Severed Ties

CHAPTER 3

Ian Drew walked through the big oak doors of the council room, his heart racing as he saw the council members sitting at the long oval table, their faces serious.

“Beta Ian, you’re late,” Prince Geoffrey said, a slight smile on his face, but his eyes looked at Ian hard, showing what he felt. Sitting on Alpha Stormclaw’s throne, he seemed at ease without his father there.

“Where's Alpha Stormclaw?” Ian asked squinting at the prince. He looked closely at the young man seeing the bright arrogance shining on his pale face.

Geoffrey shifted in his seat leaning back like he wanted to show he was in charge. “Dad isn’t able to lead this meeting today. He’s been getting worse and he told me I can take care of it.” The way he said it made it seem like an honor instead of a hassle and Ian felt uneasy at the idea.

“Are you saying he’s too sick to do his job?” Ian’s tone was calm but his dislike showed. The elders moved in their chairs looking at each other as if trying to find a way to calm the growing tension.

“Sure thing Ian,” Geoffrey said with a bigger smile. “Let's not focus on that. We should start working.”

Ian took a deep breath and forced himself to sit in a nearby chair. He looked around the table at Elders Marcus Silas Deane and Hauser their faces showing worry and the marks of age. Their furrowed brows showed that they were waiting for the talk that was about to happen.

Geoffrey cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “Today’s meeting is important. As you all know we need to talk about Lucy. She hasn’t found her wolf yet at twenty and we have to decide what to do about it.”

“Lucy needs more time,” Ian said quickly, sounding confident. “She’s just a late bloomer. I believe that if we give her the space and help she needs she will eventually bond with her wolf.”

Elder Hauser shook his head and scoffed. “Ian this isn’t just about support. We are dealing with a problem we can't overlook. We can’t allow weakness in our pack. If she hasn’t found her wolf yet how can we believe she ever will?”

Ian gave Hauser a shocked look. “What kind of pack do we want to be? One that abandons its own? Lucy is still young in many ways. She deserves kindness, not punishment.”

Geoffrey tapped his finger on the table looking annoyed. “Being nice doesn’t keep a pack strong Ian. We aren’t a charity. What message do we send to the younger members if we allow weakness? My father always taught me that strength is what matters most.”

“Your dad is too old to make these choices,” Ian replied, anger building inside him. “Should we let fear of being weak guide what we do?”

But Geoffrey squinted and laughed a sound that showed no real joy. “Look, the second Lucy couldn’t change, she let down her role in this pack. We’re just facing the truth here.”

“Reality? Or how you see it?” Ian replied. “What about her chances? What if she develops later?”

“Potential means nothing if it’s never used.” Elder Deane said his voice calm but firm. “Ian we've seen this happen too many times before. Unity comes from strength and ability.”

Elder Silas leaned in hands together as he looked at Ian. “You’re talking from a hopeful place but hope alone won't protect the pack. How many more times will we let feelings get in the way of clear thinking?”

They went around in circles making Ian frustrated. He could feel the anger growing his hands tightening into fists on the table.

Hauser leaned back and crossed his arms. “If we let Lucy stay here we might harm our pack. Her being here could make others weak. We cannot allow that.”

At last, Ian leaned back, his frustration spilling out. “You can’t think that sending her away will make us stronger! It will just create a divide between us and our people and it’s not only about her. It’s about the message it sends.”

Geoffrey lifted an eyebrow. “What does that show Ian? That we accept being weak? You should think before you speak.”

A hush fell over the room as the debate continued voices bouncing off the walls and getting louder. But even with Ian’s strong appeals, Geoffrey and Hauser’s plans started to gain support from the other council members, playing on their worries and uncertainties.

“I think we need to decide.” Elder Marcus said his voice strong but sad. “If you agree to send Lucy away please raise your hands.”

One by one, hands started to go up—the elders, strong in their views, stood with Geoffrey in a show of strong support. Ian felt his heart sink as he understood that things had changed against him.

