The lost mate

Chapter 132: Damien’s plans

Anne stood at the kitchen counter, carefully packing Ryan’s lunch for school while he sat at the table, swinging his legs and chatting animatedly about his upcoming field trip. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm, golden glow over the room, and Anne felt a rare sense of peace. Things had finally started to settle down between her and Damien, and for the first time in weeks, she felt like they were moving forward, leaving the tension and uncertainty behind.

She glanced over at Ryan, who was now stuffing his backpack with a few of his favourite toys, and smiled. "You ready for school, buddy?" she asked, zipping up his lunch bag and handing it to him.

"Ready!" Ryan grinned, grabbing the bag and slinging it over his shoulder. "Nicky said she’d walk me to the school today."

Anne’s smile widened at the mention of her friend Nicky, who had recently become her beta. Having Nicky by her side had been a huge relief, especially with all the chaos going on in the pack.

Just as Anne was about to walk Ryan to the door, she heard a familiar voice from the hallway. "Morning!" Nicky’s voice rang out as she stepped into the kitchen; her brow furrowed in irritation, but she still managed a smile for Ryan. "Ready for your big day, kiddo?"

Ryan nodded enthusiastically, and after a quick hug from Anne, he dashed off with Nicky to school.

She heard the familiar sound of Damien’s footsteps approaching. She turned just in time to see him sauntering into the kitchen, a sly grin plastered across his face—the kind of grin that usually meant he was up to something. Anne raised an eyebrow, drying her hands with a towel. "What’s with that look? You’re not planning anything ridiculous, are you?"

Damien chuckled and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "Ridiculous? No. Brilliant? Absolutely."

Anne rolled her eyes, but there was an amused smile playing on her lips. "Okay, genius. What’s the plan?"

"I’m organising a grand mating ceremony," Damien said, his grin widening as he spoke. "We’re going to invite everyone—every pack from miles around. A big, over-the-top event. Once Jessica finds her mate, she’ll have no reason to stick around and make our lives miserable."

Anne snorted, shaking her head in disbelief. "You really think she’s just going to find her mate, fall madly in love, and ride off into the sunset? Jessica?"

Damien kissed her forehead, his voice soft but playful. "Well, maybe not the sunset, but with any luck, she’ll at least ride off to someone else’s pack and leave us in peace."

"You’re lucky I love you. Otherwise, I’d be seriously questioning your sanity right now."

Damien grinned and pulled her into a kiss, his hands gently cradling her face. The warmth of the kiss made Anne momentarily forget about Jessica.

The front door slammed open, and Nicky marched in with a scowl on her face.

"Ok, I am sorry; I didn’t mean to interrupt." She fumbled.

Damien sighed against Anne’s lips, pulling back just enough to glance over at Nicky. "You couldn’t have waited five more minutes, Nicky?"

Anne giggled.

"Go to work, Damien; we’ll talk later."

He grumbled something under his breath, casting a mock-glare at Nicky, who stood in the doorway looking both apologetic and deeply annoyed.

"I’ll let you two discuss your Jessica frustrations. I’ve got to talk to dad," he said and left.

"I swear, if I have to listen to Jessica boss people around for one more second, I’m going to lose it." Nicky said as she slimped down in a chair.

Anne chuckled, pouring them both a cup of coffee.

"I don’t get it," Nicky continued, blowing on her coffee before taking a sip. "Nobody likes her, yet she’s still strutting around like she owns the place. Why is she even here? Can’t she just find her own mate and get lost?"

Anne leant against the counter, her expression softening as she thought about Jessica’s situation. "It’s not that simple," she said quietly, though she understood Nicky’s frustration.

"Sometimes people get so caught up in their own ambitions, they can’t see anything else. Jessica... she’s driven by greed, by this need to be important. And in her mind, being with Damien is the key to that."

Nicky rolled her eyes. "Ambition, my ass. She’s obsessed with him, Anne. It’s creepy. Why can’t she find her own mate like a normal person instead of clinging to someone who’s already taken?"

"Damien’s aware of the problem," Anne said after a moment. "He knows we need to deal with her sooner rather than later. That’s why he’s planning to organise a grand mating ceremony."

Nicky raised an eyebrow. "A grand mating ceremony?"

Anne nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yes. It’ll be a big event, a chance for everyone to find their true mates. And once Jessica finds hers, she’ll have no reason to stay. It’s the perfect way to get rid of her without causing too much trouble."

Nicky snorted. "You think she’ll actually go along with that? She’s not exactly the type to let go of Damien so easily."

Anne’s smile turned a bit more wry. "She won’t have a choice. Once she finds her true mate, the bond will be undeniable. Even Jessica can’t ignore that."

Nicky considered this for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Okay, that might actually work. But do you really think there’s a mate out there for her? Someone willing to put up with... well, her?"

Anne laughed, taking a sip of her coffee. "There’s someone out there for everyone, Nicky. I really do hope this grand ceremony isn’t just for Jessica’s benefit. I’ve been thinking about you and Aaron. It’s high time you both got the chance to find your mates too. Alpha Jackson kept you both from finding them for so long."

Nicky, who had been mid-sip, froze for a moment. She set her coffee down, her expression shifting from playful to serious. "Yeah," she said quietly, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup.

Anne’s brow furrowed. "It wasn’t fair. He shouldn’t have done that to you."

Nicky shrugged, her gaze distant.

"I did find my mate... but Alpha Jackson didn’t let me leave, and I was forced to reject him."