Alpha's STOLEN Mate Chapter 153

Elowen

Sunlight streamed through the windows, bright and insistent. I burrowed deeper into the pillows, reluctant to leave the warm cocoon of sleep.

My body felt strange—deliciously sore, muscles aching in ways that were somehow satisfying. Memories from last night drifted through my mind in fragments: Kaius's hands, his mouth, the desperate intensity of our reconnection...

Heat flooded my cheeks even as I smiled into the pillow.

I reached out lazily, expecting to find him beside me—

My hand met empty, cold sheets.

The disappointment was surprisingly sharp. I sat up, clutching the blanket to my chest, scanning the enormous bedroom. No sign of him anywhere.

*When did I start getting used to sleeping with someone?* I thought irritably. *Fuck. This is pathetic.*

The door swung open.

Evelyn and Scarlett burst in carrying trays loaded with food—fresh pastries, sliced fruit, scrambled eggs with herbs, thick bacon strips, toast with jam, and what looked like three different types of juice. They set everything on the bedside table with exaggerated care, both of them wearing identical mischievous grins.

"What?" I pulled the blanket higher, suddenly self-conscious. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Evelyn sidled closer, her eyes scanning the utterly destroyed state of the bed—sheets twisted, pillows scattered, the duvet half on the floor. "Well, well. Looks like the final coronation ceremony last night was quite... vigorous."

"What are you talking about?" I scowled. "There was no other ceremony!"

"Oh, you want me to be explicit?" Evelyn's grin widened. "Fine. The *fucking* ceremony. You know—the one where the King and Queen consummate their union? And based on the evidence..." She gestured at the chaos around us. "I'd say you had an absolutely explosive time!"

"EVELYN!" I launched myself off the bed, ready to strangle her.

She shrieked with laughter and dove behind Scarlett. "I'm not making it up! Scarlett can confirm! Tell her, Scarlett!"

I turned my glare on Scarlett, who had the decency to look embarrassed. "Well?" I demanded.

Scarlett's smile was apologetic and deeply uncomfortable. "Elowen... your voice carries. Last night, um... the entire castle could hear—"

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"Oh, that's not even the best part!" Evelyn peeked out from behind Scarlett's shoulder, eyes dancing with wicked delight. "Your dirty talk? God! It was so hot, I'm pretty sure half the female wolves in this castle got wet just listening! Even the cats outside probably went into heat—"

My face felt like it was on fire. I spun around, presenting my back to them both, wishing desperately that the floor would open up and swallow me whole.

*I'm the Queen. The Queen of this entire kingdom. And everyone—EVERYONE—heard me having sex with the King.*

"Oh God. No. This can't be happening. I want to die. I want to crawl into a hole and never come out—"

"We're exaggerating!" Scarlett quickly intervened, shooting Evelyn a warning look. "It wasn't that bad! We're just teasing!" She brought over a plate of food, offering it like a peace treaty. "Here. Eat something. You must be starving after... after last night."

I snatched the plate and pointed at both of them with a strip of bacon. "New rule. Effective immediately. No one mentions sex. Ever. We never speak of this again."

I bit into the bacon aggressively, chewing with more violence than necessary.

But Evelyn was still watching me with that knowing, insufferable smirk.

I threw down my food. "FINE! Fine! Yes! Last night was amazing! I had multiple orgasms and yes, I got vocal about it! Happy now?!" I jabbed a finger at Evelyn. "But don't act so pure, you hypocrite! What about you and the Chief Elder? I'm sure you've had plenty of fun with that bookworm! I've heard that nerdy guys are actually insatiable in bed—all that pent-up sexual frustration from years and years of loneliness means once they finally get the chance, they can't get enough!"

Scarlett covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "Oh my God, Elowen—"

"What? It's true!" I grabbed another piece of toast. "Those quiet, studious types are always the wild ones behind closed doors. Trust me on this!"

To my surprise, Evelyn didn't even flinch. "You mean Faelan? The walking, talking encyclopedia?" She waved dismissively, examining her nails. "I already told you—we're book buddies. Purely platonic reading companions! Nothing more!"

I took a long, deliberate sip of coffee, eyeing her skeptically over the rim. "I don't believe you for a single second. I've seen the way you look at each other when you think no one's watching. There's definitely something brewing there." I leaned forward, setting down my cup. "And honestly? Based on everything I know about you, I absolutely cannot imagine you developing feelings for someone and not immediately trying to sleep with them. That's just not how you operate!"