“Stop!” Ian yelled his voice loud over the crowd's cheers. But it was too late. The choice was made, and his daughter's future was decided.

“Lucy has twenty-four hours to leave the Stormclaw Pack,” Geoffrey said with a smug smile. “If she chooses to stay she will be a rogue.”

Ian sat in shocked silence the burden of failure weighing on him. He felt like he was choking reality fading into a mix of disbelief and anger. The council ended their meeting leaving him to struggle with the painful truth that his daughter—and their family—would be split apart by the decisions of people he had once trusted.

He stood gritting his teeth pushing his legs to leave the room. His heart pounded with sadness and anger the air around him buzzing with his feelings.

He so wanted to turn and leave but he had a meeting with the Beta of Moondam pack and by god he would honor it. Even if it's to prepare for the worst.

***

In the dark of night, Lucy moved quietly through the shadows, feeling sadder than the heavy darkness around her. The cool wind didn’t help calm the mix of feelings inside her. Each step toward her house felt like a betrayal with each sound ringing in her head like a harsh reminder of what had happened just hours earlier.

“What did I do to deserve this?” she whispered to the moon its soft light teasing her pain. “Is this a punishment for something I don’t even know about? Are you watching Moon Goddess? Do you enjoy my sadness?”

As she got close to her home, tears made it hard to see, and she angrily wiped them away, trying to stay calm. It was her twentieth birthday, a day she had hoped would be full of fun and new experiences, but it had become a disaster. Instead of finding her wolf—the strong symbol of her identity in the Stormclaw Pack—she had found betrayal.

The picture of Prince Geoffrey kissing her best friend Laura kept coming back to her making her heartache worse. “They never cared. They always thought I was weak,” she said quietly tightening her fists as she walked to the front door.

Lucy opened the door quietly and went in. Her heart stopped when she saw her mother in the living room. The soft light made her look beautiful but Lucy didn't feel any warmth inside.

“Lucy!” Her mother quickly stood up, relieved, and ran to hug her daughter. The hug was instant and warm making Lucy feel safe. Lucy's strength faded as she gave in to the hug letting the tears flow.

“I'm sorry Mom. I just... I needed some time to myself.” Lucy sobbed her voice quiet against Nina's shoulder.

“I called you! I was really worried!” Nina said her voice firm but shaking with worry. Still, she held Lucy close as if to protect her from the problems outside.

“I just couldn’t see anyone. Not after Raven's Peak. Not after...” She trembled as the memories kept coming back to her.

“Shh, it’s okay, sweetie. I’m here,” Nina said softly, pulling back to look at Lucy's face covered in tears. “Do you remember what we always say?” She took a deep breath her eyes full of strength. “‘The wolf is strong because of the pack and the pack is strong because of the wolf.’ We don’t quit. We keep going.”

Lucy nodded but worry showed in her eyes. “What if I am just a weak one? What if I never see my wolf?”

“I believe in you, Lucy. We all do” her mother said firmly. “This isn’t the end. You will find your strength. You will learn to use it.”

“But what will happen now? What will happen to me?” Lucy's voice shook as worry ate away at her.

Nina paused for a moment looking worried. “Your dad is in an urgent meeting with Alpha Stormclaw. We’ll have more details after that, but…” she stopped choosing her words carefully, “You shouldn’t worry too much. I’m sure Alpha Stormclaw will think about Ian’s side.”

Lucy crossed her arms feeling frustrated inside. “I don’t think there’s a future for me. Not now.”

Nina held Lucy's face gently, her warmth comforting. “Promise me you'll sleep tonight. We’ll handle whatever happens together.”

As the night went on Lucy lay in her bed restless and tired. Sleep kept away from her filled with worries and sadness. All she could think about was what would happen when morning came. Would Alpha Stormclaw be kind to her? Or would she be rejected and viewed as wolfless?