Alpha's STOLEN Mate Chapter 88

Elowen

In my dream, everything had gone perfectly.

I'd destroyed every single Elder, their bodies turning to ash beneath my claws. Kaius stood free, whole, the chains broken at his feet. We'd shifted together—him in his magnificent black wolf form, me in my divine white—and run through the forests like we were meant to be together.

We'd leaped over mountains, raced across meadows of wildflowers, the wind carrying our howls of freedom. The world had never felt so alive, so right.

Then we reached the narrow stream.

Except it wasn't a stream. Mist swirled thick and deceptive, and as it cleared, I saw the truth—we'd been running straight toward a cliff edge. The "stream" was actually the gap between two precipices, a waterfall thundering into the abyss below.

"STOP!" I screamed.

But Kaius had already leaped, his black form suspended in the air for one perfect, terrible moment before gravity claimed him and dragged him down into darkness.

I jolted awake with a gasp—

And found four eyes staring at me intently.

Scarlett jumped back with a small yelp of surprise. Evelyn, on the other hand, simply raised an eyebrow and said dryly, "Our Alpha is having nightmares again. That's the thirteenth one in two days."

"Thirteen?" I croaked, my throat dry. I pushed myself upright, my head spinning. "How long was I—"

"Two days," Evelyn supplied.

"Where's Kaius?!" I demanded, my memories flooding back in a disorienting rush. "How did I get back here?!"

Scarlett's expression turned uncomfortable. She looked away, her blue hair falling across her face like a shield.

Evelyn suddenly found something fascinating about the ceiling.

Ice shot through my veins. I grabbed Evelyn's arm, my grip tight enough to make her wince. "Fuck, Evelyn! You're the one person who doesn't sugarcoat things for me—you never care about sparing my feelings! Tell me what happened!"

Evelyn's face scrunched up in obvious discomfort. Then she plastered on her brightest, most artificial smile. "Well! You've clearly made a full recovery! To celebrate, we should throw a bonfire party tonight! I'll make those glowing cocktails you love—"

"FUCK!" I shouted, shaking her slightly. "Something went wrong, didn't it?! Just tell me!"

Evelyn sighed, covering her face with her free hand. "An Elder brought you back. That Rowan woman."

I stared at her, utterly baffled. "What? That doesn't make any sense. She was trying to *kill* me!"

"That's what we thought too," Evelyn said miserably. "But according to the intelligence we gathered from scouts..." She hesitated, shooting Scarlett a pleading look for help.

Scarlett stepped forward reluctantly. "The Alpha King and Elder Rowan are... together now. They work in the same office. Eat meals together. And..." Her voice dropped to barely a whisper. "They share the same chambers."

For a moment, my brain simply refused to process the words. They didn't make sense. They couldn't be real.

Then fury exploded through me like white-hot lightning.

I grabbed Evelyn's collar, pulling her close. "Are you KIDDING me?! Evelyn, I know you like pranks, but I just woke up from being poisoned and stabbed! This isn't funny!"

"I'm not joking!" Evelyn protested, trying to pry my hands off. "I swear on my magic, Elowen—"

Scarlett gently separated us, her expression devastated. "I told you, didn't I?" Her voice was quiet but bitter. "Your Alpha King is just like my mate. They're all the same. None of them can be trusted."

The comparison to Frost—who'd abandoned Scarlett without explanation—hit me like a physical blow. Because Scarlett never lied. Ever. She was the most honest person I knew.

Which meant...

*No. No, this can't be real.*

My mind raced, trying to make sense of the pieces. I'd been unconscious. Somehow ended up back at my pack. Kaius had been unable to shift during the entire battle. He'd refused to escape with me from the dungeons in the first place...

*Fuck. He was planning this from the beginning. He made a deal with Rowan. That's why he wanted to stay—not to preserve his dignity, but because he knew she'd help him reclaim his throne.*

The realization felt like ice water in my veins.

*He chose political power over me. He chose the Elder's legitimacy over our mate bond. Because that's who he is—a king first, everything else second.*

I stormed to my wardrobe and threw on practical traveling clothes—fitted black pants, a dark tunic, boots meant for fighting or running. Whichever became necessary.

"Where are you going?" Evelyn asked nervously.

"To get answers."

Scarlett grabbed my arm as I headed for the door. "Promise me you won't start a fight. Please. You still have a home here, with us. Don't throw that away for him."

I looked at her stricken face and felt my rage cool slightly. "I promise. No fights."

*But I'm definitely going to make him explain this to my face.*

---

Kaius's territory was completely transformed.

Colorful banners hung from every building, garlands of flowers draped across doorways, lanterns strung between trees like captured stars. The whole place looked like it was celebrating a festival—or a wedding.

Wolves bustled about with genuine smiles, their movements light and carefree in a way I'd never seen during my previous visits. The oppressive atmosphere that had hung over this pack was gone, replaced by something almost... joyful.

