Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 250

Chapter 250

Elowen

69

The journey to Ashenvale took two days of hard riding. By the time we reached the border of vampire territory, exhaustion had settled

into my bones, but adrenaline kept me sharp.

“There.” Scarlett pointed ahead to where the landscape shifted dramatically. The trees grew darker, their bark almost black. Even the air

felt different-cooler, heavier, like breathing in shadows.

We approached the border checkpoint cautiously, hands ready on our weapons. Vampires and wolves weren’t exactly friendly neighbors. I

expected hostility, demands, maybe even violence.

What I didn’t expect was a welcoming committee.

A dozen vampire soldiers stood at attention, their pale faces eerily serene in the dim light. As we approached, they parted smoothly,

creating a clear path.

“What the fuck?” Scarlett muttered under her breath.

The lead soldier-a woman with silver hair braided intricately down her back-stepped forward and bowed. “White Wolf. We’ve been expecting you. Lord Zane extends his warmest welcome to the Ashenvale territories.”

My skin prickled with unease. “You were… expecting me?”

“Of course.” Her smile revealed just a hint of fang. “The legendary White Wolf honors us with her presence. Please, follow us. Lord Zane is

eager to receive you.”

Scarlett and I exchanged wary glances. This was wrong. All of this felt choreographed, prepared.

But we had no choice. Evelyn and Faelan were somewhere in this territory.

We followed.

The vampire estate was magnificent in a cold, unsettling way. All dark stone and sharp angles, lit by blue-white lights that cast everything in an otherworldly glow. Servants appeared from nowhere to take our horses, to offer refreshments, to escort us through winding

corridors.

Zane met us in a grand reception hall, his green eyes bright with what appeared to be genuine delight.

“Elowen! You actually came!” He spread his arms wide, as if greeting an old friend. “When I heard you’d crossed into Ashenvale, I could

1/2

14:48 Thu, Jan 22

…

Chapter 250

hardly believe it! Please, please-you must be exhausted from your journey. I’ve prepared our finest accommodations-”

“Where is she?” I cut through his pleasantries like a knife. “Where’s Evelyn?”

Zane’s expression shifted to confusion that looked almost convincing. “Evelyn? The delightful witch? He tilted his head. “She and her

mother visited briefly, yes, but they departed days ago. I assumed she’d returned to your pack-”

“You’re lying.” My voice came out flat, cold. “She wouldn’t just leave. Not like that.”

“I assure you, I’m not.” Zane’s tone remained pleasant, but something flickered behind his eyes. “Though if you don’t believe me, you’re

welcome to investigate. Please, consider yourself my honored guest. Stay as long as you need to satisfy your concerns.”

The offer sounded generous. It felt like a trap.

69

The accommodations Zane provided were obscenely luxurious-a suite of rooms with silk curtains, plush furniture, and a view of the estate’s sprawling gardens. But they were also far from the main castle, isolated from the core of vampire activity.

“This is wrong,” I told Scarlett as yet another servant appeared with elaborate refreshments we hadn’t requested. “Everything about this is

wrong.”

“I know.” Scarlett watched the servant leave. “I tried asking her about Evelyn. She smiled and said nothing. Like she didn’t even hear the

question.”

I’d noticed the same thing. Every servant, every vampire we encountered-they were polite, accommodating, but completely unhelpful. They brought food, arranged flowers, offered to draw baths. But the moment we asked questions about Evelyn or anything meaningful,

they became deaf.

When I tried exploring the estate grounds, other vampires would materialize from nowhere, always blocking my path with courteous smiles and gentle redirections. “That wing is under renovation.” “The gardens are lovelier this direction.” “Oh, that area is restricted-but let me show you this magnificent library instead!”

Comments

LIKE

Write Comments

SHARE

2/2

118 Thu, Jan 22