The lost mate

Chapter 113: Alpha Falcon

Anne paced the length of her room, her frustration building with every passing second. She felt like a caged animal, her movements restless and jerky. The council members had agreed to Liana’s demands to keep her in the pack, but it felt like a hollow victory. She was still trapped, still isolated. A prisoner within her own home.

Ryan, who had been playing quietly in the corner with his wooden blocks, suddenly looked up. His little eyes, so bright and perceptive for his age, flickered with concern. He might only be a child, but he could sense his mother’s agitation as clearly as if it were his own.

"Mommy," he said softly, abandoning his toys and padding over to her side. His small hand reached up and tugged gently at her sleeve. "Don’t worry, Mommy. I’ll get Daddy. He’ll fix it."

Anne’s heart ached at his words. She forced a smile and knelt down besides him, brushing a lock of dark hair from his forehead.

"I know you would, sweetheart," she murmured, pressing a kiss to his soft cheek. "But Daddy is far away right now. We have to be patient and wait for him to come home."

Ryan frowned, his little brows knitting together. "But Daddy always comes when I call," he insisted stubbornly. "He’ll come, Mommy."

Anne laughed softly, though the sound was tinged with sadness. "Yes, baby, he will. But until then, we just have to be strong, okay?"

Ryan nodded solemnly, his serious expression making her smile despite the anxiety swirling inside her. She hugged him tightly, drawing comfort from the warmth of his small body. He was so brave, so pure. She couldn’t let her fear show. Not when he was looking at her with such unwavering faith.

They stayed like that for a moment, wrapped in each other’s embrace. Then a soft knock at the door interrupted the quiet.

"Anne?" A familiar voice called out hesitantly from the other side.

"Nicky?" Anne stood, pulling Ryan up with her. She moved to the door and opened it a crack.

"I—um, I brought lunch," Nicky said, smiling weakly.

Anne stepped back and let her in. "Thank you, Nicky," she murmured, closing the door behind her. "You didn’t have to."

"I wanted to." Nicky set the tray on the small table by the window.

Nicky glanced around, as if making sure they were truly alone. Then she leant in closer, lowering her voice. "There’s something I need to tell you."

Anne’s heart skipped a beat. She cast a quick look at Ryan, who had returned to his toys; his attention was focused on building a tall tower of blocks. Satisfied that he wasn’t paying attention, she turned back to Nicky.

"What is it?" she whispered urgently.

Nicky bit her lip; her expression was conflicted. "Someone’s arrived at the pack," she said cautiously. "I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but..."

"Who?" Anne’s voice was barely a breath. Her mind raced through the possibilities. Another council member? Jackson? Someone sent to take her away?

"Alpha Falcon," Nicky murmured, her eyes widening slightly as she said the name. "Liana’s father."

Anne’s heart plummeted. "Alpha Falcon?" she repeated, disbelief mingling with dread. "Why would he be here?"

"I—I don’t know," Nicky admitted, wringing her hands nervously. "But he arrived this morning, and everything’s been tense ever since. The pack is on high alert, and everyone’s talking about it."

Anne sucked in a sharp breath, her mind spinning. Alpha Falcon was a powerful figure, known for his ruthless authority and unwavering loyalty to the werewolf laws. He was also fiercely protective of his family’s reputation—Liana’s reputation. His presence here could only mean one thing: he was here to clean up the mess she had supposedly made.

"Did he say anything?" Anne asked, struggling to keep her voice steady. "Did he... mention me?"

Nicky shook her head quickly. "No, I haven’t heard anything specific. But the fact that he’s here, and so soon after the council’s visit—it can’t be a coincidence."

No, it couldn’t be. Anne clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms. She knew what this meant. If Alpha Falcon was here, it was because he intended to take control of the situation.

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

Alpha Falcon of the Red Moon Pack in Texas was no ordinary alpha. His name carried weight across the werewolf realm. Known for his ruthless ambition, he had shaped Liana’s entire life, grooming her for greatness from the moment she could walk. He had orchestrated her mating with Richard, ensuring that she became part of the royal family, the first step in his plan to elevate their bloodline to power. Liana’s every move had been made with her father’s expectations in mind. And now he was here.

She straightened her spine as she saw him approach, his tall, commanding figure cutting an imposing silhouette against the backdrop of the packhouse. He had aged well—his silver hair adding to his air of authority, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings with a critical gaze. Those eyes landed on her, and Liana felt a familiar flicker of anxiety.

"Father," she greeted him with a slight bow of her head, her voice steady despite the turmoil roiling inside her. "I didn’t expect you."

He didn’t return the pleasantries. Instead, his gaze swept over her as if assessing her worth in that moment.

"What are you doing, Liana?" he asked, his tone carrying the weight of disappointment. "Why is the royal family being questioned by the council?"

Of course, her father already knew about the council’s involvement. Nothing escaped him. She had been preparing for this conversation ever since the council’s first visit, but standing in front of her father now, she felt like the little girl who had once looked up to him in awe, desperate for his approval.

She squared her shoulders and met his gaze. "It’s... complicated."

"Complicated?" Alpha Falcon’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer. "The royal family is never questioned by the council. That is not how I raised you. You were supposed to strengthen this family, not drag it into disgrace."

Liana flinched inwardly, but she refused to show any weakness. "I didn’t cause this," she said, keeping her voice calm. "It’s Anne. She’s at the centre of this mess. The council is investigating her actions—there’s been an incident involving humans, and it’s caused quite the stir."

"Damien’s mate ?"

Liana clenched her jaw. "I didn’t choose her. Damien did."

Alpha Falcon let out a humourless chuckle. "I thought you had more sense than to let this escalate. You should have handled it."

"I tried." Liana’s voice hardened, her frustration slipping through. "But Damien messed up, and now the council is breathing down our necks. I’ve done everything I can to control the situation."

"Not enough, apparently." He muttered.

Richard arrived and greeted his father in law.

Falcon bowed slightly,"Good morning Alpha king." His tone was more of a sarcasm than respect.

"Bring that girl. Let’s see what she has to say for herself."

Liana’s jaw clenched, but she nodded and motioned for the guards to bring Anne."