The lost mate

Chapter 123: The truth is slowly getting out

Jessica was walking through the pack’s territory as if it were hers, her expression one of pure arrogance. As she got closer, Jessica’s eyes landed on her, a slow, mocking smile spreading across her lips.

"Well, if it isn’t the little mate," Jessica drawled, her voice dripping with disdain. "Out for a stroll, or are you lost without Damien to hold your hand?"

Anne’s fists clenched at her sides. "I’m not in the mood for your games, Jessica," she said, her voice steady but laced with anger.

Jessica’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Is that how you treat your pack?"

"You don’t belong here, Jessica." Anne snapped.

Jessica tilted her head, her smile turning wicked. "Oh, sweetheart, I was a part of this pack long before you ever showed up. I’ve known Damien my entire life. You? You’re just a passing phase. Do you really think he’ll stick around once he realises what a burden you are? Once he sees how much trouble you bring?"

Anne rolled her eyes.

"Whatever games you’re playing, it won’t change anything."

Jessica laughed softly, shaking her head. "Poor, naïve Anne. You really think this is about who Damien wants? This is about power. And you... You don’t have any. I’ve seen the way Damien struggles because of you, the way the pack questions his leadership. You’re a liability. One way or another, you’ll bring him down."

"Is that what this is about?" Anne asked, her voice dangerously calm. "You think you can take me down, take my place by his side? You think that if you stay here long enough, you’ll worm your way back into Damien’s life?"

Jessica’s smile faded slightly, but the cold confidence in her eyes remained. "I don’t need to take your place, Anne. You’ll do that all by yourself. You’re already pushing him away, aren’t you? Damien deserves better, and soon enough, he’ll realise that. And when he does, I’ll be right there, waiting."

Anne’s breath caught in her throat. She knew Jessica was trying to provoke her to twist the knife deeper.

She stepped closer to Jessica, her eyes blazing with determination. "You may have been able to manipulate Alpha Richard, but you’ll never have power over me. Damien and I—our bond is stronger than you’ll ever understand. You can stay here; you can play your games, but in the end, it won’t matter. Because you’ll never come between us."

Jessica’s eyes flashed with anger, her confident smirk faltering for just a moment. But then she regained her composure, her voice turning icy. "We’ll see about that, won’t we?"

Without another word, Jessica turned and walked away, leaving Anne standing in the courtyard, her wolf still snarling beneath her skin.

Anne changed her mind and visited Liana instead. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door.

Liana’s voice came from inside, smooth and calm. "Come in."

Anne pushed open the door and stepped inside. Liana, elegant and composed as ever, sat by the window, sipping tea. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Anne, but her face quickly returned to its usual cool demeanour.

"Anne," Liana greeted her, her voice measured. "I wasn’t expecting a visit from you. Please, take a seat."

Anne hesitated for a moment but then crossed the room and sat down opposite Liana.

Anne took a deep breath, her voice steady but cold. "I know you don’t like me, Liana. You’ve never hidden that. You’ve always wanted Jessica as Damien’s mate, and you’ve made it clear you don’t think I belong here."

Liana blinked, clearly not expecting Anne to jump straight to the point. She opened her mouth to respond, but Anne pressed on, her words sharp and direct.

"But what I don’t understand," Anne continued, her eyes narrowing, "is why you hate me so much that you’d fall for Jackson’s manipulation. You’ve jeopardised your own son’s happiness—if you even consider him your son at all."

Liana stiffened, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and confusion. "What are you talking about, Anne?" Her voice was steady, but there was a tremor beneath the surface. "Damien is my son."

Anne’s gaze locked onto Liana’s, unflinching. "No, he’s not."

Liana’s face drained of colour, her composed mask slipping for the first time. "What are you saying?" she demanded, her voice rising slightly. "How dare you—"

"I know, Liana," Anne interrupted, her voice firm and unyielding. "I know Damien isn’t your biological son. You didn’t give birth to him. You’ve been hiding it for years, but the truth always comes out. And now Jackson is using it against you."

Liana’s hand trembled as she set her tea cup down with a clatter. Her eyes widened in shock, and for the first time, she looked truly rattled. "How do you know?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "How could you possibly know that?"

Anne leant forward, her gaze never leaving Liana’s. "It doesn’t matter how I know. What matters is that I do. And I need to understand why. Why have you lied to Damien his whole life? Why have you kept this secret from him? And more importantly, why would you allow Jackson to manipulate you?"

Liana stared at her, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to regain control. She stood abruptly, turning her back on Anne and walking to the window. Her hands gripped the window sill tightly, her knuckles turning white.

For a long moment, there was silence. Anne watched her, waiting, the tension thick in the air.

Finally, Liana spoke, her voice quiet but filled with a deep sadness. "Damien is my son in every way that matters. I raised him. I loved him. But... no, I didn’t give birth to him."

"You think you know the whole truth," Liana began quietly, her voice hoarse. "But there’s more. Much more."

Anne didn’t reply, letting the silence draw out, knowing that Liana was gathering herself for something deeper, something she had been hiding for years.

Liana turned to face her, and her eyes were distant, as though she were seeing something far away, from another time.

"My father," Liana began, her voice low but steady, "is a powerful man. He had one goal for me since the day I was born—to become Luna Queen. He saw my future as something that could shape the entire kingdom. And to him, the only way to secure that future was through my mating with Richard."