The lost mate
Chapter 52: Impending storm

Chapter 52: Impending storm

Blaze leant casually against the marble pillar at the edge of the grand hall, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand. His sharp eyes gleamed with amusement as the tension in the room crackled like lightning. The drama playing out in front of him was far better than anything he could have hoped for. 2

This was why he had come. Not to celebrate Damien’s return or to toast to the future Alpha King, but to watch his brother and sister-in-law squirm in front of their closest allies. The perfect, composed Luna Liana was unravelling before his eyes.

Blaze’s smirk deepened as he took in the stunned expressions of the assembled Alphas, council members, and guests. They stood frozen, unsure of how to react to the bombshell Damien had just dropped. And why wouldn’t they be? This was supposed to be a celebration of power, unity, and tradition. Yet here stood Damien, the prized Alpha prince, proudly declaring a child with a rogue—a half-breed, no less. The scandal was delicious.

Blaze’s gaze flicked to his brother, Richard, whose face had paled considerably. His once regal and imposing posture faltered as he exchanged a horrified glance with Liana. Oh, how the mighty fall. Blaze had to bite back a laugh. This was even better than he’d imagined.

Damien, ever the golden child, had been his mother’s and father’s pride and joy. Groomed from birth to ascend the throne, to lead their pack into a new era. And now, here he was, defying everything they had worked for, everything they had built. All because of a woman. And a rogue woman at that.

Blaze’s eyes drifted to the child standing next to Annie. One look at the boy, and any doubt about his paternity would be wiped away. The resemblance was undeniable. From the stormy grey-blue eyes to the unruly dark hair, he was Damien’s son through and through.

Blaze’s smirk deepened as he caught a few whispers rising among the guests, the murmurs of shock and speculation rippling through the crowd. Oh, they would talk. They would gossip and scheme, and soon enough, the entire realm would know that Damien, the heir to the Alpha throne, had a son born of a rogue.

"How interesting," Blaze murmured to himself, taking another sip of his wine.

They had always been so obsessed with their image, with perfection. And now, in front of the most powerful wolves in the region, their perfect son had just turned their world upside down.

Blazechuckled darkly. Serves them right.

"Quite the spectacle, don’t you think?" A voice murmured besides him.

Blaze turned slightly to see Alpha Philip, standing besides him. Jackson’s eyes were fixed on the scene; his brow furrowed in thought.

"Indeed," Blaze replied smoothly, his tone laced with amusement. "I wasn’t expecting such a revelation."

Jackson glanced at Blaze, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "The boy looks just like him."

"He does, doesn’t he?" Blaze said, his tone light, though there was a glint of malice in his eyes. "I wonder what the council will make of all this."

Philip raised an eyebrow, his expression contemplative. "The council values tradition, but they also value power. Damien is still the rightful heir, regardless of... complications."

"True enough," Blaze agreed, though his smile never reached his eyes. "But one has to wonder how this will affect his standing. The council can be... fickle."

Philip nodded, his gaze drifting back to the spectacle unfolding before them. "Fickle, yes. But Damien is strong. He’ll find a way."

Damien was strong, both physically and politically. But strength could only take him so far. Scandal had a way of eroding even the strongest of foundations, and Blaze intended to make sure that this particular scandal didn’t just erode—it shattered.

As if on cue, Liana finally found her voice, her sharp tone cutting through the silence of the room. "Damien, what have you done?"

Damien’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he squared his shoulders.

"Annie is my mate. Sorry, I didn’t want to introduce her this way, but I wasn’t expecting a surprise party !"

"Mate?" Liana hissed, her eyes flicking to Annie. " And that child..."

"Ryan, he is my son."

Blaze’s smirk grew as he watched Liana’s fury mount, her once icy composure now teetering on the edge of collapse. Perfect.

Blaze took one last sip of his wine, his smirk never fading, and murmured to himself, "And so it begins."

Liana’s eyes darted to Ryan, the boy who clung to Annie’s side, wide-eyed and nervous under the weight of the stares in the room. He was Damien’s son; there was no denying it. The resemblance was undeniable.

Just as Liana began to force a smile, a shrill voice cut through the air, shattering the awkward silence.

"What is this, Damien?!" Jessica’s voice, high-pitched and incredulous, rang through the room.

"What the hell is going on? You bring some rogue here—her—and a child? Is this some kind of joke?"

Damien’s expression darkened. Liana watched, her pulse quickening as she saw the resolve in her son’s eyes. Whatever was coming, it wouldn’t be what anyone in the room had anticipated.

"Annie," Damien said, his voice cutting through the tension, "is my mate."

Jessica’s face paled, then reddened with fury. "Mate? Mate?" Her voice rose, shrill, and venomous. "You’re supposed to marry me, Damien! Me! We had an agreement. You’re the Alpha prince. You—"

But Damien cut her off, his voice cold and authoritative. "Annie is my mate. I will not hear another word of disrespect against her."

Damien turned his attention back to the crowd, his hand resting on Annie’s trembling shoulder. "Ryan is tired," he said, his voice calm but firm. "He’s scared with so many strangers around. I’ll be taking him to his room to rest. The party can continue without us."

Annie, visibly shaking, clutched Ryan’s hand as Damien guided them both towards the grand staircase. His arm around her was protective, a clear signal to everyone in the room that he would not tolerate any further questioning.

The whispers started almost immediately, murmurs of disbelief and shock rippling through the air.

Liana stood rooted to the spot, watching her son disappear from view. Her jaw tightened as she maintained her serene expression, but her mind was whirling. This was a disaster. A catastrophe.

Forcing a smile, she raised her glass. "Please," she said, her voice warm and commanding, "enjoy the evening. Damien will join us later. Let’s not let this small interruption take away from the festivities."

Alpha Jackson was seething in anger. "Is this why you called us here ? To insult us ?" Alpha Jackcon said to Liana and Richard.

"Alpha Jackson, Please let’s talk about this later." Richard said calmly, trying to diffuse the tension in the room.

"There is nothing left to talk, you will regret this !" Alpha Jackson’s eyes flashed with fury as he stormed out of the room along with Jessica.