Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Elowen

I’d been working at Sterling & Associates for several days now, and the transformation still amazed me. The city’s largest financial firm. had become my hunting ground, where I helped wealthy humans manage their assets with the same predatory precision my father had

taught me in combat.

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From those first stuttering days when I could barely pronounce “portfolio diversification” without fumbling, to now confidently pitching complex investment strategies to the city’s elite–the change was remarkable. I could sweet–talk the most difficult clients, navigate market

volatility discussions, and close deals that made my colleagues‘ jaws drop.

All thanks to Cassius Fernsby.

When I’d been washing dishes in that rundown diner, invisible and desperate, he’d been the only one who saw potential beneath my shabby exterior. Golden–haired, impeccably dressed, and possessed of the kind of refined elegance that belonged in magazines, he’d

somehow recognized talent where others saw only another struggling nobody.

Of course, I’d never revealed my true nature to anyone here. As far as my coworkers knew, I was just another ambitious young woman from… somewhere vague upstate. No one knew where I lived, who my family was, or why I seemed to treat money like oxygen. I kept my

interactions minimal and professional.

Because the truth was simple: I needed cash. Desperately.

This morning started like any other–arriving at my corner office before dawn, preparing for another day of financial warfare. But when I

pushed open my door, I stopped short.

Cassius stood by my desk holding an enormous bouquet of white roses, looking like something out of a fairytale. His perfectly tailored charcoal suit emphasized his tall, lean frame, while his golden hair caught the early morning light streaming through the windows. That smile of his–the one that had convinced me to leave dishwashing behind–was in full effect.

“What’s the occasion?” I asked, setting down my briefcase with genuine curiosity. “Since when do you bring me flowers?”

His laugh was warm honey over silk. “I should have asked you earlier, but you were away on your little vacation last week. I didn’t want to disturb your rest. His blue eyes crinkled with genuine interest. “How was the trip, by the way? Somewhere relaxing, I hope?”

Vacation. Right. The excuse I’d given for my mysterious absence. If only he knew I’d spent those days being tortured, nearly executed, and

jumping off cliffs to escape a psychotic mate.

“Oh, you know,” I said with a weak smile, “it was… educational.”

‘Well, I’m glad you’re back refreshed,” he continued, stepping closer with that courteous distance he always maintained. “Because tonight there’s a gala–the Annual Banking Elite Summit. All the major players will be there, and I thought…” He paused, suddenly looking almost

shy. “Would you do me the honor of being my date?”

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Chapter 26

My eyes lit up like Christmas morning. “A banking summit? With all the financial elite?”

“The wealthiest and most influential people in the city,” he confirmed with amusement. “Though I should warn you, it’s quite formal. Dancing, networking, the whole nine yards.”

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“Dancing?” I felt a flutter of panic. My dancing skills were roughly equivalent to a drunk penguin on ice skates.

“Don’t worry,” Cassius said smoothly, as if reading my thoughts. I’m an excellent lead. You’ll be fine.”

I looked at his perfect face, his perfectly pressed suit, the perfect flowers he’d brought me, and felt something warm unfurl in my chest. This was dangerous territory–getting attached to humans never ended well for supernatural creatures. But the networking opportunities…

“Of course I’ll go,” I said, already calculating potential client acquisitions. “This could be incredible for business! You’ll have to introduce me to everyone. I’ve got some amazing new investment packages that would be perfect for-*

“God, you’re relentless,” Cassius interrupted with a laugh. “Here I am, asking you to accompany me to the most exclusive event of the year, and you’re already working the angles.”

I shrugged unapologetically. “Well, I have expensive tastes. And expensive… obligations.”

That was putting it mildly. Nearly a thousand wolves depended on me now. The pack hospital I’d just finished building, the new cafeteria that could feed our growing numbers, the trucks full of food I had delivered weekly to our territory, the living stipends I provided to every new wolf who joined us–it all required serious money. Human money, since supernatural creatures weren’t exactly swimming in legal

tender.

“Fair enough,” he said, shaking his head with fond exasperation. “I suppose I should appreciate your honesty about being a gold digger.”

“Hey!” I protested. “I prefer ‘financially motivated professional.”

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