Chapter 21: Elara's Revenge

Lyra's POV

The packed house is eerily quiet as I go down the deserted hallway. It's late – most wolves are on patrol or tucked away in their beds. But sleep eludes me, my mind a chaotic whirlwind of thoughts and emotions after the events of the Luna challenge.

As I round a corner, hushed voices catch my attention. I pause, recognizing Elara's nasty tone.

"...can't let her get away with this," she hisses. "That little bitch thinks she can just waltz in and steal everything from me? My mate, my future, my pack? I don't think so."

"But what can we do?" another voice – Sarah, one of Elara's cronies – asks. "Alpha Blackthorn seemed impressed by her ideas."

"We discredit her," Elara says with a cruel smile. "Make the pack see her for the fraud she is."

My blood runs cold as Elara outlines her plan: doctored financial records, planted evidence, and a carefully crafted trail leading back to me. It's devious, thorough, and terrifyingly plausible.

"By the time we're done," Elara concludes, "the