The lost mate
Chapter 100: Answers

Chapter 100: Answers

Damien strode into his father’s office, his mind racing with everything he had uncovered. The door clicked shut behind him, and Alpha Richard looked up from behind his desk, his piercing eyes narrowing at his son’s serious expression.

"Damien," Richard greeted, leaning back in his chair. "What brings you here?"

Damien didn’t waste any time. "It’s Blaze. He was behind the attack on Anne in Alaska."

Richard’s expression darkened instantly.

"Blaze?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "That snake has always had ambitions for my position. But attacking your mate—he’s sunk lower than I thought possible."

Damien nodded, his own anger simmering just beneath the surface. "He’s been scheming for a while now. We have the evidence, Dad. Shouldn’t we revenge? Bring this to the Council and get him punished."

Richard leant forward, his brows furrowed in thought. For a long moment, he didn’t speak, his sharp gaze fixed on a point somewhere behind Damien. His eyes were fixed on Liana.

"Yes. We’ll bring this to the Council." Liana proclaimed as she walked in.

Damien looked at his mother.

"There’s something else. Blaze isn’t the only one we need to worry about. What if he and Alpha Jackson decide to join forces?"

Richard’s head snapped up at the mention of Jackson, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Jackson?" he growled. "That fool wouldn’t dare."

His mother, Liana, now standing besides his father, remained calm.

"Jackson and Blaze?" Richard growled, his tone dripping with disdain. "Those two hate each other. They wouldn’t even survive a conversation, let alone work together."

"Hatred can be a powerful bond when they both have something to gain from it."

Damien nodded, grateful that his mother saw the danger he was sensing. "Exactly. Jackson wants retribution for what happened to Jessica. Now that I’m mated, she’s lost her chance, and Jackson sees it as humiliation. And Blaze—he’s never let go of his ambitions to take your place. It’s not that far-fetched for them to unite, even if they despise each other."

"Jackson won’t go against us because I have his dirty secrets." Liana declared.

"What secrest ?" Damien asked.

Liana paused for a moment then continued, "Human trafficking. He won’t risk going against us when I hold that power over him."

Damien stood frozen, his mind whirling with the weight of his mother’s words.

"Human trafficking?" Damien’s voice was barely above a whisper, but the horror in it was clear. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat louder and more insistent than the last. He could barely look at his mother. "Why didn’t you inform the council, Mum? That’s a violation of our laws. Jackson would’ve been expelled, stripped of his title—"

Liana raised a hand, silencing him. Her expression was calm and controlled, like someone who had thought this through long before Damien had even known such things existed.

"Damien, there’s more to leading a pack than following the laws blindly," she said, her voice firm yet laced with that maternal softness that always made him feel like a child again. "Politics is about survival. If I had exposed Jackson, it would have caused more harm than good. You think the Council would have acted swiftly? Maybe. Maybe not. But exposing Jackson would have destabilised more than just his pack. Other packs rely on his connections for trade and influence. The ripple effect would’ve been disastrous."

"But, Mom—" Damien cut in, his voice rising with frustration. "Harming humans, trafficking them... that’s unforgivable. The laws are clear. It’s forbidden to harm them unnecessarily. We’re supposed to protect them! How can you just—"

"Politics, Damien," Liana interrupted, her voice now sharper, more direct. "Sometimes it’s about making the tough decisions. Justice is important, but maintaining balance, keeping the packs united—that’s what holds everything together. Without that, we have chaos. And chaos would destroy us far quicker than Jackson ever could."

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to process the implications. It was a strategy, a chess move in the larger game of power. But it didn’t sit right with Damien.

"You wanted me to mate with Jessica because of this," he said quietly, realisation dawning. "You thought by aligning me with Jackson’s daughter, we could cement that control. Keep him in check. But now—"

Liana didn’t flinch. She met her son’s gaze head-on, unashamed. "Yes, that was part of it. Jackson would never have dared move against us if you and Jessica had been mated. It would have been a political alliance that ensured peace for both packs. But you made your choice, and I won’t force you to mate with someone you don’t love. If Anne is the one you’ve chosen, then I’ll support you. I may not have approved of her at first, but if she makes you happy, I’ll stand by your side."

Damien felt a knot tighten in his chest. He was conflicted. Something that felt like betrayal. How could she have kept this from him? How could she have let Jackson continue his vile practices just for the sake of political leverage?

"It’s not right," Damien said, his voice low and tense. "We have to take action against Jackson. He can’t be allowed to continue this. No matter what you think, Mum, some things are too important to compromise on. You know this."

Liana’s eyes softened, but there was still steel in her gaze. "You’re young, Damien. You still see the world in black and white. I envy you for that. But you’ll learn, as your father and I have, that the world is far more complicated than you think. You have to pick your battles. And sometimes, the price of justice is higher than you’re willing to pay."

"I need sometime alone, mother."

Damien clenched his fists, feeling the tension rise inside him. He needed air. He needed to think. Without another word, he turned and left the office. The heavy door closed behind him with a dull thud.

Richard turned slowly, eyes narrowing at his wife.

"Liana," he began, his voice low but firm, "what exactly are you planning? Sometimes, I don’t understand you."

I’m trying to remove our enemies, Richard," she said evenly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Isn’t that what you want? What’s best for Damien and the pack?"

Richard sighed, moving towards his desk but not sitting down. He leant against the edge, crossing his arms, studying her. "I don’t understand."