Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

How does it feel, you monster?

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But our battle was interrupted by the sound of approaching hoofbeats and voices. I looked up to see a full squadron of mounted warriors

cresting the ridge, led by Frost on a white stallion. Behind them came more soldiers on foot, some carrying crossbows loaded with what looked suspiciously like wolfsbane–tipped bolts.

Shit. Time to go.

Without hesitation, I broke away from Kaius and bolted deeper into the forest, my white form weaving between the trees as shouts erupted behind me. I could hear the thunder of hooves and paws giving chase, but I had speed on my side–white wolves were built for endurance and agility.

“After her!” Frost’s voice rang out. “Don’t let her escape! No one fucking dares fire!”

I ran with everything I had, branches whipping past my face as I navigated the dense undergrowth. Behind me, Kaius’s massive black form crashed through the forest in pursuit, his rage driving him to reckless speed. The mounted warriors were forced to dismount and follow on foot, but their numbers meant they could spread out and try to cut off my escape routes.

Keep going. Find another way through.

But as I burst through a final line of trees, my heart sank. The forest ended abruptly at the edge of a massive cliff, the ground simply dropping away into empty air. Far below, I could see jagged rocks and mist, with no way to tell how far the drop extended.

No. No, no, no.

I skidded to a halt at the precipice, my claws scraping against stone as I fought for purchase. There was nowhere left to run. The cliff stretched to my left and right as far as I could see–an impassable barrier that had trapped me as effectively as any cage.

Heavy footsteps announced Kaius’s arrival behind me. I turned to see his black form emerging from the tree line, blood still matting his fur from our earlier battle. His dark eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl, but there was something else there too–something that looked almost like fear.

“Don’t move!” Frost called out as more warriors appeared from the forest, forming a semicircle around the clearing. “She’s cornered–no sudden movements!”

The warriors spread out slowly, their crossbows trained on me but not yet firing. I could see the shock and confusion on their faces. White wolves were legend–creatures of myth and power that appeared perhaps once in a generation. To see one here, now, backed against a cliff by their Alpha King, had clearly shaken them.

Kaius took a cautious step forward, his body language shifting from predatory to something almost… pleading? He let out a low whine, the sound so different from his earlier rage that it caught me off guard.

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10:27 Mon, Jan 12

Chapter 19

Too late for that, asshole.

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“Surround her slowly,” Frost commanded, his voice tight with strain. “Keep those weapons ready, but don’t you dare fire unless I order it.

We need her alive.”

The circle of armed wolves began closing in, cutting off my escape routes one by one. I could see the wolfsbane glistening on their bolt

tips–one hit would incapacitate me instantly, leaving me at Kaius’s mercy.

I looked back at the black wolf–my mate, this tyrant–who had just murdered a defenseless pup in front of me, who represented everything I’d spent four years trying to escape. The disgust and revulsion I felt toward him crystallized into perfect clarity.

Behind me, the cliff yawned like an open mouth, promising either freedom or death. In front of me, the warriors continued their slow

advance, while Kaius watched with eyes that held a desperate kind of hunger.

I’d rather die than be yours again.

With that thought burning in my mind, I turned and sprinted toward the cliff edge.