The lost mate
Chapter 49: Heart to Heart

Chapter 49: Heart to Heart

"Give him back!" Annie’s voice echoed, raw and desperate, as she reached out towards Damien. Her heart pounded in her chest, her hands trembling as she saw him holding Ryan, cradling him.

Damien’s face was cold, a cruel smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "You really thought a half-breed like you could be my mate?" His voice was filled with disdain, each word like a dagger to her heart. "You don’t belong here, Annie."

"No!" she screamed, her body lunging forward, but an invisible force flung her backwards. The air around her seemed to thicken, suffocating her as the world blurred. The wolves around her, members of the pack she once thought she might call family, stood watching—judging. Their eyes were cold, devoid of empathy.

Damien’s laughter echoed through the air, sharp and bitter. "A half-breed could never be the mate of an Alpha prince. You’re nothing." His words twisted inside her, tearing at every fear she had buried deep within herself.

The next moment, she was falling. The pack vanished, and the cold ground beneath her sent a shockwave through her body as she hit it hard. She scrambled to her feet, only to realise she was on the outskirts of the pack’s territory. The border loomed ahead, and as she looked back, the gates slammed shut behind her.

"Outcast."

"No..." Annie whispered, her throat tight, tears blurring her vision as she pounded her fists against the barrier, screaming, "No! Please! Give him back!"

But her cries were swallowed by the void. She was alone.

Suddenly, everything went black.

Annie gasped as her eyes snapped open, her breath shallow and ragged. The nightmare still clung to her, the images vivid in her mind. She was shivering, cold sweat slicking her skin as she clutched the sheets beneath her.

"Ryan," she whispered, her heart lurching in her chest.

Without thinking, Annie threw the covers off and stumbled out of bed, her legs unsteady as she rushed to Ryan’s room. Her mind raced, the fear from the nightmare blurring into reality for a moment, and she had to see him—had to make sure he was okay.

She reached his door, her hand trembling as she pushed it open softly. The room was bathed in the soft, golden light of the night lamp, casting shadows on the walls, but it was peaceful. Ryan lay in his bed, his tiny chest rising and falling in steady rhythm, his face serene as he slept soundly, curled up with his stuffed wolf toy.

Annie exhaled sharply, pressing a hand to her chest as her body sagged with relief. It was just a dream. A horrible, horrible dream.

She crept closer to his bed, brushing a gentle hand over Ryan’s soft hair. He stirred slightly but didn’t wake, his lips curling into a contented smile as he snuggled deeper into his blankets.

Annie kneeled besides him, her heartbeat finally slowing, though the weight of the nightmare still pressed on her mind. She leant forward and pressed a soft kiss to Ryan’s forehead.

She sat there for a few moments longer. The nightmare had felt so real—the pain, the rejection, the cruelty in Damien’s eyes—it had all seemed like the truth of her worst fears.

Damien hadn’t taken Ryan. He would never do that, right?

Annie shook her head, scolding herself. *Get a grip, Annie."

The reason for her fear was that she barely knew Damien. Ryan was the result of a one night stand. She knew nothing about Damien or the place she was heading. Apart from the fact that his mother hated her.

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

The cosy little cake shop was filled with the delicious scent of sugar, vanilla, and frosting. At one of the corner tables, Damien, Annie, and Ryan sat in an odd mix of warmth and tension. Or rather, Ryan sat in a state of pure delight, devouring slice after slice of cake. His bright blue eyes sparkled every time Damien brought him a new flavour. Damien had ordered every single variety available, much to the delight of Ryan and the dismay of Annie.

Ryan, with cake crumbs around his mouth, pointed eagerly to the next one. "This one now!" he exclaimed, his small finger aimed at a towering slice of strawberry cake.

Damien obliged with a grin, cutting a small piece and offering it to his son. "Here you go, buddy. Strawberry, your favourite," he said, as if he’d been doing this for years.

Annie’s brows furrowed. "Damien, don’t give him too much sugar. He’ll be bouncing off the walls for days."

Damien chuckled, brushing aside her concern like it was a stray crumb on the table. "Relax, Annie. Let him enjoy. A little sugar never hurts anyone."

Annie crossed her arms. Watching Damien dote on Ryan with such care was heartwarming, even if she wasn’t thrilled about the sugar overload. Her heart softened just a bit as she observed the bond forming between father and son.

Ryan, oblivious to their exchange, was already eyeing the next slice of cake. "Daddy, can I have more?"

"Of course you can, champ," Damien said with a wink. "And guess what? When we’re together, I’ll give you cakes every day."

Ryan’s eyes widened, his excitement reaching a fever pitch. "Really? Every day?!"

"Every single day," Damien promised, smiling down at him with a tenderness that made Annie’s heart twist. He looked at Ryan like he was the centre of his universe, and Ryan, in return, gazed up at him with pure admiration.

"How are we going to go?" Ryan asked, bouncing slightly in his seat, the sugar already working its magic.

Damien leant closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "We’re going to fly. In a plane."

Ryan gasped, his excitement spilling over. "A plane? Wow!" He wiggled in his seat, unable to contain his joy.

Ryan, oblivious to the adult conversation, bounced in his seat once more. "Daddy! Can we go on the plane now?"

Damien chuckled, ruffling Ryan’s hair. "Soon, buddy. Soon."

"And will you get a train set ?" Ryan asked.

"Of course, you can buy any toy you wish." Damien smiled.

"You’ll spoil him. " Annie grumbled.

"He’s only young once," Damien replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Ryan, who had finished his sugary feast and was now fidgeting in his seat, his energy bubbling over. A small play area sat in the corner of the shop, filled with soft toys and colourful puzzles.

"Hey, champ," Damien said softly, ruffling Ryan’s hair. "Why don’t you go play for a bit, huh? There’s some fun stuff over there."

Ryan’s eyes lit up, glancing over at the play area, but he hesitated. "Can I, Mama?"

Annie gave him a gentle smile. "Of course. Just don’t wander too far, okay?"

With an excited nod, Ryan jumped off his chair and scampered towards the play area, leaving Damien and Annie alone at the table. The air between them shifted immediately, the tension that had been bubbling beneath the surface rising now that they were alone.

"So," he began, leaning back in his chair, "what’s on your mind?"

Annie straightened, her hands resting tensely in her lap. She had been mulling over this conversation for days, knowing it was inevitable. She glanced at Ryan, now absorbed in stacking blocks, before turning her full attention to Damien.

"I need to talk to you about something important," she said quietly. "About us. About what this... move means."

Damien’s brow furrowed, but he nodded, urging her to continue. "Go ahead. I’m listening."

Annie took a deep breath, her voice steady but layered with emotion. "I’m going with you, Damien. I want Ryan to have his father in his life. He deserves that. But is he going to be an illegitimate child ? Will he be hidden away in some distant corner ?"