The lost mate
Chapter 118: Unravelling Deceit

Chapter 118: Unravelling Deceit

Damien and Anne walked into the grand hall of the council. Massive chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting golden light across the room, but the atmosphere was cold and tense.

Anne’s hand trembled slightly in Damien’s as they made their way to the centre of the room. Her eyes darted nervously towards the assembled council members, their expressions unreadable, their gazes sharp and crutinizing. He squeezed her hand gently, offering a brief moment of comfort before releasing it. This was his fight now.

Taking a deep breath, Damien stepped forward. "I appreciate the council for granting us this audience," he began, his voice steady, though his heart raced with the weight of what was about to unfold. "I am here to clear up the situation regarding my mate, Anne, and the death of Ronald."

Several council members exchanged glances, and Alpha Raymond leant forward. "We’ve heard conflicting reports, Alpha Damien. You’re here to set the record straight, we hope."

Damien nodded. "Yes, I am."

He glanced at Anne briefly before turning back to the council. His voice was firm as he spoke, every word carefully chosen. "First and foremost, I want to make it clear that Anne killed Ronald in self-defence. Ronald attacked her, and she had no choice but to protect herself. The threat was immediate, and she acted accordingly."

One of the council members, a stern-looking Beta with a hard-set jaw, interjected, "We’ve heard from others that Anne was the aggressor. That she sought revenge for her human friend."

Damien’s eyes narrowed slightly, his wolf rising in defence of his mate. "Those claims are false," he said, his voice laced with barely restrained anger. "Anne never sought revenge. She was defending herself and the Humna family, who helped her. Detective Fred, who was investigating the case, found no evidence to suggest otherwise."

There was a murmur among the council members, their eyes narrowing as they processed Damien’s words.

Damien continued, "However, I must take responsibility for one thing. When I was in Alaska trying to persuade my mate to return, I gave Detective Fred an Alpha command to arrest Heather." His voice was steady, but he could feel Anne’s sharp intake of breath besides him. "I did this not because she was guilty of the crime, but because I needed Anne to come with me. Heather was not involved in Ronald’s death, and Fred knew it. But my command forced him to arrest her."

The room fell into a heavy silence. The weight of Damien’s confession hung in the air like a dense fog.

The greying elder’s eyes narrowed. "You abused your Alpha authority for personal reasons?"

Damien held his gaze, refusing to back down. "Yes," he admitted. "I did what I had to in order to protect my mate and bring her here to answer your questions. I won’t apologise for that, but I will accept whatever consequences the council deems appropriate for my actions."

A ripple of surprise moved through the room. Even Blaze’s smug expression faltered for a brief moment. Anne turned to Damien, her eyes wide with shock. She hadn’t expected him to lay it all out like this—to willingly offer himself up for punishment.

"I take full responsibility," Damien continued, his voice unwavering. "Anne is not at fault. She did what she had to do in a moment of danger. If there is any punishment to be handed down, let it fall on me."

The council members exchanged glances, their murmurs filling the air once more. Damien could feel the tension building, the weight of their deliberation pressing down on him. He glanced at Anne, who was standing stiffly besides him, her eyes searching his face for answers.

Alpha Raymond leant back in his chair, his eyes still fixed on Damien. "You’ve put the council in a difficult position. We cannot allow abuse of Alpha authority to go unchecked, but we also cannot ignore the reality of you trying to protect your mate. The law is the law, but context matters."

"Before you come to any conclusion," Damien began, his tone commanding attention, "I ask that we bring Detective Fred before the council."

Several council members raised their eyebrows in surprise, their focus snapping back to him.

Damien continued, "He is the one who falsely accused Anne. I believe it is crucial to hear from him directly—to understand why he lied and, more importantly, who forced him to do so."

Blaze, who had been standing off to the side, suddenly stiffened. His smug expression faltered, and his body language grew rigid. Damien’s sharp eyes caught the change immediately, and his wolf stirred restlessly inside him.

Cecilia asked .

"You believe the detective was coerced into making false statements?"

"Yes," Damien said without hesitation, his gaze sweeping over the council members. "And I believe it’s time we heard the truth."

"Very well. Bring Detective Fred before the council."

A few moments later, the doors of the grand hall opened, and Fred was led in by two guards. He looked dishevelled. His eyes darted nervously around the room, and when they landed on Blaze, a flicker of fear passed over his face.

Damien’s jaw clenched, and he stepped forward, his Alpha presence unmistakable as he addressed Fred. "Detective," he said, his voice calm but edged with a deadly seriousness, "the council wants to hear the truth. You accused my mate of killing Ronald out of revenge. You lied in your official report. Tell us why."

Fred swallowed hard, his eyes flickering once again towards Blaze, who shifted uncomfortably in his spot.

Fred’s body visibly tensed as the weight of Damien’s Alpha command settled over him. He struggled against it, his mind clearly wrestling with fear and loyalty, but under the force of an Alpha command, there was no room for deceit.

Sweat beaded on Fred’s forehead as he opened his mouth, his voice shaky. "I... I was forced to lie," he admitted, his words stumbling out under the strain of the command.

"By who?" Damien asked, his voice like steel.