Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 177

Chapter 177

Elowen

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69

I woke lazily in Kaius’s bed, sunlight streaming through the tall windows and warming my face. For a moment, I just lay there, enjoying

the rare peace-

Then Scarlett’s voice burst into my mind through our pack link, practically vibrating with excitement.

Elowen! Guess what! Frost and I-we restored our bond!

I shot upright so fast I nearly fell out of bed. “What?!”

It’s true! Her mental voice was giddy, almost disbelieving. The mate bond-it’s back. Stronger than before, even.

“God, Scarlett! That’s-that’s incredible!” Relief and joy flooded through me in equal measure. “I’m so happy for you! For both of you! Is

Frost okay? How did this even happen?”

He’s fine. Better than fine, actually. He’s here at our pack right now.

I couldn’t stop smiling. Finally-finally-the two people I’d been most worried about could be together. The weight I’d been carrying, the guilt over Frost’s feelings for me and Scarlett’s heartbreak, all of it was lifting.

Thank the Moon Goddess. I was so afraid that-

You two enjoy your time together, I said warmly. Make the most of it while Evelyn and I are still here. Speaking of which, you won’t believe

what’s been happening with her and-

The bedroom door opened. Kaius walked in, and I quickly wrapped up the conversation.

I have to go, Scarlett. Talk later!

Okay, Alpha. And… thank you. For everything.

I wasn’t sure what she was thanking me for, but before I could ask, the connection closed.

Kaius crossed the room in three strides and scooped me up effortlessly, a playful smile on his face. “My Queen,” he said, his voice warm

and teasing. “Did you sleep well?”

I laughed and swatted at his shoulder. “Terribly, actually. Two people in one bed is significantly less comfortable than having my own

space and my own blanket.”

“Liar.” He set me down gently, then moved to his wardrobe and pulled out a dress that made my eyes widen.

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It was elegant-objectively beautiful, really. Deep emerald silk with intricate gold embroidery along the bodice and sleeves. But it was also

clearly designed for formal court appearances, with a fitted waist and a skirt that would make walking anywhere quickly absolutely

impossible.

“Absolutely not,” I said immediately.

Kaius ignored me, already moving closer with the dress. “I think today’s occasion calls for something like this.”

“What occasion? And get away from me-I’m not a child who needs help dressing!”

But he’d already started unlacing the simple shirt I’d slept in, his fingers deft and gentle. “Trust me on this,” he murmured. “You’ll want to

make a certain impression today.”

“Kaius, I swear-”

A knock at the door interrupted us. One of Kaius’s guards called through, “Alpha King! Your mother has arrived and is waiting in the

formal receiving room.”

I froze. His mother?

Sera Blackthorne. The former Alpha Queen who’d been living in seclusion. The woman who famously never appeared in public without her veil.

Fuck. The occasion” is meeting his mother.

I shoved Kaius away immediately and tossed the silk dress onto the bed. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Elowen-”

“I am not meeting your mother dressed like a decorative ornament.” I moved to the wardrobe and pulled out my own clothes-black leather pants reinforced at the knees, a fitted charcoal tunic with silver buckles, and my favorite boots. Practical. Comfortable. Me.

Kaius watched with amusement as I dressed quickly. “You know, most people try to impress their mate’s parents.”

“I’m not most people.” I buckled the last strap. “Why is your mother here? Is it about your father?”

His expression sobered. “I don’t know. She didn’t say in her message.”

I frowned, thinking back. “I met Sera once when I was young. Just a glimpse. She was already living in seclusion by then, and she’s always worn that veil.” I looked at him curiously. “I never knew why. Do you know?”

Something uncomfortable flickered across Kaius’s face. He opened his mouth, seemed to reconsider, then just said, ‘Come on. We should

go see what she wants.”

That’s not suspicious at all.

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The formal receiving room was one of the most ostentatious spaces in the castle-all marble columns and gilded furniture and floor-to- ceiling windows that flooded the space with light.

And standing in the center of it all was Sera Blackthorne.

She was tall-nearly as tall as Kaius-and moved with the kind of grace that came from decades of royal training. Her gown was exquisite, layers of deep purple silk and black lace that probably cost more than my entire pack’s annual budget. And of course, the veil-delicate black fabric that obscured her features completely, flowing from an elaborate silver crown woven into her dark hair.

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19:46 Wed, Jan 14

Alpha’s STOLEN Mate