Chapter 6 The Scorched Earth

Camilla POV

I remember the words on the note very well: "I know who you are, Camilla." They burned into my eyes. At midnight, meet me in the burned-out clearing. Come by yourself. I held the knife tighter and stared at the door as my heart beat like a drum. No one was walking around in the packhouse anymore, but I felt like a mouse with a cat watching me. Someone saw that I was not Mira. Someone knew I was Camilla and that I had come back from the dead.

I put the necklace and the note in my pocket and ran my fingers along the wolf charm. The burned clearing was where I died because that is where they put me on a stake and set me on fire for my life. I swallowed hard to try to get rid of the memory of the flames and screams that were making my stomach hurt. It hurt to have to go back there, but I had to. That note made me want to know who wrote it and what they wanted.

The wall clock got closer to 12 a.m. Putting on my cloak, I hid the knife in my sleeve. There was still a board over the broken window, so I crept up to the door and listened. Nothing. I opened the door and walked into the dark hallway, where my boots felt good on the wood. Everyone in the packhouse was asleep, so it was quiet. I quickly left the house and went outside into the foggy night.

The village was quiet, and the air was thick and cold. The fog wrapped around the homes and made the whole scene look like a dream. My heart was beating fast as I ran towards the forest. It was not far to the burned clearing, but every step felt like I was walking into a trap. I held the knife tight, ready for a wolf, an arrow, or even something worse.

The branches of the trees reached out like fingers and closed in on me. The path was muddy, and every step made my boots sink. I thought of how Lucien and I used to walk this path together, laughing and holding hands. It felt like a way to my death now. Putting the thought aside, I paid attention to the note. Come by yourself. I was not sure about it, but I had no choice.

It got light enough to see the clearing. The ground was black and scarred. Even after all these years, the air still smelt like ash. I stopped on the edge, my knife in hand, and looked around in the dark. Beyond a few steps, the thick fog covered everything. I held my breath and waited, listening for any sound.

A branch broke. I turned around with my knife drawn, but no one was there. It was only shadows and fog. As I stepped into the clearing, my heart raced. The burned ground felt good under my feet. There were roaring flames, ropes cutting my wrists, and Lucien's face as he turned away. I fell to the ground with my hands in the dirt as my knees shook. Even though it was cold, I could still hear and feel the fire. I wiped my tears away because I was mad at myself. This is not where I came to cry. I came to find out.

A soft, shaking voice asked, "Mira?" I jumped up and got my knife ready. Elin stood at the edge of the clearing with her stuffed wolf toy in her arms. Her braid was a mess, and she looked scared with wide eyes.

"Elin!" I hissed as I put the knife down. Ask yourself, "Why are you here?" "Be careful!"

"I was following you," she said in a low voice. "I saw you go." "You scared me."

My chest got tight. She does not belong here. It was not her fight; it was mine. I took a step towards her and told her, "Go back." "You should-"

I was talking when I heard a low growl. It looked like yellow eyes were moving through the fog. A big, black wolf with its teeth bared walked into the clearing. I pushed Elin backwards...

System: my heart is beating fast. "Elin, get away!" I spoke in a whisper while pulling her back by the arm. The wolf growled again, and its fur stood on end. It did not move, though. It did nothing but watch us, fixing its eyes on me.

Elin whimpered and grabbed my leg. She spoke with a shaking voice, "Mira, I am scared."

With my knife raised, I told them to stay behind me. As the wolf got closer, I tightened my grip and got ready to fight. Then, though, a voice from the fog said something.

"Enough, Kael," a sharp but calm voice said. The wolf stopped, its ears moving, and then walked away into the fog. Someone came forward wearing a cloak that covered their face. Their voice was low, and they were tall. "Camilla, let us talk."

My heart stopped beating. They called me by my real name. I pushed Elin further behind me while keeping my knife still. "What are you?" My voice was rough when I asked.

By pulling back their hood, the person showed Marta's sharp eyes and grey hair. She walked up to him and said, "I knew it was you." "I saw it in your eyes as soon as you walked in." Camelia, you are back from the dead.

The cold made my heart race. I told them, "You are wrong," but my voice was shaking. My name is Mira.

She shook her head and smiled sadly. "No, you are not." I saw them burn you. I saw the pain on your face. The lies bothered me, but I could not stop them.

Elin stuck out her hand and grabbed her toy. She asked Mira in a whisper, "What is she talking about?"

I kept my eyes on Marta and told Elin, "Go back to the village." "Now."

She said, "No." "You keep her safer." Tonight the pack is not safe.

"What do you mean?" I asked with my knife still raised.

She looked at the trees with a tense face. "The government knows you are here." They sent that wolf to test you and scare you. They are keeping an eye on you to see if you are Camilla.

My stomach turned. They burned me and called me cursed by the council. They were still here and still had power. "Why are you telling me this?" I asked in a low voice.

She said, "Because I want the truth to come out." It was a lie to Lucien. We were all. They set you up so they could keep their power. They are scared that you are back, though.

I lowered the knife a bit because I could not think straight. "Lucien thought they were true," I said, my voice breaking. "He let me die."

Marta's eyes got softer. "He was scared and young." You are cursed, the council told him, and you will kill the pack. It broke him ever since.

It hurt my throat. I really wanted to believe her, but the flames in my mind were too strong. "Why should I believe you?" I asked.

Marta told her, "You shouldn't." "But I am not against you." Come see me here tonight. I will bring proof in the form of council records. They show the lies they told.

My heart was beating fast as I looked at her. Proof. Whichever way she tells it, I could use it against the council and make them pay. If she was telling the truth, though, this was a trick. I took Elin's hand and said, "I will think about it." "Elin, let us go."

We ran back to the village quickly, and I still had my knife with me. Elin kept quiet and looked scared with big eyes. When we got to the packhouse, she asked Mira, "Are you in trouble?"

Lying on my knees to look at her, I said, "No." "But do not tell anyone about tonight, please?" It is not even Lucien."

She smiled and hugged her toy. She said, "Promise."

I put her to bed after taking her to her room. I forced a smile and said, "Sleep tight." I sneaked back to my room and locked the door as she closed her eyes. I took out the note and necklace and looked at them. She knew. The city council knew. It was getting harder for me to get even, and I did not know who to trust.

I lay on the bed with my knife under my pillow. My mind was going fast. Their words-Marta lied to Lucien and broke him-kept going through my mind. I did not want to believe it, but his sad eyes and the times he came to my grave made me think about it. Could I forget about him? Did I want to?

I could not fall asleep. I sat up and looked at the boarded-up window. A thick fog covered everything outside. Then I heard a soft thump, like something heavy hitting the roof. My heart stopped. I took out my knife and crept up to the door to listen. Someone rumbled with a low growl above me, and claws scratched the wood. The wolf was back, and this time it was not by itself. There was a second growl coming from the hallway outside my door.