The lost mate
Chapter 55: Settling in

Chapter 55: Settling in

Damien gave Annie and Ryan the tour of his lavish suite after he returned. There were three rooms, a large living room with a dining space. It even had a small kitchen. As soon as they entered the second bedroom, Ryan dashed towards the large, plush bed and leapt onto it, bouncing up and down with infectious excitement. "Is this my room?" he asked, his bright blue eyes wide with wonder as he settled into the soft bedding.

Damien chuckled, his gaze softening as he watched Ryan. "Yes, buddy. This is your room now."

Annie stood at the doorway, her arms wrapped around herself. Her expression was unreadable, though her eyes flicked over the space, taking in the subtle luxury of what was now Ryan’s room. The walls were painted in neutral tones, and the decor was understated yet elegant—fitting for a prince, not necessarily for a child. She smiled faintly as Ryan hugged a pillow, clearly overjoyed.

"We’ll make it perfect for him," Damien said, catching Annie’s gaze. "I’ll call the interior decorators tomorrow and have this room fitted for a kid. Toys, books, anything Ryan likes."

Annie nodded, though there was a tightness in her expression that Damien couldn’t quite decipher. "Thank you," she said softly.

They moved on to the master bedroom, which was breathtaking in its opulence. The large, king-sized bed was the centrepiece, covered in rich fabrics and surrounded by a seamless blend of comfort and elegance. Large windows lined one side of the room, offering a stunning view of the mountains in the distance.

Annie took a tentative step into the room, her hands trailing along the back of a velvet chair near the window. She glanced at the bed, her brow furrowing slightly.

"I’ll sleep with Ryan," she said suddenly, her voice breaking the silence.

Damien turned towards her, surprised. "What?"

Annie crossed her arms, not meeting his eyes. "I don’t want to share a room with you, Damien. Not yet."

For a moment, Damien stood there puzzled. His heart sank a little. He had hoped that bringing Annie and Ryan into his home, into his world, would help bridge the gap between them. He had wanted things to move forward, for them to finally be a family.

But he could see the determination in her eyes and the walls she still kept firmly in place. Annie wasn’t ready.

"Okay," Damien said softly, swallowing the disappointment that threatened to rise. He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I’ll change the study into a bedroom for you. You can have your own space."

Annie blinked, surprised by his quick offer. "You don’t have to do that."

"I want you to be comfortable," he replied, his voice firm but kind. "I’ll have the study turned into a bedroom by tomorrow. I work mostly in my office anyway."

Annie looked at him for a long moment; her emotions conflicted. She could sense the disappointment beneath his calm exterior, but she couldn’t give him what he wanted—not yet. She didn’t know how. "Thank you, Damien," she said quietly.

Damien gave a slight nod, his gaze lingering on her before he turned away to look at Ryan, who was still engrossed in his new room. "Come on, buddy," Damien called, his tone brightening for his son’s sake. "Let’s get you some food."

Ryan jumped down from the bed and ran towards them. He grabbed Ryan and carried him to the living room.

"I spoke with them after the guests left. My mother—" Damein broke the silence. "She wants to meet Ryan."

Annie’s stomach churned at the mention of Liana. The same woman who had threatened her five years ago, telling her that Damien would lose everything if she stayed, was now suddenly ready to accept her? It didn’t sit right. But she couldn’t bring herself to tell Damien the truth—not yet. Now that she had become a mother, she understood the bond between a mother and her child. She didn’t want to drive a wedge between Damien and Liana.

She turned to look at him, her expression guarded. "She wasn’t mad at you ?"

Damien met her eyes, a flicker of uncertainty flashing across his face before he nodded. "My father... he’s still coming to terms with it, but my mother seems to have understood the importance of family. Of Ryan."

Annie forced a tight smile, her heart heavy with doubts she couldn’t voice. She simply nodded, letting him believe that everything was okay, even though her instincts screamed otherwise.

A knock at the door interrupted the silence. Damien rose to his feet, pulling the door open to reveal two omegas, both carrying trays laden with steaming food. They stepped inside, bowing their heads slightly in respect as they placed the trays on the table.

The scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and warm stew filled the room, and Ryan immediately perked up, his attention drawn from his cartoon boat adventure. "Food!" he squealed, bouncing over to the table.

One of the omegas, a young woman with short brown hair, smiled brightly at Ryan. "He’s adorable," she gushed, her voice sweet and light. She knelt down to his level, playfully ruffling his hair. "What a handsome little boy."

The other omega, a young man with sandy blond hair, chuckled, nodding in agreement. "He’s going to grow up to be just like his dad, I bet. Look at those eyes. He’s a perfect little prince."

"I am not a prince; I am Ryan." The boy said.

"Awww, he is so cute." The female omega gushed.

They both bowed towards Annie again and said.

"You are blessed to have such a wonderful son. Madam Luna, if you need any help, please call us."

Annie was a little overwhelmed by the attention but grateful for the kind words.

"What are your names ?"

"I am Eliza." The girl looked around 20 and had perfect mocha skin and dark hair.

"And I am Sam," the young man who looked around 30 said.

"Nice to meet you both." Annie said polietly.

The omegas both smiled warmly at Annie, though there was a subtle curiosity in their gazes. They knew who she was, or at least they had heard the whispers. The rogue who had returned with the Alpha prince’s heir.

Damien gently dismissed the omegas. "Thank you, both. That’ll be all."

They bowed respectfully before exiting, the door clicking shut behind them. The room was quiet once again, save for the sound of Ryan happily munching on a piece of bread.

"Tomorrow I will introduce you both to the pack. They are eager to meet you," Damien said, a hint of pride in his voice. Annie nodded.

Damien watched his son eat; there was a reason why he had not informed anyone in the pack about his mate and child. He wanted to find out who had ordered the attack on Annie. Seeing his parents’s reaction, he was sure it wasn’t them. And even though his parents were ambitious, they would never harm their own blood. He had keenly observed the guests when he had arrived. He wanted to send a message to the attacker that he was onto them, but he needed to gather more information first. He chewed on a piece of steak while mentally making a list of potential threats.