The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 145

Thorne’s POV

The air in the car felt suffocating despite the cool air conditioning. I stared out the window, watching Moon Bay's buildings blur past as Mark navigated through evening traffic. My jaw ached from clenching it too hard, and I could smell my own anger—sharp and metallic—filling the confined space.

"Any news?" I asked, my voice deceptively calm even as I felt my wolf pacing restlessly beneath my skin.

Mark's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, meeting mine briefly before returning to the road. I saw him swallow hard. Good. He should be afraid.

"No, Alpha. We've had teams searching all day. There's no sign of Riley anywhere in Grey Moon territory."

I could feel my eyes changing, the human gray giving way to the wolf's gold. A growl rumbled in my chest before I could stop it.

"You have three days, Mark," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Three days to find Freya. If you can't locate her by then, you can get the hell out of Grey Moon Pack territory."

The car swerved slightly as Mark's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Alpha, I—"

"That's an order," I cut him off. "Not a suggestion."

The rest of the drive passed in tense silence. My phone buzzed with messages about pack business, but I ignored them all. The only notification I wanted to see was confirmation that Freya had been found.

Where had she gone? And more importantly—why had she left? The questions circled in my mind like hungry wolves. I had my suspicions, and most of them led back to one person: Kaelin Brooks.

---

The hospital corridor smelled of disinfectant and illness, scents that made my wolf bristle with discomfort. I nodded to the nurses at the station—all Betas from our pack who lowered their eyes respectfully as I passed.

Kaelin's room was at the end of the hall, a private suite befitting her status as my chosen mate. I paused outside, hearing the low murmur of voices within. Kaelin and her mother, Olivia, were speaking in hushed tones. I knocked once, then entered without waiting for permission.

Kaelin was propped up against her pillows, looking pale but much improved from my last visit. Her hair had been carefully brushed and arranged around her shoulders, and she wore a light blue nightgown that complemented her eyes. She looked fragile.

"Thorne!" Her face lit up when she saw me, but I caught the flash of panic in her eyes before she masked it with a smile. "I wasn't expecting you tonight."

Olivia rose from her chair, bowing her head slightly. "Alpha Thorne, how thoughtful of you to visit at this hour."

I nodded to her, keeping my expression neutral. "Mrs. Brooks. I'd like a moment alone with Kaelin, if you don't mind."

"Of course." She squeezed her daughter's hand before leaving, closing the door softly behind her.

I approached Kaelin's bed slowly, watching her reaction. She fidgeted with her blanket, a nervous habit I'd noticed over the years.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, taking the chair Olivia had vacated.

"Much better." Kaelin reached for my hand, which I gave her after a moment's hesitation. "Dr. Maloy says I can probably go home tomorrow if my vitals remain stable."

I nodded, studying her face. "That's good news."

"Have you been busy with pack matters? You seem... tense."

"Still no sign of Freya Riley," I said, watching her reaction carefully.

Kaelin's fingers twitched in mine, but her expression remained concerned and innocent. "I was hoping your search parties had found her by now."

"Nothing yet. She vanished completely after leaving the hospital that day." I leaned closer, studying her face. "I've been thinking about your conversation with her. Was there anything—anything at all—that might explain why she'd suddenly pack her belongings and disappear?"

"I told you everything already, Thorne," she said, her voice soft but firm. "We barely spoke. She denied the anonymous posts, I said I believed her. That was all."

I leaned closer, inhaling deeply. There was anxiety in her scent, but that could be attributed to her condition or my unexpected questioning.

I released her hand and stood, needing to move. "The circumstances of her disappearance are suspicious. As Alpha, it's my responsibility to account for everyone in our territory."

"Of course," she murmured, lowering her eyes. "I understand your sense of duty. It's one of the things I admire most about you."

I paced to the window, looking out at the city lights. My reflection stared back at me, grim-faced and searching. Behind me, I could see Kaelin watching me with calculation in her eyes that quickly disappeared when I turned back to face her.

"If Freya contacts you or if you remember anything that might help locate her, I expect you to inform me immediately," I said, my tone making it clear this was an Alpha command, not a request.

Kaelin nodded, her expression appropriately solemn. "I will, Thorne. I promise."

I believed she would contact me if Freya reached out—not out of loyalty to me, but because she'd want to know where her rival was hiding. But I doubted she'd volunteer any information about Freya's departure that might incriminate herself.

"Rest well," I said, moving toward the door. "I'll have Mark check on you tomorrow."

"Thorne?" Her voice stopped me with my hand on the doorknob. "This isn't about the designs, is it? You don't think I had anything to do with her leaving?"

I turned my head just enough to see her from the corner of my eye. "Should I?"

The subtle spike of fear in her scent was all the answer I needed.

---

"Nothing," Mark reported the next morning, standing rigidly in front of my desk at the Moon Crescent Court. "The Deltas have tracked every road leading out of Grey Moon territory. There's no trace of her scent anywhere."

I suppressed a growl, pushing away from my desk to stand at the window overlooking the city. Three Deltas from our pack had spent the night searching, and two more had joined at dawn. The fact that they couldn't find even a trace of Freya's scent was troubling.

"What about the bus stations? Train terminals?"

"All checked, Alpha. Security footage reviewed. She hasn't been seen at any public transportation hub."

Which meant someone had helped her leave—or taken her. My mind immediately went to Jasper Stone. The Silverstone Alpha had been entirely too interested in Freya lately, from the design competition to their coffee shop meeting.

"Expand the search to Silverstone territory," I ordered.

Mark shifted uncomfortably. "Alpha, we can't send our wolves into Stone's territory without permission. It would be a direct violation of pack treaties."

I turned to face him, letting my eyes flash gold. "Then get permission. Call Stone's Beta and request access for a search party. Tell them we're looking for a missing pack member."

"Freya Riley isn't technically part of our pack," Mark pointed out carefully. "She's an exile without pack affiliation."

"She's under my protection," I snapped, the words coming out before I could consider their implications. "Make the call."

My phone buzzed on the desk. I checked the screen, grimacing when I saw my father's name.

"Father," I answered formally.

"Son." My father's voice was as commanding as ever, despite having stepped down as Alpha five years ago. "I expect you at the estate for dinner tonight. Seven o'clock."

It wasn't a request. Despite his retirement, my father still wielded considerable influence.

"I'm in the middle of an important situation—"

"Whatever it is can wait," he interrupted. "The Brooks family will be joining us. Edward has concerns about the binding ceremony preparations."

Of course he did. Edward Brooks had been pushing for the ceremony to take place sooner rather than later, ever since Freya returned to Moon Bay.

"I'll be there," I said tersely before ending the call.

Mark was still waiting, his expression carefully neutral. "Shall I proceed with the call to Silverstone?"

"Yes." I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building. "And keep the search parties active. I want to know the moment anyone picks up her scent."