The lost mate
Chapter 81: Untold stories 2

Chapter 81: Untold stories 2

Anne blinked, taken aback. "You were born in Alaska?" She repeated the question, almost in disbelief. "But I thought you were raised with the pack here."

Damien chuckled softly at her surprise, his amber eyes twinkling with amusement. "Technically, I was raised in the pack, but I was born in the wilds. My parents stayed in Alaska until after I was born. They thought the solitude would help them—give them a fresh start, away from the politics and the expectations of the Montefort name. They found peace there, at least for a little while."

Anne stared at him, trying to picture Damien’s parents, the Alpha King and Queen, out in the rugged wilderness of Alaska. It was a strange image—a royal family living far away from the luxuries and power they commanded. "So... you were born away from the pack, in some remote place?"

"Yep," Damien said, his tone casual, though Anne could sense the pride behind his words. "My parents said it was a peaceful time for them. They didn’t have to worry about the responsibilities of being the Alpha King and Queen. They were just... trying to start a family."

Anne’s eyes softened as she listened, imagining the quiet life they must have had before returning to their world of power and politics. "That must’ve been nice for them. A chance to live a normal life, if only for a little while."

Damien nodded. "It was. My mother told me once that those two years were the only time she ever truly felt free. Away from the council, the pack, the pressures. Just her, my father, and eventually, me."

Damien smiled.

"We came back to the pack not long after I was born. I don’t remember much of it."

"And your mother? What was she like before she became Luna?"

"She was fierce. Ambitious. She became the real force behind the throne. My father handled the politics, but it was my mother who made the pack what it is today—strong, feared. They worked out well together."

Anne lay silently in Damien’s arms, her mind whirling with thoughts of everything he had shared. His family’s historian. It was all fascinating. But something gnawed at her—a lingering feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Damien had told her so much, yet there was still a sense of mystery surrounding his father, Alpha Richard.

She shifted slightly, glancing up at Damien’s face. "Damien," she began, her voice soft but probing, "what really happened to your father? Was he always like this?"

Damien frowned slightly.

"What do you mean like this ?"

Anne hesiated. " I didn’t mean to offend you. I mean, he is not like other Alphas. You mother is more...active."

He turned his gaze to the ceiling, exhaling a quiet breath.

"He wasn’t always like this. My father was one of the strongest wolves our pack had ever seen. He ruled with an iron fist, and there was no one who could challenge his strength. He was... unstoppable."

Anne raised her eyebrows, her curiosity deepening. "So what happened to him?"

Damien’s jaw tightened as he hesitated for a moment, as if choosing how much to reveal. "It happened while my parents were away from the pack. They were attacked by rogues. My father was wounded during the fight."

Anne sat up slightly, resting on her elbow as she watched Damien’s expression carefully. "Wounded? How bad was it?"

Damien’s eyes darkened as he recalled the event. "It was bad. They nearly killed him. He fought hard, but the injuries were... severe. The healers tried everything, but they said the damage to his wolf was permanent. He never fully recovered."

Anne felt her heart ache for Damien. She couldn’t imagine what it must’ve been like to witness such a strong figure—his father, an Alpha King—reduced to a shell of his former self. "That’s awful," she whispered. "I’m so sorry."

"It’s ok, it happened when I was still a baby. I don’t remember anything. After the attack, my father tried to continue leading the pack, but over time, his strength faded. My mother had to step in. She took over managing most of the responsibilities while he recovered."

Anne’s brows furrowed, sensing something odd. Wolves didn’t just lose their strength after being wounded—especially not an Alpha King like Richard. She couldn’t help but recall the rumours she had heard. "Damien," she said cautiously, "do you think there’s more to it? I mean, wolves don’t usually lose their power after an injury. Could something else have happened?"

Damien’s face hardened, the question striking a nerve. "I’ve wondered that myself," he admitted. "But no one dares question it. My mother has always been adamant that my father’s condition is the result of that attack. I trust her."

"Damien," Anne said carefully, "what if it’s not just the injury? What if something else caused this? Something... darker?"

Damien’s gaze narrowed, his body tensing besides her. "What are you saying, Anne?"

"I’m saying," she replied, "that a wolf becomes weak for two reasons: if he’s been poisoned, or if he’s lost his mate. Are you sure that your father’s condition is just from the rogue attack?"

Damien’s eyes glowed with repressed anger.

"No, there is notning like that. My mother is his mate, who is very much alive, and who would poison without getting detected ? Are you implying that my mother poisoned my father ?"

Anne’s breath hitched as she saw the flash of anger in Damien’s glowing eyes.

She quickly shook her head. "No, Damien, I’m not implying that. That’s not what I meant at all."

But Damien wasn’t calm so easily. His brow furrowed, and the hurt was evident in his voice. "Then what are you saying? That my father’s decline is more than just the injury? That someone else might have been behind it?" His voice grew colder, controlled but with an edge of suspicion. "You’ve heard the rumours, haven’t you?"

Anne hesitated. She had heard whispers among the pack and rumours about Alpha Richard’s weakened state and about how Liana was the real boss.

"I have," she admitted cautiously, not wanting to stir the flames of his anger. "But Damien, that’s all they are—rumours. I’m just trying to understand what really happened. I care about you, and I care about your family. If there’s something more going on, shouldn’t we want to know?"

"My family’s been through enough without dragging up old wounds. My mother... she’s done everything for this pack. I don’t want to doubt her."

Anne nodded, understanding the conflict he must be feeling. Liana had taken on so much after Richard’s decline, but the more Anne learned, the more the pieces didn’t seem to fit. If Alpha Richard had been one of the strongest wolves, how could he have deteriorated so completely? And if it wasn’t poison, then what could have caused such a drastic fall?

"What if it’s not about doubting her, Damien?" Anne offered gently. "What if it’s about finding the truth? Something is wrong here, and even if it’s not what we think, don’t you owe it to your father to find out?"

"My father’s been like this for years. If there was anything strange, wouldn’t we have noticed by now?"

Anne considered this, her mind racing through what little information she had. The pieces weren’t clear yet, but there was one thing she couldn’t shake: she would have to investigate herself without raising suspicion.

"You are right ! I am sorry, I was out of line."

"It’s ok, Anne."

As Damien pulled her closer, Anne rested her head against his chest, her mind still spinning with the possibilities. There was something mysterious in the shadows of Damien’s past.