Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 196

Chapter 196

Elowen

The battle was chaos incarnate.

Each of us faced one of the golden wolves-artificial constructs given life by Morgath’s twisted magic. Mine lunged with coordinated

precision, its regeneration abilities keeping it in the fight no matter how many wounds I inflicted.

My white flames helped-each strike leaving burns that couldn’t heal as quickly, disrupting its supernatural recovery. But it was tanky,

absorbing punishment that would have killed normal wolves ten times over, its assault never slowing.

I risked a glance at Kaius.

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His black wolf was magnificent in combat-every move calculated, every strike purposeful as he battled his own golden opponent. Years of

training and natural talent made him a formidable opponent. But he didn’t have my advantage. His attacks couldn’t suppress their

regeneration. And I could see him beginning to tire, his movements a fraction slower, his breathing heavier.

He’s losing ground.

I couldn’t let that happen.

While fending off my own opponent with claws and lightning, I periodically launched fireballs toward Kaius’s fight-disrupting lunges, forcing his enemy to dodge, buying him precious seconds to recover. It was exhausting maintaining two battles simultaneously, but I

couldn’t watch him get overwhelmed.

“Fascinating!”

Morgath’s voice rang out from somewhere above and behind us. She lounged in the air itself, reclining as if on an invisible throne, watching our struggle with the detached amusement of someone watching a performance.

“So this is what humans find entertaining in their gladiatorial arenas!” She clasped her hands together delightedly. “Four beasts fighting to the death! The desperation! The violence! It’s positively intoxicating!” Her masked face tilted toward me. “And you, White Wolf-I’m dying to test your limits. To see exactly how much punishment that legendary body can endure.”

Rage boiled over. I gathered lightning in my throat and hurled it at her.

She vanished, reappearing directly above Kaius in a blink. “Oh my! Such spirit!” Her voice dripped with mockery. “And Kaius-how pathetic. You can’t even defeat cheap copies of your father. How disappointing.” She leaned down, her mask mere feet from his wolf form. “If you keep dragging the White Wolf down like this, she’ll fall into real danger. Is that what you want? To be the reason she dies?”

Kaius’s snarl intensified. His attacks became more aggressive, more reckless-exactly what she wanted.

“Ah, yes! The game is getting interesting now!” Morgath’s laugh was sharp and cruel. “But why wait for a natural climax? Let’s accelerate

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Chapter 196

things, shall we?”

零

She began chanting. The language grated against my ears-old magic, the kind that warped reality itself.

My opponent suddenly changed. Not physically-but something in its eyes shifted. Intelligence bloomed where there had been only

instinct and rage.

And it stopped attacking me.

Instead, it pivoted and charged directly at Evelyn.

No. NO!

I launched fireball after fireball, trying to block its path. But the golden wolf didn’t even flinch. It ran straight through my flames, its hide

smoking, burning, but its determination absolute.

It knew. Somehow it knew that Evelyn was my weakness.

I abandoned my defensive position and threw myself between the charging wolf and my friend. Our bodies collided with bone-shattering

force. My claws found purchase in its shoulders, holding it back through sheer strength of will.

You want to hurt my Evelyn? Fuck that. Not while I’m breathing.

But I’d forgotten about Kaius’s opponent.

The second golden wolf disengaged from Kaius entirely, circling wide. I saw it coming-saw the angle of approach-but I was committed. I couldn’t release the wolf I was holding without leaving Evelyn exposed.

It hit me from the side like a battering ram.

Pain exploded through my ribs. I felt bones crack. Blood filled my mouth. But I didn’t let go. Couldn’t let go.

Instead, I sank my teeth into the nearest wolf’s neck and summoned my wind ability. The air around us became a vortex, lifting all three of us off the ground. I used every ounce of strength to carry both golden wolves away from Evelyn, dragging them high into the violet sky.

Then I let the wind die.

We plummeted together-a tangle of snapping jaws and raking claws. We hit the crystalline ground with devastating force, the impact

driving the air from my lungs.

“Bravo!” Morgath’s applause echoed through the realm. “What a beautiful sacrifice, White Wolf! So selfless! So noble!” Her voice took on a sickeningly sweet tone. “If you became my pet, I would treasure you. Give you a place of honor in my collection. You’d never have to

suffer like this again.”

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Chapter 196

I struggled to my feet, every movement sending fresh waves of agony through my body. Blood dripped steadily onto the crystal floor, forming small pools of crimson that reflected the purple sky.

One versus two. Great odds.

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