Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Kajus

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Frost was indeed waiting in the study when I finally made my way downstairs, though he didn’t look up from the documents spread across

the desk when I entered.

“You took long enough,” he said without lifting his head. “In the time you spent getting patched up, showering, and brooding about your

mate, I managed to complete a full analysis of today’s attack.”

Fuck. He knows I was thinking about Elowen. Of course Frost would see right through me–the bastard was too perceptive for his own good. I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the present. For some reason, I suddenly felt the urge to share a drink with my beta. Maybe it

was the aftermath of nearly dying, or maybe I just needed something to dull the edge of this restless energy,

I moved to the liquor cabinet, retrieving a bottle of aged whiskey and two crystal glasses. The amber liquid caught the firelight as I

poured, creating warm pools of light in the cut crystal.

“Fair enough,” I said, offering Frost one glass while keeping the other for myself. So what did your analysis turn up?” I took a sip, letting the burn ground me. ‘Let me guess–they’d been watching us for days. Waiting until we were isolated and vulnerable. And judging by their military–grade equipment and professional coordination, they’re backed by resources far beyond what typical rogue packs could afford.”

Frost finally looked up, a slight smile playing at his lips. “That’s the first intelligent thing you’ve said all day. Finally decided to use that

brain of yours?”

I grimaced, settling into the chair across from him. Today had been a series of increasingly poor decisions driven by obsession rather than strategy. I couldn’t really argue with his assessment.

Frost reached into a leather portfolio, producing a series of photographs that he spread across the desktop. “Let’s look at specifics. These vehicles were modified Ravager ATVs–military spec, about fifty thousand each. The motorcycles were custom Hellhound interceptors, another thirty thousand per unit. And these weapons…” He pointed to close–up shots of the mounted guns. “M249 SAWS with silver–core ammunition. We’re looking at a minimum operational cost of half a million for this one ambush.”

I studied the images, feeling my eyebrows rise despite myself. “Jesus. That’s more than some packs spend on equipment in a decade.”

*Exactly, Frost said, leaning back in his chair. “This wasn’t some opportunistic attack by desperate rogues. This was a coordinated military operation funded by someone with serious resources.‘

The implications were staggering. I set down my whiskey, the pleasant burn forgotten as the reality of our situation crystallized.

“So like you suspected before, I said slowly, “some of the alphas still see me as a threat worth eliminating. The question is which ones have both the resources and the balls to try something this direct.

Frost nodded gravely. “I can’t point fingers without concrete evidence. But this operation matches the intelligence patterns I’ve been monitoring. Someone with military connections and deep pockets finally made their move. Today’s ambush perfectly confirmed my

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Chapter 38

suspicions.”

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I studied Frost’s expression–the calm, almost satisfied way he delivered that last line. There was no surprise in his eyes, no shock at how

close we’d come to dying. Just the look of someone whose theory had been proven correct. A cold realization began creeping up my spine.

“Wait, wait, wait!” I said, my voice rising with incredulous anger. “Don’t you fucking tell me you suspected there might be an ambush

today and we went anyway!”

Frost didn’t deny it, didn’t even have the grace to look guilty. Instead, he met my gaze directly, his blue eyes steady and unrepentant.

“I knew I couldn’t talk you out of hunting for Elowen,” he said evenly. “So I decided to accompany you and hope our enemies would make a move. I needed you to see firsthand that our threats aren’t just paranoid fantasies. Sometimes the only way to prove danger exists is to

let it show its teeth.”

I shot to my feet, anger flaring hot and immediate. “We almost fucking died out there! If you suspected an ambush, you could have

warned me, brought more backup-”

“And what?” Frost interrupted, his own voice rising. “You would have believed me if I told you a group of rogues had military–grade weapons? You would have postponed your obsessive hunt long enough to take proper precautions?”