The lost mate
Chapter 57: Meeting the grandparents

Chapter 57: Meeting the grandparents

The morning sun filtered through the large windows of Damien’s suite, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. Annie stretched her stiff limbs, trying to shake off the remnants of an uneasy sleep. Ryan was still curled up besides her, his small body rising and falling with each peaceful breath.

Just as she started to relax, there was a firm knock on the door. Annie blinked in surprise and hurried to answer it, her heart pounding slightly. Standing at the threshold were two young women, dressed in neat uniforms. They both gave Annie polite smiles, though their presence felt somewhat formal.

"Good morning," one of them said, her voice chipper yet controlled. "We’ve been sent to assist you with getting dressed and to help take care of young Master Ryan."

Annie stared at them, bewildered. "Help me get dressed? Look after Ryan?" she repeated, glancing back at the room, where Ryan was still tucked in bed, oblivious to the intrusion. "I don’t need help with that."

The two omegas exchanged quick glances, but their smiles didn’t waver. "It’s customary for the Luna-to-be to receive assistance from the omegas, Ms. Annie. And we’re here to help however you see fit."

Annie frowned, feeling a surge of discomfort at the thought of someone else dressing her or, even worse, handling Ryan like he was a task that needed managing. "I appreciate the offer, but I’m perfectly capable of taking care of Ryan and myself," she said, her voice firm yet polite.

The two omegas hesitated but nodded, stepping back respectfully. "Of course. We’ll be right outside if you need anything," the other one said, before they quietly exited.

She turned back towards Ryan, her mind racing. This was going to be more difficult than she had imagined. She wasn’t sure how she would fit into it all.

Shaking off the thoughts, Annie gently woke Ryan and began getting him dressed. She couldn’t afford to dwell on her discomfort right now, not with Liana and Richard arriving soon. Her nerves tightened at the thought of facing them again, especially Liana.

As she was tying Ryan’s shoelaces, another knock echoed through the suite, louder and more authoritative than before. Annie stiffened. This time, it wasn’t the omegas.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, revealing Liana and Richard standing side by side. They looked every inch at the regal Alpha couple.

.

Liana’s gaze swept over Annie, lingering for a moment before softening as it landed on Ryan. Her smile widened, though there was something calculating in the way her eyes sparkled. "Good morning, Annie," she greeted with a smooth tone. "We’ve come to meet our grandson."

Annie immediately felt the tension coil in her chest, and without thinking, she pulled Ryan closer to her, her protective instincts flaring. She could feel Ryan’s small hand clutching hers tightly, sensing her unease.

Richard nodded curtly, though his attention was more on Liana than on Annie or Ryan. It was clear who would be leading this interaction.

Liana took a step forward, her smile never faltering. She crouched slightly to Ryan’s level, her voice shifting to something far more gentle. "Hello, Ryan," she said softly, her tone dripping with warmth. "I’m your grandmother. Do you remember me from yesterday?"

Ryan blinked up at her, his little face scrunched with uncertainty. He glanced at Annie, clearly unsure of how to respond.

Annie bit her lip but didn’t interfere, watching carefully as Ryan hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Yes," he whispered shyly, staying close to his mother.

Liana’s smile deepened, and she slowly reached out, her hand hovering before gently brushing Ryan’s hair. "You’re such a handsome boy, just like your father." She let out a soft laugh, almost as if she were talking to herself. "I can already tell you’ll be a great Alpha someday."

Ryan didn’t say anything, but his posture slowly relaxed as Liana’s tone remained kind. Eventually, he shifted closer to her, his initial fear melting into mild curiosity. Liana continued to talk to him, asking simple questions about his favourite games and toys, all the while keeping her tone light and soothing.

Annie stood by, watching the exchange warily. She could feel the cold distance between her and Liana, even though the older woman’s interactions with Ryan seemed genuine. There was a polite smile on her face whenever she looked Annie’s way, but it never reached her eyes.

Once Ryan seemed comfortable enough, Liana straightened, her full attention now shifting to Annie. Her expression was still polite, but the coolness in her gaze made Annie’s skin prickle.

"As the future Luna, Annie," Liana began, her voice smooth and authoritative, "you will need to learn the ways of the pack. There are customs, responsibilities, and traditions that you’ll be expected to uphold."

Annie stiffened slightly at Liana’s words.

So instead, she gave a simple nod. "I understand."

Liana’s smile barely twitched, but there was a hint of approval in her eyes. "Good. We’ll begin soon." Then, her focus shifted back to Ryan, and her demeanour instantly softened again.

"Take care of yourself, Annie," Liana said, her tone formal but almost patronising. "And remember, the pack watches everything. Being a Luna requires more than just bearing an heir."

With that, she turned to Richard, signalling that it was time to leave. Richard gave a brief nod before the two of them left the suite, leaving Annie standing in the quiet room, holding Ryan tightly.

"Mum, she is scary." Ryan mumbled Annie chuckled softly, ruffling Ryan’s hair. "I know, I am scared as well."

"Who is scared ?" Damien’s voice broke the moment, causing Annie to turn and see him standing in the doorway. She then realised he had been missing since morning.

"Just a silly joke," she replied with a smile.

Damien’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing that there was more to the situation than she was letting on.

"I heard mum and dad visited you."

Annie’s smile faltered as she nodded.

"Yes, they did. It was... interesting," she replied cautiously.

"Cool, so lets meet the pack now." Damien said while picking up Ryan in his arms.

"Dad, can I have ice cream ?" Ryan asked, and Damein laughed .

"Ice cream for breakfast? Not a bad idea. Let’s grab some." The father and son walked ahead, making Annie feel like a third wheel again.