The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 171

Freya's POV

I stood outside the Luna Noire restaurant, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped animal. The establishment's elegant façade—all polished stone and gleaming glass—seemed to mock me with its exclusivity. This was a place for high-ranking wolves, not exiles like me.

Kaelin's message still burned in my mind: [Come alone, or your other blood relative will suffer the consequences.]

My fingers trembled slightly as I pulled out my phone, checking the photo she'd sent along with her threat. It showed my brother Ethan, his face gaunt but unmistakable, sitting in what looked like a concrete room. This was the second time she'd used my brother as leverage against me.

I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath through my nose. The evening air carried the scents of expensive perfumes, fine wines, and the subtle musk of high-ranking wolves who frequented this establishment. I needed to control myself—my scent, my heartbeat, my fear. Kaelin would be looking for any sign of weakness.

"For Ethan", I reminded myself, squaring my shoulders and pushing open the heavy glass door.

The maître d', a well-groomed Beta with calculating eyes, assessed me instantly. I could see the confusion in his expression as he tried to place my rank—my clothes suggested money, but my scent was deliberately muted.

"I'm meeting Ms. Brooks," I said, keeping my voice steady. "She's expecting me."

Recognition flashed across his face. "Of course. Right this way, Miss."

I followed him through the main dining area, where wolves in expensive attire sat at tables draped with pristine white cloths. The restaurant hummed with quiet conversation and the gentle clink of silverware against fine china. Every step we took deeper into the restaurant seemed to elevate the status of the patrons.

The maître d' led me down a corridor, away from the main dining area, toward the private rooms reserved for the highest-ranking wolves. My fingers drifted to the pocket of my blazer, where my phone rested. Should I have told Jasper where I was going? The thought flickered through my mind, but I dismissed it. This was my problem to handle, and involving another Alpha would only complicate matters.

"Ms. Brooks is waiting inside," the maître d' said, gesturing to an ornate door at the end of the hallway.

I nodded my thanks and approached the door, taking one more steadying breath before turning the handle.

The private dining room was dimly lit, with a single crystal chandelier casting soft light over a table set for two. Kaelin sat with her back to the wall, facing the door. She looked radiant—her golden hair falling in perfect waves around her shoulders, her skin glowing with health. Nothing like the frail, sickly woman who had feigned illness at the gala just yesterday.

"Freya," she said, her voice musical and sharp as she gestured to the chair across from her. "So good of you to come."

I remained standing by the door. "What do you want, Kaelin?"

My directness seemed to amuse her. She smiled, revealing perfectly straight teeth. "Straight to business? Not even a hello? Where are your manners, Freya?"

"I'm not here for pleasantries," I replied, feeling my wolf stirring beneath my skin. I tamped down the instinct to let my eyes flash gold. "You said you wanted to talk. So talk."

Kaelin's smile tightened. "Sit down."

It wasn't a request. Though she was only a Beta, her family's status and her connection to Thorne gave her words weight. I moved to the chair and sat down, maintaining eye contact the entire time.

"That's better," she said, reaching for her water glass. "I've ordered some wine. I hope you don't mind."

"What do you want?" I repeated, clenching my fists under the table.

The room's design suddenly registered with me—the thick walls, the absence of windows, the heavy door. This space was built for absolute privacy. For conversations no one else should hear.

Kaelin leaned forward, her pleasant mask slipping. "I want you gone. Out of Stone Group. Out of Moon Bay. Preferably out of this part of the country entirely."

I forced a humorless laugh. "You orchestrated this whole meeting to tell me something I already know? You've made it clear from the moment I returned that you want me gone."

"And yet, here you are," she replied coldly. "Still hanging around, interfering in things that don't concern you."

"I'm just trying to survive, Kaelin. I'm not interfering in anything."

Her eyes narrowed. "Don't play innocent with me. Thorne despises you. He made that clear when he had you serve as a maid in our home. He made it even clearer when he exiled you three years ago."

The mention of Thorne sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine. "If he despises me so much, why did you feel the need to drag me here? Clearly, I'm not a threat to your relationship."

Something flashed in Kaelin's eyes—a primal, jealous rage that her human face couldn't fully disguise. Her wolf knew something her human side refused to acknowledge.

"I saw him kiss you in the garden," she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper. "At the gala. I followed him when he left to 'get some air.'"

My blood ran cold. I hadn't considered that anyone might have seen that moment of weakness between Thorne and me.

"That was..." I struggled to find the right words. "That was nothing. A mistake."

"A mistake?" Kaelin's laugh was brittle. "Thorne Grey doesn't make mistakes, Freya. Not when it comes to physical contact."

I opened my mouth to deny it, but no words came out. Because she was right—something had changed after that kiss. The lingering traces of Thorne's scent had merged with mine in a way that went beyond simple physical contact.

Kaelin suddenly stood, her chair scraping harshly against the floor. "You shameless bitch," she snarled, her composure cracking completely. "You think you can just waltz back into our lives and steal my fiancé?"

The accusation was so ridiculous that my own wolf surged forward in indignation. "Steal YOUR fiancé?" I stood to meet her eye-to-eye. "That's rich coming from the woman who stole MINE three years ago. What is it they say about karma, Kaelin? Sometimes it just takes a while to come full circle."

I hadn't meant to say it. The words had bypassed my brain entirely, coming straight from the wounded, angry wolf inside me.

Kaelin's face contorted with rage. For a moment, I thought she might lunge at me across the table. Instead, she slowly regained control, smoothing her features into a cold smile.

"You have no idea what you're dealing with," she said, sitting back down with deliberate calm. "I've been patient with you, Freya. I could have had Thorne hunt you down the moment you returned. But I thought perhaps you'd learned your lesson in exile."

"I didn't come back to cause trouble," I said, fighting to keep my voice level. "I came back to find my family."

"Ah yes, your family." Kaelin's smile widened. "Your brother Ethan, specifically. How desperate you must be to find him."

My heart skipped a beat. "What do you know about my brother?"

She pulled out her phone, swiped a few times, then turned the screen toward me. It was another photo of Ethan, this one clearly more recent than the first she'd sent. He looked thinner, his face more drawn.

"I know exactly where he is," she said softly. "And what condition he's in."

I gripped the edge of the table so hard my knuckles turned white. "Where is he? What have you done to him?"

"I haven't done anything," she replied innocently. "But his future well-being depends entirely on your cooperation."

"What do you want?" My voice came out as a growl.

"I told you. I want you gone. Permanently." She put her phone away. "You'll resign from Stone Group tomorrow and leave the Silverstone Pack within 48 hours. No goodbyes, no loose ends. You just disappear."