The lost mate
Chapter 24: The Truth Revealed

Chapter 24: The Truth Revealed

"That handsome fellow is Ryan’s dad !" Heather yelled. "That’s why he seemed familiar. Now that I think about it, Ryan is a perfect replica of him."

"Mum, was he that good looking ?" Emily asked excitedly.

Annie sighed. That’s why it was harder to hide Ryan; he looked so much like him; he had the same piercing blue eyes and dark brown hair that fell over his forehead. The resemblance was uncanny, making it nearly impossible to keep the secret hidden for long. Annie sat back in her chair, her eyes downcast as she gathered the courage to say the next words.

"Damien doesn’t know about Ryan," Annie finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And he can never find out. If he does, he’ll try to take Ryan away from me, or worse, his mother will try to hurt Ryan."

Heather frowned, her brows knitting together in confusion. "But why, Annie? Why would they want to take Ryan away from you? And why would his mother want to harm him? He’s her grandchild."

Emily nodded, sharing Heather’s bewilderment. "I don’t get it. What kind of people would do that? Isn’t family supposed to stick together?"

Annie took a deep breath, bracing herself for what she was about to reveal. "It’s complicated. There’s a lot you don’t know about me... about who I am and where I come from."

They had been there for her through thick and thin, and she knew they deserved to know the truth.

"I’m an orphan," Annie began, her voice steady but tinged with a sadness she had long since buried. "My mother was human, and my father was a werewolf. I’m a half-breed, and in the werewolf world, that’s... well, it’s not something that’s easily accepted. Many werewolves look down on half-breeds and see us as lesser because we’re not pure-blooded."

Heather’s eyes widened in realisation, and she reached out to squeeze Annie’s hand. "Oh, Annie... I had no idea. That must have been so hard for you."

Annie gave her a small, grateful smile. "It was. Growing up, I was always different, always on the outside. But I managed. I survived. And then... then I met Damien."

Emily leant in; her curiosity piqued. "How did you meet him?"

Annie hesitated, memories of that night flooding back. "There was a mating party—a tradition in the werewolf community where unmated wolves gather to find their mates. I wasn’t really expecting to find anyone, but then... then I saw Damien. And I knew."

Heather and Emily listened intently, hanging on every word. Annie continued, her voice growing softer as she recounted the events that had changed her life forever.

"He claimed me that night. We... we bonded. I thought it was the beginning of something beautiful, something I’d never dreamed I could have. But after that night, he didn’t come back for me. I waited, but he never returned."

Emily frowned, her expression darkening. "What do you mean he didn’t come back? Didn’t he realize you were his mate?"

Annie shook her head, bitterness creeping into her voice. "I don’t know. All I know is that I was taken by my Alpha and Damien’s mother. They didn’t believe me when I told them I was his mate. They accused me of drugging him and tricking him into seducing him. They imprisoned me, and if it hadn’t been for a friend who helped me escape, I don’t know what they would have done."

Heather gasped, horror etched across her face. "That’s terrible! How could they do that to you?"

Annie nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I was alone, scared. I had no choice but to run. I didn’t trust them, and I couldn’t risk them finding out about Ryan. If they knew... they would either try to take him away, claiming he was Damien’s rightful heir, or they’d see him as a threat and try to harm him. Damien’s mother—she’s ruthless. She wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to protect her son’s position, even if it meant hurting an innocent child."

Emily’s face hardened with resolve. "We’re not going to let that happen, Annie. Ryan is safe with us. We’ll protect him, no matter what."

Heather nodded in agreement, her voice firm. "Absolutely. Damien may be powerful, but he’s not going to take Ryan from you. We’ll stand by you, Annie, every step of the way."

Annie looked at them, overwhelmed by their unwavering support. "Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you both."

Heather and Emily had been incredible, their unwavering support giving her strength, but the reality of the situation loomed over her like a dark cloud. She couldn’t stay here—not with Damien so close, not with the risk of him discovering the truth about Ryan.

She sighed heavily, drawing the attention of her friends. "I’m going to have to leave," she said quietly, her voice tinged with resignation.

Heather’s eyes widened in shock, and she shook her head vehemently. "Leave? No, Annie, you can’t do that! This is your home! You have a life here, a business, friends... you have us!"

Annie gave them a sad smile, her heart aching at the thought of leaving behind the life she had built. "I know this is my home, and believe me, I don’t want to leave. But I don’t see any other choice. If Damien finds out about Ryan, everything will be destroyed. I can’t risk that."

Heather leant forward, her eyes pleading. "But not now, right? You’re not leaving tonight?"

Annie shook her head, trying to reassure her friends. "No, not now. I can’t leave yet. Damien’s too close, and he’ll be keeping an eye on me. If I try to run now, he’ll notice, and it’ll only make things worse."

Emily frowned, her worry deepening. "So what’s the plan then? You’re just going to wait until he leaves and then disappear?"

Annie nodded, her voice firm. "Yes. Once Damien leaves town and things calm down, I’ll take Ryan and go. I don’t know where yet, but somewhere far away where we can start over, where no one knows us. I can’t let him find us, and I won’t risk Ryan’s safety."

Heather’s eyes filled with tears as she reached across the table to grip Annie’s hand. "Annie, you don’t have to do this alone. We can help you. We’ll figure out a way to keep Damien off your trail to keep Ryan safe. Please don’t just vanish without telling us."

Annie blinked back tears, her voice trembling as she spoke. "I promise I won’t cut you out. But I need you both to understand that I have to do what’s best for Ryan. If that means leaving everything behind, then that’s what I’ll do."