The lost mate
Chapter 37: Discovery

Chapter 37: Discovery

Chris stood there, feeling a whirlwind of thoughts spiraling in his mind as Damien’s words barely registered. "That explains why she’s been avoiding you. She probably found out about your connection to me and doesn’t trust you."

But Chris wasn’t really listening. His mind was stuck on something else, something that had been nagging at him ever since the fun fair. Ryan. The little boy with the bright blue eyes. Chris had brushed off the familiar feeling at first, thinking it was nothing more than a fleeting sense of déjà vu. But now, with everything Damien had just revealed, the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place, and the picture they formed was troubling.

Who was the father? That question gnawed at him like a persistent itch he couldn’t scratch. If Ryan was a werewolf, Chris would have sensed it immediately. Werewolves had a distinctive scent, one that was impossible to miss. But he hadn’t scented anything unusual on the boy. Which meant... what? Was Annie involved with a human?

"Are you listening to me?" Damien’s voice cut through Chris’s thoughts, snapping him back to the present.

Chris blinked, focusing on Damien’s face, which was now etched with concern. "Yeah, yeah, I’m listening," Chris said quickly, shaking off his thoughts for the moment.

"I’ll take care of Annie while you’re gone. You can count on me."

"Good. Keep a close watch."

Chris nodded back, trying to bury the unease gnawing at him. "You got it, Damien. I’ll make sure she’s safe."

Chris decided to check for himself if Ryan was indeed Annie’s son before informing Damien.

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

Emily stood in the doorway, her face pale and her hands twisting nervously in front of her. Annie looked up from the book she was pretending to read, immediately sensing that something was wrong. Emily had that look—like she’d just seen a ghost and was trying to decide whether to scream or faint.

"Annie," Emily started, her voice trembling. "I made a huge mistake."

Annie’s heart skipped a beat. She set the book down and stood up, crossing the room in a few quick strides to reach her. "What happened? What’s wrong?"

Emily swallowed hard, looking as though she might cry. "Chris... Chris works for Damien."

For a moment, the words didn’t fully register. Annie blinked, trying to process what Emily had just said. Chris? The same Chris that Emily had been swooning over, the one who had seemed so sweet and harmless, was working for Damien? Her Damien?

Shock rippled through her, followed swiftly by a surge of panic. "He works for Damien?" Annie repeated, her voice strained. "Are you sure?"

Emily nodded miserably. "Yes, he told me himself. I didn’t realize at first who he was talking about, but when he mentioned Damien Montefort, I knew... I knew it was your Damien."

Annie’s mind raced. Chris had seen Ryan at the funfair. He had talked to him and spent time with him. Had he suspected anything? Could he have figured out that Ryan was her son—Damien’s son? The thought made her stomach churn with anxiety. If he was here with Damien, it meant he was his beta. She had never met his beta, so she wasn’t sure.

"He didn’t... He didn’t know that Ryan is my son, did he?" Annie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Emily shook her head quickly. "No, no, I didn’t tell him. I didn’t say anything about Ryan being your son. But Annie, I’m so scared. What if he finds out? What if Damien finds out?"

Annie’s thoughts were spinning, her pulse pounding in her ears. She had been so careful and diligent in using the potions to mask Ryan’s scent and keep his identity hidden. But she knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. The potions could only do so much, and Damien was no fool. He would eventually discover that Ryan was his son.

"Emily," Annie said, forcing herself to stay calm even though fear was clawing at her insides, "it’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’ll handle it."

"But what are you going to do?" Emily asked, her voice trembling with guilt and worry.

"Damien’s leaving today," Annie said, her mind already working through a plan. "I’ll leave tonight. Once Heather makes the arrangements, I’ll fly to Spain. Ryan and I will be gone before Damien even realizes what’s happened."

Emily looked at her with wide, fearful eyes. "Are you sure? What if he comes after you?"

Annie’s jaw tightened. "I have to take that chance. I can’t let him find out about Ryan. If he does... if he knows Ryan is his son... everything will change. And I can’t let that happen."

Emily bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes. "I’m so sorry, Annie. I never meant to put you in this position."

Annie reached out and pulled Emily into a hug, trying to offer some comfort despite the storm of emotions raging inside her. "It’s okay, Em. You didn’t know. We’ll get through this."

But as she held Emily close, Annie’s thoughts were already on the hours ahead. She would have to move quickly, quietly. There was no time to waste. If she was going to keep Ryan safe, she had to get out of town tonight. And once she was gone, she could only hope that Damien would let her go. Because if he didn’t, if he chose to follow her...

Annie pushed the thought away, focusing instead on what needed to be done.

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

The night air was cool, a slight breeze rustling the leaves as Chris made his way towards Emily’s house. He had patrolled this area with Damien every night, but they always kept a respectful distance, never crossing the invisible boundary that separated them from Annie’s life. But tonight was different. Tonight, he needed answers.

As he neared the house, Chris slowed his pace, his senses on high alert. The familiar scent of Annie drifted to him, mixed with the faint, soothing scent of lavender. But there was something else—a subtle undertone that made his wolf stir uneasily. He sniffed the air again, and this time he caught it clearly. She had the child with her.

He crouched low, moving silently through the shadows until he had a clear view of the house. The front door was open, and Chris could see Annie stepping out into the cool night air, carrying a small sleeping figure in her arms. Ryan.

She moved quickly; her steps careful but determined as she made her way to the car parked in the driveway. Chris watched as she opened the back door and gently laid Ryan in the back seat, tucking a blanket around him with a mother’s tenderness. Annie straightened up, her eyes scanning the area as if making sure she wasn’t being watched. She closed the car door quietly and moved around to the driver’s side.

Chris’s mind raced as he watched her start the engine. What was she doing? Where was she taking Ryan at this hour?

The car’s headlights flickered on, casting long shadows across the driveway as Annie pulled out onto the street. Chris took out his phone and called Damien.