Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 268

Chapter 268

“I’m a merchant at heart,” Zane continued. “And I do so love a good deal. Very well. Your complete submission in exchange for-”

I grabbed him.

My clawed hands locked around his arms with every ounce of strength I had left. Lycan strength, Alpha will, and sheer desperate fury

combined into an unbreakable grip.

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Zane’s eyes widened for just a moment-then he laughed.

“Really?” His tone was amused, almost pitying. “This is your grand gesture? Grabbing my arms?” He twisted, testing my grip. “You’re dying, Lycan. The blade is in your heart. You have seconds left, and you’re wasting them on-”

“Your deal,” I forced out through blood-filled teeth, “is void.”

Elowen’s eyes widened-she understood. She moved, taking a step forward.

Frost. Hold her. Don’t let her come near me.

The mindlink command hit my beta with Alpha force. I saw him move instantly, catching Elowen’s arm, pulling her back even as she tried

to push forward.

This is the only way. The only chance to end him.

I squeezed. Just a little. Just enough for him to feel the pressure

Zane’s smile didn’t waver. “Pathetic. You think you can-‘

Crack.

His radius fractured under my grip. The smile faltered.

“What-” He tried to pull away, yanking backward with supernatural strength. The movement should have torn me apart, should have ripped my hands free.

I didn’t let go.

“Let go!” Annoyance crept into his voice now. “You’re embarrassing yourself! Your mate is watching you die like a-”

I squeezed harder. His ulna splintered.

Zane’s composure cracked along with his bones. He screamed-sharp and shocked. “You fool! What are you-”

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Chapter 268

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He kicked out, his foot slamming into my abdomen with enough force to crater stone. The impact should have sent me flying. Should have

broken my hold.

I slid back two inches. My claws dug deeper into his arms, tearing through muscle.

And I didn’t let go.

“Impossible- Zane’s eyes widened, real concern flashing across his face for the first time. He kicked again. Harder. His knee came up,

striking my ribs. I felt bones crack, felt the blade in my chest shift deeper.

Blood poured from my mouth. My vision swam. My Lycan form flickered.

But my hands-my hands were iron. Unbreakable. Anchored by something more fundamental than strength or magic or even life itself.

The will to destroy the thing that had hurt my mate.

“Release me!” Zane struck again and again, each blow landing with crushing force. My body was breaking. Organs rupturing. Life bleeding

out. “You’re DYING! The blade is in your heart!”

“Then I’ll-take you-with me.”

My claws, still embedded in his broken arms, began to move. Not pulling away. Moving inward. Cutting through flesh like a surgeon’s

scalpel, but without the mercy.

Slicing. Burrowing. Working their way deeper into his body.

Toward his chest. Toward his heart.

Understanding finally dawned on Zane’s face. His eyes went huge with genuine terror.

“No. No, wait-” His voice climbed toward panic. “You can’t! You’re-this is insane! You’ll die!”

“Already dying.” Each word cost me everything, but I forced them out anyway. Blood streamed from my mouth, from my nose, from the wound in my chest. My Lycan form was collapsing, fur receding, leaving raw flesh exposed. “But you first.”

I pushed my claws deeper. Through muscle. Through bone. Into his chest cavity.

“STOP!” Zane thrashed wildly now, all pretense of control gone. “I’ll let her go! I’ll release everyone! Name your price! ANYTHING!”

My claws wrapped around something that beat frantically, desperately.

His heart.

“My price,” I said, my voice barely a whisper now, darkness closing in from all sides, “was always-this.”

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14:52 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 268

I saw Elowen struggling against Frost’s hold, tears streaming down her face, her mouth open in a scream I could no longer hear. Frost

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