Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Elowen

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True to his word, fresh food arrived within minutes of Kaius’s departure. I glared at the tray like it had personally offended me, my anger still burning hot from our confrontation. The ceramic shards from my earlier projectile glittered on the floor, mixed with splattered

remnants of the meal I’d hurled at his arrogant head.

Bastard thinks he can threaten me into submission.

But as much as I hated to admit it, my body desperately needed fuel. I grabbed the new bowl with violent determination, shoveling food into my mouth with aggressive efficiency. Each bite was an act of rebellion against his control–I wasn’t eating because he’d ordered me to, I was eating to regain strength for my inevitable escape.

Eat to fight. Eat to run. Eat to get the hell away from this psychotic mate.

The taste barely registered as I wolfed down bread, soup, even the fruit that had been carefully arranged on the side. My body craved nutrition after the ordeal of wolfsbane poisoning and Alpha aura assault.

But with each bite, I could feel my traitorous lips tingling with the memory of his kiss. The way he’d claimed my mouth with such possessive hunger, the way my body had responded despite every rational thought screaming in protest.

Fucking mate bond, I thought furiously, touching my lips before jerking my hand away. Making me react like some lovesick teenager.

As I finished the last of the meal, I was amazed to discover how rapidly my strength was returning. The crushing fatigue that had weighed me down was lifting, replaced by familiar vitality coursing through my veins.

“Holy shit!” Nyx’s voice suddenly exploded through our mental connection, vibrant and energetic. “I’m back! And feeling fantastic! Kaius really went easy on us this time–that dose of wolfsbane was nowhere near enough to actually hurt me. I’m practically bouncing off the

walls in here!”

My jaw dropped. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I hissed under my breath. “He’s the enemy! He wants to lock us in this godforsaken castle forever! And you’re grateful?”

“Hey, I’m just saying he could have pumped us full of enough poison to keep me dormant for weeks,‘ Nyx replied with obvious amusement. “Instead, I’m already at maybe seventy percent capacity. That’s pretty considerate for a supposed tyrant.”

“Considerate?” I wanted to scream. “The only reason he’s keeping us functional is so he can use us! And if you weren’t constantly reacting to his wolf like some horny teenager, maybe our bond wouldn’t keep getting stronger every time he touches us!”

Nyx’s mental laughter was absolutely infuriating. “Oh, so now it’s my fault? You’re the one who practically melted when he kissed you! I felt that tongue action, sweetheart. That was all you, not me.”

Heat flooded my cheeks as I remembered exactly how I’d responded to his assault on my mouth. “That was–that was just biology! Mate

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Chapter 60

bond bullshit!”

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“Sure it was,” Nyx said with obvious skepticism. “Keep telling yourself that.‘

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Before I could continue our argument, footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. I immediately bristled, crossing my arms defensively.

“Go away!” I shouted toward the door. “I ate your fucking food! Leave me alone!*

But instead of entering, voices began arguing just outside my room.

“I’m sorry, Beta,” came a deep, apologetic voice I recognized as Cross, the gamma Kaius had assigned to imprison me. “But I’m afraid without direct orders from the Alpha, I can’t allow anyone to see her.”

My head snapped up with interest. Frost! The one wolf in this entire pack who’d shown any trace of human decency was finally making an

appearance.

Thank God. At least there’s one reasonable person in this place.

But something was different about his scent. It was fainter than before, somehow muted in a way I couldn’t quite identify. Before I could analyze it further, Frost’s cultured voice drifted through the door.

“Gamma, surely you can see I’m carrying medical supplies? I’m simply here to help our queen recover properly.”

“Queen?” Cross sounded uncertain. “But the Alpha King hasn’t officially announced her status…”

I could practically hear Frost’s patient sigh through the wood. “Gamma, when has the Alpha King ever personally ordered you to guard a woman? When has he ever cared this much about whether someone ate their dinner? Use your brain.”

Cross went silent, apparently unable to argue with that logic.

“Good man,” Frost continued smoothly. “Now run along. I’ll take responsibility for this visit.”