Alpha's STOLEN Mate Chapter 122

Elowen

The next day, we gathered in Faelan's workshop—a cluttered space filled with ancient texts, bubbling alchemical equipment, and the sharp scent of magical reagents.

Under his careful guidance, we began the delicate process of combining the ingredients. Each component had to be added in precise order, at exact temperatures, with specific incantations muttered over the mixture. One mistake could render the entire batch useless—or worse, toxic.

Hours passed. Finally, we had it—a shimmering silver liquid that seemed to hold captured moonlight. We carefully divided it into dozens of small vials, each one potentially capable of freeing a wolf from Morgath's control.

"Now we just need to figure out how to actually administer this," I said, holding one vial up to the light.

Evelyn grinned. "Easy! Syringes. Sneak up behind them mid-battle and jab them with a needle."

I stared at her. "You want me to carry delicate medical equipment into combat? Have you ever been in a real fight? You think I'll have time to carefully inject someone while dodging claws and fire magic?"

"She has a point about the delivery method being problematic," Kaius said thoughtfully. Then he pulled out a dagger—not just any dagger, but *that* dagger. The one with the distinctive guard and wickedly sharp blade. The one that had nearly killed me.

My blood went cold at the sight of it.

"This," Kaius continued, "is the most efficient solution. We coat the blade with the antidote, then deliver it directly to the target. Fast. Decisive. No fumbling with vials in the middle of a fight."

He handed the dagger and one vial to a nearby guard. "Take this to the forge. Have them infuse the blade with the serum. I want it ready within the hour."

The guard bowed and hurried off.

I couldn't take my eyes off where the dagger had been. "Kaius," I said carefully. "Are you sure about this method? That blade—it can kill an Alpha just as easily as cure one. You'd have to be incredibly precise about the angle, the depth, the exact location of the strike..."

"I'm aware." His voice was cold. Clinical. "Which is why, as I've said before, if saving him proves impossible—if he's too far gone—ending him becomes a viable option." He met my eyes. "I'll try to save him first. But I won't hesitate to do what's necessary."

The matter-of-fact way he said it sent a chill down my spine.

*He means it. He's actually prepared to kill his own father.*

Kaius turned away from me, addressing Faelan. "Now. Tell me where he'll appear next. You've been analyzing the attack patterns from all the Alpha reports. You must have found something."

Faelan nodded eagerly and spread out a hand-drawn map across his cluttered desk. His fingers traced over various marked points—each one representing a location where the golden wolf had been sighted.

"Here," he said, pointing to the southernmost mark. "Then here, and here." His finger moved steadily northward, connecting the dots into a clear trajectory. "The pattern is consistent. He's moving in a straight line, hitting packs sequentially as he travels north."

His finger stopped on a point in Kaius's territory.

"Based on the trajectory, your pack should be the next target, Alpha King."

Kaius's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "When?"

Faelan adjusted his glasses. "Based on his movement speed and the intervals between attacks, I estimate he'll arrive sometime in the next twelve to forty-eight hours. Prepare accordingly."

---

We left Faelan's workshop and immediately shifted into combat mode. Kaius sent urgent orders throughout his territory—reinforce barriers, establish patrol rotations, position the strongest warriors at strategic points. I coordinated with my own pack, making sure Scarlett knew to keep everyone on high alert in case the predictions were wrong.

Within hours, the enhanced dagger was ready—its blade now gleaming with an otherworldly sheen where the antidote had been infused into the metal.

Kaius held it up to the light, and I saw something flicker across his face. Uncertainty? Fear? But it was gone in an instant, replaced by grim determination. He tucked the blade into a sheath at his hip.

Together, we climbed to the highest watchtower overlooking the southern approach to Kaius's territory. We'd changed into practical combat gear—reinforced leather and flexible armor that wouldn't restrict movement. At our feet sat provisions: bread, water, dried meat. Enough to sustain us through a long watch.

And then we waited.

Hours crawled by. The sun reached its zenith, then began its slow descent toward the horizon. Patrol reports came in regularly—nothing. No golden wolf. No signs of disturbance. Just the usual forest sounds and the occasional passing deer.

As the sun finally sank below the treeline and the moon began its rise, I felt my vigilance starting to waver. My muscles ached from standing still for so long. My eyes burned from staring at the same stretch of forest.

I finally gave up and sat down heavily, grabbing a piece of bread and tearing off a chunk. "Well," I said through a mouthful, "I guess your father decided to take the night off from terrorizing innocent packs."

Kaius remained standing, his gaze fixed on the southern horizon. "It's strange," he said quietly. "I used to fantasize about this when I was young. Fighting my father. Testing myself against him." His voice carried old pain. "I always knew I'd lose. But I wanted to try anyway. Just once."

I swallowed my bread, watching him. "I'd rather you never got that chance."

Silence fell between us, comfortable despite the tension of our vigil. The moon climbed higher, casting silver light across the landscape. It was beautiful—peaceful, even. Hard to believe we were waiting for a monster to attack.

The tranquility made my mind wander to deeper questions. Things I'd been avoiding thinking about.

"Kaius," I said softly. "If I wasn't the White Wolf... would you still love me?"

He answered without looking away from his watch. "I'd love you if you were an Omega."

I kicked his leg lightly. "Fuck off. I'm being serious."

That got his attention. He finally turned to face me, and in the moonlight, his expression was thoughtful. "You're asking a hypothetical question that's impossible to answer honestly. Any response I give—yes or no—could be considered a lie because we'll never know the truth."

"Just answer it," I insisted.

"If you really want an answer," he said slowly, "then I suppose the only way to truly test it would be if you lost all your abilities. Became completely ordinary. Then we'd see if my feelings remained." He paused. "But I have confidence that the answer would be yes. I'd still love you."

I gaped at him. "You're an idiot. That's the worst way to answer a romantic question I've ever heard."

A smile tugged at his lips. "Fair enough." He sat down beside me, his eyes glinting with mischief in the moonlight. "Then let me ask you something. If I wasn't an Alpha—if I were an Omega, or even more realistically, if I were a Beta like Frost—would you still love me?"

The question caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to answer immediately, instinctively—

*Yes. Of course. I love you for who you are, not what you are.*

But before I could form the words, Scarlett's voice exploded into my mind with such force I actually flinched.

*ALPHA! Get back here NOW! The pack is under attack! The barrier's been breached!*

I shot to my feet, my heart hammering. "Your fucking father," I snarled, already opening a lightning rift, "is attacking MY pack!"