The lost mate

Chapter 110: Tides of turmoil

Anne had tried to distract herself, to throw herself into her work and her family, but the weight of the truth loomed over her like a storm cloud. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the deeper she delved into the past, the more danger she invited into her life. She missed Damien, despite talking to him every day. She missed him.

Then one afternoon, her omega, Clara, rushed in, her face flushed with urgency. "Madam Luna ! You need to come quickly. There’s a meeting with the council members at the Alpha’s office!"

"What’s going on?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tumult of emotions brewing inside her.

Clara shook her head, her eyes wide. "I don’t know. But it’s serious. The pack is on edge. They say the council has come to discuss something important."

Anne felt the familiar anxiety grip her throat as she nodded. "I’ll go. Thank you, Clara."

As she made her way through the packhouse, the air crackled with tension.

When she reached the Alpha’s office, she hesitated at the door, listening to the muffled voices inside. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Liana sat elegantly at one end of the long wooden table. Richard was besides her, his brow furrowed in concentration as he spoke to a few council members gathered around the table. Anne recognised Blaze immediately.

"Thank you for meeting with us, Anne," Alpha Raymond said, his tone formal but not unfriendly. "I understand this is a difficult time for you, but we need to address some serious accusations that have come to our attention."

Anne felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "What accusations?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Alpha Jackson has raised concerns regarding your actions," Cecilia interjected, her voice smooth and controlled. "He accuses your mate, Damien, of abusing his authority and endangering the werewolf realm. He claims that you, in your time with the humans, killed Ronald Krey."

The words hung in the air like a heavy shroud. Anne’s heart raced, her mind racing to process the implications. Jackson had always been an ambitious Alpha, but she hadn’t expected him to go this far. How did he know about this ?

"I did what I had to do to survive," Anne replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "When I left my pack, I was alone and scared. I never intended for anyone to get hurt."

Raymond’s gaze softened slightly, but the sternness returned quickly. "You must understand, Anne, that killing a human—any human—regardless of the circumstances is a grave offence. It endangers our secrecy and the delicate balance we maintain with the human world."

Anne clenched her fists, remembering the panic and fear that had driven her to run away. "It was an accident," she insisted, her voice rising slightly. "Ronald Krey was abusive and tried to hurt Heather."

Cecilia leant forward, her expression earnest. "And we’re not here to condemn you, Anne. We understand the complexities of your situation. But you must acknowledge the consequences of your actions."

"They didn’t even know what was happening!" Anne shot back, her frustration boiling over. "They were trying to save me!"

Raymond’s gaze hardened. "Regardless, the council views this matter seriously. Interfering in human affairs is forbidden. Jackson is adamant that your actions have put all of us at risk, and he’s called for a council hearing to discuss the consequences."

A cold shiver ran down her spine. Had Liana colluded with Jackson to rid themselves of her? It wouldn’t be the first time she had seen the two of them working together. Liana’s power and influence could easily sway the council’s opinion against her.

"I was trying to protect myself and the women who saved me. I didn’t seek out a fight, and I never meant for Ronald to die. I’m sorry it happened, but I can’t change it now."

Liana’s voice sliced through the air, a mixture of anger and disbelief. "How could you hide this from me, Anne?" She spat, her eyes narrowed with accusation. "You put us all at risk! You killed a human and didn’t think it was worth mentioning?"

Anne’s heart raced, and her initial surprise at Liana’s outburst quickly morphed into irritation. "I didn’t hide anything. You have no idea what I went through. I was trying to survive."

"Survive?" Liana scoffed, her tone dripping with contempt. "You think killing a human is justifiable? You’ve put us in a precarious position with the council, and for what?"

Cecilia stepped forward, her brow furrowing with concern. "Liana, now is not the time to escalate this. We need to address the facts, not emotions."

But Liana wasn’t finished. She turned her ire towards the council members, her voice rising. "This isn’t a big deal! Wolves have allowed humans to remain keepers. They’ve coexisted with us for centuries, helping us maintain our secrecy. Heather and Emily have done nothing wrong! They knew about us, and they helped keep our existence under wraps."

One of the council members, a stern-looking man with silver hair named Vance, shook his head. "While it’s true that some humans are permitted to know of our kind, that privilege is reserved for those who have proven their loyalty. We cannot overlook the killing of Ronald Krey, regardless of the circumstances. The council insists that we treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves."

Anne felt the room tilt as she absorbed their words, her mind racing to find a way out of this impending storm. "But I didn’t kill him out of malice! I was defending myself! You can’t arrest me for protecting my friends!"

Raymond leant forward, his eyes piercing. "Your circumstances do not excuse your actions, Anne. The law is clear. Killing a human, even in self-defence, is a grave offence. We need to investigate this thoroughly before we can consider any leniency."

"Investigate? You’re seriously going to arrest her?" Liana shot back, her voice rising in pitch.

"You’ve brought shame to the royal family, Anne! This is why I was against your union with Damien from the start! You’re reckless, Anne! You’ve proven that today. You’re a rogue now—an outcast. And you think my son, the future Alpha, can afford to be connected to someone like you?"

Anne wasn’t thinking about all that; she was thinking about Ryan. How would he stay without her if she left ?