Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Elowen

The familiar hum of fluorescent lights and the scent of stale coffee hit me as I pushed through Sterling & Associates glass doors Monday

morning.

Despite my determination to focus purely on work, anxiety gnawed at my chest like a persistent ache. Every instinct I possessed screamed that I should be back at the pack, investigating those mysterious rogue wolves instead of pretending to care about quarterly reports.

Focus, Elowen. You need this job to keep everyone fed.

I made it exactly three steps toward my desk before the mountain of files waiting there made me want to turn around and walk right back out. Two weeks of absence had created a paperwork avalanche that would take days to dig through.

I was just settling into my chair, already mentally organizing the chaos, when familiar footsteps approached with purposeful determination. Before I could even look up, strong arms wrapped around me from behind.

“Finally! I get to see you again!” Cassius’s voice was warm against my ear, his embrace tighter and longer than any casual greeting had a

right to be.

Heat flooded my cheeks as I became acutely aware of how his cologne seemed to surround me, how his chest pressed against my back with unmistakable intimacy. Several colleagues glanced our way with obvious interest, and I felt my professional composure cracking.

“Hey, I managed, forcing brightness into my voice as I stood and gently extracted myself from his hold. “Good to see you too, but…” ! gestured helplessly at the towering stacks of documents. “I really have a lot to catch up on today. Maybe we can talk later?”

Cassius immediately stepped back, his hands rising in apologetic surrender. “Yes, of course. Sorry–I just missed you so much! His laugh was self–conscious but genuine. “Oh, I almost forgot! There’s a meeting at eleven, Mandatory attendance for everyone.”

“Thanks for the heads–up,‘ I said, already turning back to my desk with relief.

But even as I threw myself into the familiar routine of client reviews and market projections, I couldn’t shake the image of those mysterious wolves circling our territory. What did they want? Why were they watching us so carefully?

Stop it. Work first, pack problems later,

The conference room buzzed with nervous energy as we filed in for the eleven o’clock meeting. Patricia stood at the head of the polished table, her sharp suit and sharper expression making it clear this wasn’t going to be a casual update.

She waited until we were all seated before fixing me with a look that could have frozen blood.

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“Nice of you to grace us with your presence, Elowen,” she said in a voice pitched just loud enough for everyone to hear. ‘Another mysterious disappearance, another lost client opportunity.” Her smile was razor–thin. ‘We’ll discuss your Chicago debacle later.”

I nodded, keeping my expression professionally neutral despite the knot forming in my stomach.

Patricia’s demeanor shifted as she addressed the room at large. “Everyone needs to be at their absolute best this week. We have VIP clients flying in Friday for a comprehensive portfolio review–the kind of account that can make or break quarterly numbers.‘

Murmurs of interest rippled around the table. Patricia’s definition of “VIP” usually meant serious money.

“Which brings me to my next point,” she continued, scanning our faces with predatory calculation. “These VIP clients are extremely important, and I’ve been informed that their CEO will personally attend Friday’s meeting.” Her expression turned stern. “This means everyone needs to dress formally–and I mean impeccably. Full business attire, elegant presentation. This is not the time for casual

professionalism.”

I suppressed a sigh. Great. I hate dressing up like some corporate peacock.

Excited whispers started circulating around the table. I caught fragments of conversation from my female colleagues: “I heard he’s from overseas… incredibly wealthy… and apparently quite handsome…”

Cassius’s expression darkened with obvious irritation. “Eastern countries, right?” he said dismissively. “People from that region tend to

have pretty mediocre taste anyway.”

I barely registered his comment. Normally, gossip about attractive, wealthy clients might have caught my interest, but all I could think about were those mysterious rogue wolves circling our territory. The pack needed me, and here I was trapped in corporate theater.

The meeting dragged on with more logistics about client preparation and presentation protocols. My mind kept drifting to Scarlett’s patrol reports and the growing threat to our sanctuary.

As soon as Patricia dismissed us, Cassius appeared beside me with a knowing smile. “Elowen, I knew you were different from the others! You clearly have much better taste when it comes to handsome men than these gossipy women do.”

“Right,” I said absently, already gathering my things. “I really need to get back to work now.”

My phone buzzed just as I was unwrapping a sad desk salad at lunch. Scarlett’s name on the caller ID made my pulse quicken–she never contacted me during business hours unless something was seriously wrong.

“What’s happening?” I answered immediately, already scanning the office to make sure no one was listening.

“I figured it out,” Scarlett’s voice was tight with urgency. “These rogue wolves aren’t just vanishing into thin air. They’re retreating to a cave system about fifteen miles north of our territory.”

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“A cave? I frowned, setting down my plastic fork. “You’re sure?”

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“Positive. I tracked three separate groups there yesterday. But Elowen…” Her voice dropped lower. “There’s something deeply wrong with

that place. The energy radiating from it is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. Powerful, but twisted. Dark.”

My blood ran cold. Magical caves weren’t exactly common in our region–whoever was organizing these surveillance efforts had serious

supernatural backing.

“It gets worse,” Scarlett continued. “They’re not just using the cave as a hideout. It’s functioning like some kind of transportation hub.

Wolves disappear into it from various locations, then emerge from the same cave hours later to scout different areas.”

“Portal magic?” I whispered, glancing around to make sure no human colleagues were within earshot.