The lost mate

Chapter 120: Shadows of Betrayal

The tension in the council chamber hung thick. Every eye was on Damien and Alpha Jackson.

At last, Alpha Raymond cleared his throat. "This matter is no longer simply about the council’s laws or the accusations made. It has become personal—something that we, as the council, cannot dictate."

Damien’s jaw tightened as he listened, his eyes fixed on the elder. He already knew where this was going.

The elder continued, "This issue between you, Alpha Damien, and Alpha Jackson—regarding the engagement, the marking, and the grievances raised—must be settled between you two. It is not within the council’s jurisdiction to resolve such personal disputes. You are both Alphas. It is expected that you handle this with the dignity and strength of your positions."

Jackson folded his arms, his cold eyes gleaming with satisfaction as if he had already won some unspoken victory. Jessica stood besides him, her head held high, casting a smug look in Damien’s direction.

Damien, however, refused to back down. His wolf stirred and agitated, but he kept his voice steady. "You can’t be serious," he said, his tone icy. "This isn’t a personal dispute. Jackson manipulated everything—he tried to tear apart my family and used the council as pawns. And now you’re telling me this is something I should just settle with Jackson as if it’s some petty argument?"

The council member raised a hand to quiet him. "The council will investigate Blaze’s actions thoroughly. But the matter of your engagement to Jessica and the accusations being thrown back and forth—that is a separate issue. It is between you and Alpha Jackson."

Damien’s eyes blazed with fury, but he said nothing. He knew arguing would be futile now. The council had made up its mind. They wanted to wash their hands of this mess and focus on the more political aspects of Blaze’s betrayal without getting entangled in the personal fallout.

Jackson, sensing the advantage, stepped forward. His voice was calm, but the underlying threat was clear. "I agree with the council. This is between you and me, Damien. My daughter has been wronged and humiliated by your actions. You were engaged to her for years, and now you’ve abandoned her for this... mate bond." His eyes flicked briefly towards Anne, who stood silently besides Damien, her face a mixture of confusion and pain.

"You talk about the mate bond as if it’s some unbreakable law," Jackson continued. "But let’s not forget tradition, respect, and duty. You owe Jessica. You can’t just walk away from this, from what you promised."

Damien’s temper flared. His wolf growled beneath the surface, but he kept it in check, barely. "The engagement was a formality, Jackson. You and I both know that. Jessica was never my true mate, and that’s the only bond that matters. I didn’t choose this, but I won’t betray it either."

Jackson’s face darkened, his stance widening as if preparing for a challenge. "Then what do you propose we do about the mark on your neck? Or the night in Chicago? You can deny it all you want, but the mark is there. Jessica is tied to you now, whether you like it or not."

Damien wanted to shout to tell Jackson that the mark meant nothing, that it was a manipulation, a trap set by Jessica to ensnare him. But how could he make that argument when the physical evidence was there for everyone to see? The bite mark throbbed painfully, a constant reminder of the night he was trying so desperately to forget.

Before Damien could respond, Jessica spoke, her voice soft but filled with false innocence. "I only did what I thought was right, Damien. I loved you—still do. I only wanted what was best for us. You were mine before she ever came into the picture. And I know, deep down, you still feel something for me."

Anne’s breath hitched besides him. Damien could feel her emotional withdrawal, the wall she was building around herself. Her pain was palpable, and it broke something inside him.

Damien’s wolf raged, but he forced himself to speak with control. "You marked me without my consent. That’s not love, and it never will be. You’re nothing to me, and you never were."

Jessica’s face twisted in fury, but before she could retort, Jackson cut in, his voice louder now. "Enough of this!" He turned to the council, then back to Damien. "If this is how you intend to handle things—denying what happened, abandoning my daughter—then there will be consequences, Damien. You think this mate bond of yours is enough to absolve you of your responsibilities? Think again."

Damien’s fury ignited fully, his voice rumbling with barely controlled rage. "What are you saying, Jackson? Are you challenging me?"

Jackson’s eyes gleamed, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips. "If that’s what it comes to. But I’m offering you a way out. Settle this the way Alphas should. Or we can let this escalate."

Damien’s hands balled into fists at his sides. He didn’t want to fight Jackson—didn’t want this entire mess to spiral further. But he wasn’t about to back down from a challenge, not when his honour, his family, and his mate were on the line.

Before Damien could speak, the elder council member interjected once more. "Enough. The council will not tolerate any violence in these chambers. If you are going to resolve this, do so privately, away from here. We will continue our investigation into Blaze’s actions, but as for this... personal dispute... it will be left in your hands."

"Let’s go," Damien muttered, his voice low and full of restrained fury. "This isn’t over."

Jackson smirked, folding his arms. "No, it’s not."

Anne sat rigid in her seat, her arms folded across her chest, her gaze fixed out the window. The landscape blurred past, but she wasn’t seeing any of it. Her mind was far away, tangled up in the events that had unfolded. Her wolf was pacing inside her, growling, restless, demanding retribution for the mark that Jessica had put on Damien.

Damien stole a glance at her, his heart twisting at the distance between them. He had to talk to her. He couldn’t bear the silence, couldn’t bear the wall that had risen between them.

"Anne," he began, his voice low, hesitant. "We need to talk about this. I can’t stand it when you’re mad at me."

She didn’t respond at first. Her fingers dug into her arms a little tighter, her jaw clenched. The anger simmered just beneath the surface, but she forced herself to keep calm.

"I’m not mad at you," Anne said quietly, her voice cold and distant. "I know you didn’t do anything with Jessica."

Damien’s eyes flicked to her again, startled by her words. "You do?"

"I do." Her voice wavered slightly, the emotional storm behind her composed exterior beginning to show. "I know you didn’t willingly do anything with her. I know she trapped you and that you had no control over the mark. But my wolf..."

"My wolf is furious," she said finally, her voice thick with emotion. "She doesn’t care about logic or reason. All she knows is that another woman marked you. Jessica left her scent on you, and it’s driving her mad. Every time I’m near you, it’s like she’s clawing to get out, to attack."