Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Elowen

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At first glance, it looked like a pack of rogue wolves had surrounded a single defender. But as I watched, my perception shifted

dramatically. The lone wolf–massive, pure black, and utterly magnificent–wasn’t being overwhelmed by superior numbers. He was

systematically destroying them.

Jesus Christ.

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This black wolf was enormous, easily twice the size of the largest rogue. His coat was the color of midnight, so dark it seemed to absorb the morning light. Every muscle rippled with deadly precision as he moved, and his attacks were surgical in their efficiency. Razor–sharp claws tore through his enemies‘ chests, pulling out vital organs with casual brutality. His powerful jaws clamped down on spine after

spine, severing them with audible cracks that made my stomach turn.

My own wolf stirred restlessly inside me, responding to the raw display of dominance and power. Despite everything I felt about the man,

I couldn’t deny that his wolf form was breathtaking–a perfect killing machine wrapped in ebony fur.

But then the massacre ended, and my admiration curdled into horror.

Only one rogue remained alive–a small wolf who couldn’t have been more than a year past his first shift. His coat was still patchy and thin, marking him as barely more than a pup. He cowered among the corpses of his pack, whimpering as the black wolf approached with

deliberate slowness.

No. Please, no.

The black wolf–Kaius, I was certain now–pinned the young rogue beneath one massive paw. The pup’s terrified whining filled the air as those deadly claws extended, positioning themselves over the youngster’s limbs.

He’s just a child.

With surgical precision, Kaius’s claws sliced through the pup’s front leg, severing it completely before tossing the limb aside like refuse. The young wolf’s screams of agony echoed off the mountains, and something inside me snapped.

Enough.

My transformation happened without conscious thought. One moment I was human, the next I was landing in wolf form between Kaius and his victim, my massive white form creating a stark contrast against the blood–soaked ground.

Kaius reared back, his dark eyes widening with shock. I could see the recognition there–not just that I’d escaped, but that I was white. A

color so rare among our kind that legends were built around it.

But his surprise lasted only seconds. His lips pulled back in a warning snarl, revealing fangs stained with fresh blood. Behind him, the injured pup continued to writhe and whimper, but I couldn’t reach him without going through Kaius first.

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10:27 Mon, Jan 12

Chapter 18

I took a step forward, my own growl building in my chest. Let him go.

COI)

Instead of backing down, Kaius did something that made my blood run cold. Without breaking eye contact with me, he turned his hand

and clamped his jaws around the pup’s throat.

NO!

The sickening crunch of vertebrae filled the air, followed by the wet splash of blood hitting my white fur. The pup’s struggles consed

instantly, his body going limp in death.

Rage exploded through me like molten silver, I launched myself at Kaius with a roar that shook the trees, my claws extended and ready to

tear flesh.

We collided with the force of an avalanche, both of us rolling across the blood–soaked ground as we struggled for dominance, Kalus was stronger–much stronger–but I was faster. Every time his massive jaws snapped toward my throat, I twisted away, leaving him with

nothing but air while my claws raked across his ribs.

He lunged forward, trying to use his weight advantage to pin me down, but I slipped beneath him and sank my fangs into his shoulder.

The taste of his blood filled my mouth–hot, metallic, and somehow familiar despite my revulsion.

Kaius roared in pain and fury, spinning to dislodge me, but I held on, tearing a chunk of flesh away before dancing back out of his reach. Dark blood matted his beautiful black coat, and I felt a savage satisfaction at the sight.

10:27 Mon, Jan 12