The lost mate

Chapter 133: Unleashed

Anne’s eyes widened in shock. She set her cup down carefully, leaning forward to study Nicky’s face, which had gone a little pale. "Nicky, you—what? You found your mate?"

Nicky nodded, her expression tight, as though the admission was physically painful. "Yeah, I found him. Two years ago, actually. His name was Caleb. He wasn’t from our pack—he was from one of the neighbouring ones, The Thunderbolt. We met at one of those small gatherings."

Anne’s heart clenched. She had known Nicky for so long, but somehow this was the first time she’d heard of Caleb. "And Alpha Jackson didn’t let you be with him?"

Nicky sighed, rubbing her temples. "No. Caleb’s pack wasn’t exactly our rival, but they weren’t close allies either. Jackson threatened to kill him if I left."

Anne felt a surge of anger on Nicky’s behalf. "He put you in an impossible position."

Nicky shrugged, though there was no hiding the sadness in her eyes. "I made the only decision I thought I could. I rejected Caleb. He tried to fight for me, but in the end, he respected my choice. We never saw each other again."

Anne sat there, stunned, trying to wrap her head around the weight of what Nicky had just confessed. The idea that her best friend had not only found her mate but had been forced to reject him under such horrible circumstances was unfathomable. A storm of emotions brewed inside her—anger, sadness, but most of all, an overwhelming sense of guilt that she hadn’t known. That Nicky had been carrying this pain alone for two years.

"Nicky, why didn’t you tell me sooner?" Anne asked, her voice soft but thick with emotion. "I could have helped. I could have done something."

Nicky gave her a sad smile, shaking her head. "I didn’t want to drag you into it. You had enough going on. It wasn’t fair to put that burden on you."

Anne wasn’t having any of it. She felt a deep, protective urge swelling in her chest. "Don’t you ever think like that again. You’re my best friend, my beta. I would have fought for you. Hell, I will fight for you now."

Nicky blinked, clearly not expecting such an intense reaction. "Anne, it’s in the past. What’s done is done. Caleb’s probably moved on. I have to accept that."

Anne shook her head, her mind racing. "No. You don’t. Nicky, you shouldn’t have had to make that choice. And if Caleb was your mate, there’s a chance—no, I know

—he hasn’t moved on either."

Nicky frowned, looking sceptical. "It’s been two years, Anne. You really think he’s been waiting for me this whole time?"

Anne crossed her arms, her expression determined. "The mate bond is sacred. If he’s your true mate, he hasn’t forgotten about you. You can’t just turn off a bond like that."

Nicky sighed heavily. "But what can we do now? It’s not like I can just waltz into Thunderbolt territory and say, ’Hey, remember me? Sorry about rejecting you; can we try again?’"

Anne leant forward, her eyes gleaming with determination. "No, but we can do something even better. What if we invite Caleb and his pack to the grand mating ceremony?"

Nicky’s eyes widened in shock. "Invite them? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," Anne replied. "Damien’s already planning to invite every pack in the region. The Thunderbolt pack will just be one of many. It won’t seem suspicious, and you can finally see Caleb again."

Nicky’s mouth opened and closed like she was trying to find the words to argue, but nothing came out.

Anne continued, her voice brimming with excitement. "You’ll get the chance to reconnect with him, and if the bond is still there, you’ll know. You deserve that chance, Nicky. You both deserve that chance."

Nicky stared at Anne, her usual confidence faltering. "But what if... what if he’s angry? What if he doesn’t want me anymore?"

Anne softened, reaching out to squeeze Nicky’s hand. "Then at least you’ll know. But something tells me he’s been waiting for you just as much as you’ve been thinking about him. You owe it to yourself to find out."

Nicky looked down at her coffee cup, her fingers trembling slightly as they traced the rim. "It sounds so simple when you say it like that, but what if I’ve hurt him beyond repair?"

Anne shook her head firmly. "He’ll understand that. The bond doesn’t break so easily."

Nicky nodded slowly. "Alright," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let’s do it. Invite the Thunderbolt pack. If Caleb shows up... I’ll talk to him."

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

When Damien reached the door of his dad’s office, it swung open without him knocking, and there stood his mother, Liana, dressed in her formal attire.

"Damien?" Liana blinked, clearly startled by his presence. "What are you doing here so early?"

"You’re going to the council meeting?"

She hesitated, her hand lingering on the doorknob. "Yes, I... it’s council business, nothing you need to be involved in."

Damien raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Mother, if it’s about the pack, I need to be involved."

’

Liana’s gaze softened, but there was a shadow of concern in her eyes. "This is not something I want you mixed up in, Damien. There are... sensitive matters at hand."

Damien crossed his arms, a half-smirk tugging at his lips. "Sensitive? Since when does the council deal with anything not sensitive?" His voice softened as he added, "Besides, I need to talk to them. I’ve decided to organise a grand mating ceremony, and I want their approval."

Liana’s brows lifted. "A grand mating ceremony? This is about Jessica, isn’t it?"

Damien gave a small shrug. "Among other things. It’ll help solve a lot of problems if we bring the packs together. Not to mention, we can finally get Jessica off our backs if she finds her mate."

Liana studied him.

"Fine. You can come."

They left together.

When they arrived at the council’s grand stone hall, Damien immediately noticed the shift in atmosphere. The air was thick with unease, the usual whispers and formal greetings replaced with terse nods and grim expressions. Council members were already gathered around the circular oak table, their faces drawn in concern.

As Liana and Damien entered, all eyes turned to them. Cecilia stood, her face a mask of calm, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise at Damien’s presence.

"Liana," Cecilia greeted. "And Damien. I wasn’t expecting to see you today."

Damien’s brow furrowed. "Is there a problem ?"

A heavy silence fell over the room, and it was Daniel who finally spoke. "Blaze has escaped."