The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 133

Thorne’s POV

The ride to the hospital was tense and silent. Mark drove with precision, occasionally glancing at me in the rearview mirror. I could smell his concern—not just for Kaelin, but for me.

"The Brooks family is asking a lot of you, Alpha," he finally said, his voice carefully neutral. "Taking responsibility for Miss Brooks's moon phase syndrome... it's not something that should fall entirely on your shoulders."

I didn't respond, watching the city lights blur past the window. Mark wasn't wrong. The Brooks family had increasingly pushed Kaelin's medical issues onto me, as if our future binding would somehow cure her condition. But the truth was more complicated. Moon phase syndrome was rare, but not unknown—a condition where a wolf's emotional state directly affected their ability to shift, worsening with the lunar cycle.

What Mark didn't know—what few did—was that Kaelin's condition had been one of the reasons for our arranged match. Her family believed that the stabilizing presence of an Alpha mate would help regulate her shifts. I had agreed, partly out of duty to my pack and partly out of a genuine desire to help a bloodline that had served mine faithfully for generations.

But now, with Freya back and these new complications, I wondered if I had made a promise I couldn't keep.

Mark pulled up to the private entrance of the medical center, where Edward Brooks was already waiting, his face drawn with worry. I caught something else in his scent—anxiety that went beyond mere concern for his daughter's health.

"Thank you for coming so quickly, Alpha," he said as I exited the car, his eyes not quite meeting mine. "She's... she's in a critical state. The doctors are very concerned."

I nodded, following him through the sterile hallways of the center. The medical staff bowed their heads respectfully as I passed. The air was thick with the sharp scent of antiseptic, masking but not entirely covering the underlying smell of pain and illness.

"What happened?" I asked as we walked.

Edward's steps faltered slightly. "It's... complicated," he said, his voice strained. "Her condition has been worsening for weeks, but today..." He hesitated, swallowing hard. "The stress became too much. The doctors say she's experiencing the worst episode they've ever recorded. They're not certain she'll regain her ability to shift if she doesn't stabilize soon."

"And the online accusations?" I asked directly, watching his reaction.

His shoulders tensed visibly. "They certainly didn't help," he admitted, his voice lowering. "But Thorne, I beg you to focus on her health right now. Whatever else is happening... she could lose her wolf permanently."

We reached a door marked 'Special Care - Moon Phase Treatment.' Edward paused, his hand trembling slightly on the handle.

"Alpha, she's... fragile right now. More emotionally than physically."

I understood his unspoken request. Be gentle. Be supportive. Be the mate she needs.

I nodded once, and he opened the door.

---

The special care room was dimly lit, designed to mimic the soothing darkness of a den. Kaelin lay curled on her side in the bed, her normally lustrous blonde hair hanging limp around her pale face. Olivia Brooks sat beside her, stroking her daughter's hand and whispering reassurances.

Kaelin's eyes found mine as I entered. She looked so small and vulnerable that my earlier anger softened. Whatever games she might have played, whatever designs she might have stolen, she was suffering now.

"Thorne," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You came."

I took Kaelin's hand, surprised by how cold it felt. A healthy wolf ran hot, our body temperature naturally higher than humans had been. This chill was concerning.

"Leave us," I said quietly to Olivia and Edward. It wasn't a request.

They hesitated only briefly before filing out, closing the door behind them. Alone with Kaelin, I studied her face. The dark circles under her eyes, the tremor in her hands, the faint sour note in her scent that indicated illness.

"The whole internet is talking about me," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "Saying I stole those designs. That I'm a fraud."

I kept my expression neutral, though my wolf was restless. There was something off about her scent—not just illness, but something else. Something I couldn't quite identify.

"These accusations," I said carefully, "they've upset you greatly."

She nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "They're saying such horrible things about me. All because of an anonymous account posting lies."

I considered my next words carefully. "The situation is unfortunate. But perhaps there's a way to resolve it definitively."

"How?" she asked, her fingers tightening around mine.

"Participate in the special challenge Stone has proposed," I suggested, watching her reaction closely. "Create a new design under supervision. Prove your abilities."

Her eyes widened slightly, and there it was again—that odd note in her scent. Fear? Guilt? I couldn't be certain.

"I can't," she whispered. "Look at me, Thorne. I can barely sit up. How could I possibly design anything in this state?"

"When you recover, then," I pressed gently. "It would be the most direct way to silence your critics."

Kaelin struggled to sit up, her breathing labored with the effort. "Thorne," she said, her voice strained, "you believe me, don't you?"

There it was—the question I'd been waiting for. I looked into her eyes, searching for truth.

"I believe in evidence," I said finally. "And in giving everyone a fair chance to prove themselves. If you want to clear your name completely, participating in Stone's challenge would be the most effective way." I kept my tone even, reasonable. "Show everyone your talent. Silence the doubters once and for all."

Kaelin's eyes filled with fresh tears. "You don't believe me either," she whispered, the accusation hanging in the air between us.

I didn't confirm or deny. Instead, I stood, straightening my jacket. "I have commitments to attend to at another pack tonight. I've asked Mark to remain available if you need anything."

"You're leaving?" The hurt in her voice was genuine.

"Pack business can't wait," I said, keeping my voice gentle but firm. "Contact Mark if you need anything, not me directly. I'll be in areas with poor reception."

It was a lie, but a necessary one. I needed distance, time to think. Kaelin's hand reached for mine, but I stepped back, beyond her reach.

"Rest," I advised. "Focus on regaining your strength."

As I turned to leave, I heard her soft, broken whisper: "Thorne, please don't leave me."

I paused at the door, my hand on the handle, but didn't look back. "I'll return when I can."

In the hallway, Edward Brooks was waiting, his scent thick with anxiety. His hands were clasped so tightly his knuckles had gone white.

"How is she?" he asked immediately.

"Stable, but weak," I replied, continuing to walk toward the exit. Edward hurried to keep pace with me.

"Alpha, please," he said, his voice low and urgent. "About this situation with the designs... I—" He glanced around nervously before continuing. "My daughter isn't well. You've seen her condition. Whatever mistakes she may have made, surely this public humiliation is punishment enough?"

I stopped walking, turning to face him. Edward's face was etched with the conflicting emotions of a father torn between loyalty to his daughter and his duty to the truth.

"Are you admitting she stole those designs, Edward?" I asked directly.

He flinched, looking away. "I'm saying she's young and... sometimes makes poor decisions when her condition flares. The pressure of the upcoming binding ceremony, the expectations..." He ran a hand through his hair. "Thorne, I beg you—as her future mate, as our Alpha—help us manage this situation. A public statement from you could quiet the rumors while she recovers."

"If Stone is behind this, as you initially suggested," I said carefully, "then the worst thing we could do is make unfounded statements. If, however, there is truth to these accusations..."

"Please," Edward interrupted, his voice breaking. "She's my daughter. I've served your family loyally for decades. I don't ask you to lie, just to... help us find a path forward that doesn't destroy her completely."

I studied him, seeing the desperation in his eyes, smelling the shame in his scent. This was not a man defending his innocent daughter. This was a father trying to protect a child he knew had done wrong.

"What I suggested to Kaelin stands," I said firmly. "When she recovers, she should participate in the challenge. Create new designs under supervision."

He lowered his head, the picture of submission tinged with despair. "Of course, Alpha. I apologize for... for everything. She's made a terrible mistake, and I've only made it worse by trying to shield her. But please, I beg you—be merciful. The Brooks family has always been loyal to the Greys."

I nodded, accepting his implicit confession. "I need to leave for my meeting. Keep me informed of any changes in her condition. We'll discuss how to proceed when I return."