Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 109

Chapter 109

Elowen

When we reached the training field, Scarlett heard our footsteps but didn’t immediately turn around, Instead, she took a deep, deliberate breath and used her sleeve to wipe away the sweat or maybe tears from her face, Only after she’d composed herself did she turn to face

us, wearing the most obviously fake smile I’d ever seen,

I couldn’t stand it. I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around her, my voice breaking, “God, you don’t have to pretend with me. If you

need to cry, just cry.”

At my words, every defensive wall Scarlett had constructed crumbled instantly. But just as her face began to crumple, 1 caught sight of Kaius standing awkwardly behind us, clearly uncertain what to do.

1 glared at him fiercely. “Turn around!”

Kaius shook his head with a deep sigh, genuine sympathy crossing his features as he looked at Scarlett. I’m sorry this happened,” he said quietly before turning his back to give us privacy.

The moment he looked away, tears began streaming down Scarlett’s face in earnest, I’d never seen her cry like this-not when she’d been injured in battle, not when she’d been rejected the first time, never. She was the type who took care of everyone else, who brushed off her own pain with a laugh and a shrug.

Seeing her like this made my own chest ache with protective fury.

Fuck,” I said softly, holding her tighter. “Did Frost reject you?”

Scarlett didn’t answer, but the way her body shook with silent sobs told me everything I needed to know. Only her mate could break her

this completely.

Before I could press further, Evelyn emerged from the shadows near the training grounds. Her eyes widened when she saw us.

“God! You two came back in one piece! Then her gaze landed on Scarlett’s tear-stained face, and her expression shifted to understanding. “Looks like your evening with Frost didn’t go well… Fuck! So my bad premonition came true after all, just not the way I expected. Seems like he made his position crystal clear tonight.”

“Could you be a little less blunt?’ I snapped.

But Evelyn’s comment had the opposite effect of what I’d intended. Scarlett Immediately wiped her tears away-as if being seen crying by the witch was worse than any other humiliation-and marched over to grab Evelyn by the shoulders.

“This is your fault!’ she said, her voice raw but gaining strength. “Why do you have to keep making prophecies about everything? And why did you let these random people into our pack in the first place?

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Chapter 109

Kaius scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Yeah, this is definitely Frost’s fault. Don’t worry-I’ll discipline him properly.”

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Scarlett whirled to face him, her chin lifted defiantly. “Don’t bother! Tonight I came within one step of severing our bond completely. I’ll handle this privately with him. We’re going to break it permanently.”

Though I didn’t know exactly what had happened, Scarlett’s absolute certainty filled me with rage at Frost. I grabbed her hand firmly.

“You’re amazing, and you deserve so much better than this. If Frost is really being that unreasonable, I’ll help you sever the bond myself.”

Scarlett’s anger seemed to build with each word. “Yes! I don’t need a bond like that! Especially not with a mate who’s in love with

someone else!”

The training ground fell into shocked silence. Even Evelyn, who always had a quip ready, seemed too stunned to speak.

Kaius broke the quiet first, his voice uncertain. “Um, beta, I think there might be some misunderstanding. Frost has never shown interest

in any wolf, never had any relationships… I really don’t think he has feelings for anyone else—”

“No, no, no!” Scarlett cut him off sharply. “I don’t care anymore! I have no interest in hearing about him or his issues!” Her voice rose with gathering emotion. “At first, you told me it was the forbidden drug making him reject me. I believed that! Then I discovered that the

closer I got to him, the more his condition improved. And he STILL refused to mark me!”

She was practically shaking now, her warrior’s pride warring with her devastation. “Do you know what that is? That’s fucking humiliation! I’m a fighter! I don’t need some man making me feel like I’m not good enough! Like I’m begging for scraps of affection!”

Her voice cracked on the last words, raw pain breaking through the anger. “I opened my heart completely to him tonight. I told him I could help restore his scent, make him whole again. And in that moment-in the most intimate moment two mates can share-he hesitated. He was thinking about someone else. I felt it!”

Evelyn couldn’t help herself. “God! You can literally cure him and he still rejected you? What the fuck is wrong with that idiot’s brain?”

“Evelyn!” I said sharply. “You’re not helping!”

I turned back to Scarlett, taking in her fury, her exhaustion, the slight tremor in her hands that spoke of a sleepless night spent punishing herself. “I promise I’ll get you answers. But you haven’t slept all night-you’re exhausted and your mind can’t think clearly right now. So stop thinking!” I said it as gently but firmly as I could. “Go rest. Please.”

Scarlett looked ready to argue, but I took her hand and placed it in Evelyn’s, giving the witch a meaningful look. “I’m trusting her to you.

Don’t let her overthink anything.”

Evelyn’s expression softened with understanding. “Don’t worry. Forgetting about stupid men? I have plenty of methods.” She pulled a

reluctant Scarlett away, murmuring reassurances.

Once they were gone, I turned the full force of my fury on Kaius. He actually took a step back under the intensity of my glare.

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“What?” He held up his hands defensively. “My beta made a mistake-how is that my responsibility?”

“You’re his alpha!” I said coldly. “Your influence on him is massive. Of course it’s your responsibility!”

Kaius sighed heavily. “Well, this is beyond my ability to fix. You have to understand-Frost’s background is complicated. His mother and

sister were both slaves, treated like property by their alpha. I think it left him with… issues about the mate bond. About ownership and

control.”

The revelation hit me like a physical blow. Suddenly, so much about Frost made sense-his gentleness, his almost desperate need to

protect others, his fear of the very bond that should bring him happiness.

A small part of me understood. I, too, knew what it felt like to be treated as property, to have your choices stripped away.

But understanding didn’t excuse hurting Scarlett.

“That explains his trauma,” I said quietly. “But it doesn’t give him the right to string my beta along. He owes all of us an explanation.”

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Kaius glanced between us awkwardly. “You know, I’m not exactly handling my own romantic situation well either…” He gestured vaguely at

the space between us.

“Don’t even start!” I crossed my arms. “I was planning to just kick you out. But Frost? He’s supposed to be my friend. He’s my beta’s mate. I was going to let him stay here longer, give them a chance to work things out.” My voice hardened. “But clearly that was a mistake. You’re both leaving after I get some answers from him.”

“Elowen-”

“I’m going to find Frost right now,” I interrupted. “And he’s going to explain exactly what happened and why he thinks it’s acceptable to break my best friend’s heart.”

Kaius opened his mouth to argue, then seemed to think better of it. “Just… go easy on him. Whatever happened, I guarantee he’s suffering

too.”

“Good,” I said coldly. “He should be.”

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Alpha’s STOLEN Mate