Chapter12
900 Words
Aria didn’t sleep.
She sat on the edge of her bed long after Rowan left, long after Kael finally stepped out to give her space, long after the house fell silent. The storm outside had faded, but the heaviness in her chest hadn’t.
ECLYRA pressed close. “They mean to cage us.”
Aria whispered, “I know.”
The words tasted like ash.
A soft knock sounded at her door.
“Luna?” Kael’s voice. “They’re calling for you.”
Aria stood slowly. “Who?”
“The elders,” Kael said. “And… Rowan.”
Aria’s stomach twisted. “Of course.”
Kael’s jaw tightened. “You don’t have to go.”
“Yes,” Aria said quietly. “I do.”
Kael fell into step beside her as they walked down the hall. The house felt colder than it ever had, the walls too narrow, the air too still. When they reached the main hall, voices drifted through the door.
Rowan.
Lyria.
The elders.
Several ranked wolves.
A tribunal.
Kael growled under his breath. “This is a setup.”
Aria pushed the door open.
Every head turned.
Rowan stood at the center of the room, arms crossed, expression carved from stone. Lyria stood slightly behind him, the pup in her arms, her eyes wide and shimmering with carefully crafted fear.
The elders sat at the long table, their faces grim.
Aria stepped forward. “You called for me.”
Maren nodded. “Luna Aria. Thank you for coming.”
Aria’s voice stayed steady. “I didn’t have a choice.”
Thalos cleared his throat. “We need to address the events of yesterday.”
Aria lifted her chin. “I refused to shift on command. That is not a crime.”
“It caused panic,” Rhea said softly.
“It exposed the pack’s weakness,” Thalos added.
Kael stepped forward. “The only weakness here is your fear.”
Rowan snapped, “Kael, enough.”
Kael didn’t move. “No.”
Aria placed a hand on his arm. “Let me handle this.”
He stepped back reluctantly.
Maren folded her hands. “Aria… the pack is afraid of your wolf.”
“My wolf has never harmed anyone.”
“That is not the issue,” Thalos said. “The issue is what she might do.” Aria’s jaw tightened. “You’re punishing me for what you don’t understand.”
“We are protecting the pack,” Rhea said.
“And Rowan,” Maren added.
Aria’s breath caught. “Rowan doesn’t need protection from me.”
Lyria’s voice trembled. “Aria… yesterday, when you looked at me—your eyes—”
Aria turned toward her. “I looked at you.”
“You looked angry,” Lyria whispered. “I was holding the pup. I was scared.”
Aria stared at her. “I wasn’t angry.”
Rowan stepped forward. “Aria, your eyes were glowing.”
“They glow when ECLYRA is alert,” Aria said. “Not when she’s angry.”
“That’s not how it felt,” Rowan said quietly.
Aria felt the words like a blade.
Kael growled. “She’s twisting everything.”
Rowan turned on him. “Stay out of this.”
Kael stepped forward, fury radiating off him. “You’re letting her manipulate you.”
Lyria gasped softly, clutching the pup tighter. “I—I’m not trying to—”
Rowan moved instantly, shielding her. “Don’t talk to her like that.”
Aria felt something inside her splinter.
Maren cleared her throat. “We have reached a decision.”
Aria’s pulse quickened. “A decision?”
Thalos nodded. “Until we understand what is happening to your wolf, you are to remain confined to the pack house.”
Aria stared at them. “Confined.”
Rhea’s voice softened. “It is temporary.”
Kael snarled. “You’re imprisoning her.”
Rowan’s jaw tightened. “It’s for her safety. And the pack’s.” Aria stepped forward, her voice low. “You think I’m a threat.”
Rowan didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
The silence said everything.
Aria felt the crack inside her widen—sharp, deep, impossible to ignore.
Maren continued, “You will not attend training. You will not lead patrols. You will not participate in pack gatherings.”
Aria’s breath trembled. “You’re stripping me of my role.”
“Temporarily,” Thalos repeated.
Kael stepped in front of Aria, blocking the elders from view. “You’re making a mistake.”
Rowan’s voice hardened. “Kael, stand down.”
“No.”
Aria placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not,” he growled.
“I know,” she whispered. “But let it go.”
Kael stepped aside, but his eyes stayed locked on Rowan—cold, lethal.
Aria turned toward the elders. “Is that all?” “For now,” Maren said.
Aria nodded once. “Then I’m done here.”
She walked out of the hall, Kael following close behind.
But as she reached the doorway, she heard Lyria’s soft voice behind her.
“Rowan… she looked furious.” Rowan exhaled shakily. “I know.”
Aria didn’t look back.
But the pack felt the shift.
The fracture.
The beginning of the ruin.
And Aria felt something she hadn’t felt in years.
Trapped.
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