The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 169

Freya's POV

Sleep never came. I spent the entire night staring at the ceiling of my apartment, replaying Thorne Grey's cold accusations in my mind. But worse than his words was the memory of his kiss—aggressive, possessive, and infuriatingly familiar. My lips still tingled with the phantom pressure, and my wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin every time I remembered how, for just a moment, I had surrendered to him.

"Stop it," I muttered to myself as dawn's first light filtered through my curtains.

There was no point dwelling on what had happened at the gala. Thorne Grey was engaged to Kaelin Brooks. He was the Alpha who had exiled me. And I was nothing to him but property he believed had been stolen.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the lingering scent of Thorne that my imagination insisted still clung to my skin. By the time I'd dressed in a simple gray blouse and black pants, the sun had fully risen. I grabbed my portfolio and headed out.

Stone Group's design department was already buzzing with activity when I arrived, earlier than necessary. I wanted to avoid the crowded elevator and awkward stares. As I made my way to my desk near the supply closet, I noticed how conversations stopped when I passed. No one greeted me. No one even looked at me directly.

I was used to it by now. Three days at Stone Group had taught me that I didn't fit in with the sleek, confident design team. They all had the polished look of elite wolves—expensive clothes, perfect hair, and an air of belonging that I'd lost years ago. My simple clothing and lack of accessories marked me as an outsider as clearly as if I still wore my exile mark visibly.

I had just settled at my desk when I heard whispers from a group of designers huddled by the coffee machine.

"I still can't believe Alpha Thorne and his mate showed up," a female Beta with sleek blonde hair said.

"Did you see how he rushed to her side when she started having symptoms?" another designer replied. "It was so romantic."

"What happened?" asked a third.

"Moon phase syndrome," the blonde Beta answered. "Poor Kaelin Brooks—one minute she was perfectly fine, the next she was trembling and pale. Alpha Thorne practically carried her out of there."

"That's true love," sighed the third designer. "The way he looked at her... I'm going to use that as inspiration for my next piece."

I kept my head down, pretending to organize my desk while my stomach twisted. So Kaelin's episode hadn't been faked after all? Or was she just that good at manipulating everyone, including the gossiping designers across the room?

"And did you see how that Mia girl disappeared at the same time as Alpha Thorne?" the blonde Beta added, her voice dropping even lower. "Then they both came back looking... disheveled."

My cheeks burned as I realized they were talking about me. I hadn't thought anyone had noticed my absence, or Thorne's.

"That's enough chitchat," a stern voice cut through the gossip. "We have deadlines to meet."

Emma White stood in the doorway to her office, her gaze sweeping over the now-silent room. She was tall and commanding, with short auburn hair and the confident posture of a high-ranking Beta. When her eyes landed on me, they lingered for a moment, an unreadable expression crossing her face.

"Mia," she said, using my alias. "My office, please."

The other designers exchanged looks as I stood and followed Emma into her office. She closed the door behind me and gestured to a chair across from her desk.

"You look exhausted," she said bluntly, sitting down.

"I didn't sleep well," I admitted, settling into the chair.

Emma studied me for a moment. "I heard about what happened at the gala last night." When I didn't respond, she added, "Alpha Stone informed me that you had an... encounter with Alpha Thorne."

I stiffened. "It was nothing."

"Nothing doesn't usually leave an Alpha stalking around like a wounded predator," Emma replied dryly. "Jasper said Grey cornered you in the garden."

My wolf bristled defensively. "I can handle Thorne Grey."

Emma's eyebrows rose slightly at my use of the Alpha's first name. "I'm sure you believe that," she said. "But you need to be careful, Freya."

The sound of my real name made me flinch. "I don't—"

"Save it," Emma interrupted. "I know exactly who you are. I knew the moment I smelled you, even through all those chemical products you use to mask your scent."

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. "Are you going to tell anyone?"

Emma leaned back in her chair. "I already knew you were at the gala with Alpha Stone. And I also know you had contact with Alpha Thorne there."

I instinctively leaned away from her. "How did you—"

"It doesn't matter how I know," Emma said. "What matters is what you're going to do about it."

"What do you mean?"

Emma sighed. "Look, I'm not here to judge you or expose you. Quite the opposite, actually. I think you already know I was one of the few who spoke up for you during your trial three years ago. To be honest, I really hate Alpha Thorne. He misunderstood you, exiled you, and now he's looking for you everywhere. It's really disgusting."

"I knew," I said softly. "And I'm very grateful that you defended me. Not many were willing to stand up for me back then."

Emma waved away my gratitude. "Don't thank me too much. I wasn't doing it for you personally—I was doing it for your professor."

"Julie Hunter," I said, memories of my mentor warming me despite the circumstances.

Emma nodded. "Julie always believed in your innocence. She was so convinced, so passionate about it. She kept every design you ever submitted to her classes, showed them to anyone who would listen." A small smile touched her lips. "She was quite persistent."

"She was an amazing teacher," I said, a lump forming in my throat. "I owe her a lot."

"We both do," Emma admitted. "She saw something in you that I might have missed if she hadn't pointed it out. That's why I took the risk of speaking up."

I met her eyes directly. "Still, thank you. It couldn't have been easy going against an Alpha's judgment."

"It wasn't," Emma said simply. Then she leaned forward. "But now you work for me, and I expect excellence. Don't make me regret defending you."

"I won't," I promised.

"Good." Emma's demeanor shifted, becoming more professional. "I have a project for you. In three days, we're meeting with an important client who needs a ruby pendant designed for a binding ceremony. I want you to come up with three preliminary designs by then."