The lost mate
Chapter 126: Things are getting murky

Chapter 126: Things are getting murky

"How do you know about Damien’s parentage?" Liana demanded, her voice cold and sharp.

Anne stayed silent, her expression guarded. She wasn’t ready to reveal the truth—not yet.

Liana’s frustration grew as Anne’s silence stretched. "Answer me," she snapped, her voice rising in anger. "You found out in Alaska, didn’t you? How? Who told you? Did you come here to threaten me?"

Anne’s eyes met Liana’s, calm and unwavering despite the storm of emotion building in the Luna Queen. "I’m not like you, Liana," Anne replied, her voice steady. "I don’t crave power. I don’t manipulate or deceive to get what I want. The only thing I care about is Damien."

Liana scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping her. "You care about Damien? Don’t act so righteous. If you truly cared about him, you wouldn’t be here, threatening to destroy his world."

"I’m not threatening you," Anne said, her tone calm but firm. "I’m giving you a chance—a chance to do the right thing."

Liana’s eyes narrowed further, her suspicion sharpening into something darker. "And what if I don’t? What if I decide not to tell him?"

Anne didn’t flinch. She stepped closer, her voice soft but laced with resolve. "Then I will. You have one week, Liana. If you don’t tell Damien the truth, I will."

Liana’s expression twisted in anger. "You would ruin him? Shatter everything he knows? For what? To punish me?"

"No," Anne said firmly. "I’m not doing this to hurt you. I’m doing this because he deserves the truth. You can’t keep lying to him, Liana. Not anymore. Not with Jackson threatening everything."

Liana stood, her hands trembling as she slammed them down on the table. "You think this is so simple, don’t you? You think telling Damien the truth will fix everything. But it won’t. It will destroy him. It will destroy all of us."

"Keeping him in the dark is what will destroy him," Anne countered.

Liana’s eyes filled with desperation, her voice breaking. "And what do you think will happen when he finds out his mother died because of me? That I let her die? Do you think he’ll ever forgive me for that?"

Anne softened, her heart aching for the broken woman in front of her. "Maybe he won’t. But at least he’ll know the truth. And that’s better than living a lie."

Liana shook her head, her expression filled with anguish. "You don’t understand. You don’t understand what it’s like to lose everything you’ve ever wanted."

"I understand more than you think," Anne said quietly.

Liana stared at her, her anger slowly giving way to exhaustion. She slumped back into her chair, her hands trembling as she held her head in them.

Anne took a deep breath, knowing the weight of her next words. "You have a week, Liana. One week to tell Damien everything. If you don’t, I’ll tell him myself."

With those words, Anne walked out, leaving Liana alone in the dim room, her world slowly crumbling around her.

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

Anne was walking through the pack’s training grounds, her mind still heavy with the weight of her conversation with Liana. She was still looking for Damien.

As she approached the edge of the clearing, the sound of harsh words caught her attention. Frowning, she followed the noise until she reached a small, secluded corner of the grounds. There, she saw Jessica, standing tall with a cruel smirk on her face, towering over a young omega girl who was kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You call that a proper bow?" Jessica sneered. "You’re pathetic. Do you think you’re above following my orders just because you’re an omega? I could have you thrown out of the pack, you know that."

The omega girl whimpered, trying to stammer out an apology, but her voice was too weak, choked by her fear and humiliation.

"Jessica, stop!" Anne called, her voice sharp and commanding.

Jessica turned slowly, her eyes narrowing as she saw Anne approaching. "Oh, look who it is," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "Damien’s precious little mate. What do you want?"

Anne ignored the insult, stepping between Jessica and the trembling omega. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice steady but filled with authority. "Leave her alone."

Jessica crossed her arms, unfazed. "This omega disobeyed me. She refused to follow my command, and she needs to be punished. Or are you so soft that you think weaklings like her shouldn’t face consequences?"

Anne’s eyes flashed with anger, but she kept her tone measured. "Jessica, you’re a guest here. You have no right to command a member of this pack. Especially not to humiliate them."

Jessica scoffed, rolling her eyes. "A guest? I’m more than that, Anne. I’m the daughter of an Alpha, a higher rank than anyone in this pathetic pack. If I want to give orders, I’ll give them. And this omega," she added with a cruel smile, "deserves to be reminded of her place."

Shee took a deep breath, keeping her voice steady. "If you continue to mistreat the members of this pack, you won’t have to wait for Jackson to make a move. I’ll personally see to it that you’re escorted out. This is my home, Jessica. You’re just a visitor. Don’t forget that."

The tension between them crackled in the air as they stared each other down, neither willing to back down. But after a long moment, Jessica sneered, turning her back on Anne. "You’re not worth my time," she muttered, her voice dripping with disdain. "This isn’t over, Anne. Not by a long shot."

Anne watched as Jessica stormed away, her heart still pounding in her chest. She turned to the omega girl, who was still shaking on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

"Are you okay?" Anne asked gently, kneeling besides her.

The omega nodded, though she couldn’t quite meet Anne’s eyes. "Thank you, madam Luna," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"You don’t need to thank me," Anne said softly, helping her to her feet. "No one should treat you like that. Ever."

The omega girl wiped at her tears, her expression a mixture of fear and gratitude. "I... I’m sorry for causing trouble."

"You didn’t cause any trouble," Anne reassured her, giving her a kind smile. "What’s your name ?"

"Summer," the girl responded.

"Summer, can you do something for me ?" Anne asked.

The girl nodded eagerly.

"keep an eye on Jessica, and report everything to me."

Summer’s eyes widened in surprise, but she nodded in agreement. "I will," she promised.

Anne patted her on the shoulder before walking away; she had a hunch that Jackson had planted Jessica in the pack for a specific purpose. He didn’t want her to become the Luna; that was impossible. He was planning something bigger.