The lost mate
Chapter 69: Meeting old friends

Chapter 69: Meeting old friends

Anne reached the timber yard, and as soon as she spotted Aaron, she broke into a run, rushing towards him with her heart in her throat. 1

"Aaron!" she called out, her voice breaking as she reached him.

Aaron turned, his face a mix of shock and disbelief as she threw her arms around him. "Anne?" His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn’t used it in ages.

She pulled back, her hands gripping his arms as she looked up at him. "I’m here. I’m back. Everything’s going to be okay."

Aaron blinked, still trying to process it. "How... How are you here? What’s going on?"

Anne shook her head, not wanting to explain everything just yet. "I’ll tell you later. But right now, I need to see Nicky. Where is she?"

Aaron looked hesitant but nodded, leading her to where Nicky was working. As soon as Anne saw her friend, dressed in a simple maid’s uniform and scrubbing the floor, she felt her heart break all over again. She rushed towards her, kneeling besides her.

"Nicky," Anne whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "It’s me."

Nicky looked up, her face pale and tired, but when she saw Anne, her eyes filled with tears. "Anne? I thought I’d never see you again."

Anne pulled her into a tight embrace. "I’m so sorry. For everything. But I’m back now, and I won’t let this happen to you again."

Nicky’s voice was shaky. "I... I didn’t think you’d come back. I thought we’d be stuck like this forever."

As Anne held Nicky close, she felt the weight of her friend’s sobs echoing in her own heart. Aaron stood besides them, his arms wrapped around both women. They clung to each other, the emotional wall between them crumbling after years of separation.

"I missed you so much," Nicky sobbed, clutching Anne tighter. "Every day, I prayed that you were still out there somewhere."

Aaron, his voice thick with emotion, added, "We never thought we’d see you again. It was like losing a part of ourselves when you left, Anne."

Anne blinked back tears, squeezing them both.

"I missed you too. You have no idea how much I missed you both."

Nicky finally pulled back, her tear-streaked face filled with worry. "But where were you, Anne? All this time, where did you go?"

"I... I was in Alaska," Anne began, her voice quiet but steady. "Hiding. Among humans. I had no choice. I needed to protect someone—my son."

Nicky gasped, her eyes widening. "Your son? You have a child?"

Anne nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Yes. His name is Ryan. He’s Damien’s son."

Aaron’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Damien’s? But... how?"

Anne sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Damien is my mate. After he claimed me. I couldn’t stay here, not with everything that was happening. I had to protect him. So I ran."

Nicky’s eyes softened with understanding. "That’s why you disappeared so suddenly. Everyone was told that you had died. Jackson spread the news, and soon after, it was as if you had never existed."

Aaron nodded grimly. "You’re going to spoil a lot of plans, Anne. People think you’re gone for good. Luna Liana... She’s not going to take this well."

Anne’s stomach twisted at the mention of Liana. "I know he hates me."

Nicky bit her lip nervously. "She’s the one who instructed Jackson to imprison you. From what I’ve heard, she didn’t want you back. She’s been keeping a close eye on everything that happens in the pack, and now that you’ve returned... well, let’s just say you’re a threat to her plans."

Anne wasn’t entirely surprised. She had always sensed that Liana was more involved in pack politics than she let on.

"I had a hunch," Anne admitted, her gaze darkening. "But I can’t tell Damien about this without proof. I cannot accuse his mother.."

Aaron exchanged a glance with Nicky before speaking again. "There’s more, Anne. Jackson, he’s got something on Luna Liana. A secret. And he’s been using it to blackmail her."

Anne’s heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. "A secret? What kind of secret?"

Nicky shook her head, her expression troubled. "We don’t know the details. But it’s something big, something that would ruin her if it ever got out. That’s why she’s been forced to go along with his plans. Including pushing Jessica’s engagement to Damien."

"What could he possibly have on her?" Anne murmured, more to herself than to Aaron or Nicky.

Aaron crossed his arms, his face set in a grim expression. "We’ve been trying to figure that out, but Jackson’s kept it close to his chest. All we know is that he’s been using it to manipulate her, and that’s why the engagement between Damien and Jessica happened."

"I have to find out what it is," Anne said, her voice filled with determination. "If I can expose this secret, I might be able to stop him. But I need your help. Both of you."

Nicky nodded immediately. "Of course, Anne. We’ll help in any way we can."

Anne felt a surge of gratitude wash over her as she looked at her two oldest friends, the ones who had stood by her even after all this time. She had been gone for so long, but they had never given up on her.

"Alpha Jackson is going to restore your positions. You and Aaron—things are going to get better."

"Oh Anne ! Thank you," Nicky said with tears in her eyes. Anne smiled, feeling hopeful for the first time in years.

This time, she wasn’t going to run. She was going to fight.

******************************************

Anne was returning with Damien. She kept stealing glances at Damien, his face set in a stony expression. Finally, unable to take the silence anymore, she spoke.

"Do you believe him?" she asked, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. "Do you really think I drugged you?"

Damien didn’t look at her immediately, his hands gripping the steering wheel just a little too tight. His eyes stayed focused on the road ahead. His jaw clenched before he finally answered.

"It doesn’t matter," he said quietly. "You’re my mate."

Anne blinked, confused by the simplicity of his response. "What do you mean it doesn’t matter? Of course it matters. Jackson just accused me of something terrible—"

Damien’s gaze flicked to her then, his eyes dark and intense. "I said it doesn’t matter."

"But Damien—"

"I don’t care what Jackson says," he cut her off, his voice firm and final. "You’re my mate, Anne. That’s all that matters to me."

His words should have comforted her, but instead, they left a heavy, uncertain feeling in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t an answer. He hadn’t said he believed her, nor had he said he didn’t. He had simply dismissed the entire accusation as irrelevant, but it wasn’t irrelevant. Not to her.

She bit her lip, her mind racing. "So you don’t believe me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Damien let out a frustrated breath, his fingers loosening on the wheel for a moment. "Anne, it’s not about belief. It’s about the fact that you’re my mate. The past—what happened or didn’t happen—that’s behind us. I’m not going to let anyone come between us. Not Jackson, not anyone."

Anne turned to look out the window, her heart heavy. She wasn’t sure if she should feel relieved or worried.