CHAPTER 2: MOURNING

The day of May's funeral dawned grey and sombre, the sky mirroring the mood of the pack. Amara, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, stood beside an empty grave, her heart shattered into a million pieces. Lucas, however, was nowhere to be found.

Amara's anger and grief simmered just below the surface as she thought about his absence. How could he not be here to say goodbye to their daughter?

As she scanned the crowd, Amara saw the sympathetic faces of the pack members, but also a hint of accusation in their eyes. They all knew what had happened, or at least, they thought they did. Valerie had made sure to spin the story, making it seem like Amara's carelessness had led to May's death.

Amara felt a deep pang of anger and hurt. Why would Valerie do this? And why hadn't Lucas defended her? He'd just stood by, letting the pack believe the worst about her. He'd never once spoken up, never once told them the truth - that he was the one who'd chosen to save his supposed child over their own daughter, his legitimate heir.

The memory of that day still burned in her mind. She'd expected Lucas to stand up for her, to tell the pack that it wasn't her fault. But he'd remained silent, his eyes cast downward in shame.

Rage, searing hot, flowed through her veins, threatening to incinerate what little was left of her sanity. How could Lucas inflict this agony on her, on their family? How could he leave her shattered, alone, and drowning in a sea of despair?

Just as the ceremony was about to begin, Amara's phone buzzed with an incoming call from Lucas. She hesitated for a moment before answering. "Where are you?" she asked, trying to keep her emotions in check, barely holding in the tremor in her voice.

"I'm with Valerie," Lucas replied, his voice low and rough, the words dropping like a bombshell. "Her son...the one I saved...he's waking up. I need to be here for him."

"You're with her?" she hissed, her voice trembling with incredulity. "Today, of all days? Our daughter's funeral, and you're...you're with her ?" The question hung in the air, a challenge to the very fabric of their relationship. Amara's mind reeled, unable to comprehend what was happening.

Lucas sighed. "Amara, please understand—"

"Don't you dare!" Amara ruthlessly cut in, her voice shook, rising rapidly. "I don't…can't understand how you could abandon our daughter, how you could choose to save a stranger's life over hers. And now, you're not even here to say goodbye?"

The line went cold and for a moment, Amara thought Lucas had hung up. The silence seemed to stretch for eons but then, his voice came back on, hollow and resigned.

"I'll be back soon, Amara. I promise."

Amara laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "I don't want your promises, Lucas. I want you to be here for our daughter…for me. But I guess even that, too, is a bit much to ask of you now, isn't it?!."

With that, Amara hung up, her heart heavy with grief and anger. She turned to face the pack, her eyes dry but her soul weeping. Every step was seemingly impossible to take, but she willed herself to put one foot after the other. She would not fall to pieces in front of the pack.

The ceremony began, and Amara went through the motions, her mind numb with pain. As the pack said their final goodbyes to May, Amara couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever be able to forgive Lucas for his betrayal.

She thought back to the day May was born, how Lucas had held their daughter in his arms and promised to always protect her. But now, it seemed like those promises were empty words.

As the pack began to disperse, Amara felt a hand on her shoulder. It was her best friend, Serena. Amara felt slight relief from her comforting presence.

"I'm so sorry, Amara," Serena said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what to say."

Amara shook her head, feeling a lump form in her throat. "There's nothing to say. He chose to save a stranger's child over our own daughter. What kind of father does that?"

Serena's eyes filled with tears. "I don't know, Amara. But I do know that you deserve better. You and May deserved better."

Amara's nod was a silent vow, a resolve that settled within her like a mantle of steel. She knew she had to move forward, to honor May's memory and reclaim her shattered life. But as she turned to walk away, a figure emerged from the shadows, watching her with an unblinking gaze. Valeria's smile was a thin-lipped slash, a triumphant gleam in her eye that made Amara's heart sink. A chill coursed down her spine as she realized that Valeria would not rest until Amara had paid the price for Lucas's betrayal.

In that moment, Amara steeled herself for the battle ahead. She would not be intimidated and would not be swayed by her determination to make Valeria pay for her manipulation. Lucas, too, would face the consequences of his actions. Amara's eyes narrowed, her jaw setting in a fierce line. She would rise from the ashes of her grief, stronger and more resilient than ever before. The fight for justice, for vengeance, had just begun.