The lost mate

Chapter 108: The beginning of trouble

The council’s eyes turned to Fred, who was still lying on the floor; his breathing laboured. Alpha Raymond gave a curt nod, and one of Jackson’s betas kicked Fred sharply, jolting him into alertness.

Fred winced in pain but slowly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes darting around the room in fear. "I—I didn’t... I didn’t mean to..." he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

Alpha Blaze leant forward, his smirk gone, replaced with cold curiosity.

"Tell us what you know."

Fred swallowed hard, trying to calm the panic rising in his chest. His mind raced, flashing back to how it all started. It had been a simple case—a murder investigation that spiralled into something far beyond his understanding.

"I was investigating a murder," Fred began, his voice shaking. "A few years ago. A body was dumped outside the city limits, near the woods. It looked like a routine case at first—a domestic violence situation. The victim’s name was Ronald Kray, and my search led me to Alaska. He had an ex-wife and daughter living there, and I thought they might have information. But when I got to Alaska... things changed."

The council listened in silence, their expressions unreadable, but Fred could feel the weight of their judgement looming over him.

"I found the ex-wife," Fred continued, "Heather Mills... she was living with Anne."

At the mention of Anne’s name, a few council members exchanged glances, and Alpha Raymond’s eyes narrowed.

"As I dug deeper, I found something strange. Ronald hadn’t just disappeared; he’d been killed. And not just by anyone—Anne had killed him."

A ripple of shock passed through the chamber. Alpha Maria’s lips parted slightly.

"She confessed to me," Fred said quickly, his words tumbling out as though they had been trapped inside him for too long. "Five years ago. She told me she had to do it—that Ronald was abusive and had threatened Heather and Emily. She said she was protecting them."

Fred’s hands shook as he looked up at the council. "But that’s not all," he added, his voice barely above a whisper. "After I found out the truth... I was going to report it. I had to. I’m a detective; it’s my job. But before I could... I was stopped."

"By whom?" Alpha Raymond asked, his voice sharp.

Fred’s gaze flickered nervously, his throat tightening. "Damien Montfort," he whispered. "The Alpha Prince. He...commanded me to bury the case. He said that if I valued my life, I’d leave it alone. And I did. I didn’t report it. I couldn’t. I was compelled."

The room fell into a deadly silence, the weight of Fred’s confession hanging in the air like a storm about to break.

Alpha Jackson folded his arms, his eyes dark, as he addressed the council. "There you have it," he said, his voice filled with venom. "The Alpha Prince and his mate, Anne, have committed crimes—murder, cover-ups—and they’ve used their power to manipulate humans and werewolves alike. This detective here was forced to stay silent. And now, the truth is out."

Alpha Raymond sat back in his chair, his brow furrowed as he processed what he had just heard. Alpha Blaze, meanwhile, leant back as well, a slow smirk creeping back onto his face, though this time it was more sinister.

"This is a serious accusation," Alpha Raymond said finally, his voice low and measured. "If what you say is true, it would not only put the Royal Family’s integrity into question but also the stability of our world."

Alpha Cecilia, usually calm and composed, glanced at the other council members before turning her gaze back to Fred. "And you’re saying Anne admitted this to you directly?" She asked, her tone sceptical.

Fred nodded frantically. "Yes, she told me herself. She said she had no choice—Ronald Kray was dangerous."

The council exchanged uneasy glances, their minds working through the implications of Fred’s testimony. If this was true, it wasn’t just a personal matter—it was an act of corruption at the highest level of werewolf leadership.

Alpha Jackson’s face hardened. "This is why I’ve come to you," he said, his voice filled with righteous anger. "The Royal Family is supposed to be our protectors, our leaders. But instead, they’ve been using their power for their own gain, covering up their mistakes and silencing those who would expose them."

Alpha Blaze chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "This is quite the mess," he said, his tone mocking but tinged with intrigue. "The mighty Alpha Prince, forcing a human to cover up his mate’s crimes. I wonder what the rest of the packs will say when they hear about this."

Alpha Raymond raised a hand, silencing Blaze’s amusement. "We cannot rush to judgement," he said firmly. "We will need to investigate these claims thoroughly. If what you say is true, Jackson, then the consequences could be severe. But we will not act without proof."

Jackson nodded, though the fire in his eyes remained. "I expect nothing less. But mark my words—the Royal Family has been hiding behind their power for too long. It’s time for the truth to come out."

The council sat in heavy silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on them all. They had a decision to make—one that could shake the very foundations of werewolf society.

As the meeting drew to a close, Alpha Raymond’s voice rang out one final time, heavy with authority. "We will convene again soon. Until then, no word of this leaves this room."

Blaze smirred and nodded at Jackson. Catching Fred and forcing him to lie about the whole thing was a masterstroke.

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

The early morning light filtered through the curtains of their bedroom, casting a soft glow over the room. Anne lay nestled against Damien’s chest, her head resting on the steady rise and fall of his breathing. For a moment, everything felt calm, as if the weight of the secrets she had uncovered had vanished, leaving only this—the safety and comfort of being with him.

But that peace shattered when Damien’s deep voice broke the silence.

"Anne," he murmured, his tone serious yet gentle.

She stirred, opening her eyes and looking up at him.

"I have to leave for Chicago," Damien said, his voice low but resolve. "It’s urgent. Business that I can’t postpone."

She sat up, suddenly alert.

"I don’t want to leave you," he added softly, his hand reaching up to brush a lock of hair behind her ear. "But this can’t wait."

"When will you be back?"

Damien frowned slightly. "I’m not sure. A few days, maybe longer. I’ll let you know once I’m there."

Anne bit her lip, her mind racing. She wanted to tell him everything—to spill the truth about what she had discovered, about Richard’s connection to Heather, and the danger they might all be in. But the timing felt wrong. Damien already had so much on his plate, and she didn’t want to distract him when he was preparing to leave.

"Ok, I love you," she said quickly, leaning in to press a kiss to his lips.

"I love you too," he whispered against her hair. "More than anything."