to Elara, walking beside her. Whispers followed them through the hall.  

“Who is that girl?”  

“Another witch maybe?”  

“Friends with the cursed one…”  

Aria ignored them, holding her head high. But Elara could feel the hate in the air like smoke.  

Inside the arena, Elder Kain raised his staff. “The moon has spoken. There will be a third trial. The Trial of Blood.”  

The crowd gasped. Even Clara’s eyes widened. The Trial of Blood was feared by every wolf.  

Kain’s voice was strong. “In this trial, the chosen must face not shadows, not darkness, but flesh. She must fight a wolf chosen by us. If she wins, she lives. If she loses, she dies.”  

The crowd roared.  

Elara’s heart pounded. Her body was not ready, she was still weak. But she had no choice.  

Clara’s lips curved in a wicked smile. She leaned close to Damien and whispered something. Damien did not react. His eyes stayed cold, locked on Elara.  

Later, in the training yard, Aria held Elara’s hands.  

“You can’t fight them alone,” Aria said. “You are still healing. Let me help you.”  

Elara shook her head. “They won’t allow it. The trial is mine.”  

Aria’s eyes grew wet. “Then I will find another way. I don’t care what it takes, I will protect you.”  

Elara hugged her again. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”  

But deep inside, Elara feared that even Aria’s love could not stop what was coming.  

***  

Night came fast. The moon was full, throwing silver light over the pack house. Elara could not sleep. She walked out to the garden, breathing the cold air.  

Then she heard footsteps. Someone followed her.  

“Who is there?” she asked, turning quick.  

Damien stepped out of the shadows. His eyes glowed faintly, his jaw tight.  

“You are not ready for the next trial,” he said.  

Elara frowned. “And you care?”  

Damien came closer, his voice low. “Whether I care or not does not matter. You will face death. And death does not forgive weakness.”  

Elara stared at him, her chest heavy. “Why do you hate me so much?”  

Damien’s eyes flashed, but he said nothing. He turned to leave, then stopped.  

“You should be careful with that friend of yours,” he said without looking back.  

Elara froze. “What do you mean?”  

But Damien walked away, leaving her heart confused.  

***  

The next day, whispers spread again. Some said the fossils had already chosen who Elara would fight. Some said it would be one of the strongest wolves in the pack.  

Aria moved around, asking questions. She came back to Elara, her face serious.  

“Elara, I heard something. Clara is planning something big for the trial. I don’t know what, but it’s dangerous.”  

Elara clenched her fists. “That girl will not stop until she kills me.”  

Aria’s eyes burned. “Then let’s not wait. Let’s fight back before she does.”  

Elara looked at her best friend, and for a moment she felt a new kind of strength. With Aria by her side, maybe she could stand against them all.  

But far away, Clara was already smiling, her plan set in motion.  

***  

On the morning of the trial, the arena was louder than ever. Wolves pushed to get a good view. The fossils sat in their chairs, their faces like stone.  

Elara walked in, her heart heavy but her head high. Aria stood at the edge, her eyes full of worry.  

Then the gates opened. A giant wolf stepped out. Its fur was black as night, its eyes red. The crowd roared in fear and excitement.  

Elara’s breath caught in her throat. She had never seen a wolf like this. It was bigger, darker, stronger.  

“This is no normal wolf,” Aria shouted from the side. “Clara has done something!”  

Clara smiled from her seat, her eyes glowing with victory.  

Elara’s legs shook, but she forced herself to stand firm. The Trial of Blood had begun.  

The wolf growled, stepping closer. The ground shook under its paws.  

Elara closed her eyes for a moment. She whispered to the moon goddess, to her parents, to herself. “I will not die here.”  

Then she opened her eyes, silver light flashing inside them.  

The wolf jumped.  

The crowd screamed.  

And everything went dark.