CHAPTER 3: TURNING POINT

Amara stood frozen outside Lucas's residence, her heart seething with a toxic mix of anger and hurt. The message from a pack member still burned in her mind: Lucas was bringing Valeria and her son to live with him. The same home where they had once shared laughter and tears with their daughter, May. Those memories are now bittersweet and fading fast.

Her mind reeled, shock and disbelief wrestling with her rage. How could Lucas inflict more pain on her, after everything she had just endured? Hadn't he already shattered her world, leaving her to pick up the pieces? The thought of Valeria, of all people, living in their home, was a twisted knife, turning in her gut.

She took a deep breath and pushed open the door, her eyes scanning the room for Lucas. She found him standing in the living room, a sheepish yet resolute look on his face.

"Amara, I can explain—" Lucas began, but Amara cut him off.

"Explain?" her voice was deathly still. "You're bringing her here? After everything she's done to us?"

Lucas sighed, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Amara, please understand—". He was doing this for his son, wasn't he? He fought the creeping doubts that had festered since his actions that had sealed his daughter's fate.

"No!, Lucas, I would never understand," Amara interrupted, her voice shaking. "...how you could betray me like this? First, you were absent from our daughter's funeral, and now you're bringing your ex and her son to live with you?"

Valeria appeared in the doorway, a smug smile spreading across her face. "Ah, Amara, dear, I see you're still as dramatic as ever."

Amara's eyes flashed with anger, but before she could respond, Lucas intervened.

"Valeria, please, this doesn't concern you," Lucas said, his voice firm.

But Valerie simply laughed. "Oh, I think it does concern me," she drawled."After all, I'm the one who's been taking care of your son."

Amara's head whipped back in Lucas's direction, her eyes widening in shock. "Your son?" she repeated, her voice shaking with rage.

Lucas sighed, his eyes filled with guilt. "Amara, plea—"

Amara's ears refused to listen, her heart too clouded with shame and anger. She spun on her heel and stormed out of the house, the door slamming shut behind her. As she walked, a numbing fog crept over her, dulling the edges of her pain. But it was a temporary reprieve. With each step, her anger simmered, a cauldron of betrayal and hurt.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, blurring her vision as she stumbled away from the home they had shared. But as she walked, numbness gave way to a raging fury. She was angry at Lucas for his treachery, for shredding their vows and their love. She was angry at Valeria for manipulating him, for exploiting his weaknesses. And she was angry at herself for not seeing the signs, for not protecting herself and her heart.

As she approached the park's council chambers, the sombre faces of the council members came into view. They stood clustered outside, their expressions grave and concerned. Amara's anger faltered for a moment, replaced by a sense of trepidation. What did they know? What did they want?

"We offer our respects, Luna. However, we must speak with you," one of the council members said, his voice firm as he bowed in respect.

Amara's heart sank, but she stood tall, her eyes flashing with defiance.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice hoarse but steady.

Hesitation was palpable before the elder spoke, his words dripping with an unsettling gravity. "Luna Amara, we've received...disturbing reports about your behaviour. It's been alleged that you're unfit to lead our pack, that your actions are a liability to our very existence."

Amara's eyes widened in stunned silence, her face pale with shock. "Who dares to question my leadership?" she demanded, her voice trembling with restrained fury.

The elder's expression remained impassive, his voice devoid of emotion. "The identity of our source is irrelevant, Luna. What matters is the council's unanimous decision to hereby banish you from our pack."

The air seemed to congeal, heavy with an unspoken finality. Amara felt as though she'd been struck by a physical blow, her breath knocked from her lungs. Banished? The word echoed through her mind like a death knell, its implications too horrific to comprehend.

But as she looked around at the council members, Amara saw the truth in their eyes. They had been manipulated, just like Lucas.

And in that moment, Amara knew what she had to do. It was useless to argue with The Elders, their word was Law. She had to take matters into her own hands, to disappear and start anew. It was the only way she could take down Valerie and Lucas, the only way she could clear her name and restore her honour.

With a heavy heart, Amara slowly nodded, her eyes dry but her soul weeping.

"I see," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

And with that, Amara turned and walked away, her steps heavy but her spirit determined to fight back. 

As she walked away from the council chambers, she pulled out her phone and dialled a familiar number, a fierce glint in her eye. Serena, her best friend and confidante, answered on the first ring.

"Serena, I need your help," Amara said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What's going on, sweetheart?" Serena asked, her voice filled with concern.

"They've banished me," Amara replied, her eyes scanning the surrounding area to make sure no one was listening. "But I'm not going to go down without a fight. I need your help to fake my own death and disappear."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Serena spoke up. "I'm in, Amara. What do you need me to do?"