Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Elowen

My stomach dropped. “Don’t tell me it’s Kaius. Because if I see him right now, I will actually murder him.”

“It’s Frost, Evelyn said, her smile returning. “And he’s carrying… a severed wolf head. Fresh kill. The corpse was enhanced with magical

potions before death.”

Both Scarlett and I went rigid at different parts of that statement.

Scarlett’s face closed off immediately. “I’m sure he has his reasons for being here. You should see him, Elowen. Her voice was carefully

neutral, but I caught the hurt beneath it.

“Scarlett- I started.

“Don’t.” She held up a hand. “I’m not that petty. If he has good news for you, you should go see him.” Her blue eyes met mine with

something sharp beneath the calm. “Though his loyalty to you seems… excessive. Even more than his loyalty to his King.”

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I felt uncomfortable heat creep up my neck. Frost’s inexplicable devotion to me had been growing more obvious, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Or rather, I knew exactly how it made me feel-confused, flattered, guilty-and I didn’t want to examine any of those

emotions too closely.

“I’ll go see what he wants,” I said, standing and straightening my rumpled clothes.

Scarlett gave me a small, sad smile. “Take your time. I’m fine.”

You’re really not, I thought, but respected her too much to say it aloud.

The scent hit me before I saw Frost-blood, still fresh, and beneath it… Cross’s distinctive smell.

The Gamma.

Frost stood in a clearing just beyond our territory markers, looking oddly domesticated despite the gore. The severed head sat at his feet, wrapped in cloth but not completely concealed. Blood had soaked through in dark patches.

He pulled back the cloth slightly, revealing Cross’s glassy, dead eyes staring at nothing.

My stomach lurched-a visceral mix of nausea and something darker. Something savage and satisfied that I didn’t want to acknowledge. The sight should have horrified me. Instead, I felt a sick rush of vindication, followed immediately by self-disgust at my own reaction.

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Chapter 140

What the fuck is wrong with me? I’m glad he’s dead… and that all that’s left of him is a severed head in a bag.

“Gamma Cross,’ I said, my voice rougher than intended. I forced myself to look away from the head. “Good fucking riddance.”

Frost’s smile was tired but genuine. ‘Kaius killed him. I thought… after everything that happened, after you left so upset, you might appreciate knowing the traitor got what he deserved.”

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“Really?” I stopped a few feet away, then noticed the injuries covering his body. The bruises on his throat were particularly alarming-dark

purple fingerprints that suggested he’d been strangled. Fresh claw marks raked across his ribs. “Frost! What the fuck happened to you?”

He touched his neck self-consciously. “Gamma and I had a duel. He was… stronger than expected.”

“Wait.” I grabbed his arm, pulling him closer to examine the wounds. My fingers traced the edge of a particularly nasty gash on his

shoulder. “You said Kaius killed him.

“He did.” Frost’s voice was matter-of-fact, like we were discussing the weather. “I challenged Cross but couldn’t finish him. Kaius showed

up and ended it. Otherwise…” He shrugged with disturbing casualness. “This head would probably be mine instead.”

My heart clenched painfully. He was talking about his near-death experience like it was nothing-and he’d deliberately downplayed his

own involvement to spare my feelings.

“Fuck, Frost!” My voice came out softer than I intended, my hand still on his arm. “Why do you do this? Why risk so much for me?”

He looked genuinely surprised by the question, like the answer should be obvious. “Well… you’re my Queen.”

The title, spoken with such simple sincerity, made my cheeks burn. I looked away, torn between gratitude and frustration and something I absolutely refused to name. “God, Frost. Don’t throw your life away for me again. Please.”

“I’ll try to be more careful,” he said, which wasn’t really a promise.

I took a breath, trying to center myself. “Thank you for bringing this. For wanting to… lift my spirits, I guess. But you should take the

head back with you. I got the message.”

Frost nodded, bending to retrieve his grisly trophy. But as he straightened, he hesitated. “Elowen, I think you should understand-Kaius,

he has his reasons for-

“Frost.” I cut him off sharply, anger flaring hot and sudden. “Don’t. I can judge him perfectly fucking fine on my own-whether through the shit he’s said to my face or through the vivid details I felt all goddamn night-every thrust, every position, every time he bent that

bitch over and fucked her senseless.”

The words came out harsher than I intended, but I couldn’t stop them. The memory of that violation-feeling every thrust, every moment of his pleasure with another woman-burned like acid in my chest.

Something fierce flashed in Frost’s pale blue eyes. Something protective and possessive that made my breath catch. For a heartbeat, I

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Chapter 140

thought he might say something-do something-

But then the light dimmed, shuttering behind careful neutrality. When he spoke, his voice was quiet. Almost defeated,

“I’ll make sure their… encounters happen less frequently.”

The statement hung in the air between us, loaded with everything he wasn’t saying. He was offering to interfere in his King’s sex life.

And the way he’d said it-the resignation, the barely concealed hurt-made it clear he understood exactly what he was volunteering for. To

watch me suffer over another man. To help that same man hurt me less.

“Frost, you don’t have to-

“I want to.” His eyes met mine, and the raw honesty there made my chest tight. “You shouldn’t have to feel that. I’ll find a way.”

I didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know how to process the tangle of emotions his words stirred up.

Why can’t my mate be even half as considerate as you? The thought came unbidden and unwelcome.

“You’re caught in the middle of something you shouldn’t be,” I said finally, my voice softer. “You’re my friend. The word felt inadequate but true. “His choices are his own. And I…” I hesitated. “I won’t ask you to do that. To compromise yourself for me.”

Frost looked like he wanted to argue, but after a moment, he simply nodded. ‘As you wish.”

He turned to leave, the wrapped head tucked under one arm.

“Frost?”

He glanced back.

“Be safe. Okay?”

Something warm flickered in his pale blue eyes—gratitude, affection, and that deeper thing he kept carefully hidden.

“Always, my Queen.”

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19:41 Wed, Jan 14

Alpha’s STOLEN Mate