The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 14

Freya's POV

The thin man leaned forward in his makeshift judge's chair, his eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation. "The court has heard your pathetic confession, Riley. Now it's time for your... sentence."

I remained on my knees, my throat burning with the lies I'd been forced to speak, my wolf snarling beneath my skin. The wolves around me exchanged predatory glances, their excitement thick in the air.

"For the crime of attacking Beta Elite Kaelin Brooks," Gold Watch announced, raising his voice to mimic Thorne's judicial tone, "and for the crime of attempting to seduce Alpha Thorne Grey away from his rightful mate, this court sentences you to..."

He paused dramatically, letting the tension build. My stomach clenched with dread.

"Remove your clothes," he commanded, his voice dropping to a growl. "All of them. Right now."

The room fell silent except for a few appreciative rumbles from the males present. The female with the expensive necklace smiled coldly.

"That's not part of our agreement," I said quietly, fighting to keep my voice steady.

Purple Shirt laughed. "There's no agreement, exile. There's only what we want, and what you'll do to keep your pitiful job in this city."

"Think of it as service to the pack," another male added, loosening his tie. "After all, you tried to damage our social structure with your seduction. Now you can make amends by... servicing all of us."

My wolf surged forward in rage, making my fingernails lengthen slightly into claws. I dug them into my palms, forcing myself to remain in control. If I shifted, even partially, I'd be reported and sent back to the Wilds immediately.

"I said no," I repeated, my voice stronger.

Gold Watch's expression hardened. "Five thousand dollars. For one hour of your... cooperation." He gestured around the room. "We're all high-ranking Betas. Some of us work directly with Alpha Thorne. One word from us, and you'll never work in Moon Bay again."

I swallowed hard, feeling sick.

"Get up and take off that cheap dress," the female ordered, examining her manicured claws. "Or we'll tear it off you."

I slowly rose to my feet, shame and rage battling within me. I reached for the strap of my dress, my fingers trembling.

This is just a body. Just flesh. My wolf is what matters. My family is what matters.

The door swung open with a sudden crack.

"I wasn't aware court could be held in a bar's VIP room," a coldly familiar voice drawled from the doorway. "Fascinating legal development."

My head snapped up, my heart stopping in my chest.

Thorne Grey stood in the doorway, his tall frame blocking the light from the hallway. He wore a charcoal suit that emphasized his broad shoulders, his silver-framed glasses catching the light. His expression was one of cold amusement, but his eyes—those golden-flecked eyes—burned with something dangerous.

Every wolf in the room was instantly on their feet. Heads lowered, necks exposed in automatic submission to their Alpha. The atmosphere transformed from predatory anticipation to stark terror in a heartbeat.

I rose slowly, keeping my head down, not daring to meet the Alpha's gaze directly. My wolf cowered within me, remembering the pain of our last encounter.

"Alpha Thorne," Gold Watch stammered, his previously commanding voice now thin with fear. "We... we didn't expect you this evening."

Thorne's eyes flashed gold as he swept his gaze across the room, his Alpha presence filling every corner. My wolf whined instinctively, the urge to submit nearly overwhelming.

"Clearly," Thorne replied, his voice deceptively soft. He stepped into the room, and I caught his scent—mint and metal and power—making my senses reel.

"We were just having some fun," another voice chimed in, lighter and more relaxed. A second figure appeared in the doorway behind Thorne—Ryder Foster, his childhood friend and pack lieutenant. His handsome face wore an easy smile, but his eyes were sharp with assessment. "What game are you all playing?"

The wolves exchanged nervous glances. Gold Watch, seemingly designated as their spokesperson, stepped forward with a placating smile.

"Alpha Thorne, we were merely teaching this criminal a lesson," he explained, gesturing toward me. "She dared return to Moon Bay after her punishment, and we thought she needed to remember her place. Remember your judgment of her."

I kept my gaze fixed on the plush carpet, feeling the weight of every eye in the room. My hands trembled slightly at my sides, and I forced them to be still.

Thorne said nothing for a long moment, then moved to the main chair—the one the fake judge had occupied minutes before. He sat down with casual grace, crossing one leg over the other, adjusting his cuffs with deliberate movements.

His silence seemed to encourage Gold Watch, who continued with growing confidence. "We were reenacting her trial, Alpha. Reminding her of her crimes against you and Ms. Brooks."

Thorne's expression remained perfectly neutral, giving nothing away. His gaze slid to me briefly, then back to Gold Watch.

"Continue," he said simply.

---

My stomach dropped. He was going to let them continue this humiliation? I glanced up in disbelief, meeting his eyes for a fraction of a second before looking away.

"You heard Alpha Thorne," Purple Shirt said, his confidence returning. He pointed at me. "Back on your knees, exile. The real judge is here now. Show him how you confess your crimes."

The others murmured in agreement, forming a loose semicircle around me again. I stood frozen, my wolf alternating between submission to the Alpha and the desperate urge to fight or flee.

"Kneel," Gold Watch commanded, his voice hard. "Confess to Alpha Thorne directly, or you won't see a penny for tonight's work."

I thought of my empty stomach, of my pathetic mattress in the storage room, of the bribes I needed to pay for information about my family. Three years in the Wilds had taught me that pride couldn't feed you or keep you warm at night.

Slowly, painfully, I sank to my knees before Thorne. I could feel his gaze on me, intense and unreadable. The room seemed to hold its collective breath.

"I..." My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard. "I confess to attacking Beta Elite Kaelin Brooks out of jealousy and spite. I confess to attempting to seduce Alpha Thorne against the pack's interests. I..." My voice faltered as the fabricated words burned my throat.

"Continue," Gold Watch urged, his voice eager.

"I deserve my punishment," I forced out, the words tasting like ash. "I am grateful for Alpha Thorne's mercy in not executing me. I accept my place as less than Omega."

I kept my head bowed, hot shame flooding through me. In the Wilds, I had endured physical pain, hunger, and the constant struggle to survive—but nothing had stripped me of dignity like this moment.

I heard a low growl, so quiet that perhaps only I could hear it with my proximity to Thorne. I risked a glance upward.

Thorne's eyes had changed. The cold amusement was gone, replaced by something feral and dangerous. His pupils had elongated slightly—the first sign of his wolf emerging. His fingers gripped the armrests, knuckles white with pressure.

Before anyone could react, Thorne was on his feet. He moved with Alpha speed, crossing the space between us in an instant. His hand closed around my upper arm, yanking me upright with enough force to make me gasp.

"OUT!" The command roared through the room, backed by Alpha power that made every wolf present flinch. "ALL OF YOU!"