The lost mate

Chapter 23: The bitter truth

Chris stared at Damien in disbelief, his brow furrowed as he tried to process what he had just heard. "You found Annie?" he repeated, the words sounding surreal even to his own ears. "How? Where? After all this time, how did you even find her?"

Damien leant back in his chair, his eyes distant as he recounted the events of the day. "She had been living among humans in this town, blending into the human world. I went to see her at the café she’s been working at. I needed answers, Chris—I needed to know why she left, why she never came back."

Chris shook his head, still struggling to wrap his mind around it. "So you just walked in and found her? After five years?"

Damien nodded, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It wasn’t that simple. She didn’t exactly welcome me with open arms. She’s angry, hurt... and I can’t blame her for that. I forced her to talk to me to explain why she left. And she did."

Chris leant forward; his curiosity piqued despite himself. "And? What did she say?"

Damien took a deep breath, the memory of Annie’s words still fresh, still painful. "After that night we spent together, Alpha Jackson and my mother disapproved of our relationship. They didn’t believe she was my mate and accused her of drugging me. They imprisoned her. She only escaped because a friend helped her."

Chris’s eyes widened in shock. "What? That’s insane! But she had drugged you and seduced you, right ?"

Damien’s jaw clenched, the weight of the truth pressing down on him. "Someone did drug me, but it wasn’t Annie. The drug made me lose control, but my wolf knew the truth even then. Annie is my mate. I’ve been lied to and manipulated for years, Chris."

Chris let out a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief. "Damn, Damien. That’s... that’s a lot to take in. But you know this makes things even more complicated, right? Alpha Jackson and your mother—they’re not going to be happy about this."

Damien was thoughtful.

"I know, but she is my mate. I can’t leave her. I will figure out a way to make things right with the pack and my family," he said solemnly.

"Tell me what I should do for you." Chris asked.

Damien looked up at Chris with gratitude in his eyes.

"Keep an eye on her; keep her safe. We’ll patrol around her house every night." He paused.

"And give me some tips on how to woo her."

Chris burst into laughter. Damien shot him a glare, not in the mood for Chris’s amusement.

"What’s so funny?" Damien demanded, though his voice was tinged more with frustration than anger.

Chris looked up, a smirk playing on his lips. "You. The mighty Alpha prince, leader of the most powerful pack in the region, and here you are, asking for tips to woo your mate ?"

Damien stopped pacing and looked at Chris, his expression earnest. "That’s why I need your help. You’re good with women, Chris. You’ve had... plenty of experience."

Chris pretended to ponder for a moment, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Well, first of all, you’ve got to stop being so intense. Women like a man who’s confident, sure, but they also want someone who can make them laugh, someone who isn’t afraid to be a little vulnerable."

Damien looked sceptical. "So you’re saying I should be... what? Cracking jokes?"

Chris grinned. "Not exactly. But a little humour wouldn’t hurt. Annie’s been through a lot, and if you can make her smile, make her feel like she can let her guard down around you; that’s half the battle."

Damien considered this, nodding slowly. "Alright. I can try that. What else?"

Chris leant forward, suddenly serious. "You need to show her that you’re willing to fight for her. Not in a literal sense—although I know you could take down any guy who so much as looks at her the wrong way—but in a way that matters to her. Do something unexpected, something that shows you’ve been paying attention to what she needs, not just what you want."

Damien looked thoughtful, running a hand through his hair. "Well, I did beat up a guy, and she wasn’t amused."

"You did what ?" Chris’s eyes widened in shock. "That’s not what I meant by fighting for her, Damien. You need to show her emotional support, not physical aggression."

Damien shrugged. "This would be a lot easier if I didn’t screw things up so badly in the first place."

Chris laughed, clapping Damien on the shoulder. "Welcome to the club, buddy. We all mess up. For you, that’s going to take a lot more than just showing up and telling her she’s your mate."

Damien gave Chris a grudging smile. "You’re enjoying this way too much."

Chris grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Maybe a little. But seriously, Damien, you’ve got this. Just remember—she needs to see that you’re willing to be the guy she deserves, not just the guy who thinks he’s entitled to her."

Damien nodded, feeling a surge of determination. "Thanks, Chris. I appreciate the advice. I’ll... try to be less intense."

Chris chuckled. "Good luck with that, buddy. Just take it slow and be genuine. You got this."

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

Annie hurried back into the café, her heart pounding as if it were trying to escape her chest. The encounter with Damien had left her shaken, her emotions a tangled mess of fear and anger. She needed a moment to gather herself, to push back the storm that was threatening to overwhelm her.

As she stepped through the door, Heather was already approaching her, wiping her hands on a dish towel, a curious look on her face. "Annie, you’re back already? What happened? Did you two talk?"

Annie forced a smile, trying to keep her voice steady. "Yeah, we talked. I just... I needed to come back. I have something I need to tell you and Emily."

Heather’s eyebrows shot up, but she nodded, sensing the seriousness in Annie’s tone. "Alright. Let’s get through the evening rush, and we’ll sit down later."

Annie gave her a grateful nod, her heart still racing, but she managed to push it down and get through the rest of the evening. Finally, after the last customer had left and the doors were locked, Annie found herself sitting at the small kitchen table with Emily and Heather. Ryan had been tucked into bed. Heather looked at her expectantly.

Annie took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she clasped them together on the table. "There’s something I haven’t told you both. Something... important. It’s about Damien."

Emily exchanged a glance with Heather.

Annie nodded, swallowing hard. This was it—the moment she had dreaded and yet knew had to come. "Yes, him. Damien Montefort, he’s not just some guy from my past. He’s... he’s the Alpha prince."

There was a moment of stunned silence as both Heather and Emily stared at her, the words hanging in the air like a heavy cloud.

Emily was the first to find her voice. "The Alpha prince? As in, the king of werewolves?"

Annie nodded again, feeling the weight of the truth pressing down on her.

"Damien... Damien is Ryan’s father."