Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 130

Chapter 130

Kaius

Everything in me went still.

“You still have time to accept,” she continued, her tone almost gentle. “Before your mate dies. Before that blade cuts her throat. You can

still save her.”

Fury and desperate hope warred in my chest. “Fuck,” I hissed, trying to keep my voice low. ‘What’s the condition? Can you save her?”

“Control your volume,” Rowan warned sharply.

I dropped my voice to a barely audible growl. “I’ll do it. Whatever it is. Just don’t let her die. Please.”

“You don’t even want to know what you’re agreeing to?” There was amusement in her tone.

*FUCK!” I snarled as quietly as I could manage, watching Silas raise the blade above Elowen’s exposed throat. “You idiot! His knife is about to cut through her windpipe! There’s no time!”

Rowan laughed-actually laughed-at my desperation. “Well then! However it happened, the deal is made.”

Her expression shifted completely, all traces of dark amusement vanishing. “Silas! Wait!”

The elder head turned, irritation clear on his face. “What is it now?”

Rowan released me and strode forward confidently. “Elder, forgive me, but-that blade has a chip in it. It won’t kill cleanly. The edge will catch in her throat, make a mess, get blood all over your hands.” She held up her own ceremonial dagger, the one that had been meant for

my execution. “Use mine instead.”

Silas frowned, examining his weapon more closely in the moonlight. “A chip? I don’t remember-let me see.”

Rowan approached him, her movements unhurried and graceful. She took his blade gently, angling it toward the moon. “Here, let me show

you.”

The moonlight caught the metal, making it shimmer with an almost hypnotic beauty. Silas leaned closer, squinting at the supposedly

damaged edge.

“I’ve been looking,” he grumbled. “I don’t see any chip. The blade looks perfectly fine to me.”

Rowan smiled, sweet as poisoned honey. She positioned both daggers before him, the blades crossing in an X pattern. “Look closer, Elder. The flaw is right… here.”

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Chapter 130

She rotated her wrist with liquid speed.

:

• )))

The blade that had been pointing harmlessly at the ground suddenly reversed direction, its razor edge sweeping across Silas’s exposed

throat in one smooth, devastating motion.

Time seemed to slow.

71

Blood erupted from the wound-not a trickle, but a geyser. Silas’s eyes went wide with shock, his hands flying up to his throat in a futile attempt to stop the arterial spray. His mouth opened and closed silently, trying to form words that would never come.

He collapsed to his knees, then pitched forward onto his face. The great Elder Silas, who had ruled for decades, died choking on his own

blood in the dirt of the sacred grounds.

The entire assembly stood frozen in stunned silence.

Rowan calmly wiped her blade on Silas’s robes before turning to face the remaining Elders and the gathered crowd. Her voice rang out

with absolute authority as she pulled me to her side.

“The traitor Elder Silas attempted to murder the Alpha King through conspiracy and deceit! He has been executed for his crimes!” Her gaze swept across the terrified faces of the other Elders. “Any other rebellious Elders or wolves who wish to challenge this decision-step

forward now. You’ll receive the same justice.”

The remaining Elders practically fell over themselves backing away, their faces pale with terror.

“Elder Rowan!” one of them stammered. “You were always the Second Elder! Of course we support your judgment! Silas-his hatred of the Alpha bloodline clouded his mind. We always believed in cooperation between wolves and Elders!”

Another chimed in quickly, “Yes! Collaboration is the only path forward! We serve at your pleasure, Elder Rowan!”

Rowan smiled, gracious in victory. “Take Silas’s body home. Give him a proper burial-despite his treachery, he did serve our kind for many years.” She gestured dismissively. “This trial is concluded. You’re all dismissed.”

One Elder hesitated. “And you, Elder Rowan? Will you return with us?”

Rowan’s smile took on a distinctly predatory edge. “My transaction with Kaius isn’t finished yet. I’ll be… staying for a while.”

Shock rippled through the crowd, but after witnessing her casual murder of Silas, no one dared voice an objection. The Elders gathered their dead leader’s body and retreated with obvious relief, the gathered wolves dispersing in confused, frightened clusters.

Soon, only three figures remained in the sacred grounds: me, Rowan, and Elowen’s unconscious form.

I didn’t care about anything except her. “Heal her,” I demanded, my voice raw. “Now.”

Rowan examined her nails casually. “Come now. That little scratch? Her white wolf bloodline will take care of it naturally. She’ll wake up

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Chapter 130

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perfectly healthy.” Her eyes glittered with dark amusement. “Though I do wonder what her reaction will be when she discovers me at your

side.”

Humiliation and rage burned through me in equal measure. What have I done?

“Go rest, my king,” Rowan purred, running her fingers along my jaw in a possessive gesture that made my skin crawl. “I’ll personally ensure your mate is returned safely to her pack, completely unharmed.” She leaned closer, her lips nearly brushing my ear. “As for us…. well, we have so many delightful activities ahead of us. So much pleasure to explore together.”

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Alpha’s STOLEN Mate