Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Kaius

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The landscape shifted dramatically as Frost navigated the winding mountain roads with practiced ease. Majestic peaks gave way to rolling foothills, which gradually transformed into increasingly barren terrain. Red dust coated everything in sight, and the few scraggly bushes that managed to survive looked like they were fighting a losing battle against the harsh environment.

“I still think this is reckless,” Frost muttered, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. “The pack needs their Alpha King present, especially with the border tensions escalating. You shouldn’t be out here chasing shadows.”

I leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the desolate landscape blur past. “My methods with the rogue wolves have been more than sufficient to keep them in line. And as for any alpha foolish enough to challenge my authority…” I smiled coldly. “The Moonridge pack serves as an excellent reminder of what happens to those who test me.”

Frost shot me a sideways glance. “Your confidence is admirable, but overconfidence has been the downfall of many powerful leaders.”

“Are you questioning my judgment, beta?” The warning in my voice was unmistakable.

‘I’m questioning your priorities,” he replied bluntly. “But I suppose that’s what makes me useful to you.”

The terrain grew increasingly hostile as we drove deeper into what the maps labeled as the Ashen Barrens. Rust–colored soil stretched endlessly, broken only by jagged rock formations that looked like the bones of some ancient, dead creature.

“This has to be it,” I murmured, studying the wasteland through the window.

Frost consulted the map spread across his lap, frowning. “Actually, we still have about two kilometers to go according to these

coordinates.”

My jaw clenched with impatience. Every fiber of my being screamed that I was close–closer than I’d been in four years. The mate bond hummed with increasing intensity, like a compass needle pointing toward true north.

Elowen. This time you can’t run.

But as we crested the next hill, I felt my certainty waver. “Fuck!” I burst out, pressing my face against the passenger window. “Frost, are you absolutely certain we didn’t take a wrong turn somewhere?”

Before us stretched a dense, ancient forest. Towering trees created a canopy so thick it blocked out most of the sky, casting everything below in perpetual twilight. A small stream wound through the woodland, its waters catching what little light filtered through the leaves.

Frost pulled over and cut the engine, consulting his map one final time before looking up with absolute conviction. “This is definitely the right place. The coordinates match perfectly.”

I practically threw myself out of the vehicle, staring in disbelief at the lush forest that shouldn’t exist. ‘Are you fucking kidding me? The

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Chapter 33

survey specifically stated ‘no vegetation, no water sources, temperatures that would kill most wildlife. This is the complete opposite!”

“I see trees, I see water,” Frost said dryly, running his hand along the bark of a massive oak. “The only strange thing is…”

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We both fell silent, suddenly aware of what was missing. The forest was beautiful, but it was also unnaturally quiet. No birdsong, no rustling of small animals, no wind through the leaves. Even our own footsteps seemed muffled, as if the very air absorbed sound.

“This level of acoustic dampening isn’t natural,” Frost observed, his analytical mind already working through the implications. “It’s too

perfect, too complete. Someone has gone to extraordinary lengths to create this environment.”

I nodded slowly, pieces falling into place. “It’s designed to keep people away. The silence would unnerve most wolves–make them want to

leave quickly rather than investigate.”

“Exactly,” Frost agreed, a note of excitement creeping into his voice. “Which means someone has something very valuable to hide here.

Something worth expending tremendous magical energy to conceal.”

“Fuck!” The revelation hit me like lightning. “This is all an illusion! It has to be witch magic–high–level glamour work that can alter

physical perception on this scale.”

Frost nodded approvingly. “Advanced illusion magic can fool the eyes and ears, but scent is much harder to mask completely. Try using

your enhanced senses.”

I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath, focusing every ounce of my Alpha abilities on detecting familiar traces. The forest smells were there–earth, moss, growing things–but underneath them…