The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 146

Thorne’s POV

Grey Manor loomed against the twilight sky, windows glowing with warm light that belied the tension waiting inside. I climbed the steps slowly, already catching the scent of the Brooks family lingering in the air. My wolf bristled at the territorial intrusion, especially given the circumstances.

The old housekeeper greeted me at the door with a respectful nod. "They're waiting in the main dining room, Alpha. Your father asked that you join them immediately."

The dining room fell silent as I entered. My father sat at the head of the table—a position he'd insisted on maintaining even after passing Alpha status to me. Edward and Olivia Brooks sat to his right, with Kaelin beside her mother. She looked remarkably recovered, dressed in an elegant navy dress that set off her pale skin and light hair.

"Thorne." My father's greeting was cool. "We were beginning to wonder if you'd join us."

"I apologize for the delay." I took my seat at the opposite end of the table. "Pack business required my attention."

Edward Brooks nodded knowingly. "The missing servant, I presume? Kaelin mentioned you were concerned about her disappearance."

The fact that they'd been discussing Freya before my arrival made my hackles rise. "Yes. It's unusual for someone to vanish without a trace from our territory."

"Perhaps she simply returned to where she belongs," Edward suggested, his tone dismissive. "The Forgotten Wilds must feel like home to her kind by now."

My hand tightened around my water glass. "Her sentence was completed. She has every right to be in Moon Bay."

An awkward silence fell over the table. Kaelin shifted in her seat, looking uncomfortable.

"Well," my father said finally, "I'm sure she'll turn up. In the meantime, we have more important matters to discuss." He gestured to a server, who began bringing in the first course. "Edward has brought up some valid concerns about the binding ceremony preparations."

I accepted a bowl of soup, though I had no appetite. "What concerns?"

Edward cleared his throat. "Given recent events—Kaelin's health scare, the design competition controversy—we believe it would be beneficial to accelerate the timeline."

"Accelerate?" I kept my voice level, though rage bubbled beneath the surface. "Kaelin was just released from the hospital today."

"And she's recovering wonderfully," Olivia interjected, patting her daughter's hand. "The doctors say the episode is behind her, provided she avoids undue stress."

"Which is precisely why we should move forward with the ceremony," Edward added. "The sooner you two are bound, the more stability Kaelin will have. It's what's best for her health."

I looked at Kaelin, who had been suspiciously quiet. She met my gaze with a carefully constructed expression of submission and hope.

"What do you think about this?" I asked her directly.

She lowered her eyes. "I want what's best for the pack, Thorne. And for us."

A non-answer if I'd ever heard one.

My father set down his spoon with a decisive clink. "The council agrees with Edward. This matter has dragged on long enough. Three years of engagement is more than sufficient."

"I've been a bit preoccupied with running the pack and the Moon Crescent Court," I pointed out, not bothering to hide my irritation.

"And what exactly have you been doing at the court all day?" my father challenged. "Besides hunting for a servant girl who's clearly made her choice to leave?"

The room temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Even the servers tensed, sensing the conflict between father and son, former Alpha and current.

"That servant girl," I said carefully, "was exiled once before. I'm ensuring history doesn't repeat itself."

My father's eyes flashed gold—a reminder that while he might have stepped down, his wolf was still powerful. "That Riley girl was justly sentenced according to pack law, which you administered yourself. Or are you questioning your own judgment now?"

The implication hung heavy in the air—that my interest in Freya's whereabouts suggested doubt about her original sentence. I couldn't afford to show such weakness, not with the Brooks family watching.

"I'm questioning nothing," I said firmly. "But as Alpha, I'm responsible for everyone in our territory, regardless of their status."

"Well," my father said, his voice hardening, "that wandering exile is no longer your concern. I'll have my own men look for her, and when they find her, you will immediately proceed with the binding ceremony." He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Do I make myself clear, son?"

The challenge was explicit. To refuse would signal division within the Grey family—something we couldn't afford to show in front of the Brooks.

"Perfectly clear," I replied, my jaw tight. "I'll make the arrangements."

The rest of dinner passed in strained conversation about ceremony details and pack politics. I contributed as little as possible, focusing instead on controlling my temper and planning my next moves. When dessert was finally cleared away, I rose from the table.

"If you'll excuse me, I have pack business to attend to."

"Actually," Kaelin said, speaking up for the first time in a while, "I was hoping we might speak privately, Thorne. Just for a moment."

All eyes turned to her, then to me. To refuse would be seen as a slight.

"Of course," I agreed reluctantly. "The terrace, perhaps?"

---

The night air was cool against my skin as Kaelin and I stepped onto the stone terrace overlooking the gardens. The scent of roses drifted up from below. The memory of Freya, bathed in moonlight, sent an unwelcome pang through my chest.

Kaelin moved to the railing, her back to the manor. Without the audience of our families, her posture relaxed slightly.

"I wanted you to know," she said softly, "that I didn't suggest moving up the ceremony. That was my father's idea."

I stood beside her, keeping a careful distance between us. "You didn't contradict him."

"How could I?" She turned to face me, her expression pained. "You know how my father gets when he's set on something. And with my condition..."

She let the sentence hang, a reminder of her fragility and the role I was expected to play as her protector.

"Your health seems remarkably improved," I observed, watching her face carefully.

"The doctors worked wonders," she said, then hesitated. "Thorne, I understand your concern about the Riley girl. I truly do. Even if she is a former exile, she shouldn't just vanish without a trace. It's... worrying."

"Is it?" I kept my tone neutral.

"Of course." Kaelin reached out, placing her hand on my shoulder in a gesture of comfort that felt rehearsed. "It's natural that you'd worry. You've always had a strong sense of responsibility for everyone under your protection."

Her hand felt heavy on my shoulder, and I had to resist the urge to step away from her touch.

"I appreciate your understanding," I said carefully.

Kaelin's smile was gentle in the moonlight. "Thorne, don't worry too much. She's one person—and a resourceful one at that. After all, she survived three years in the Wilds." She leaned closer, her voice softening. "Where could she possibly go alone? Let Mark handle the search. We can talk about the binding ceremony plans..."

I cut her off, stepping back so her hand fell away from my shoulder. "I'm not worried," I said, the lie bitter on my tongue. "And you're right—I'll let Mark continue the search. As for the ceremony, I'll handle the arrangements as promised."

A flicker of something—disappointment? frustration?—crossed Kaelin's face before she composed herself again. "Of course. I know you will."

I offered her my arm to escort her back inside, already planning my escape from this suffocating evening.