*What the fuck happened in two days?*

An omega passing by with an armful of decorative ribbons noticed my confused expression and stopped. "Can I help you, miss?"

"What's all this for?" I asked, gesturing at the festivities.

Her face lit up. "You haven't heard? Elder Rowan killed the tyrant Silas and restored the Alpha King to his rightful throne! The other Elders have pledged their support, and Alphas from across the territory have been arriving to pay their respects!" She leaned in conspiratorially. "Between you and me, I think they're all hoping to get on Elder Rowan's good side. She's absolutely stunning, and now she's second only to the King himself in terms of power."

*Of course,* I thought bitterly. *Every Alpha wants to cozy up to the beautiful witch-Elder who can make or break their political standing. And Kaius gets to keep her all to himself.*

"Thank you," I managed through gritted teeth.

The omega hurried off, and I made my way toward the castle with purposeful strides.

I barely registered the guards at the entrance—they took one look at my face and wisely stepped aside. The corridors passed in a blur until I reached the grand reception hall where Kaius held his official assemblies.

The double doors were closed. I could hear voices inside—multiple Alphas by the scent, along with two distinctive presences that made my wolf snarl with recognition.

I didn't knock. I shoved the doors open with enough force to make them bang against the walls.

The scene inside stopped me cold.

Kaius sat on his throne—not the modest chair he'd used before, but a massive, ornate seat that screamed absolute authority. And beside him, in a throne only slightly smaller but no less impressive, sat Rowan.

She looked radiant. Her honey-colored hair was arranged in an elaborate style, her gown cut to showcase her figure while still maintaining a veneer of propriety. She wore a circlet of silver that caught the light, marking her new status.

Below them, a dozen regional Alphas stood in respectful positions, presenting reports and gifts. I caught glimpses of rare furs, enchanted weapons, casks of aged wine, even a cage containing some exotic bird I didn't recognize.

"—and the eastern territories report a fifteen percent increase in pack cohesion since the new governance structure was announced," one Alpha was saying, bowing low. "We're honored to serve under the unified leadership of the King and the Elder Council."

The moment I entered, Kaius's gaze snapped to me. His expression—which had been relaxed, almost smiling—froze completely. Something flickered in his eyes—guilt? regret?—before his features hardened into a neutral mask.

"Alpha Elowen," he said stiffly, formally. "You've... arrived."

Rowan leaned back in her throne with languid grace. "How wonderful! Elowen, have you come to congratulate me on my new position as the King's chief advisor?"

"Congratulate you?" I snarled. "You can go fuck yourself!"

Several Alphas gasped at my crude language. Kaius's jaw tightened. "Elowen! We are conducting official pack business. I must ask you not to interrupt—"

"Oh, I'm interrupting?" My voice dripped with venom. "So sorry! Should I congratulate you on your new advisor who happens to sleep in your bed? Should I throw you a party for fucking her every night?!"

Kaius's face flushed red. "No! Never! Elowen, I—"

But Rowan placed a delicate hand on his arm, and Kaius's words died. She smiled at him with obvious affection before turning her attention back to me.

*That bitch just silenced him with a touch.*

When Kaius spoke again, his voice had gone cold. Arctic. "Elowen. Return to your pack. You are an Alpha in your own right. Unless you have official business, there's no reason for you to be here."

The words hit me like physical blows.

"Fuck. Really?" I could barely breathe through the rage and pain. "Now I'm just 'Alpha Elowen' to you? Not your mate? Just another subordinate Alpha in your territory?"

"Leave." His tone was flat, emotionless. "I don't want to see you."

*I don't want to see you.*

The world tilted. Of all the cruel things he could have said—all the insults, all the dismissals—those five words cut deeper than any blade.

*He doesn't want to see me.*

Everything clicked into place with horrible clarity. He'd planned this from the start. Stayed in that dungeon not out of pride, but because he knew Rowan would save him. Chose political power and the Elder's backing over our bond. Chose her.

*I was so fucking stupid. Thinking he'd changed. Thinking the mate bond meant something.*

"You know what?" I said, my voice shaking with fury. "You're right. You two deserve each other—a tyrant king and his power-hungry whore. Have fun ruling your garbage kingdom together!"

Kaius's eyebrows drew together slightly, but Rowan was already leaning close to him, whispering something in his ear. Her breasts pressed against his arm deliberately, and he... he didn't pull away. Didn't even seem to notice.

Or care.

He wasn't looking at me anymore.

I turned and stormed out, my vision blurring with tears I refused to let fall. Not here. Not in front of them.

*I will never set foot in this pack again,* I vowed. *I will forget him. Forget this mate bond. Forget everything.*

Behind me, I heard the murmur of voices resuming, the assembly continuing as if my presence—and my heartbreak—meant nothing at all.

*He's dead to me. The mate bond is dead. Everything is dead.*

I ran.