The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 181

Freya’s POV

I rose before anyone could object, relief washing over me as I escaped the stifling atmosphere of the private dining room. The hallway was blessedly empty, and I leaned against the wall for a moment, drawing deep breaths to calm my racing heart.

The women's restroom was as elegant as the rest of the hotel, with marble countertops and soft lighting that would flatter even the most exhausted wolf. I splashed cold water on my face, careful not to smudge my makeup, and stared at my reflection.

"You can do this," I whispered to myself. "Just get through dinner, finalize the contract, and go home."

I dried my hands and turned to leave, only to freeze at the sound of the door opening. A familiar scent hit me—cedar, rain, and that unique Alpha musk that belonged only to him.

"You're in the women's restroom," I said, my voice strained. "Have you lost your mind?"

Thorne Grey stood in the doorway, one hand on the handle, his tall frame blocking any escape. His eyes had changed—the cool blue now rimmed with predatory gold.

"We need to talk," he said, letting the door close behind him.

I backed up until my hip hit the counter. "This is completely inappropriate. We can talk at the table."

"With my fiancée and your boss listening to every word?" He stepped closer. "I don't think so."

My leg began to throb more insistently, and I felt a warm trickle down my calf. The wound had reopened, the scent of fresh blood immediately filling the small space between us.

Thorne's nostrils flared, his eyes dropping to my leg. "You're bleeding."

"It's nothing," I insisted, trying to step around him. "Just leave me alone."

His hand shot out, gripping my arm with surprising gentleness. "Let me see."

"No!" But my protest was weak, my wolf strangely compliant as he guided me into one of the stalls and closed the door behind us.

"Show me," he commanded, and this time, the Alpha tone in his voice made resistance impossible.

Reluctantly, I lifted the hem of my dress a few inches, revealing the bandage on my thigh. Blood had seeped through, staining the white gauze with crimson.

Thorne knelt before me, his fingers surprisingly gentle as he peeled back the edge of the bandage. I hissed as the adhesive pulled at my skin.

"This should be healing faster," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Why isn't it?"

The concern in his voice caught me off guard. "Silver," I admitted reluctantly. "There was silver in the... in what caused it."

His head snapped up, eyes now fully gold—his wolf at the surface. "Silver? Who did this to you?"

I looked away. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me." The intensity in his voice made me meet his gaze again. "Was it Kaelin? Did she do this?"

The directness of his question surprised me. I'd expected him to defend her automatically.

"The people who hurt me aren't far away," I said carefully. "But would you believe me if I told you the truth? Or would you assume I'm lying to come between you and your perfect Beta mate?"

Thorne's jaw tightened. "I want to hear you say it."

"No," I shook my head. "You need to discover the truth yourself. I won't be your convenient scapegoat again."

He studied me for a long moment, then did something that shocked me to my core. He began to shift—not fully, but his features elongated slightly, his canines lengthening, his hands developing claws. It was a partial shift, something only the most powerful Alphas could control.

"What are you doing?" I gasped.

"Helping you," he growled, his voice deeper, rougher. "Your wolf is suppressed by silver. Mine isn't."

Before I could protest, he placed his partially transformed hands over my wound. Warmth radiated from his touch, spreading through my leg and up into my core. I felt my dormant wolf stir in response, waking from its silver-induced slumber.

Then, to my absolute shock, he lowered his head and ran his tongue—now longer, rougher—across the wound.

"Thorne!" I gasped, heat flooding my cheeks.

He ignored me, continuing to lick the wound with methodical attention. I knew wolf saliva had healing properties, especially from an Alpha, but this intimate contact was sending confusing signals through my body. My wolf responded eagerly, pushing against the silver's suppression, yearning for more of his touch.

I tried to push his head away, but the difference in our strength was too great. He continued his ministrations until the bleeding stopped and the pain faded to a dull ache.

Finally, he rose to his feet, features shifting back to human, though his eyes remained tinged with gold.

"Consider it compensation for reopening your wound yesterday," he said, his voice returning to normal. "I'm not unreasonable."

My face felt like it was on fire, and I pressed my back against the stall wall for support. Thorne's lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"What's wrong? Are you embarrassed? I thought you didn't care about me anymore." His voice dropped lower. "And I didn't even kiss you."

I stepped back, flustered. "You... you're talking differently. Did you learn this crude behavior from Alpha Stone?"

He moved closer, eliminating the space I'd created. "Isn't that what you prefer? You seem happy enough following Stone around."

I stared at him, seeing a different man than the one I'd known. "You're like a stranger now."

Thorne leaned in, his breath warm against my face. "So are you, *designer Mia Potter*."

He moved as if to kiss me, and my heart leapt traitorously in my chest, but I turned my face away at the last moment.

His hands came up to frame my face, turning it back toward him. His expression had softened, becoming serious.

"I'm going to investigate what happened to you," he said, his thumb brushing my cheek. "And until I know the truth, I won't marry her."

The statement hit me like a physical blow. I stared at him in shock. "But you still plan to marry her—"

His mouth covered mine before I could finish, silencing my protest with a kiss that was both tender and possessive. My wolf howled in triumph, pushing against the silver's constraints, reaching for him. Despite everything, my body responded, my hands clutching at his shoulders.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard.

"Come back to Grey Moon Pack," he said, his voice husky. "Come home."

Reality crashed back in, and I shook my head. "I can't. I have things I need to do. Don't ask me again."

A shadow crossed his face, but he nodded and stepped back. "Fine. I'll make you want to come back on your own."

He left me there, trembling and confused, my wolf more awake than it had been in days, yearning to follow him. A moment later, the bathroom door opened again, and I heard Mark's voice.

"Alpha Thorne asked me to ensure you get home safely, Ms. Potter."

I pressed a hand to my lips, still feeling the imprint of Thorne's kiss, my leg no longer throbbing with pain. Despite everything he'd done, despite my determination to hate him, my traitor wolf had responded to his care, his touch awakening something I'd thought long dead.

And the worst part? Some small, foolish part of me had begun to hope that maybe—just maybe—he wasn't the monster I'd convinced myself he was.