The lost mate
Chapter 76: A Celebration of Control

Chapter 76: A Celebration of Control

The dining hall of the grand mansion glowed warmly with the evening lights. Anne sat quietly at the table, her fingers wrapped around the stem of her wine glass. Across from her, Liana spoke animatedly, gesturing with her perfectly manicured hands as she discussed pack matters. Ryan was gulping down a huge piece of steak; he was truly a wolf !

Damien sat besides Anne, talking with his mother. And then there was Alpha Richard—sitting at the head of the table, barely contributing to the conversation.

Anne often wondered: Alphas were supposed to be the rulers of their packs—strong, dominant, feared, and respected. Richard was nothing like that. It was Liana who was running the show. She wondered why he seemed so submissive.

Rumours had circulated for years. Richard had been seriously wounded in a rogue attack, but no one knew the details. Since then, it seemed Liana had taken over his responsibilities. Still, Anne had expected more strength from the Alpha King.

"Isn’t that right, Anne?" Liana’s voice broke through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. Liana’s dark eyes were trained on her, a smile tugging at her lips—pleasant but dripping with condescension.

Anne blinked, swallowing the bitterness rising in her throat. "I’m sorry, what were you saying?"

Liana’s smile didn’t waver. "I was just saying how lovely it is to have a little family celebration for Ryan’s first day. It’s important for him to feel welcome, isn’t it? So, I thought it would be good to keep things intimate."

Intimate? Anne’s eyes flicked to Jessica, seated further down the table. The woman was dressed to perfection, her blonde hair swept into a chic updo, her smile bright and knowing. Jessica had no business being here, especially not tonight. It was a family dinner. Anne’s jaw clenched, but she said nothing.

Liana caught the glance and leant back in her chair, her eyes gleaming with something that resembled satisfaction. "Jessica’s been such a wonderful help to me over the years. She’s practically family now." Her voice was sugarcoated, but Anne heard the underlying edge. "And, Anne, now that you’ll have some free time, I expect you to start taking a more active role in managing the pack. You’ll need guidance, of course, and I can’t think of anyone better to help you than Jessica."

Anne forced a tight smile. "Guidance?"

Liana nodded, as though this was a perfectly natural conversation. "Yes. Managing a pack isn’t easy. You’ll need to learn how to handle the members, the politics, and the business side of things. Jessicaa has been invaluable to me over the years. You’d be wise to follow her lead."

Anne’s grip on her wine glass tightened. The last thing she needed was Jessica, of all people, guiding her on how to manage anything. The woman had wormed her way into pack politics, into Liana’s favour.

She glanced at Damien, but his expression remained unreadable, eyes fixed on his plate as though the conversation held no significance to him. She couldn’t tell if he agreed with Liana or was just trying to keep the peace. Either way, Anne felt a surge of irritation—first at Jessica for being here and then at Damien for not speaking up.

"I’ll manage just fine, thank you," Anne said, keeping her voice even though she could feel the heat rising inside her. "I’m sure I’ll figure things out."

Liana’s smile never faltered. "Of course you will, dear. But Jessica will be there just in case."

Anne’s wolf stirred at the challenge beneath Liana’s words, but she pushed it down.

Across the table, Richard stirred but said nothing. The rumours about his injury nag at her. How serious had it been? Serious enough for him to give up control?

Anne wondered if it was Richard’s weakness that had allowed Liana to grow so powerful.

"I’ll do what’s necessary," Anne said.

Liana’s eyes sparkled, but she didn’t press the issue further. Instead, she turned her attention back to Jessica, engaging her in light conversation, leaving Anne to stew in her frustration.

Just as Anne reached for her glass of wine, her phone vibrated against the table. Frowning, she glanced down at the screen. Emily.

Emily rarely called her during the evenings unless it was something serious. Without hesitation, Anne picked up the phone.

"Excuse me for a moment," she said, her voice tight but polite. "I need to take this. Some of my friends need me."

Damien’s eyes immediately snapped towards her. Anne took the call, and her face became serious.

"What’s wrong?" Damien asked.

"She didn’t say much, but it sounded like there’s some kind of emergency. I need to check on them."

Liana’s eyes narrowed in interest, her wine glass poised mid-air. "Who’s Emily?"

Damien shot a quick glance at Anne before turning back to Liana. "They’re the humans Anne has been living with. Heather and her daughter, Emily."

The room seemed to shift. Liana placed her glass down slowly, her gaze sharpening as if she were assessing a threat. "Humans? You brought humans here without informing me?"

"I didn’t think it was necessary," Damien replied carefully, though Anne could sense the tension in his voice. "They’re under our protection."

Liana’s expression darkened. "Protection is one thing, but bringing them here, to the heart of our world, without my knowledge? That’s not just an oversight, Damien. It’s a breach of trust."

Anne shifted impatiently; she didn’t have time for whatever political battle was about to brew between Damien and Liana. "I have to go," she said.

Damien immediately turned towards her, concern etched into every line of his face. "I’ll come with you."

"You realise the risks of involving humans in our world, don’t you, Anne? If something goes wrong, it’s not just your secret on the line—it’s the entire pack’s."

Anne’s temper flared. She didn’t need Liana lecturing her about risks, not when her friends were in danger. "I know what’s at stake. They are both safe. I have lived with them for years."

Liana’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she said no more. It was clear she wasn’t pleased with the situation, but there wasn’t much she could do about it now.

"Well, if it’s that important, you must see your friends. I will take care of Ryan; don’t worry." Liana offered.

Anne hesitated for a moment before nodding, grateful for Liana’s understanding. She knew she could trust her to keep Ryan safe while she went to check on her friends.