Alpha's STOLEN Mate Chapter 52

Elowen

His words hit me like ice water, confirming my worst fears.

Panic flooded my system. This was my workplace—I couldn't just shift and tear his throat out, no matter how much I wanted to.

Kaius moved with casual authority to the windows, drawing the blinds with deliberate slowness. The afternoon light dimmed, creating an intimate atmosphere that made my skin crawl.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I snarled, my professional composure finally cracking. "Fake identity, corporate disguise—what's your endgame?"

He settled into one of the leather chairs with infuriating elegance, crossing his legs like he owned the entire building. "What's wrong with a little creativity? You won't see me voluntarily, so I had to get inventive." His storm-gray eyes glittered with dark amusement. "Besides, this is much more civilized than kidnapping, don't you think?"

"Civilized?" I exploded, fury making my voice shake. "You dare mention kidnapping like it was some minor inconvenience?"

Before I could step away, his hand shot out and caught my wrist, yanking me closer with irresistible strength.

"Now that I've seen you again," he murmured, his thumb tracing circles on my pulse point, "have you developed any new feelings about our situation?"

I struggled against his grip, but it was like trying to break steel cables. "No! I still think you're controlling, unreasonable, and completely fucking insane!"

In one fluid motion, he pulled me down onto his lap, his arms locking around my waist before I could regain my balance. The solid heat of his body against mine sent unwanted electricity racing through my nerve endings.

"Good," he said with obvious satisfaction, his breath warm against my ear. "From that passionate reaction, I can tell you've been thinking about me just as much as I've been thinking about you."

"Get off me!" I hissed, acutely aware that anyone could look through the glass walls and see us in this compromising position. "This is my workplace!"

His laugh was rich and dark. "Since I've gone through all the trouble of visiting human society, surely you can spare some time to show me around? I'm curious about human restaurants, human hotels..." His voice dropped to something dangerously intimate. "Human toys. I hear they're quite inventive when it comes to bedroom entertainment."

Heat flooded my cheeks. "Absolutely not! Find someone else to be your tour guide!"

"Oh, I think you'll agree to help me," he said with the kind of certainty that made my stomach drop.

Before I could ask what he meant, his phone buzzed. He answered with casual authority, never loosening his grip on me.

"Yes, Gamma? You're in position? Excellent." His predatory smile widened. "Cassius? Oh, if you're bored, feel free to play with him. I trust your judgment."

The call ended, leaving me staring at him in growing horror.

"What the hell does that mean?" I demanded.

Kaius reached across the conference table and picked up a crystal paperweight, turning it over in his hands with absent fascination. The casual gesture somehow made his next words even more chilling.

"It means that your human friend has attracted my attention in all the wrong ways." The crystal caught the light as he examined it. "Touching my mate, making possessive gestures, acting like he has some claim on you." He set the paperweight down with deliberate care. "The punishment for that could be quite... educational. A broken hand, perhaps. Maybe both legs. If my gamma gets creative..." He shrugged with terrifying indifference. "Well, accidents happen."

My blood ran cold. Whatever Cassius's faults, he didn't deserve to be brutalized because of some psychotic Alpha's territorial instincts.

"Fuck!" The word tore from my throat. "Leave him alone!"

Kaius stood slowly, his satisfaction evident as he straightened his perfectly tailored jacket. "Then I suppose you'll have to make it worth my while to call off my gamma." His smile was sharp as a blade. "Spend the evening with me, and I'll ensure Cassius goes home with all his limbs intact."

Rage and helplessness warred in my chest. I wanted to tell him to go to hell, but the thought of innocent Cassius suffering for my problems made the words die in my throat.

"Whatever," I spat, hating myself for giving in.

"Excellent choice," Kaius said with obvious pleasure. "I'll contact my gamma immediately."

He pulled out his phone and sent a quick message before moving to the door with gentlemanly courtesy.

"Shall we?" he asked, opening it with flourish.

Fucking show-off, I thought viciously, but followed him into the hallway.

---

The elevator ride started peacefully enough—just me seething in silence while Kaius hummed some tune under his breath like he didn't have a care in the world. But of course, nothing involving him could stay simple for long.

The doors opened on the fifteenth floor, and Cassius stepped inside.

His expression immediately darkened as he took in our proximity, his jaw clenching with barely suppressed jealousy.

"Well, well," he said with forced casualness. "Fancy meeting you here. Heading downstairs too?"

I opened my mouth to deflect, but Kaius smoothly intervened with that charming smile he used to disarm enemies.

"Cassius, isn't it? Pleasure to meet you." His tone was perfectly professional, but I caught the predatory gleam in his eyes. "Elowen and I are stepping out to discuss some... sensitive matters. She mentioned needing somewhere more private, where we can speak freely about anything."

The implication hit Cassius like a physical blow. His face went pale, then flushed with humiliated anger.

"Private?" he managed, his voice cracking slightly.

Kaius turned to me with mock concern. "That's right, isn't it, Elowen? You said you had things to tell me that required complete privacy?"

Trapped between protecting Cassius and maintaining my cover, I could only nod miserably.

"Of course," Cassius said with bitter resignation. "Client needs come first. Always."

The elevator descended one more floor before he practically fled through the opening doors, his shoulders rigid with defeat.

The moment we were alone, I whirled to face Kaius with fury blazing in my eyes. But before I could unleash the torrent of curses building in my throat, he backed me against the elevator wall.

"God, seeing his face when I claimed you..." His voice was rough with raw desire. "Do you have any idea how that turns me on?"

His mouth crashed against mine before I could respond, the kiss not just hungry, but a brutal, possessive brand. One hand fisted in my hair, yanking my head back to give him deeper access. The other slid down my spine with predatory heat, not stopping at the small of my back. His calloused fingers hooked into the waistband of my jeans, and with shocking intimacy, slipped beneath the fabric, past the lace of my panties.

A choked gasp escaped me as his fingers pressed directly against my slick, aching heat.

Despite every rational thought being incinerated on the spot, my traitorous body responded with a tidal wave of need so overwhelming my knees nearly buckled. The mate bond roared with triumph, my wolf clawing to the surface as his touch sent a jolt of pure lightning through me. He was fire, and I was kindling left in a drought.

No, no, no—

But my silent protest was stolen by his groan as he felt my wetness bloom against his fingers. His thumb began to move in a slow, torturous circle, and that was it. I was lost. My mouth opened for him, kissing him back with a desperate, frantic hunger that matched his own. Years of suppressed longing erupted like a volcano, and I arched shamelessly against his hand, chasing the pleasure, begging for the friction, betraying every single vow I had ever made to myself.

When the elevator doors finally opened with a soft chime, he pulled back just enough to meet my dazed eyes.

"Tell me you're not disappointed the ride ended so quickly," he murmured against my lips, his voice thick with smug satisfaction.

Heat flooded my cheeks as reality crashed back over me. I was in an elevator in my office building, disheveled and breathing hard from making out with the man who'd kidnapped and tortured me.

What the hell is wrong with me?

But his knowing smile told me he'd seen every second of my surrender, every moment when my body had betrayed my conscious will.

"Come on, little wolf," he said, straightening his tie with casual arrogance. "The evening is just getting started."