The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 120

Freya’s POV

I couldn't meet his eyes, couldn't bear to see whatever emotion might be reflected there—regret, satisfaction, or worst of all, indifference. So I closed my eyes, feigning exhaustion, and listened to the sound of him dressing and leaving the room.

Only when the door clicked shut behind him did I allow myself to curl into a ball, arms wrapped around my knees, and try to make sense of what had just happened—and what it meant for my already complicated future.

I curled into the bathtub, letting ice-cold water cascade over my skin, desperately trying to wash away the lingering Alpha scent that clung to me like a second skin. The afternoon sun slanted through the small bathroom window, casting long shadows across the tiles. How long had I been in here? Hours, maybe. Long enough for my fingertips to wrinkle and my body to shiver—though whether from the cold water or the memory of what had happened in Thorne's bedroom, I couldn't tell.

My body still trembled slightly, partly from the aftershocks of my first intimate encounter, partly from the sheer shock of what had transpired between us. Despite the frigid water, heat bloomed across my skin as fragments of memory flashed through my mind: Thorne's hands gripping my wrists, his mouth claiming mine, the weight of his body pressing me into the mattress.

My fingers drifted to the moon-shaped birthmark on my neck, finding it unusually warm to the touch. When Thorne and I had been together, it had glowed with a silver light, responding to his Alpha touch in a way I couldn't understand. The mark had been a source of pride for generations of Rileys—a sign of our pure bloodline. Now it seemed to be responding to the very man who had exiled me.

What kind of cruel joke is this? I wondered, sinking deeper into the water.

Nothing about Thorne's behavior made sense. He accused me of destroying his engagement ceremony, yet sought physical intimacy with me. He claimed he would let me leave Grey Estate, then marked me with his scent and touch. One moment he was cold and distant, the next passionate and possessive.

"I can let you leave Grey Estate," he had said, his voice a dark promise, "but you'll have to pay a price."

Was this the price he meant? To claim my body while planning to bind himself to Kaelin? Or was this just a momentary lapse in judgment that he would regret by morning, returning to his cold, dismissive self?

I hugged my knees to my chest, feeling the tender spots where his fingers had gripped too tightly, where his teeth had grazed my skin. A werewolf's healing abilities would erase these marks quickly, but the imprint on my soul wouldn't fade so easily. I had betrayed myself—my rational mind told me to hate the Alpha who had sentenced me to exile, but my body, my wolf, my very blood had surrendered to him willingly, eagerly.

Through the window, I could see the sun beginning its westward descent, a reminder that the full moon was merely two days away. I felt my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my skin, the craving for an Alpha's mark growing stronger as the moon waxed. During the full moon, all emotions and instincts would be amplified. Would I be able to maintain my resolve when that time came?

I climbed out of the bathtub, my legs unsteady as I reached for a towel. Standing before the mirror, I examined my reflection—the pale face, the wet hair plastered to my neck, and the faint red mark where Thorne's mouth had been. Not a formal mating mark, but a claiming nonetheless. It kindled a strange sense of belonging that was both foreign and familiar, like the Riley blood that flowed through my veins—undeniable.

But I couldn't let this feeling distract me from what truly mattered. Whether Thorne's promise to let me leave was genuine or not, I had to seize that opportunity to find my family—the only reason I had fought to survive in the Wilds. My father, my mother, my brother Ethan—were they alive? Were they waiting for me somewhere?

I bit my lower lip, determination flashing in my eyes. From now on, I would keep my distance, avoid falling under Thorne's control again. Because I knew with absolute certainty that next time, I might lose myself completely.

---

The morning light filtered through my curtains as I stretched in bed, my resolution from last night still firm in my mind. After a restless sleep filled with dreams I'd rather forget, I was just about to start my day when my phone rang, startling me. It's Jasper again. I've already uploaded the design drafts. Why was he still calling me? After a moment's hesitation, I answered.

"Miss Riley," Jasper's voice was cool and professional, lacking its usual seductive undertone. "I need to confirm something. The design you submitted—it was entirely your own work?"

I frowned, clutching the towel tighter around me. "Of course. Every line, every detail was designed by my hand. Why do you ask?"

A brief silence followed, making my stomach tighten with unease.

"Someone has submitted an almost identical design," he finally said. "Kaelin Brooks."

My blood seemed to freeze in my veins. "That's impossible," I said, my voice shaking with shock. "I never showed my designs to anyone, except—" I suddenly remembered finding Lucy rummaging through my room days ago.

"Except who?" Jasper prompted.

"Except someone who might have gone through my sketches without permission," I said slowly. "There's a Beta at Grey Estate named Lucy who's loyal to Kaelin. I caught her searching my room."

"You believe she might have passed information about your designs to Kaelin?"

"It's the only logical explanation," I replied, trying to control the anger in my voice. "Alpha Stone, I assure you, those designs are entirely my original work."

Jasper seemed to consider this. "I believe you, Riley," he finally said. "Your design will remain in the competition. As for Kaelin Brooks' submission, we'll investigate further."

After ending the call, I sat on the edge of my bed, gripping the phone tightly. How could Kaelin stoop so low as to steal my designs? Was this another form of revenge? Or was she that desperate to win the competition?