The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 160

Thorne's POV

I needed to change the subject, to give her something else to focus on. "The Silverstone Pack is hosting a business gala in two days. You could be my companion for the evening."

Kaelin's expression immediately shifted, the hurt in her eyes giving way to a glimmer of hope. Her scent changed too, the sour notes of distress fading beneath a sweeter excitement that still somehow failed to please my senses.

"Is that an invitation?" she asked, her voice lifting with barely contained eagerness.

I nodded. "Yes."

Her mood transformed completely, the lingering distress from the boutique incident seemingly forgotten. She grasped my hand, her fingers cool against my skin. I fought the urge to pull away.

"I'll wear my most beautiful gown," she said, her voice breathless with excitement. "I'll make sure the Silverstone Pack sees the taste of the Grey family."

She leaned toward me, her scent growing stronger, overwhelming my senses with notes that should have been pleasing but instead made my wolf want to retreat. Her lips pressed against my cheek in a quick, affectionate kiss. The contact left a faint imprint of her lipstick and the lingering trace of her scent-mark—a territorial behavior I'd normally expect to prompt a response from my wolf.

But I felt nothing. No surge of possessiveness, no pleased rumble from my inner wolf. Just a vague discomfort and the desire to wash my face. Where once her touch had been tolerable, now it felt like an intrusion.

"Mark will pick you up beforehand," I said simply, not returning her gesture of affection.

As the car pulled up to Kaelin's house, she turned to me with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'll see you then, my Alpha."

She stepped out of the car, and the moment the door closed behind her, I reached into my pocket for a handkerchief with an urgency that surprised even me.

"Mark, give me a wet wipe." My voice came out rougher than intended.

He handed one back without comment, watching me through the rearview mirror as I scrubbed at my cheek, erasing her scent with a determination that bordered on desperation.

"Her scent is becoming increasingly unpleasant to me," I muttered, balling up the wet wipe and tossing it aside. My wolf growled in agreement, restless and irritated beneath my skin.

As we pulled away, my thoughts drifted to Grey Estate—how empty it felt without Freya's presence. I could still picture her moving through the hallways, dusting forgotten corners, the way she'd duck her head when I entered a room but still watch me from beneath her lashes. Her scent—wild berries and rain—had lingered in rooms long after she'd left them, a presence that had somehow made the estate feel more like home.

"Even her scent has been erased," I said quietly, almost to myself. The emptiness of that realization ached in a way I wasn't prepared for.

Mark cleared his throat. "Yesterday, Edith asked if Miss Riley's room should be cleared out for another housemaid."

I felt my eyes flash gold, a surge of possessiveness that burned through me like fire. "That room stays untouched," I growled, my voice dropping to a dangerous register that made Mark straighten in his seat. My wolf snarled at the very thought, pushing against my control with unexpected force.

We drove in silence for several minutes, the wheels of my thoughts turning. If my father had blocked official searches of Silverstone territory, I would have to find another way. The need to locate Freya had become an obsession I couldn't—wouldn't—explain.

"Since they won't let me send search parties," I said finally, "I'll have to go myself."

Mark's eyes met mine in the mirror, concern evident. "You're planning to enter Silverstone territory personally? That's too risky, Alpha."

"Stone didn't extend an invitation to the gala," I said, my determination hardening. "But I've secured an invitation through another Alpha. Under the cover of the event, I'll find her myself. Stone's reluctance to allow searches tells me he's hiding something—or someone."

As we approached Grey Estate, my resolve solidified. The thought of Freya in Stone's territory, under his influence, sent a wave of something dark and primitive through me. My wolf paced faster, agitated by images I refused to acknowledge.

"Prepare my formal attire for the gala, Mark. I'll be attending."

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Freya's POV

The employee apartment building hallway was dimly lit, the motion sensors flickering to life as I made my way up the stairs to my floor. My wolf senses were alert, scanning for any unusual sounds or scents. A long day at Stone Group had left me mentally exhausted but physically restless, my skin too tight, too sensitive.

As I rounded the corner toward my apartment, the hallway light caught a silhouette standing by my door. My pulse quickened, muscles tensing automatically. For one wild moment, I thought—hoped—it might be Thorne.

Moonlight filtered through the window at the end of the hall, illuminating the face of Jasper Stone. He was leaning casually against the wall beside my door, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp and watchful. My wolf settled, disappointed yet relieved.

"Alpha Stone," I said, unable to keep the surprise from my voice. "I wasn't expecting you."

He spread his hands in a gesture of harmlessness, but there was nothing harmless about the way his eyes tracked my movement as I approached. "Came to check on my newest employee. Been waiting here for two hours."

I felt a twinge of guilt as I approached and began unlocking my door. This close, I could smell the whiskey on his breath, rich and smoky. "I'm sorry, I had no idea you were coming."

"Don't apologize," he said, his voice dropping lower as I pushed the door open. The rumble in his words sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. "I should have called first."

I hesitated at the threshold, unsure of the protocol. Inviting an Alpha into my private space felt intimate, potentially dangerous. But refusing him would be both rude and foolish, especially when I was dependent on his protection.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked, pushing the door wider.

Jasper stepped closer, his tall frame suddenly making the hallway feel narrower. The heat from his body reached me even before he moved, warming the space between us. The faint scent of whiskey clung to him, mingling with the distinct Alpha musk that was entirely different from Thorne's—wilder, less controlled.

"This late at night?" he murmured, close enough that I could feel his breath on my hair. My wolf stirred, alert and uncertain. "Aren't you afraid I might have ulterior motives?"