The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 159

Thorne’s POV

Kaelin stepped out, resplendent in white. The wedding gown was undeniably beautiful—intricately detailed with silver embroidery along the bodice, flowing into a train that mimicked a wolf's tail when in motion. It suited her perfectly, emphasizing her slender frame and pale coloring.

Yet as I looked at her, something strange happened. For a brief, disorienting moment, I didn't see Kaelin at all. Instead, I saw Freya—her eyes bright with emotion, her dark hair contrasting with the white dress, her face flushed with happiness. The vision was so vivid that I actually stood up, my heart racing inexplicably.

"Thorne?" Kaelin's voice, tinged with uncertainty, pulled me back to reality. "Is something wrong?"

I blinked, and Kaelin's familiar features snapped back into focus. The momentary hallucination vanished, leaving me confused and unsettled. What had just happened?

"It's..." I cleared my throat, trying to gather my thoughts. "It's suitable."

Kaelin's face fell slightly at my tepid response. "Just suitable?"

I felt a flash of irritation, both at her neediness and at my own inexplicable reaction. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, agitated by emotions I couldn't name.

"You look beautiful," I amended, though the words felt hollow even to my own ears. "The dress is perfect."

But something had shifted inside me, a dissonance I couldn't ignore. The room suddenly felt too warm, too confined. The sweet scent of the boutique—fabric, perfume, and the underlying notes of eager female wolves—became cloying and overwhelming.

"I need some air," I said abruptly, my voice lower and rougher than I intended. My eyes flickered gold momentarily—a lapse in control I hadn't experienced in years. "Wait in the car when you're done."

Without waiting for a response, I turned and strode out of the boutique, ignoring the startled looks from the staff and customers. Outside, the cool autumn air helped clear my head, but did nothing to settle the turmoil within.

What was happening to me? Why had I seen Freya in that moment? And why had it affected me so strongly?

Mark was waiting in the car, alert as always. He raised an eyebrow when I approached alone.

"Miss Brooks?" he asked.

"Still inside," I replied tersely, sliding into the back seat. "She'll be out shortly."

Mark nodded, not questioning my obvious agitation. That was one of his best qualities—knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.

After a few minutes of silence, I spoke. "Any updates on the Silverstone Pack?"

Mark straightened slightly, shifting into report mode. "Nothing significant. Their patrols have been routine, no unusual movements at the borders."

"And the request to search their territory?"

"Denied, as expected." Mark hesitated, then added, "Your father intervened."

I turned sharply. "What?"

"Alexander Grey contacted the council directly. He stated that searching Silverstone territory would escalate tensions between the packs unnecessarily." Mark shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "There's more."

My eyes narrowed. "Go on."

"Your father didn't just block the search request. He apparently reached out to Alpha Stone directly, expressing his desire for 'renewed friendship between our packs.' He emphasized the importance of peace and cooperation in these changing times."

"He had no right," I growled, my fingers digging into the leather seat. "This is my territory to govern."

Mark nodded. "There's been a response from Stone as well. To reciprocate the... goodwill gesture, he's proposed reducing border patrols on both sides."

"Reducing patrols?" The anger in my voice was unmistakable. "And what else did my father agree to without consulting me?"

"They've established a new arrangement. Core members from both packs can now cross territories without formal permission. Alpha Stone framed it as 'strengthening pack relations' and your father apparently approved."

"So not only has my father undermined my authority, he's given Stone's wolves free access to our territory." I clenched my jaw, trying to contain my frustration. "Does Stone think I'm a pup who needs his father to make decisions for him?"

"Alpha Grey—your father, that is—insists this will benefit both packs in the long term."

I stared out the window, my reflection showing eyes flickering with gold. "Anything else I should know?"

Mark shook his head. "No, Alpha."

The car fell silent again, leaving me to my thoughts. Between my father's interference, Kaelin's expectations, and Freya's disappearance, I felt pulled in too many directions. And now these strange visions—seeing Freya where Kaelin stood—added another layer of complexity I didn't need.

The car door opened suddenly, and Kaelin slid in beside me, her face tight with barely contained emotion.

"You left me," she said quietly, her voice wavering between hurt and anger. "In the middle of my final fitting."

I turned to look at her, noting the unshed tears in her eyes, the slight tremble of her lower lip. Her distress should have moved me, should have triggered my protective instincts. Instead, I felt only a detached sort of regret.

"I needed air," I repeated. "It was nothing personal."

"Nothing personal?" Kaelin echoed, disbelief coloring her tone. "Thorne, it was my wedding dress. Our binding ceremony. How is that not personal?"

I sighed, feeling the weight of expectation pressing down on me. "You're right. I apologize."

The words sounded empty even to my own ears, and judging by Kaelin's expression, she thought so too. She turned away, staring out the window as Mark pulled away from the curb.

After a few minutes of tense silence, Kaelin spoke again, her voice softer, more vulnerable. "If you don't want to go through with the ceremony, just tell me. Don't humiliate me like this."

I glanced at her, surprised by the directness of her question. "What makes you think I don't want to go through with it?"

"I can smell your emotions changing, Thorne," she said simply. "I've known you since we were pups. Something's bothering you, and it started when that exiled Riley wolf came back."

I stiffened at the mention of Freya, which didn't escape Kaelin's notice. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"I'm your chosen mate," she continued. "If you need more time, I can wait. But don't make me feel like I'm forcing you into something you're dreading."

"Don't overthink it," I said, my tone deliberately even while my wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin. "I just have some matters that need addressing."