The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 127

Thorne's POV

The soft glow of my desk lamp illuminated the papers before me, but my mind was elsewhere. Mark had just left after reporting that there were no Rileys on the competition entry list. Of course there weren't. The Riley family had scattered to the winds three years ago, most presumed dead or lost in the Forgotten Wilds.

All except one.

Once I was alone, I unlocked the bottom drawer of my desk—the one secured with a silver-infused lock that only I could touch without pain. Inside lay a folder I hadn't opened in years. I hesitated only briefly before pulling it out and spreading its contents across my desk.

Sketches. Dozens of them. Ceremonial robes designed with a unique vision that blended traditional pack symbolism with innovative, almost radical new elements. Moon phases embroidered in a spiral pattern. Silver thread accents positioned to catch the light in specific ways during key moments of pack ceremonies.

Freya Riley's designs.

I had kept them. Even after everything that happened, even after I sentenced her to the Wilds, I couldn't bring myself to destroy these pieces of her. These tangible proofs of her talent, her vision, her mind.

My fingers traced the delicate lines of one sketch—a ceremonial binding robe with an intricate collar design that would frame the wearer's face in moonlight. It was brilliant. Innovative. Unmistakably hers.

"Even after everything," I murmured to myself, "I can't deny your talent."

My wolf paced restlessly within me, agitated by the conflicting emotions. Loyalty to my chosen mate warred with an instinctive sense of justice. I carefully returned the sketches to the folder, but before I could lock them away again, my phone rang.

Edward Brooks—Kaelin's father.

I answered, maintaining my calm Alpha demeanor despite my inner turmoil. Edward congratulated me on Kaelin's success, speaking proudly of his daughter's achievement and what it meant for our upcoming binding. I listened politely, offering appropriate responses while my mind continued to race.

After ending the call, I sat in silence, the folder still open before me. The binding ceremony was less than one month away. Grey Moon Pack needed the alliance with the Brooks family. The pack's stability came first—always.

"You want to forget what happened and start a new life?" I said to the empty room, as if Freya could hear me. "Not at Kaelin's expense. Not at my pack's expense. I won't give you that chance, Freya."

With a decisive movement, I closed the folder and locked it away once more.

---

Freya's POV

Morning light filtered through the small window of my room, casting golden rectangles across the worn floorboards. I had barely slept, my mind too full of design competitions and stolen work and memories I'd rather forget. The sound of hurried footsteps in the hallway outside my door pulled me from my thoughts, followed by an insistent knocking.

"Riley! Open up!" Lucy's sharp voice came through the door.

I sighed, bracing myself for whatever new torment Lucy had planned for me today. When I opened the door, she stood there with her hands on her hips, her Beta status practically radiating from her in waves of self-importance.

"What have you done?" she demanded, pushing past me into my room without waiting for an invitation.

"Good morning to you too, Lucy," I said dryly. "Please, come in."

She whirled around to face me, her eyes flashing with anger. "Don't play innocent. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

I crossed my arms, genuinely confused. "Actually, I don't."

Lucy pulled out her phone and thrust it in my face. On the screen was a social media post from an anonymous account. The post read: [Stolen Design: The Truth Behind Stone Competition Winner. Brooks stole my design—I am the real creator! Here's proof.]

Below the text was an image of a ceremonial robe design—my design—with clear watermarks showing it had been created months before the competition was even announced.

My heart raced. I hadn't posted this. I'd been tempted, certainly, but I knew better than to openly challenge Kaelin Brooks while living under Thorne's roof.

"I didn't post this," I said firmly, pushing the phone away.

Lucy scoffed. "Right. Then who did? Who else would care enough to create this ridiculous claim?"

I thought immediately of Jasper Stone. He had been surprisingly invested in my participation in the competition, and he seemed determined to expose Kaelin's theft. But his approach was too direct, too... unsophisticated. Posting evidence without a clear strategy was risky and potentially damaging to both Kaelin and the competition's reputation.

"Look," I said, trying to sound reasonable, "if I wanted to expose Kaelin, I wouldn't do it this way. A single post with one design image proves nothing. Anyone serious about exposing theft would need more substantial evidence."

Lucy's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You sound like you've given this a lot of thought."

"I'm just pointing out that this post seems amateurish," I replied. "I wouldn't risk my position here for a social media post that accomplishes nothing."

Lucy studied me for a long moment, her expression calculating. Finally, she said, "Whether you posted it or not, you need to make this go away. Miss Brooks is upset, and when she's upset, Alpha Thorne gets involved."

The threat was clear. If this situation escalated, I would be the one to suffer the consequences, regardless of my innocence or guilt. My wolf bristled at the injustice, but I kept my expression neutral.

"I can't make a post disappear if I didn't create it," I said calmly. "But you're right about one thing—this does seem suspicious. Why would someone suddenly claim Kaelin stole a design, and how would they have the original to prove it?"

Lucy's scent shifted subtly, a note of unease creeping in. My wolf sensed the change immediately, and I realized I had stumbled onto something important. Lucy knew more than she was letting on.

"You know what's strange, Lucy?" I continued, stepping closer to her. "You immediately assumed I was behind this post. Why would you think that? Unless you knew Kaelin's design wasn't original."