The lost mate
Chapter 99: Revelations

Chapter 99: Revelations

Damien’s gaze finally met hers. He shifted uncomfortably, like he was trying to find the right words but struggling to get them out. "It’s about everything that happened with Detective Fred, Heather, and how we got everything cleared up."

Anne frowned, confused. "What do you mean? I thought we were lucky that Fred dropped the charges and helped clear Heather’s name."

Damien’s jaw tightened, and he looked away for a moment, staring at the floor. "It wasn’t just luck. I... I asked Fred to lie. I used my position as the future Alpha to... influence him. He’s a werewolf, Anne, and he’s bound to follow Alpha commands. I told him to fake the evidence and arrest Heather so that you would agree to come with me."

Anne’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, her mind reeling as the weight of his words sank in. "Wait, you manipulated the whole thing? You made Fred lie about the investigation?"

Damien nodded slowly, his eyes filled with guilt. "I did it to protect you. To protect us. I was desperate to get you back."

Anne sat back, her heart racing, trying to process what he had just confessed. "But... you didn’t tell me. You kept this from me."

"I know," Damien said, his voice pained. "I didn’t want you to see me like that. I didn’t want you to think I was just another manipulative Alpha, pulling strings and using people. But I had to do it, Anne."

Anne felt a strange mix of emotions—shock, anger, but also a deep sense of understanding. She knew Damien was protective, that he would do anything to keep her safe, but this... this was more than she had expected.

She stared at him, her mind swirling with thoughts. "I don’t know what to say, Damien. I get that you were trying to protect me, but lying, manipulating the situation... that’s a lot."

"I know," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I didn’t want to hurt you by keeping it from you. I just... I was scared. Scared that if you knew, you’d look at me differently."

Anne exhaled, running a hand through her hair. She wasn’t sure how to feel. Part of her was angry and hurt that he had kept this from her. But another part of her understood why he had done it, understood that his love for her had driven him to make difficult choices.

"I don’t know how I feel right now," she admitted, her voice softer now. "But I appreciate you telling me the truth."

Damien looked at her, his eyes pleading. "I just don’t want this to come between us. I love you, Anne. I’d do anything to protect you, even if it means crossing lines I’m not proud of."

Anne’s heart softened at his words, but the weight of his confession still hung heavy in the air. "I am not angry, Damien," she said after a long pause. "But I need some time to think."

Damien nodded, his shoulders sagging in relief. "Take all the time you need. I just... I didn’t want to keep this from you any longer."

Anne darted through the dense woods, the cool evening air brushing against her skin as she ran. The soft thud of her feet on the forest floor echo faintly around her. The scent of pine and earth filled her lungs, and the rhythm of her steps was the only thing keeping her grounded. She needed this—needed the wild freedom that came with running alone, away from the pack, away from responsibilities.

It wasn’t that she regretted anything. She loved Damien, loved her new life, but everything felt so heavy lately. The looming presence of Jackson, Jessica’s bitterness, the tension between Emily and Chris—everything was gnawing at her peace of mind. And, of course, the bite mark on her neck reminded her that she was bound to Damien in a way she hadn’t fully processed yet.

"Why does it feel like everything is happening too fast?" she muttered to herself as she weaved between the trees, her wolf senses heightened even in her human form.

She felt the connection with Damien. She loved him deeply. But there was something about being marked—something about belonging to someone—that made her question how much of her choices were truly hers. Was she just overthinking, or was there more to it? Anne shook her head, trying to rid herself of the swirling thoughts.

The run always helped. She let herself move faster, almost losing control of her breathing, pushing her body to its limits. She ran until her legs ached, until her lungs burned, until she couldn’t think of anything except the sensation of running itself.

But deep down, she knew that no matter how fast she ran, she couldn’t outrun the questions that kept creeping into her mind.

---

Damien went to his office; he knew Anne needed some alone time. He didn’t want to bury her anymore. He trusted that she would come to him when she was ready. Damien busied himself with work, hoping that the distraction would help pass the time until Anne was ready to talk.

Chris arrived, and Damien glanced up at him.

"I found out who directed the attack on Anne," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Damien’s eyes sharpened instantly. His muscles tensed, and he leant forward, his fists clenching the edge of the table. "Tell me."

Chris sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It was... your uncle."

"Uncle Blaze ?" Damien asked, his voice cold, though he already knew the answer.

Chris nodded. "Yeah. He’s been making moves in the background. I dug deeper after the attack and found a few things that... connected him to it. He’s been pulling strings but keeping himself well-hidden until now."

Damien’s face twisted with anger. "That bastard. I should have known."

Chris stepped closer, his tone serious. "Damien. He knows you’re the next Alpha, and he sees you as a threat to whatever power he still thinks he can hold."

Damien’s fists slammed into the table, causing the map to crumple under his hands. His eyes flashed with rage, his wolf threatening to break through the surface. "He went after her because of me," he muttered, his voice shaking with fury. "Because she’s my mate."

Chris placed a steady hand on Damien’s shoulder. "It’s more than that, Damien. It means he was spying on us since the day we arrived in Alaska."

Damien’s breathing was heavy as he tried to contain the storm inside him.

"He’s not getting away with this," Damien growled.