The lost mate
Chapter 97: A Brewing Storm

Chapter 97: A Brewing Storm

After the initial warmth of the reunion, the air had turned tense as Anne noticed the change in Aaron and Nicky’s demeanour. They exchanged wary glances.

Anne sensed something was wrong. She could feel the unspoken weight hanging between them, the tension thrumming just beneath the surface. Finally, Aaron took a deep breath, his eyes locking with hers.

"Anne," he began, his voice steady but carrying an edge of urgency. "There’s something we need to tell you."

Nicky shifted nervously besides him, her hands twisting in front of her as she glanced at her brother before looking at Anne with concern.

"It’s about Alpha Jackson."

"He’s furious," Nicky added, her voice quieter but filled with emotion. "He’s angry with us and with you."

Anne’s brow furrowed as she studied the two of them. "Thats obvious."

Aaron exhaled slowly, his hands flexing as if trying to release the tension building inside him. "Jackson wanted us to join your pack, Anne. But not as allies—not out of loyalty. He wanted us to be his spies."

"Spies?" Damien interrupted, his brows furrowed.

Nicky nodded, her eyes filled with frustration. "He told us that if we agreed to spy on you and Damien to gather information about your pack’s movements and weaknesses, then he’d keep us safe. But... we couldn’t do that, Anne. We would never do that to you."

Aaron’s voice hardened. "When we refused, he threw us out. We were no longer welcome in his territory. As far as he’s concerned, we’re traitors now, aligned with your pack whether we like it or not."

"What else?" Damien asked, knowing there was more.

Aaron’s expression darkened. "Jackson isn’t letting this go. He’s preparing for war, Anne. He’s been gathering allies—other packs who have grievances against Damien, packs that have been waiting for an opportunity to strike."

"How many allies?" Damien asked.

"We don’t know the exact number," Nicky replied. "But enough to be a serious threat. He’s been making promises—power, territory—anything to get them on his side. And some of the packs he’s reached out to... they’re dangerous."

Anne’s heart raced, but she fought to keep her emotions in check. If Jackson was building a coalition of enemies, Damien’s pack could be facing a full-scale assault. And with Nicky and Aaron now marked as traitors by Jackson, their lives were in just as much danger.

"We had to come here, Anne," Nicky said, her voice breaking slightly. "We had nowhere else to go. But we also couldn’t stay silent. Jackson is coming for you. For all of us."

This wasn’t just a personal vendetta anymore—this was war.

Anne swallowed hard, her mind racing through the possibilities. Jackson wouldn’t attack without a plan. He would want to catch them off guard, to hit hard and fast. But they wouldn’t be unprepared. Not this time.

"You did the right thing by telling me," Anne said, her voice firm, though inside, her heart was pounding. "We’ll deal with Jackson. Damien and I—we’ll protect our pack."

Aaron gave a small nod, his expression still tight with concern. "We’re with you, Anne. Whatever happens, we’ll stand by you."

Anne looked between the two of them, her chest tightening with a mixture of pride and gratitude. Despite the danger, despite the uncertainty of what lay ahead, they had chosen loyalty. They had chosen family.

"Thank you," she said softly, her eyes shining with emotion. "I won’t let Jackson tear us apart. Not now, not ever."

"I must talk to my dad about it." Damien said and left the room.

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

Damien reached the large wooden door leading to his parents’ private study and knocked firmly. After a moment, he heard his father’s voice.

"Come in."

He opened the door to find both his parents seated by the fireplace. They looked up as Damien entered, their expressions shifting from mild curiosity to concern as they took in the seriousness in his eyes.

"Damien," Richard said, closing the book and setting it aside. "What’s on your mind?"

Damien crossed the room and stood before them, his shoulders tense. "We have a problem," he began, not wasting any time. "It’s Alpha Jackson."

Richard’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Liana paused in her stitching, her gaze locking onto her son.

"What has Jackson done now?" Richard asked, his voice steady but with an undertone of frustration.

Damien took a deep breath and explained everything—how Jackson had tried to recruit Aaron and Nicky as spies to infiltrate their pack, how they had refused and been cast out, and how Jackson was now gathering allies for an all-out assault. As he spoke, he saw the growing tension in his father’s posture and the concern deepening in his mother’s eyes.

When he finished, the room was silent for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over them.

Richard was the first to speak. "So Jackson is finally moving against us," he said, his voice low and thoughtful. "I’ve been expecting this for a while, but it seems he’s more desperate than I thought."

"He’s not acting out of desperation," Liana said softly, her eyes flickering with a rare sharpness. "He’s trying to seize an opportunity. He sees an opening, and he’s going for it."

Damien nodded. "Exactly. He thinks we’re vulnerable."

"Aaron and Nicky have always been loyal. They deserve our protection." Richanrd said.

Damien felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had known his parents would agree, but hearing their commitment aloud brought a level of comfort he hadn’t realised he needed.

"But we can’t just sit and wait for Jackson to make his move," Richard continued, his voice turning more serious. "We need to prepare. Strengthen our defences. Call a council meeting and let the pack know what’s coming."

"I’ll take care of it," Damien said, his resolve clear.

"It’s been tense for far too long. We need to remind the pack that we’re strong and united. What about a barbeque?" Liana suggested.

Damien raised an eyebrow, slightly caught off guard by the suggestion. "A barbeque?"

"Yes, a barbeque," Liana repeated, her voice warm and steady. "It’s been gloomy around here for weeks. We need to bring the pack together to celebrate our bond as a family. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant—just something to remind everyone of the strength we share."

Richard smiled slightly, nodding in agreement. "It’s not a bad idea," he said. "A show of unity before the storm hits."

"All right," Damien said. "We’ll hold the barbeque."

Liana smiled at her son, clearly pleased with his agreement. "We’ll make the preparations," she said, already thinking of the details. "And Damien," she added, "why don’t you invite Anne’s human friends as well?"

Damien blinked, surprised. "Her human friends? Do you think that’s wise?"

Liana nodded. "Yes. Anne is part of this pack now, and her friends are part of her life. It’ll show Anne that we accept every part of her world. It’s important."

Damien thought about it. Liana was right.

"Okay," Damien said with a nod. "I’ll talk to Anne and let her know. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it."

Liana’s face softened into a smile, the tension in the room easing slightly. "Good," she said. "This is exactly what we need—a show of strength, unity, and family."

With that settled, Damien made his way to find Anne and discuss the plan with her.