Alpha's STOLEN Mate Chapter 141

Kaius

I walked slowly back toward Morgath's laboratory, deliberately casual in my movements. But every step was calculated, measured against the pulse I felt emanating from my wrist.

The runes Evelyn had embedded in my skin were warm, thrumming with a subtle energy that grew stronger or weaker depending on my proximity to the gemstone. It was like a compass made of magic, guiding me through this crystalline maze.

The buildings around me were identical—white, pristine structures made entirely of crystal, each one indistinguishable from the next. A perfect prison where everything looked the same, where you could wander forever and never truly know where you were.

But I wasn't wandering. I was hunting.

The signal grew stronger as I approached Morgath's territory. Each step brought a sharper pulse, a clearer sense of direction. The gemstone was here, somewhere in this cluster of buildings. I could feel it calling through the runes, could almost—

"What are you looking for, Kaius?"

The voice cut through my thoughts like ice water down my spine.

Morgath. Standing behind me, her tone cold and suspicious.

Every instinct screamed danger, but I kept my body perfectly still. Didn't flinch, didn't turn too quickly. Just maintained the same casual, predatory posture I'd been carrying.

"The battle earlier barely got my blood pumping," I said, my voice carrying just the right note of frustration. "I was just starting to enjoy myself when they ran away like cowards." I finally turned to face her, letting irritation color my expression. "Now I need somewhere to release this anger. I was going to find Elowen—"

Morgath's masked face studied me intently, and I could feel her weighing my words, searching for deception. But then her gaze dropped to the blood covering my face and torso—Frost's blood, Scarlett's blood, evidence of the brutal fight we'd staged.

Something in her posture relaxed.

She moved closer, her movements predatory and possessive. Before I could react, her hand shot out and grasped my cock through the thin barrier of clothing.

Humiliation burned through me, but I forced myself to remain still, to accept the violation without protest.

"Releasing anger?" she purred, her grip tightening mockingly. "Or releasing your *lust*? A beast is always a beast, isn't it? The fight got you so worked up that you're practically throbbing."

Her touch was clinical, degrading—treating me like an object, a toy, something to be examined and controlled.

I swallowed my rage and spoke in a voice that sounded strained, barely controlled. "My lady... please forgive me."

She laughed and released me, stepping back. I started to turn away, eager to escape before she could probe deeper, but her next words froze me in place.

"Though no matter how distracted you were," she said softly, dangerously, "it still doesn't explain why you couldn't even kill that weakling Frost, does it?"

Every nerve in my body went taut. This was it—the real test. The moment that would determine if I lived or died, if my careful deception would hold or shatter.

But I didn't panic. Instead, I let a slow, cold smile spread across my Lycan features as I turned back to face her.

"Couldn't kill him?" I echoed, my tone almost mocking. "Morgath, do you really understand so little?" I tilted my head, studying her masked face. "Tell me—when you have a weak opponent, what's more entertaining? Killing them quickly and being done with it? Or playing with them, giving them just enough hope to keep struggling, then crushing that hope over and over?"

For a long moment, she said nothing.

Then she laughed—a genuine sound of delight.

"Oh? You find the latter more interesting as well?"

I let my smile turn savage. "Naturally. I just didn't expect them to have Scarlett as backup. Let things slip through my claws a bit." I shrugged, unconcerned. "But even mistakes are part of the game's pleasure, aren't they? I'm already looking forward to the next round."

Morgath's entire demeanor shifted. The suspicion melted away, replaced by something approaching admiration. She moved close again, her hands roaming over my chest, fingers trailing through the blood on my face. She brought one bloodstained finger to her lips and licked it, her tongue savoring the taste.

"God!" she breathed. "You're becoming more like me every day! A game that's too easy holds no interest at all!" Her voice dropped to something almost intimate. "You did very well tonight, Kaius."

Relief crashed through me, carefully hidden behind my bestial mask.

