The lost mate
Chapter 47: Desperate measures

Chapter 47: Desperate measures

"Fred," she began, her voice laced with desperation, "if you knew who I was, why didn’t you catch me sooner? Why didn’t you turn me in right away?"

Fred glanced at her, his expression unreadable.

"I wasn’t here for you, Annie," he said, his voice steady and matter-of-fact. "I was investigating Ronald’s death. I had no idea you were involved or even in Crescent City. It was only by chance that I stumbled upon your trail."

Annie’s heart skipped a beat. "So, you didn’t know?"

Fred shook his head. "No. Not until today. But it’s fortunate that you surrendered yourself. It saves everyone a lot of trouble."

Annie swallowed hard, the reality of her situation settling in like a lead weight in her stomach. She had walked right into his hands, thinking she could protect Heather, only to find herself ensnared in a trap she hadn’t seen coming. Her mind whirled with the possibilities, the potential outcomes of her impending trial. But no matter how she looked at it, one thing became painfully clear: she was out of options.

A wave of anxiety washed over her as she considered her next move. Fred’s calm, detached demeanour only heightened her sense of dread. He was treating this as a routine case, but for Annie, it was anything but. This was her life on the line, and she had precious little time to find a way out.

Her thoughts drifted to the one person who might be able to help her, the one person with enough power and influence to sway the council’s decision. Damien Montefort, the Alpha Prince. She had spent so much time avoiding him, keeping herself and Ryan hidden from his world, but now... she had no choice.

Annie took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Fred," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "what happens now?"

Fred leant back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Now, you’re going to be transferred to a secure location until the council can decide. It’s out of my hands, Annie. You’ll have to answer for your crimes."

Annie nodded, her mind already racing ahead to the next step. She couldn’t let fear paralyse her. If she was going to have any chance at survival, she needed to act fast.

"I need to make a phone call," she said, her voice firm. "Please, Fred, just give me that."

Fred hesitated for a moment, studying her closely. But he eventually nodded. "One call. Make it quick."

Annie’s hands shook as she took out her phone, her thoughts tumbling over one another as she dialled the number she had never thought she would need to use again. The phone rang twice before a familiar voice answered, cold and commanding.

"Annie ?"

Annie’s breath caught in her throat. "Damien, it’s Annie. I... I need your help."

There was a brief silence on the other end, and when Damien spoke again, his voice was dangerously calm. "Annie. What’s going on?"

She swallowed hard, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I’m in trouble, Damien. Serious trouble. The council... they’re going to put me on trial. I need you help me. Please."

"Where are you ?" He asked.

"At the police station."

"I’ll handle it. Don’t do anything stupid, Annie. I’ll be there soon."

The call ended abruptly, leaving Annie staring at the phone in her hand, her pulse racing. She didn’t know what Damien would do or if he would truly help her, but it was the only chance she had left.

Annie’s anxiety had reached a fever pitch by the time Damien arrived at the police station. Her mind raced with a thousand worst-case scenarios, each more terrifying than the last. She barely registered the sound of his footsteps until he was right in front of her.

"Annie," Damien’s voice cut through her spiralling thoughts like a lifeline, and before she could respond, he wrapped her in a firm embrace.

The dam broke, and Annie clung to him, her tears spilling over as the weight of everything she’d been holding back came crashing down.

Damien held her close, his touch surprisingly gentle, as he whispered, "Shh, it’s okay. I’m here now. Tell me what happened."

Through her tears, Annie managed to piece together the events of the last few hours. She told him about Heather’s arrest and her confession. The words tumbled out of her in a rush, as if saying them aloud could somehow make them less terrifying.

Damien listened in silence, his expression unreadable. When she finally finished, he pulled back slightly, just enough to look her in the eyes.

"Wait in the car," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I’ll have a chat with Detective Fred. I’ll take care of this."

Annie hesitated for a moment, then nodded, too emotionally drained to protest. She wiped her eyes and walked out to the car, her steps unsteady. Once inside, she sat in the passenger seat, the lingering scent of Damien’s cologne a strangely comforting presence. She stared out the window, the minutes ticking by agonisingly slowly as she waited for him to return. By the time she saw Damien walking back towards the car, she was on the verge of another breakdown.

He slid into the driver’s seat besides her, his expression calm and composed. "It’s done," he said, his voice low and steady. "Heather will be released soon."

Annie let out a long, shaky breath, relief washing over her like a tidal wave. "Thank you, Damien," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she leant back against the seat, trying to steady her breathing. "Thank you so much. I didn’t know what I was going to do."

But Damien’s next words sent a chill down her spine.

"There’s no need to thank me, Annie," he said, a cold smile playing on his lips as he turned to face her. "I’m not doing you a favour. This isn’t charity."

Annie frowned, the knot of unease tightening in her chest. "What do you mean?"

"This is a deal," Damien replied, his tone sharp and businesslike.

Annie’s blood ran cold.

"What kind of deal?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"You and Ryan must come with me."