Alpha's STOLEN Mate Chapter 17

Elowen

I'd been working at Sterling & Associates for several days now, and the transformation still amazed me. The city's largest financial firm had become my hunting ground, where I helped wealthy humans manage their assets with the same predatory precision my father had taught me in combat.

From those first stuttering days when I could barely pronounce "portfolio diversification" without fumbling, to now confidently pitching complex investment strategies to the city's elite—the change was remarkable. I could sweet-talk the most difficult clients, navigate market volatility discussions, and close deals that made my colleagues' jaws drop.

All thanks to Cassius Fernsby.

When I'd been washing dishes in that rundown diner, invisible and desperate, he'd been the only one who saw potential beneath my shabby exterior. Golden-haired, impeccably dressed, and possessed of the kind of refined elegance that belonged in magazines, he'd somehow recognized talent where others saw only another struggling nobody.

Of course, I'd never revealed my true nature to anyone here. As far as my coworkers knew, I was just another ambitious young woman from... somewhere vague upstate. No one knew where I lived, who my family was, or why I seemed to treat money like oxygen. I kept my interactions minimal and professional.

Because the truth was simple: I needed cash. Desperately.

This morning started like any other—arriving at my corner office before dawn, preparing for another day of financial warfare. But when I pushed open my door, I stopped short.

Cassius stood by my desk holding an enormous bouquet of white roses, looking like something out of a fairytale. His perfectly tailored charcoal suit emphasized his tall, lean frame, while his golden hair caught the early morning light streaming through the windows. That smile of his—the one that had convinced me to leave dishwashing behind—was in full effect.

"What's the occasion?" I asked, setting down my briefcase with genuine curiosity. "Since when do you bring me flowers?"

His laugh was warm honey over silk. "I should have asked you earlier, but you were away on your little vacation last week. I didn't want to disturb your rest." His blue eyes crinkled with genuine interest. "How was the trip, by the way? Somewhere relaxing, I hope?"

*Vacation.* Right. The excuse I'd given for my mysterious absence. If only he knew I'd spent those days being tortured, nearly executed, and jumping off cliffs to escape a psychotic mate.

"Oh, you know," I said with a weak smile, "it was... educational."

"Well, I'm glad you're back refreshed," he continued, stepping closer with that courteous distance he always maintained. "Because tonight there's a gala—the Annual Banking Elite Summit. All the major players will be there, and I thought..." He paused, suddenly looking almost shy. "Would you do me the honor of being my date?"

My eyes lit up like Christmas morning. "A banking summit? With all the financial elite?"

"The wealthiest and most influential people in the city," he confirmed with amusement. "Though I should warn you, it's quite formal. Dancing, networking, the whole nine yards."

"Dancing?" I felt a flutter of panic. My dancing skills were roughly equivalent to a drunk penguin on ice skates.

"Don't worry," Cassius said smoothly, as if reading my thoughts. "I'm an excellent lead. You'll be fine."

I looked at his perfect face, his perfectly pressed suit, the perfect flowers he'd brought me, and felt something warm unfurl in my chest. This was dangerous territory—getting attached to humans never ended well for supernatural creatures. But the networking opportunities...

"Of course I'll go," I said, already calculating potential client acquisitions. "This could be incredible for business! You'll have to introduce me to everyone. I've got some amazing new investment packages that would be perfect for—"

"God, you're relentless," Cassius interrupted with a laugh. "Here I am, asking you to accompany me to the most exclusive event of the year, and you're already working the angles."

I shrugged unapologetically. "Well, I have expensive tastes. And expensive... obligations."

That was putting it mildly. Nearly a thousand wolves depended on me now. The pack hospital I'd just finished building, the new cafeteria that could feed our growing numbers, the trucks full of food I had delivered weekly to our territory, the living stipends I provided to every new wolf who joined us—it all required serious money. Human money, since supernatural creatures weren't exactly swimming in legal tender.

"Fair enough," he said, shaking his head with fond exasperation. "I suppose I should appreciate your honesty about being a gold digger."

"Hey!" I protested. "I prefer 'financially motivated professional.'"

