The temple was quiet and cold. The moonlight came through the windows, shining on the floor like silver water. Aria stood close to the big moon statue, her heart still heavy after what the Moon Goddess had told her.
Jason was standing a few steps away, his eyes dark and his hands in his pockets. He looked like he wanted to say something but didn't know how.
Lena stopped, breathing hard. "Aria… I had to come. I found something. Something about Jason."
Jason's eyes narrowed. His voice was calm but deep. "Lena, this is not the time."
But Lena shook her head quickly. "No, Jason. It's time she knows the truth."
Aria's chest started to beat fast. "What truth?"
Lena looked at her with sad eyes. "After you both left, I started thinking about Jason. I always noticed he disappeared every full moon. He was never in the pack, and no one ever said where he went. So I searched the old scrolls and books in the blood moon pack's archives. There were so many old stories, but then I found one that chilled me."
"Lena, stop," Jason said again, but his voice wasn't strong this time—it was scared.
Lena ignored him. "Seventeen years ago, on the night of the Red Moon, a boy tried to escape from the Silver Claw pack. He was only ten. While escaping, he killed a witch—a very powerful one."
Aria's eyes widened. "What witch?"
Lena swallowed. "Your grandmother, Aria."
The room went silent. The firelight from the lamps flickered. Even Jason didn't move.
"She cursed him before she died," Lena said quietly. "She called the Moon Goddess and said, 'For every full moon that rises, you will suffer. Your bones will break, your soul will burn, and peace will never find you. The only way to break this curse is to sacrifice a child born under the Red Moon. and you are that child aria you were born on the night he was cursed.
Aria covered her mouth, her whole body shaking. "No…"
Jason finally spoke, his voice low and rough. "Lena, that's enough."
But Aria stepped closer to him, her eyes full of tears. "Tell me it's not true, Jason. Please tell me you're not that boy."
Jason's face was pale. His eyes were sad—so, so sad. He didn't answer at first. Then he said softly,
> "It's true. I was that boy. I was cursed that night."
Aria's heart broke. "So everything Lena said—"
Jason took a deep breath. "It's true… but I swear, I was never going to hurt you. I didn't write those letters, Aria. I didn't want to sacrifice you. I was trying to find another way."
Aria shook her head fast. "Stop lying! You used me! You let me trust you! You made me believe you cared about me!"
Jason's eyes glistened. "I did care. I still do."
"Then why didn't you tell me?" she cried. "You watched me, you stayed close to me, and all this time… I was the girl that could break your curse."
He stepped closer, his voice shaking now. "Aria, listen to me—I never wanted this curse. I've lived with pain for seventeen years. Every full moon, my body breaks. I scream till I can't breathe. I hate what I've become."
"Then you should have told me the truth!" she shouted. "You said you would protect me, Jason. But you were protecting yourself!"
Jason's face twisted with pain. "No. I was trying to protect you from me."
Tears rolled down Aria's cheeks. She stepped back slowly. "Stay away from me, Jason. I don't believe anything you say."
"Aria—"
"No!" she yelled again. Her voice echoed through the temple. "You said you cared about me, but you only cared about ending your curse. You don't even know what love is!"
Jason's hands shook. He looked at her like his heart was breaking. "Maybe you're right," he said in a weak voice. "But I do know that I would never let anyone hurt you—not even me."
Lena walked closer and stood beside Aria. "You should go, Jason. Please."
Jason stood there for a moment, his eyes full of sadness. Then he nodded slowly. "I didn't want this, Aria," he whispered.
He turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the empty temple.
Aria dropped to her knees. She covered her face with her hands and cried softly. Lena went down beside her, wrapping her arms around her. why am I so unlucky what have I done again I thought I found someone, someone that finally understood someone to share my pains with someone tommake me smile but I never knew my worst enemy was beside me all along aria said while crying loudly. life always brings good things to me then takes it the moment I begin to get excited about it sometimes I try not to get excited about something for it to work but it still doesn't work I try , I try to stay strong hoping that one day things would get better that all my pains would end one day but I guess hope is just a cage designed to make all believe in a future that will never come.i smile everyday like everything is alright but deep down I am broken and have been strong for too long why does this world have to be so cruel why does this world have to be so harsh I have no one to run to no one believes in me I have no family all I have I a cruel world that takes my happiness and my mind every single day aria said while lamenting and crying the ground was now soaked with tears.
Outside, thunder rolled, and a strong wind blew through the open temple door.
Far away, a wolf howled—a long, sad sound full of pain.
Aria knew that howl.
It was Jason.
She looked at the door with tears still in her eyes and whispered quietly,
> "Goodbye… Jason."