*Just wait,* I thought coldly. *When you're dying, you'll understand that you were killed by your own arrogant game.*

She stepped back, gesturing dismissively toward the direction of Elowen's cell.

"Go claim your reward for tonight, my beautiful pet. Go to your mate." Her voice turned playful, cruel. "Play with her all you want. Leave her with some lasting memories! Because tomorrow—" She laughed. "Tomorrow she'll forget you completely."

Rage burned in my chest, but I kept my expression neutral. I didn't want to hurt Elowen again. Couldn't bear the thought of touching her while wearing this monstrous form, while she looked at me with hatred and fear.

But I had no choice. Refusing would destroy everything.

As Morgath turned to leave for her own chambers, she paused and glanced back.

"Oh, and this time I won't be monitoring your... session. You understand—I need my beauty sleep. Your methods are far too *exciting*. They'd keep me up all night." Another laugh. "Take it easy, Lycan. Don't break her completely before tomorrow."

Then she was gone, disappearing into her quarters.

I stood there for a moment, forcing down the nausea and fury, then made my way to Elowen's cell.

---

The moment I stepped into the white room, I knew something was different.

Elowen sat in the cage, but she was unnaturally still. Too quiet. Like the calm before a devastating storm. That very stillness made my chest tighten with worry.

*What happened? What did they do to her while I was—*

The instant I moved closer to the bars, she exploded into motion.

She shot to her feet, grabbing the cage and shaking it violently, her voice raw with fury.

"Kaius! I'm warning you—don't come any closer!"

Relief washed over me so powerfully I nearly staggered.

*Good.* A cold smile touched my lips. *That's good. I need you to stay angry, to keep that fire burning. Tomorrow, we'll need every bit of that strength to escape.*

I let the smile show, deliberately cruel, deliberately taunting.

"Tonight," I said, my voice low and measured, "I have no interest in tormenting you. I only came to check on your... preparations for the transformation tomorrow." I studied her through the bars. "And I can see you're not ready. Not at all."

"Fuck you!" she spat, her hands white-knuckled on the crystal bars. "I should never have trusted you! You're beyond saving—a fallen, corrupted Alpha!"

I ignored the venom in her words, my tone remaining flat and unbothered.

"Save your energy. I'm tired. Don't force me to discipline you again." I let my gaze drift deliberately downward, lingering on her chest with obvious intent. "You know, even in this Lycan form, I still appreciate what's beneath your clothes. Don't tempt me to act on those urges."

My eyes went cold, predatory, holding her gaze.

Elowen's voice faltered. The shouting died in her throat.

"That's better," I said, allowing satisfaction to color my tone. "Stay quiet like that. Spend this last night with me peacefully." I moved to the side of the cage, sliding down to sit with my back against the bars, legs stretched out before me. "Tomorrow, everything changes. A whole new life begins."

I closed my eyes, settling into position as if preparing to sleep.

Almost immediately, Elowen began kicking the cage. Hard, angry kicks that rattled the crystal but didn't budge it. She was trying to drive me away, to put distance between us.

I didn't move. Didn't react to her fury. Just sat there, letting exhaustion pull at my consciousness, using her rage as a strange kind of lullaby.

Eventually, her kicks grew weaker. Less frequent. The energy drained out of her, leaving only hollow exhaustion behind.

She slumped against the opposite side of the cage, and for a long moment, there was only silence.

Then her voice came, soft and broken.

"God..." She was staring up at the ceiling, not looking at me. "Why did the Moon Goddess give me this fate? Tomorrow... tomorrow I'll truly lose myself completely, won't I?"

The words cut deeper than any claw.

I kept my eyes closed, kept my breathing steady as if I'd already fallen asleep. But inside, my heart was twisting, breaking at the despair in her voice.

A small smile touched my lips—hidden in the darkness, invisible to her.

*Elowen,* I thought fiercely. *Don't give up. I'll bring you back to your real life. I swear it. No matter what it costs me.*

No matter what price I had to pay.