That evening, I stood before my bedroom mirror in a floor-length silver gown that complemented my hair perfectly. The dress was cut to showcase assets I'd forgotten I had—a plunging neckline that emphasized my curves while still maintaining an air of sophistication. If I was going to hunt wealthy investors, I might as well dress the part.

The venue was spectacular. Crystal chandeliers cast rainbow patterns across marble floors, while photographers captured every entrance for society pages. The guest list read like a who's who of financial power—CEOs, investment moguls, old money families whose net worth had more zeros than I could count.

*Perfect.*

"You clean up nicely," Cassius murmured as we made our entrance, his hand warm against the small of my back.

"You too," I replied, though that was an understatement. In his perfectly tailored tuxedo, he looked like he'd stepped off a movie poster. "Now, shall we get to work?"

What followed was three hours of the most productive networking of my life. With Cassius's introductions and my newfound confidence in financial matters, I fluttered from group to group like a social butterfly with a hidden agenda. Business cards accumulated in my purse, lunch meetings were scheduled, and I could practically see dollar signs dancing in the air.

The champagne didn't hurt either. By the time the dancing began, I was feeling beautifully warm and loose-limbed.

"Care to dance?" Cassius appeared at my elbow with that devastating smile.

"I should warn you," I said, accepting his offered hand, "I'm not exactly graceful."

"Trust me," he said simply.

And surprisingly, I did.

The music began—something slow and romantic that seemed designed to make people do stupid things. Cassius was indeed an excellent lead, guiding me through steps I didn't know with patient precision. His hands were warm and sure, his movements confident without being aggressive.

Maybe it was the champagne, or the success of the evening, or just the way he looked at me like I was something precious. But as we swayed together under the dimmed lights, I found myself getting... creative.

When the dance called for me to lean forward, I pressed my chest against his, feeling his sharp intake of breath. When I turned, I guided his hand to rest on the curve of my hip, enjoying the way his fingers tightened reflexively.

"You're playing with fire," he warned, his voice rougher than before.

"Maybe I like the heat," I shot back, alcohol making me bold.

The lights grew dimmer. The music slowed further. Other couples around us faded into shadows as Cassius pulled me closer, his body a solid line of warmth against mine. I could feel every breath he took, every rapid beat of his heart.

When he looked down at me, his usually composed expression had shifted into something hungrier, more intense. His perfectly styled hair had fallen across his forehead, and those blue eyes held a promise that made my pulse quicken.

*Oh God. This is really happening.*

"Elowen," he whispered, my name sounding different on his lips.

"Yeah?" I breathed.

Instead of answering, he lowered his head until our faces were inches apart. I could smell his cologne, feel the warmth of his breath across my lips. This was it—my first kiss, with this perfect, impossible man who'd saved me from washing dishes and shown me a better life.

*I can't resist this. I don't want to.*

I rose on my tiptoes to meet him halfway.

The kiss was everything I'd imagined and nothing like I'd expected. Soft at first, tentative, then deeper as his arms tightened around me. His tongue traced my lower lip before delving into my mouth, and I responded with an enthusiasm that surprised us both. The taste of champagne mixed with something uniquely him, something that made my head spin with more than just alcohol.

Heat bloomed in my chest, spreading through my body like wildfire. This was what all those romance novels had been trying to describe—this perfect, consuming connection that made everything else fade away.

Applause erupted around us as the music ended, and I realized with mortification that we'd been putting on quite a show. Other couples were smiling at us with knowing looks, clearly charmed by our obvious chemistry.

Reality crashed back in like ice water.

*What the hell did I just do?*

"I... I have to go," I stammered, pulling away from Cassius's embrace. His confused expression only made my panic worse. "Sorry, I just remembered... something important..."

I fled through the crowd of well-dressed investors, ignoring Cassius's calls behind me. My heels clicked frantically across the marble as I escaped into the cool night air, my heart hammering against my ribs.

*Breathe, Elowen. Just breathe.*

But breathing was suddenly the least of my problems. A familiar sensation bloomed in my chest—the mate bond, which had been blissfully quiet for days, suddenly roared to life with violent intensity.

*Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no.*

"Yep, you're fucked," Nyx's voice materialized in my consciousness, dripping with dark amusement.

"Tell me he didn't feel that," I whispered desperately.

"Oh honey," my wolf continued with obvious relish, "he felt every second of it."