Chapter 69 – Kidnapped by My Mate Series II: His Lost Queen

Filed To Story: Kidnapped by My Mate Novel (Belle & Grayson) Online Free by Annie Whipple

Liam and Laila were my friends, and they cared about me and wanted the best for me. And whether or not I wanted to admit it, I didn’t want to lose them.

I liked having friends—even if they didn’t want me at their parties.

I was about to pull out my phone, ready to text Liam and apologize, when something stopped me. Someone was sitting in front of me.

I screamed and jumped so high out of my seat that I was surprised when I didn’t hit the ceiling.

There was an older woman sitting across from me in the booth, smiling the sort of smile you would expect from your grandma.

She was wearing a thick blue coat and a silk scarf over her head, making her look like the types of rich old women you see in Hollywood movies…

The kind that drive old top-down convertibles, drink expensive cocktails, and often daydream about killing their husbands.

She was elegant and beautiful—probably one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen with her silver-blonde hair and porcelain skin.

She was absolutely breathtaking. And very out of place in this crappy old diner.

“Oh, my gosh,” I said, placing a hand over my chest to calm my racing heart. “You scared me.”

She smiled sweetly. “Sorry, deary.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m sorry.” I began to get up, returning her smile even though I wasn’t feeling it. “I was just resting. I didn’t know anyone was here.”

I was surprised when her hand shot out and grabbed my arm, stopping me. “Why don’t you sit and have a meal with me? I could use a big cheeseburger and some decent conversation.”

I paused. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I’d never had a customer ask to eat with me before.

“Oh, um, thank you for the offer, but I should really get back to work—”

“Bert!” the woman yelled out, cutting me off. She never let go of my arm, keeping me firmly in place. “Would you be a dear and make us two cheeseburgers and two strawberry milkshakes?”

“You got it!” he called back automatically. He had more enthusiasm in his voice than I had ever heard him use before.

My mouth dropped open slightly in surprise. She knew Bert? “How—?”

“I come here often,” the woman provided, answering my question before I asked it.

That was hard to believe. I had been working here nearly every day for three months and hadn’t seen her once.

If she were one of the regulars, I would have noticed, especially if she looked like this every day. Her beauty was pretty hard to miss.

“Oh, my darling girl, you look exhausted,” she said, consoling me, her kind eyes searching my weary face. There was something about that gaze that made me feel strangely comforted and at peace.

That’s why I didn’t stop her when she grabbed my hands in hers and squeezed them gently. “And I can’t even begin to imagine the pain you’re in.”

My brows tugged together. “I’m sorry?”

“Your bond is starving. Oh, how you must miss him.”

I blinked. Was she talking about…?

She tilted her head to the side as if she knew what I was wondering, revealing her neck. I sucked in air when I saw the two puncture wounds right where her neck and shoulder met. A mark. A werewolf’s mark.

“You’re a—a—” I stuttered, not quite able to get the words out.

“Yes, I know all about werewolves,” the woman said, waving her hand as if it were no big deal. “I am mated to one, just like you.”

My gaze shot over to the kitchen, looking to see if Bert could hear any of our conversation.

I didn’t know if Grayson would care if I told anyone about the werewolf world, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I couldn’t have him tracking me down.

At the thought of him, a sudden burst of pain took over my senses. I gasped and pressed my eyes shut. I braced myself as a big wave of fire began to spread from my mark, about to take over my body…

But then it stopped.

My eyes flew open. Almost all of the pain from my mark had just disappeared, leaving me with a perfectly manageable throbbing sensation. I would have cried out in relief if I weren’t so confused.

I looked at the woman. She didn’t meet my gaze, looking lost in thought. Her grip on my hands tightened.

“Oh my, you are in a lot of pain,” she whispered, eyes much wider than before. Her body looked tense, rigid. She looked back at me. “I will hold onto it for now.”

“What?” I asked. “You—You—”

She nodded. “I took your pain, yes. I’m sorry to say that I can’t keep it for long, as much as I would love to give you that reprieve.

“Unfortunately, your pain is your burden to bear. But I can hold on to it for a few minutes and give you a bit of a break.”

I stared at her. “I don’t understand,” I said.

She pursed her lips, thinking. “Yes, this must seem confusing.” Then she winced slightly. Her eyes were filled with pain when she looked back at me. My pain.