Scarlett nodded enthusiastically. "She's right! You've always been so... direct about these things. Remember that warrior from the northern pack? You propositioned him within five minutes of meeting him!"

"He was attractive and available!" Evelyn protested. "Why waste time?"

Evelyn's expression shifted—the playfulness draining away, replaced by something more genuine and contemplative. "You know what? You're actually completely right about that. That's exactly how I work."

"Wait, really?" I set down my food, suddenly more interested.

"The problem is, I genuinely can't confirm my feelings without sex. Like, it's physically impossible for me." She said it matter-of-factly, like discussing the weather or what to have for lunch. "For me, sexual compatibility is the foundation of everything. It's how I know if love is real or just infatuation. Physical connection reveals emotional truth—that's my philosophy."

Scarlett tilted her head, fascinated. "So you need the physical aspect first before you can understand your emotions?"

"Exactly! But Faelan..." Evelyn made a frustrated sound, running her fingers through her hair. "God, that man. He keeps hinting—no, sometimes he outright declares—that he wants to wait until we're properly married before taking things to that level. Can you believe that? It's so ridiculously old-fashioned! Like we're living in some ancient century where people courted for years before even holding hands!"

I grabbed more bacon, chewing thoughtfully. "That does sound frustrating for someone like you."

"Frustrating doesn't begin to cover it!" Evelyn threw her hands up. "So I've been stuck in this horrible limbo, unable to confirm what I actually feel for him. Is it love? Is it just friendly affection? I have no idea because we haven't crossed that crucial threshold!" She slumped dramatically. "And now? Honestly, after all this waiting and uncertainty, I've kind of lost interest entirely. The spark's gone. The mystery isn't exciting anymore—it's just exhausting."

I nearly choked on my coffee. "Hold on. Back up. You're seriously saying you cannot tell if you love someone unless you have sex with them first?"

Scarlett's eyes were absolutely huge. "And that having sex is how you fall in love? That physical intimacy creates emotional attachment for you? That's actually how your brain works?"

Evelyn pouted, looking genuinely offended. "Don't make it sound so weird! Everyone experiences love differently! Everyone has their own methods, their own processes! My love language just happens to be intensely physical!" She crossed her arms defensively. "Some people need deep conversations. Some need shared experiences. Some need time. I need physical connection. What's wrong with that?"

I shook my head, trying to process this revelation. "So you're saying you broke up with him?"

"More like... drifted apart?" Evelyn waved vaguely. "You know how it is. When you don't have sex for a long time, the emotional connection just deteriorates. That's what happened to us."

Then her expression brightened, that mischievous spark returning. "Which is why I've decided to try something new! That green-eyed vampire—Zane? He's invited me to visit the vampire territories. I'm thinking of exploring that option!"

"Seriously?" I stared at her. "You're going to date a vampire?"

Scarlett looked equally concerned. "Evelyn, are you sure about this? Everyone knows vampires are cold-blooded in every sense. They're not exactly known for their emotional warmth—"

"Perfect!" Evelyn grinned. "I'm not exactly warm-blooded emotionally either! I mean, technically my blood is warm, but my personality?" She laughed. "Ice runs through my veins, baby!"

"When are you leaving?" I asked, suddenly feeling a weight in my chest. Evelyn was irritating and chaotic, but she was also my friend. My family.

"Tomorrow, probably?"

Tomorrow. My stomach dropped as I remembered last night's revelation.

If Evelyn left tomorrow without seeing her mother... who knew when they'd have another chance? Years could pass. A decade, even.

I took a deep breath, preparing to wade into waters that definitely weren't my business.

"Evelyn." I set down my coffee carefully. "Your mother—the Arch-Witch, Arabella? She's here. In this castle. I found out last night who she was." I met her eyes. "I think... maybe you should see her before you leave."

Scarlett gasped. "Wait—you have a mother? And she's an Arch-Witch?!" She turned to Evelyn, looking almost betrayed. "Why didn't you tell us you came from such a powerful family?!"

Evelyn's face had gone completely blank. Not angry, not surprised—just empty.

When she finally spoke, her voice was flat and cold. "That woman? I never want to see her again."