Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Elowen

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God, I’m not a fucking idiot.

The thought blazed through my mind as I stared at his cold, calculating face. I’d nearly died just trying to buy birthday bread in his

territory. If I told him the truth about these past four years–about what I’d become, about the people who’d helped me, about the life I’d

built–I’d never have another chance to escape.

Hook, line, and sinker. That’s what he wants. Complete surrender.

But I could feel my strength returning with every heartbeat, his blood working through my system like liquid fire. My wolf was stirring, no

longer crushed beneath the wolfsbane’s poison. The numbness in my legs had faded completely, replaced by a tingling awareness that told

me I was healing faster than should have been possible.

I’ll get my chance. I just need to wait for the right moment.

Slowly, deliberately, I pushed myself upright until I was sitting on the edge of the bed. My spine straightened, shoulders squaring as I met

his questioning gaze without flinching. Let him see that his intimidation tactics weren’t working anymore.

“Despite saving my life,” I said, my voice steady despite the rage building in my chest, “let me be perfectly clear: where I live, where I

enjoy my life, and with whom I enjoy my life-”

His eyes flashed dangerously at those last words, storm–gray irises darkening to the color of a winter tempest. But I didn’t stop. Wouldn’t let him silence me again.

–has absolutely nothing to do with you. From the moment you publicly rejected me, from the moment I left this pack, my entire

existence became none of your fucking business.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Kaius went completely still, his predatory gaze xed on my face with an intensity that made my skin crawl. When he finally moved, it was with the fluid grace of a wolf stalking wounded prey.

fluid

“Still running your mouth,” he murmured, stepping closer until his knees brushed against mine. His hand shot out, fingers gripping my chin with bruising force, tilting my head back until I had no choice but to look at him. “You know I can send you back to that dungeon anytime I want. I can find someone far more creative than Marcus to extract answers from you.”

The mention of that bastard’s name sent a chill down my spine, memories of wolfsbane and agony flooding back. But I’d be damned if I let Kaius see my fear.

“I would rather face someone a hundred times more cruel than Marcus than deal with you,” I spat, yanking my chin from his grasp. “In fact, if I see Marcus again, you better warn him to be careful. I might just bite his fucking throat out this time.”

Something flickered across Kaius’s face–surprise, maybe even a hint of admiration–before his expression hardened into granite.

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Chapter 8

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“You’re testing my patience,” he said, his voice dropping to that deadly register that made Alpha wolves submit. “Before I lose what little

control I have left, give me one final satisfactory answer. Tell me what you’ve been doing for four years.”

The threat was clear, but I was so fucking tired of being intimidated by him. Tired of cowering, tired of letting him dictate my life even

from a distance.

“I’ve told you a thousand fucking times! I exploded, my voice echoing off the medical facility’s walls. “I spent four years getting as far

away from you as possible! Far away from the past! Building my own life!*

He stopped pacing, his entire body going rigid. When he turned to face me, the fury in his eyes was so intense I could practically feel the

heat radiating from him.

“Your new life?” His voice was silk over steel, deceptively quiet. “You will never have a new life again. Not after this.” His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “And with whom, exactly?”

I smiled, the expression sharp enough to cut glass. “Anyone but you. Never you.”

That did it.

The careful control he’d been maintaining shattered like glass hitting concrete. His hands moved to his shirt, fingers working the buttons

with violent precision.

“You know what?” he snarled, each word dripping with barely leashed rage. “You’ve successfully killed any interest I had in civilized

conversation. I don’t want to ask you questions anymore.”

Fuck Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Maybe I’ll just have to find the answers myself,” he continued, shrugging out of his shirt to reveal the kind of physique that belonged in

ancient war stories–all lean muscle and battle scars, power incarnate.

“Fuck! The word tore from my throat as panic flooded my system. “What the hell are you doing?”

10:24 Mon, Jan 12

Alpha’s STOLEN Mate