The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 137

Freya’s POV

The hospital loomed before us, its stark white façade gleaming under the afternoon sun. I sat rigid in the passenger seat of Thorne's luxury SUV, my hands clenched in my lap to hide their trembling. The drive from Grey Estate had been silent and tense, with Thorne's anger radiating from him in waves that made my wolf whimper and press itself against the darkest corners of my mind.

As we pulled into the parking lot, I caught sight of Edward Brooks pacing near the entrance, his tall frame tense with anxiety. My stomach twisted. The entire Brooks family would be here, united against me. I was walking into the den of my enemies with nothing but the truth as my shield—a truth no one seemed interested in hearing.

"Remember why we're here," Thorne said, his voice low and controlled as he turned off the engine. "You will be respectful. You will be apologetic. You will do whatever it takes to ease Kaelin's distress."

I bit back the bitter response that rose to my lips. What about *my* distress? What about the designs that were stolen from me? What about the public humiliation I'd endured? But I knew better than to voice these thoughts. Instead, I nodded stiffly and reached for the door handle.

"Freya." Thorne's hand caught my wrist, his grip firm but not painful. "This isn't a request. It's an order from your Alpha."

The silver mark on my neck tingled at his words, a reminder of my place in this world. I pulled my wrist free and met his gaze.

"I understand, ALPHA." I couldn't keep the edge from my voice.

We exited the car and approached the entrance. Edward Brooks spotted us immediately, his eyes lighting up at the sight of Thorne. Then his gaze shifted to me, and his expression darkened with barely contained fury.

"Alpha Thorne," Edward greeted, bowing his head slightly in respect. "Thank you for coming so quickly."

"How is she?" Thorne asked, his tone softening with genuine concern.

Edward's face tightened. "Stable, but... fragile. The doctors have her on a drip to prevent further shifting complications. Her emotional state remains... volatile."

His eyes flicked to me again, filled with accusation. I felt my hackles rise but forced myself to remain still and silent.

"And the situation with the designs?" Thorne asked quietly.

Edward's jaw clenched. "She heard what you said about participating in the new competition. She was determined to prove herself, insisted that Olivia bring her sketchbook and pencils." He shook his head, pain evident in his expression. "But when she tried to draw... she couldn't. Her hands started shaking so badly she tore through the paper. The doctors had to sedate her."

Thorne nodded gravely. "Since we've already issued the statement, Kaelin won't need to participate in any competition. Nothing is more important than her health."

I stared at the ground, fighting to keep my expression neutral. Of course. Thorne had already made his choice, already declared to the world that Kaelin was innocent and the accusations were lies. What was I even doing here?

"Let's go see her," Thorne said, placing a hand on Edward's shoulder.

We followed Edward through the hospital corridors, the antiseptic smell burning my sensitive nose. Nurses and doctors glanced at us as we passed, their gazes lingering on Thorne with the typical awe reserved for an Alpha. A few noticed me trailing behind and quickly averted their eyes, no doubt recognizing the silver mark on my neck.

Edward led us to a private room at the end of a quiet hallway. He knocked softly before opening the door.

The room was spacious and well-appointed—clearly designed for patients of status. Large windows let in plenty of natural light, though the curtains were partially drawn. Kaelin lay in the hospital bed, looking small and fragile against the white sheets. Her normally lustrous hair hung limp around her pale face, and an IV drip connected to her arm. Beside the bed, Olivia Brooks sat in a chair, her eyes red-rimmed from crying.

Kaelin's face brightened slightly at the sight of Thorne, but when her gaze shifted to me, her expression hardened.

"Thorne," she whispered, attempting to sit up. "You came."

"Of course I came," Thorne moved to her bedside, taking her hand in his. "How are you feeling?"

Kaelin's eyes filled with tears. "I tried, Thorne. I tried to do what you suggested—to participate in the challenge. But I just... I couldn't..." Her voice broke, and she gestured weakly toward a sketchbook on the nightstand, its pages torn and crumpled.

My heart twisted with unwanted sympathy. Despite everything, seeing another wolf in such distress stirred something primal in me. But then I caught Olivia Brooks' gaze, and any sympathy I felt vanished under the heat of her hatred.

"You," she hissed, rising from her chair. "You've done this to my daughter."

"Mrs. Brooks," Thorne warned, but Olivia ignored him, her attention fixed solely on me.

"It was you behind that anonymous account, wasn't it?" Her voice rose with each word. "You couldn't stand that Kaelin had succeeded where you failed. You couldn't accept that Alpha Thorne chose her over you!"

I held my ground, though my wolf bristled at the accusations. "I had nothing to do with the anonymous posts."

"Liar!" Olivia spat, her eyes flashing gold as her wolf surged forward. I caught a glimpse of elongated canines as she continued, "You've been trying to destroy my daughter since you returned from exile. You're jealous of her position, her talent, her relationship with the Alpha!"

"Olivia," Edward stepped forward, placing a restraining hand on his wife's arm. "Not here."

But Olivia shook him off, taking a step toward me. I could smell her rage—sharp and acidic—as she invaded my personal space.

"You stole from our home," she growled. "You manipulated your way into Grey Estate. You've been plotting this all along, haven't you? Working with Jasper Stone to humiliate our family!"

Before I could respond, she lunged forward, her partially transformed hand reaching for my throat. I jerked backward, my own wolf surging in defense—but before either of us could make contact, Thorne was between us, his back to me as he faced Olivia.

"Enough," he said, his voice carrying the unmistakable weight of an Alpha command. "You will not attack anyone in my presence, Olivia. Control yourself."

Olivia trembled with the effort of fighting his command, but slowly, her features returned to human. She stepped back, her eyes still burning with hatred.

"Alpha, I apologize," she said stiffly. "But you've brought the cause of my daughter's suffering into her sanctuary. Surely you understand my reaction."

"I understand your concern for Kaelin," Thorne replied, his voice even. "But there will be no violence. We're here to resolve this situation, not escalate it."

From the bed, Kaelin made a small sound of distress. All eyes turned to her, and I watched as Thorne's expression softened with concern.

"Thorne," she whispered, reaching for his hand. "I'm sorry... I've caused so much trouble for our pack."

"Don't apologize," Thorne said, moving back to her side. "Only the plagiarist need to apologize."

I bit the inside of my cheek, tasting blood. Of course. Nothing was ever Kaelin's fault.

"It is," she insisted, her voice barely audible. "I should have been stronger. I should have ignored that anonymous account instead of letting it affect me so deeply."

Thorne sat on the edge of her bed, still holding her hand. "The account was deliberately trying to provoke you. It was a calculated attack, not just on you, but on our pack's unity."

I stared at the floor, feeling like an intruder in this intimate scene.

"Freya," Thorne said suddenly, and I looked up to find all eyes on me. "You have something to say to Kaelin, don't you?"