The lost mate
Chapter 54: Conspiracies

Chapter 54: Conspiracies

"Reject her," Richard commanded, his voice firm and unyielding. There was no trace of softness in his tone, only the weight of expectation. "That girl is a rogue, Damien. Bringing her back into this pack will ruin everything we’ve built. You know what needs to be done."

Damien’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. He had anticipated his father’s resistance, but hearing the cold dismissal of Annie—the mother of his child, his mate—sent a surge of anger through him.

"I’m not rejecting her," Damien said, his voice steady, though the storm inside him was threatening to break loose. "Whatever happened between us, it’s my responsibility to protect her and Ryan. He’s my son, Dad. I won’t walk away from that."

Richard’s eyes narrowed, disbelief flickering across his stern features. "You would sacrifice your position—your future as Alpha—for a rogue? Damien, don’t be a fool. There are other ways to take responsibility for the child without tying yourself to her."

Damien took a step forward, his voice rising. "I won’t turn my back on them. And I won’t throw Annie to the wolves because it’s easier for you to maintain control."

There was a flicker of something in Richard’s eyes—anger, perhaps, or maybe even fear—but before he could respond, Liana spoke up, her voice cutting through the charged atmosphere.

"Damien is right."

Her sudden interjection caused both men to turn to her. Liana, who had stood silent during much of the conversation, now stepped forward, her posture regal and commanding. Her expression, though calm, carried the weight of her authority as Luna.

"We can’t change that. But we do have a grandson now." Her voice softened just slightly. "An heir to the Montefort line."

Richard blinked, clearly taken aback. "Liana—"

She held up a hand, cutting him off with a grace that could only come from years of navigating pack politics. "We’re talking about family, Richard. Our son, our grandson. You can’t expect Damien to reject Annie when the child is already here. It’s done." She glanced at Damien, her gaze more thoughtful than accusatory. "And Damien is doing what he believes is right. We should respect that."

Damien couldn’t hide his surprise. He had been prepared for his mother to side with Richard, to join in the pressure to reject Annie and solidify the family’s power. But here she was, standing by him.

Richard, however, was less convinced. His face darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. "You can’t seriously be thinking—"

"I am thinking clearly, Richard," Liana said firmly. "This is bigger than just pack politics now. We have a grandson. This boy—Ryan—is of our blood. Are you really willing to push away your own flesh and blood for the sake of appearances?"

There was a long, tense silence as Richard stared at his wife. He looked between them, his eyes hard and calculating, but for once, it seemed even Richard Montefort was unsure of his next move.

Liana turned back to Damien, her expression softening just slightly. "Introduce me to him, Damien. Let me meet my grandson."

"Of course," Damien said, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "I’ll take you to him tomorrow after they have rested."

"Go to them, and don’t worry about anything." Liana gave him a bright smile.

Damien kissed his mother goodbye and turned towards the door, glancing back at his parents before leading them out of the study. His mind was still reeling from the confrontation, but as they walked through the grand corridors of the estate, one thought remained constant—he would do whatever it took to protect Annie and Ryan.

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As soon as the door to Damien left, the warmth that had briefly softened Liana’s face disappeared, replaced by a cold, sharp fury. She whirled around, her eyes blazing as they met Richard’s.

"How could you be so stupid?" She hissed, her voice low but venomous. "Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?"

Richard, taken aback by the sudden shift in her demeanour, narrowed his eyes but held his ground. "What are you talking about, Liana? We can’t just let some rogue waltz back into this family like she belongs here. I’m trying to protect our legacy."

"Damien is not a child anymore!" Liana shot back, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "If you keep pushing him, if you try to force him to reject her, he’ll rebel—and we can’t afford that."

Richard’s jaw clenched, his frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "You expect me to stand by and do nothing while he throws away everything we’ve built? That girl is a rogue. She’s a danger to this pack!"

Liana took a step closer, her voice lowering into a cold, calculating tone. "That girl gave him a son."

Richard scoffed, shaking his head. "How can you be so sure that boy is Damien’s? For all we know, she could be lying, trying to trap him."

Liana’s expression darkened, and she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "Did you even look at the boy, Richard? He’s the spitting image of Damien—his eyes, his hair, even the way he carries himself. If you raise any questions about his paternity, you’ll only make us look like fools. The pack will see through it in an instant. And then what?"

Richard’s face twisted in anger, but he said nothing. He knew, deep down, that Liana was right. Ryan did look like Damien.

Liana continued, her voice sharp and commanding. "I don’t need your stupid actions making this situation worse than it already is. You’ve ruled this pack because of me—don’t forget that." Her words were a chilling reminder of the power she held, not just as the Luna but as the political mastermind behind Richard’s success.

Richard clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. "So what, Liana? We just accept Annie as Damien’s mate and let her into the family."

"Of course not," Liana snapped, her eyes narrowing with disdain. "I’m not about to let that girl, that rogue, become the Luna of this pack. But we have to be smart about how we deal with her. If we push too hard, we’ll lose Damien—and with him, our future."

Richard’s eyes flickered with confusion, unsure of what his wife was planning. "Then what are you suggesting?"

Liana’s lips curled into a cold, calculated smile. "I’ll get rid of her, Richard. Quietly, efficiently. But we can’t make it look like we’re involved. Damien will never forgive us if he suspects we had anything to do with it."

Richard felt a chill run down his spine at the ice in her voice. "And how do you plan to do that?"

She turned on her heel, striding towards the door with purpose. "Stay out of this, Richard. I’ll handle it. I need to talk to Alpha Jackson first; I need to pacify him before he does something stupid."