The lost mate
Chapter 68: Accused

Chapter 68: Accused

Alpha Jackson sighed as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. "I never wanted it to come to this, but since you’re insisting, Damien, there’s no choice but to reveal the truth. I was trying to protect you from heartbreak."

Damien’s eyes narrowed. "What truth, Jackson?"

Jackson straightened up, clearly relishing the moment of revelation. "After that... incident, I ran my own investigation. I had to find out who was behind it. It wasn’t a simple mistake." He leant forward, lowering his voice like he was about to spill a scandalous secret. "I found out it was Trent Ray. One of the omegas, working as a bartender at the time, who had drugged your drink."

Damien stiffened, his eyes flashing. "Trent Ray?"

Jackson nodded. "Yes. And here’s where it gets tricky." He turned to Annie, raising an eyebrow. "Weren’t you friends with Trent? I recall seeing you two talking quite often."

Annie blinked, startled by the sudden accusation. "I... yeah, we were on good terms. But we weren’t close friends or anything. He was always kind to me, but that’s it."

Jackson clicked his tongue, his voice filled with mock pity. "Of course he was kind to you. Because he admitted that you, Annie, were the one who gave him the aphrodisiac to drug Damien."

"What?" She shook her head in disbelief, her voice trembling. "No. No, that’s not true. I never did that!" She looked to Damien, her eyes pleading. "He’s lying, Damien. I didn’t do that."

Damien’s expression was unreadable, his jaw clenched as he kept his gaze locked on Jackson.

Annie’s breath came in shallow gasps, her mind racing. "This is a lie. I don’t even know where to get something like that, let alone use it on someone! Damien, you have to believe me."

Damien remained silent, his face still as stone. Annie’s heart ached as she waited, terrified of what he might say.

"Why didn’t you say so earlier ?"

Jackson raised an eyebrow. "I thought the situation was handled. Annie disappeared—what was there to investigate further? But now, with her back, I thought it was important for you to know the full story. But since she is anyway your mate. I guess you will forgive her little mistake, right ?"

Damien’s eyes narrowed. "Where is Trent now? I’d like to interrogate him myself."

Jackson leant back in his chair, folding his arms casually as if he had been expecting the question. "That won’t be possible, Damien. Trent died two years ago in a rogue attack."

Annie gasped, her hands instinctively covering her mouth. "He’s dead?" She turned to Damien, her voice trembling with urgency. "Damien, I swear to you—I didn’t drug you! I would never do such a thing."

Damien’s gaze softened just slightly as he glanced at her, but before he could respond, Jackson cut in with a smirk that made Annie’s blood boil.

"Annie, let’s not act like you’re incapable of this. After all, you managed to sneak into the Alpha’s party by concealing your scent with a potion, didn’t you? What stopped you from getting your hands on an aphrodisiac?"

Annie was speechless; her breath caught in her throat. The accusation was so ludicrous, so absurd, and yet Jackson’s words dripped with a confidence that made her feel cornered. She looked to Damien, her eyes pleading. "Please, Damien. You have to believe me. I didn’t—"

Damien raised a hand, cutting her off gently. "Alright," he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge.

"Alpha Jackson, when I came looking for Annie, why did you lie to me ?"

Jackson frowned.

"You told me that Annie had found her mate, and she left with him. You lied to me, didn’t you ? Why ?"

Alpha Jackson’s smooth exterior cracked for just a moment as Damien’s words hung in the air. He shifted in his seat.

"I didn’t lie," Jackson said, the smile on his face fading, replaced by a more serious, calculating look. "I withheld information to protect my pack and, to some extent, you."

"Protect me?" Damien’s voice was low, simmering with controlled anger. "You think lying to me about my mate protected me?"

Jackson sighed dramatically.

"Damien, you were spiralling after what happened. Someone drugging you like that. You were vulnerable. When Annie disappeared, I thought it was best to tell you that she found her mate and left. It made sense for everyone involved."

Annie’s chest tightened. Would he choose to believe Jackson’s twisted version of the past?

"You thought lying to me was what was best for everyone involved?" Damien stood up suddenly, causing Annie to flinch.

Jackson held up his hands in mock surrender. "Annie disappeared. I figured she was gone for good. I gave you a reason, one that would allow you to move on without digging deeper into something that could hurt you more. Besides," he added, smirking again, "she did run away. If she hadn’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation."

Annie clenched her fists, unable to stay silent any longer. She could feel tears prickling the back of her eyes, but she refused to cry. Not here. Not in front of Jackson.

"Stop Lying ! Annie snapped, her voice shaking with anger. "You tried to get rid of me so that Jessica could become Damien’s mate !"

Jackson’s smirk faltered for a brief second, but he quickly masked it with feigned indifference.

He chuckled darkly. "Don’t flatter yourself, Annie. You were never a threat to Jessica. I did want Damian and Jessica to get married, but who am I to fight fate? It was all a big misunderstanding. So why don’t we get over it ?"

Damien’s jaw tightened. "Enough." He looked down at Annie, then back at Jackson. "I’m not here to debate ancient history. We’ll deal with that later. The reason I’m here now is because of Aaron and Nicky."

Jackson raised an eyebrow, his demeanour shifting to curiosity. "What about them?"

"They were demoted to omegas," Damien said, his voice flat. "I want you to restore their ranks."

Jackson’s expression didn’t change, though his eyes narrowed slightly. "And why should I do that?"

"Because I’m asking you to," Damien replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And because everything that’s happened to them was because of the mess you created."

Jackson chuckled, leaning back in his chair again. "Fine. I can restore their ranks. If everything’s settled now, I see no reason why they shouldn’t return to their rightful positions."

Annie, who had been silent for the last few moments, finally spoke. "I’d like to see them. Aaron and Nicky."

Jackson tilted his head, smiling faintly. "Of course. Should I summon them here?"

Annie shook her head quickly. "No, I want to see them where they are."

Jackson’s smile turned a little colder. He waved his hand dismissively. "As you wish. Aaron’s probably chopping wood in the timber yard, and Nicky... well, she’s working as a maid."

Annie’s stomach twisted. "A maid?"

Jackson shrugged. "A job is a job. Not everyone can live in luxury."

Annie felt the urge to lash out, but she forced herself to remain calm. Turning to Damien, she gave him a small nod before heading for the door. Damien remained seated as he wanted to discuss more with Jackson.

"Do you really think you can lead the pack with her at your side? The other Alphas will never accept it. You’ll be seen as weak." Jackson said casually.

Damien’s eyes blazed. "That’s none of your business."

Jackson shrugged. "Suit yourself. Someday she might even accuse your parents of conspiring against you. Whose side will you take, my Alpha prince ?"