The lost mate

Chapter 101: Barbeque

Liana gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "Damien will take care of Blaze. That snake crossed the line when he attacked Anne. Damien won’t let him get away with that."

"And Jackson?" Richard’s voice was sharp; his gaze locked onto hers. "What do you plan to do about him?"

A small, cold smile tugged at Liana’s lips. "Jackson will be handled. I’ll shut him up with some contracts and money. He’s predictable, and he knows better than to bite the hand that feeds him." She paused, leaning back in her chair. "It’s politics, Richard. You and I both know it’s not always about who’s right but who has the upper hand."

Richard exhaled deeply, his eyes searching hers. "Sometimes I wonder if Damien knows the weight of the world we’re handing him."

Liana’s smile faded, her face growing serious. For a moment, something flickered in her eyes, something softer, but it disappeared just as quickly as it came. "He’ll figure it out," she said, her voice quieter now. "He’s smart. And strong. I wish Damien was really my son."

The room fell into an immediate silence, the weight of her words hanging between them like a dark cloud. Richard straightened, his brow furrowing as he looked at her. "Liana," he said, his tone a warning. "He is your son. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?"

Liana’s lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze drifting off, as though she were lost in some distant memory. "Yes, it’s what I wanted," she admitted, though her voice carried an edge of something that made Richard uncomfortable. "But sometimes I wonder if he inherited too much of his mother’s nature."

Richard felt a tight knot form in his chest. It had been years since they had spoken of this—decades even. They had never openly discussed what had happened 27 years ago. The secret that bound them, the one they had sworn to keep buried.

"You know we don’t talk about that," Richard said quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Liana met his eyes, her expression unreadable. "Maybe we should," she replied, her voice harder now. "We’ve spent years pretending, Richard. But pretending doesn’t make it go away."

Richard shook his head, not wanting to tread those dangerous waters. Not tonight. "Damien is our son," he said firmly, as if repeating it would make it more true. "What’s done is done."

Liana gave him a long, measured look before rising from her chair. She smoothed down her dress and approached him, stopping just inches from where he stood.

"The past has a way of catching up, no matter how hard we try to run from it."

She turned and walked towards the door, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. As she reached the doorframe, she glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes briefly meeting Richard’s.

"Don’t mess this up, Richard." With that, she disappeared into the hallway, leaving Richard standing alone in the dim light of the office, the unspoken secrets swirling in the air between them.

****************************

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the clearing in the middle of the forest where the pack’s barbeque was in full swing. The smell of grilled meat filled the air, mingling with the earthy scent of pine trees and the occasional howl of laughter from one of the younger wolves. Tables lined the edges of the clearing, stacked with plates of food, and the bonfire in the centre crackled with warmth. It should have been a festive, relaxed gathering—a time for the pack to come together. But there was something off. An unspoken tension buzzed beneath the surface.

Anne stood near the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, as she watched Ryan play with other kids. Her jaw clenched tight, and her eyes narrowed in Damien’s direction as he talked with other wolves. She wasn’t in the mood to party. Not after what Damien had confessed. His whole family was a web of secrets. Her fingers absently brushed against the bite mark on her neck. It felt heavier now, knowing everything that came with it.

Damien, for his part, was pretending. Pretending everything was fine, pretending his parents were the just and benovalent Alpha and Luna. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, frustration burning in his chest. He was tired of it all—of the lies, of the manipulation, of the expectations. He glanced towards Anne, standing aloof, and he blamed himself for it.

Emily and Chris were no better. Emily hadn’t spoken to Chris since his confession. She couldn’t believe he had kept such a massive secret from her. She was furious and yet... conflicted. She had never seen Chris so vulnerable, so torn. But now she didn’t know what to think. His revelation had shaken her trust.

The sound of footsteps approaching through the forest pulled Anne’s attention away from her simmering thoughts. Emily and Heather emerged from the trees, looking out of place, like they had just walked into a world they didn’t belong to. The clearing went quiet for a moment, wolves glancing in their direction, curious and cautious. Human guests weren’t a common sight at a pack gathering, but Anne had insisted, and Alpha Richard had given his approval.

Emily hesitated at the edge of the clearing, her eyes scanning the crowd. "I feel like we’ve just walked into a National Geographic special," she muttered to Heather, trying to ignore the prickling sensation of being watched by what seemed like a hundred wolves.

Heather nudged her. "We’ll be fine. Just... act normal. Well, as normal as possible."

The wolves weren’t exactly hiding what they were, and Emily had never seen them so... free. There were pack members in half-shifted forms, claws and fangs on display, their eyes glowing faintly in the dusk. It was unnerving.

Anne forced a smile as she walked over to greet Emily and Heather. "You made it," she said, though her voice lacked its usual warmth. "I know it’s a lot to take in."

"Understatement of the year," Emily quipped, though her usual sarcasm was dampened by the unease she felt. She eyed the wolves, who were clearly sizing her up. "Are they always this... wolfy?"

Anne chuckled, though it sounded hollow. "Depends on the day."

Damien approached, his expression tight as he joined Anne. "Emily, Heather," he greeted them with a nod, trying to seem more composed than he felt. "Glad you could make it."

Emily crossed her arms. "Wouldn’t miss it for the world," she said dryly, her eyes flicking to Chris, who stood on the other side of the clearing. He was watching her but made no move to come over.

Heather, sensing the tension between everyone, cleared her throat. "This is... quite the gathering," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "First time at a werewolf barbeque. Not something I had on my bucket list, but here we are."

Damien gave her a strained smile. "We like to keep things interesting."

"Come on, join in." Damien said and led them inside.