Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 211

Chapter 211

Revulsion churned in my gut, but I kept my expression neutral. Empty.

She studied my face, searching for… something. When she spoke again, there was a testing quality to her words.

“You’re not excited by my plan?” Her head tilted. “After all, he murdered my husband. So shouldn’t we kill Aldric’s mate in return?” A

pause, weighted and dangerous. “Your mother?”

My blood turned to fire.

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Every instinct screamed to rip her throat out, to paint these crystal walls with her blood. But I recognized the trap immediately. This was

a test. If I agreed too readily to kill my own mother, I’d seem inhuman even by Lycan standards-too controlled, too calculated. The spell

would be broken.

I had to walk a razor’s edge.

“I don’t care.” The words came out flat, devoid of emotion. “I don’t care about your feelings, or what method you use to punish Aldric. I

don’t care if you use my mother to ease your pain. I let my voice drop into something darker, something absolutely certain. “The only thing I care about is your survival. But if anyone threatens you-if anyone tries to harm you-I’ll slaughter them without hesitation.”

I met her masked gaze directly.

“Even if those enemies are my own parents.”

The words tasted like ash, but they were perfect. Cold enough to be believable. Protective enough to seem genuinely enchanted.

Morgath’s laugh rang out-delighted, genuine.

“Kaius! Kaius!” She grabbed my arms, fingers digging into muscle. “You surprise me! So ruthless, so perfectly positioned!” Her voice dropped to something almost tender. “You know, if you’d said you’d gladly kill them-been eager about it-I’d have wondered if you’d fully regained your mind.” Another laugh. “But this? This removes all my doubts!”

Relief flooded through me, carefully concealed.

Fuck. She was cunning. Paranoid. Every word was a test, every reaction scrutinized for signs of deception.

She released me and moved toward her bed, her movements languid now. Satisfied. Her hands rose to the mask’s edge, fingers working at

hidden clasps.

“You can leave now, Kaius. I need to rest.”

The mask came free.

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14:43 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 211

I caught a glimpse of her face-truly saw it for the first time-and something in my chest constricted.

Burns. Extensive, horrific burns that had melted and twisted the left side of her face into a landscape of scar tissue. The flesh was

puckered and discolored, frozen in an eternal expression of agony. Her left eye was clouded, possibly blind. The damage extended down

her neck, disappearing beneath her collar.

She set the mask aside with casual indifference, as if she’d forgotten I was there. As if she trusted me completely now.

Bitch. My inner voice was ice-cold. You’ll die on these claws soon enough.

I turned to leave, but my head shifted slightly-just a fraction-as I scanned the room one last time. The gemstone had to be-

“What are you looking for?”

I froze.

Her voice was casual, curious, but I heard the undercurrent of suspicion. My mind raced, searching for an explanation that would-

My body chose for me. I began to squirm slightly, an uncomfortable shifting of weight. My claws scratched lightly at my sides.

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“I just… I’m just…”

“Oh, my good Lycan.” Morgath’s voice filled with understanding and amusement. “I know your form makes you… restless. Like an animal in heat.” She laughed, and the sound was indulgent, almost fond. “You want to fuck a woman, don’t you?”

I said nothing, letting my silence confirm her assumption.

“I know where your mind is,” she continued, settling back against her pillows. “You want to go find Elowen. Play with her. Dominate her.”

A pause. “But no. Not tonight.”

I felt my jaw tighten but kept my posture submissive.

“Tonight, our dear Elowen will be quite… occupied.” Her voice took on a amused, knowing tone. “She’ll have companions coming to visit her. And when they do…” A dark chuckle. “Make sure they never leave.”

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14:43 Thu, Jan 22

Alpha’s STOLEN Mate