CHAPTER 4: A FATHER'S DISDAIN

A day before the funeral...

Sorian Kings sat tall behind his imposing oak desk, its polished surface gleaming like a shield in the dimly lit study. His piercing gaze locked onto his wife, Ameria Kings, as they engaged in a battle of wills that had raged for hours. The air was heavy with the weight of their daughter's fate, and the scent of old books and worn leather hung like a reminder of Sorian's unyielding grip on power. A man in his late 50's, with a presence that commanded respect, Sorian was a force to be reckoned with among the Blackwood pack. Though not a member of the revered Elders' council, his influence was undeniable, forged through years of strategic manoeuvring and unwavering ambition.

"I don't understand why you're being so obstinate, Sorian," Ameria said, her voice trembling, barely audible above a whisper. "Amara is our flesh and blood, our only child. 

Shouldn't we be shielding her from harm, rather than casting her aside like a worn garment?" Her eyes blazed with a mix of desperation and incredulity, shocked at the man she thought she knew. Had his desire for a male heir truly eclipsed all paternal instinct? Had his ambition become a cancer, consuming every last vestige of reason?

Sorian's voice dripped with venom as he sneered at his wife. "For the love of the moon, woman, listen to yourself! You're defending a daughter who has proven herself to be a catastrophic failure. She was a disappointment from the moment she was born." His disgust was palpable, his words laced with a toxic mix of anger and contempt. "And let's not forget her most egregious failure: she couldn't even protect her own child."

Ameria's brows furrowed in concern, her voice measured. "You're accepting the word of a stranger, Sorian. Valerie's testimony is all we have to go on, and yet you're so quick to condemn our daughter. Don't you think that's a bit...hasty?" Her eyes narrowed, a hint of skepticism creeping into her voice.

Ameria had always known her mate to be shrewd and cunning, but his resolve to abandon their daughter was a possibility she had never considered. She had never thought him capable of such heartless abandonment, and the fact that he was resolute in his decision left her reeling. He couldn't possibly expect her to sit still, to agree with him. The very idea was utterly inconceivable to her, filling her with a sense of dread and foreboding.

Sorian's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing. "You're being sentimental, Ameria. This is politics. Our daughter's actions have brought shame to our family, to our pack".

She looked down, her eyes avoiding her husband's. "But she's our daughter," she repeated, her voice desperate.

Sorian's laughter was cold, devoid of mirth. "You're still clinging to that quaint notion, aren't you Ameria? The idea that our daughter is somehow worthy of our love and support, simply because she exists? Please. She's a disappointment, a constant reminder of my own failure to produce a worthy heir. A female child, weak and feeble, with no value to offer our pack."

Ameria flinched, but said nothing. She knew better than to argue with her husband when he was in this mood.

Sorian leaned forward, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "You know as well as I do that our daughter's behaviour has been...questionable. Her relationship with Lucas, her inability to control her emotions...she's a liability, Ameria. And liabilities need to be eliminated", he spoke, finishing with a note of finality.

Ameria gasped, looking up, a flicker of fear in her eyes. "What are you saying, Sorian?"

Sorian's smile was cold, calculating. "I'm saying that our daughter's fate is already sealed. The council has made its decision, and we will support it."

Ameria recoiled, her eyes widening in a silent protest, but she bit back the words that threatened to spill from her lips. She knew the warning signs all too well - the cold glint in Sorian's eye, the rigid set of his jaw, the icy tone that dripped with contempt. She had lost this battle, and defiance would only be met with ruthless suppression. So she held her tongue, her silence a fragile shield against the tempest that was her husband's wrath.

The door opened, and a servant entered, bowing low. "Forgive the interruption, Sir. The council members have arrived."

Sorian's expression turned calculating. "Very well. Send them in."

As the servant backed out of the room, Sorian turned to his wife, pinning her with an arctic stare. "You would do well to remember your place, Ameria. And our daughter's place is no longer among us."

Ameria looked down, her eyes filling with tears.

The council members filed in, their faces sombre. Sorian rose from his seat as he inclined his head in formality, his presence commanding the attention of all in the room. "Let us proceed," he said flatly, slicing through the tension. "Our daughter's fate hangs in the balance."

A towering figure among the council members stepped forward, his expression stern. "We've received disturbing reports regarding your daughter's behaviour, Sorian. Concerns that she may no longer be fit to hold the position of Luna."

Sorian's eyes narrowed, feigning ignorance, though his gaze seemed to bore into the souls of those present. "What concerns?" he asked, his fingers drumming an impatient rhythm.

The council member spared a glance at Ameria before responding. "It has been suggested that Amara's relationship with Lucas was...tainted by impropriety. Furthermore, her erratic behaviour and questionable decision-making have brought harm to the pack, culminating in the tragic loss of your granddaughter."

At that instance Ameria's eyes flashed with indignation, her voice rising in defiance. "Who dares to suggest such things?" she demanded, her gaze sweeping the room like a challenge.

The council members hesitated again before speaking in a low tone. "Valerie, the rightful Luna, has expressed...reservations about Amara's suitability to lead."

Sorian's expression turned blank. "I see," he said, his voice a hollow shell, devoid of emotion. "In that case, why bother consulting me at all? The decision is already made, isn't it?"

The one who had spoken earlier replied, his voice laced with a hint of deference, "It was a matter of protocol, Sorian. A show of respect, one that we felt was necessary to demonstrate our commitment to the pack's traditions."

"Very well, then the matter is decided. We will abide by the council's ruling." Sorian's tone was neutral, heavy with calculating acceptance.

The council members nodded in unison, their faces impassive masks. The lead councillor spoke his tone with a sense of finality. "The council's ruling is thus: Amara Kings is hereby stripped of her title and privileges as Luna. She is also hereby banished from the pack, forbidden to set foot on pack lands or associate with pack members. Her fate will be decided at a later time, but for now, she is to be cast out, alone and unprotected. This meeting is adjourned."

The council members filed out of the room, their footsteps echoing through the silence. The door closed behind them with a soft thud, leaving Sorian and Ameria alone, the weight of the council's decision hanging heavy in the air. Ameria's eyes filled with tears as she gazed at her husband, her heart heavy with grief and despair as she sank deep into her seat. "What have we done, Sorian?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.