Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 259

Chapter 259

Elowen

I couldn’t meet her eyes. “Nothing. Just… court functions. It’s fine.”

“Court functions.” Evelyn’s voice sharpened despite her weakness. “Elowen, what did you do?”

Silence stretched between us. I didn’t know how to say it.

“Elowen?” Evelyn’s tone shifted to something harder. “What. Did. You. Do.”

“I made a deal,” I said finally. “To save your life.”

“What kind of deal?”

“I stay here. Permanently. Part of his court. In exchange, he promises to stop the extraction before it kills you.”

For a long moment, Evelyn just stared at me. Then her expression transformed-from confusion to comprehension to absolute fury.

“You did WHAT?” Her voice cracked with rage and disbelief. “Tell me you’re joking. Tell me you didn’t actually-”

“It was the only way—”

“The only way?!” The chains holding her rattled violently. “Elowen, you sacrificed yourself for me? Your freedom? Your kingdom? Your

MATE?”

The word hit like a slap. I flinched.

Evelyn saw it. Her eyes narrowed. “Where is Kaius anyway? Your family-your mate-where the hell is he in all this?” Her voice rose with each word. “Don’t tell me he’s back in your pack, safe and comfortable, while you’re trapped here in this nightmare?”

The accusation hurt more than I wanted to admit. “That’s not-”

“Because if he let this happen, if he’s not tearing this place apart looking for you right now—”

“I contacted him!” The words burst out. “I tried! Every day since I got here, I’ve been reaching through the mate bond. Calling for him. Begging him to hear me.” My voice cracked. “But there’s nothing. Just silence. He won’t answer.”

Evelyn went very still. “Won’t answer? Or can’t?”

“What difference does it make?” Bitterness flooded through me. “Either way, he’s not coming.”

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Chapter 259

:

“No, wait.” Evelyn leaned forward as much as her chains allowed, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “Describe it. The silence. What

does it feel like?”

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‘Like… like the bond is there but blocked. Like shouting into a void.” I wrapped my arms around myself. “I thought maybe he was angry.

Punishing me for leaving after our fight-

“That’s not how mate bonds work,” Evelyn interrupted, her tone shifting to something analytical. “A mate can’t just ignore the bond out of anger. It’s biologically impossible-the pull is too strong, especially in crisis.” Her eyes widened. “Unless there’s external interference.”

I looked up sharply. “What?”

Scarlett, who’d been standing silently nearby, stepped forward. “External interference? You mean magic?”

“Powerful magic.” Evelyn’s expression darkened. “The kind that can sever supernatural connections-mindlinks, pack bonds, mate bonds.”

She laughed bitterly. “The kind my mother specializes in.”

My heart stuttered. “Arabella?”

*She has a spell. Ancient witch magic. She uses it in political dealings to prevent information leaks, to isolate targets.” Evelyn’s voice was

tight with fury. “I’d bet anything she cast it on you the moment you entered vampire territory. Made sure you couldn’t call for help. Made

sure your mate couldn’t sense your distress.”

“So Kaius…” Hope flared painfully in my chest. “He doesn’t know? He can’t hear me?”

“Probably has no idea any of this happened.” Evelyn met my eyes. “Which means he’s not abandoning you-he literally doesn’t know you

need him.”

The relief was so intense it made me dizzy. He doesn’t know. He’s not choosing to stay away.

But the relief immediately gave way to despair. “If he doesn’t know where I am, if he can’t sense me through the bond-will he even think

to look?”

Scarlett moved closer, her voice urgent. “We need to break that spell. If we can reconnect your bond, if Kaius can feel you again-

“It’s not that simple. Evelyn slumped in her chains, exhaustion catching up with her. “That magic is designed to be unbreakable from the inside. My mother’s paranoid-she makes sure her spells can’t be undone easily.” She paused. “You’d need the caster to reverse it willingly.

Or…”

‘Or what?” I pressed.

“Or you’d need to kill her.”

The words hung heavy in the air.

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Chapter 259

We talked for a while longer, but Evelyn was fading. Finally, the guards informed us visiting time was over.

Back in my chambers, Scarlett and I sat in heavy silence, both processing everything.

“At least we know,” Scarlett said quietly. “At least we know he didn’t choose to abandon you.”

“Yeah.” I stared at the window, at the darkness beyond. “Small comfort.”

A knock at the door made us both tense.

Before I could respond, it opened. Zane stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

“Scarlett,” he said pleasantly. “Would you give us a moment? I need to speak with Elowen privately.”

Scarlett looked at me, conflict clear on her face. I nodded slightly. She couldn’t fight him. None of us could.

Once we were alone, Zane’s pleasant mask dropped.

“I’ve been patient,” he said, moving deeper into the room. “Generous, even. Giving you time to adjust to your new circumstances.” He

poured himself wine from the decanter on the side table. “But I think it’s time we discussed the true nature of our arrangement.”

“We had a deal-”

“We had a deal for you to stay. To be part of my court.” He turned to face me, and something hungry lurked in his eyes. “But I think we

both know I want more than that.”

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My stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”

“I want you as my official consort.” He said it casually, like discussing business. “My partner in rule. The White Wolf and the Vampire Lord

-quite the power couple, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely not-”

He was across the room in a blur of supernatural speed, suddenly too close, his hand catching my wrist. “Don’t say no so quickly.” His voice dropped to something intimate. “Think of the advantages. The protection I could offer. The power we could wield together.”

His other hand came up to trace my jawline, and every instinct screamed at me to pull away. But I was frozen-shock and revulsion warring with the desperate need to not provoke him while Evelyn was still his prisoner.

“You’re so beautiful when you’re angry,” he murmured, his thumb brushing across my lower lip. “I’ve wanted this since the moment you walked into my territory. The legendary White Wolf. Mine.”

His mouth descended toward mine.

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Chapter 259

The shock broke. My hand came up and cracked across his face with every ounce of strength I possessed.

Zane’s head snapped to the side. For a moment, he stood perfectly still, my handprint blooming red on his pale cheek.

Then he turned back to me slowly, and his expression was terrifying-rage and dark promise mixed together.

“That,” he said softly, dangerously, “was a mistake.”

I lifted my chin despite the fear coursing through me. “Touch me like that again, and I’ll do worse.”

“Will you?” His smile was predatory. “We both know you can’t actually fight me. Not while your friend’s life hangs in the balance.” He

stepped back, adjusting his collar with deliberate calm. “But that’s alright. I enjoy a challenge.”

He moved toward the door, pausing at the threshold to look back at me.

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“You’ll beg me eventually,” he said with absolute certainty. “Beg me to touch you. To claim you. To fuck you until you forget that wolf king

ever existed.” His smile widened. “I’m very patient, Elowen. And I always get what I want.”

Then he was gone, leaving me standing alone, shaking with rage and fear and the horrible certainty that this nightmare had only just

begun.

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