“Your bond is starving,” she muttered. “You need your mate.”

I hesitated. The last thing I wanted to be doing with whatever little time I had not in agony was talking about Grayson. “My mate rejected me to be with someone else.

He doesn’t want me. He never did.”

The woman looked me up and down before smiling widely. “I find that extremely hard to believe.”

Bert approached us then, carrying our meals. I was shocked when he didn’t complain about being forced to do my job or having to cook for me.

In fact, he didn’t say anything at all. He just put our food down and walked straight back to the kitchen. He didn’t even look at us.

“Do you like cheeseburgers?” the woman asked me when Bert was out of sight.

My eyes fell on the food in front of me. I did love cheeseburgers. And I hadn’t had one in forever. I got an employee discount for food at the diner but didn’t ever use it.

I needed to save as much money as I could so I could keep renting out my apartment.

I nodded.

“Please eat,” the woman said, already picking up some fries. “The meal is on me.”

There was something about her soothing tone that made me want to do as she told me, made me feel like it was okay to sit and take a short break even when I should be working.

I picked up the burger in front of me and took a huge bite, my stomach cheering in gratitude for the food. It was the first time I was actually able to eat in peace in so long.

I finally came up for air after scarfing down half my meal, only to see the woman watching me with amusement. My cheeks brightened.

“Sorry,” I whispered, wiping my face with a napkin. “Hungry.”

“I’m sure you are.” She gestured to my food, her kind smile never leaving her face.

“Please, eat some more.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

Somehow this unnatural situation felt completely normal. She reminded me of my grandma. “How are you doing, my dear?” she asked me a few seconds later.

I swallowed the food in my mouth. She was speaking to me as if she knew me. “I’m, uh… I’m okay.”

“Why don’t I believe you?” she responded. “You can be honest with me. Being away from your mate is hard. Especially when your connection was as strong as yours was.”

“You know who Grayson is?”

She laughed. “Of course I do. Alpha Grayson Stoll is one of the most powerful men alive. Anyone who is a part of the supernatural realm knows who he is.”

“Oh,” I murmured. “So that explains why you know who I am.”

She nodded. “You are Belle Dupree, the mate of Grayson Stoll.”

“Ex-mate,” I corrected softly, dropping my gaze. I needed to change the subject. “Are you a werewolf?”

“Oh, goodness, no. I grew up in a pack, though. And I am mated to a werewolf.” She offered me her hand to shake. “My name is Evangeline Viotto.”

BELLE

The name seemed to hold some unsaid significance because chills covered my body.

I leaned back in my seat after shaking her outstretched hand. “Well, thank you for the meal, Ms. Viotto. I really appreciate it.”

“Oh, please, call me Evangeline. I’ve never gone by Ms. Viotto. I’m not even sure I would answer to it.”

“Evangeline, then.”

She considered me for a few seconds before continuing. “I want you to know that I don’t plan on telling your mate where you are. I think you have every right to hide after everything you went through.”

My heart did a flip in my chest. I hadn’t even considered the fact that she could give my whereabouts to Grayson. “Thank you,” I breathed out. “It’s very important that he doesn’t ever find me.”

Her smile faltered, turning serious. Before I knew what she was doing, she reached across the table and took my hand in hers, squeezing it.

“You have a long journey ahead of you, darling Belle. And it isn’t going to be easy.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want you to know that power isn’t a bad thing when in the right hands. It may seem scary at first to shift to your true potential, but you are more than capable of handling it. You do not have to be afraid.”

She was talking in riddles, and I had no idea. “How do you know all of this?”

“You remind me quite a bit of myself at your age. I was also terrified of my mate.”

“Really?” I asked. I hated that this amazing, kind woman seemed to have gone through a similar situation to me.

“I don’t get it. Why are werewolves blessed with soulmates if they just take advantage of them? My mother is terrified of her mate too. He abuses her…just like mine did.”

“My mate didn’t abuse me, darling. He did the opposite. He took care of me when no one else did. He saved me from a cruel fate.”

“So then…why were you scared of him?”

“It’s hard to explain. For one thing, werewolves are terrifying creatures. It is okay to be hesitant around them at first, especially when they claim to possess you.

“People from my past also made it difficult for me to trust anyone. I didn’t know what he wanted from me, and that was terrifying. But I don’t know what I would do without him now. He is the best part of my life.”

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