The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 161

Freya’s POV

I straightened my spine, meeting his gaze directly despite the flutter of nerves in my stomach. "If Alpha Stone wanted to harm me, he wouldn't have waited until now to do it."

A slow smile spread across his face, his eyes darkening. "Smart girl," he said, stepping past me into the apartment. His shoulder brushed mine as he passed, a contact that seemed deliberate.

I closed the door behind us, watching as he surveyed the living room. Despite his casual demeanor, there was something predatory in the way he moved, his eyes taking in every detail. My small apartment suddenly felt even smaller with his presence filling it.

"I'll make some tea," I said, retreating to the kitchen where I filled a kettle and set it on the stove. I could feel his presence even with my back turned, the unmistakable energy of an Alpha filling the small apartment, pressing against my senses like a physical touch.

When I returned with two steaming mugs, he was sitting on my couch, arms spread along the backrest, claiming the space. His legs were spread wide, an unconsciously dominant posture that made my throat go dry. I handed him a mug of sobering tea, brewed with herbs that helped clear alcohol from a wolf's system.

"Thoughtful," he commented, taking the mug and inhaling the steam. His eyes never left my face. "Emma says you're settling in well at the design department."

I perched on the edge of an armchair, keeping some distance between us. My heart was beating faster than it should, and I knew he could hear it. "She's been very helpful."

Jasper watched me over the rim of his mug, his eyes never leaving my face. "Is that why you stayed so late? Working with Emma?"

I nodded, trying to ignore the warmth creeping into my cheeks under his intense scrutiny. "She's having me assist with some preliminary sketches for the winter line."

He took a sip of tea, his expression thoughtful. "Emma White was your mentor's student at Grey Moon Academy, wasn't she?"

The question surprised me. "Yes. Is that why you hired me? Because Emma worked for you?"

Jasper's lips quirked into a half-smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. "More or less."

I hesitated before asking the question that had been bothering me. "Why would a Grey Moon wolf come to work for Silverstone Pack? Especially someone as talented as Emma?"

Jasper set his mug down, leaning forward slightly. The movement brought his scent closer. "When you were accused of hurting Kaelin Brooks, Emma and Selena both spoke in your defense at the Moon Crescent Court."

I felt a pang in my chest at the memory, sharp and painful. "I didn't know that."

"After you were sentenced to exile, Emma was furious. She said design in Grey Moon Pack died that day." His eyes held mine steadily, something softer entering his expression. "She came to Silverstone because I welcomed her talent without prejudice. Just as I've welcomed yours."

I lowered my gaze, feeling a wave of gratitude and regret. My fingers tightened around my mug. "They tried to defend me, and it was useless."

"Not useless," Jasper corrected. "Just not enough to overcome an Alpha's judgment. Especially when that Alpha was determined to believe the worst."

I didn't know how to respond to that, so I simply nodded, my throat tight with emotion.

Jasper finished his tea and set the mug down with deliberate care. "So," he said, his tone shifting to something more commanding, filling the room. "How will you thank me for giving you this opportunity?"

The abrupt change caught me off guard. Jasper's Alpha presence suddenly intensified, filling the room with a pressure that made it hard to breathe. My wolf instinctively wanted to lower her head in submission. The silver mark on my neck began to heat uncomfortably, a reminder of my exile status and vulnerability.

I fought against the instinct to submit, keeping my back straight despite the discomfort. My heart hammered against my ribs, loud enough that I knew he could hear it. "What did you have in mind, Alpha Stone?"

His eyes gleamed with something dangerous and hungry, raking over me in a way that made heat flood my cheeks. My body responded to his Alpha presence despite my wariness, a primal reaction I couldn't entirely control. For a moment, the air between us crackled with tension.

But then he leaned back, releasing the pressure of his Alpha aura. "Don't worry, little wolf. I don't take what isn't freely given."

Relief washed through me, followed quickly by embarrassment at my assumption. "I should probably get some rest," I said, hoping he would take the hint.

Jasper made no move to leave, instead stretching his legs out comfortably. "There's a business gala the day after tomorrow. I want you to accompany me."

The request—or rather, command—caught me by surprise. "A public event? I don't think that's wise."

"Why not?" he challenged, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"What if Tho—Alpha Thorne is there?" I couldn't keep the anxiety from my voice, my heart rate picking up at the mere mention of his name. "I can't risk being seen."

Jasper's expression hardened slightly. "Afraid of facing your former Alpha?"

"I'm afraid of the consequences for your pack if he discovers you've been harboring me," I countered, trying to keep my voice steady. "And yes, I'm afraid of what he might do if he finds me." The memory of Thorne's cold eyes as he sentenced me to exile made me shiver involuntarily.

Jasper studied me for a long moment. "You still fear him that much?"

I didn't answer directly, my fingers pressing against the silver mark on my neck unconsciously. "It's not just about me. You've given me a chance at a new life here. I don't want to jeopardize that, or cause problems between the packs."

"You think I want to use you to provoke Grey," Jasper stated, his tone somewhere between amusement and irritation.

I met his gaze steadily. "The thought had crossed my mind."

To my surprise, he laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "Clever wolf. But in this case, you're wrong. Grey won't be at the gala. I didn't send him an invitation."

"But—"

"The event will have important designers and industry contacts," he continued, cutting off my protest. "It's an opportunity for you to network—discreetly, of course. As my guest."

I still felt uncertain, my wolf pacing anxiously. "I don't have anything appropriate to wear to such an event."

"That's been arranged." His tone made it clear that all my objections had been anticipated and dismissed. "My car will pick you up at seven."

Before I could formulate another argument, he rose smoothly to his feet. As he moved toward the door, he paused beside me, leaning down until his face was level with mine. I felt the brush of his nose against my shoulder, a subtle scent-marking that sent a jolt through my body. His breath was warm against my skin, his proximity making my pulse race.

"Rest well, Freya Riley," he murmured, his lips close enough to my ear that I could feel the warmth of his breath. Then he straightened and walked out the door, leaving me standing in the middle of my apartment, heart racing, skin tingling where he'd marked me.

I moved to the window, pressing my heated forehead against the cool glass, watching the moon as it grew fuller in the night sky. My body hummed with a confusing mix of reactions—wariness, anxiety, and an unwelcome thread of attraction I couldn't entirely dismiss. My wolf was unsettled, caught between instinctive response to an Alpha's attention and lingering loyalty to another.

My phone buzzed with a message from Selena: [Early photoshoot tomorrow. Get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning. -S]