The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 195

Freya's POV

The morning light filtered through my curtains as I stood before the mirror, examining my appearance with critical eyes. Today was the day I would finally see my parents after three long, painful years. My hands trembled slightly as I applied a light coat of mascara, trying to hide any evidence of my sleepless night.

I chose my outfit with excruciating care—a deep purple dress that fell to my ankles, paired with a fitted black leather jacket. The combination was elegant yet practical, something I hoped would make my parents proud. I wanted them to see that despite everything, I was surviving, even thriving in my own way.

"You look like you're attending a formal event, not visiting the Forgotten Wilds," I muttered to my reflection, second-guessing my choices.

A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. Taking a deep breath, I crossed my apartment and opened it to find Jasper Stone standing there, impeccably dressed as always in a tailored charcoal suit.

"Ready for our journey?" he asked, his eyes scanning my outfit with approval. "You look stunning, Freya. Like a princess bathed in moonlight."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks at the compliment. "Thank you. I just... I want my parents to see me looking my best. I don't want them to worry about me more than they already do."

Jasper nodded, understanding in his eyes. "They'll be relieved to see you healthy and well-dressed, I'm sure. Shall we go? The border guards are expecting us at noon."

My stomach clenched at the mention of border guards. The last time I'd encountered them, I'd been a convicted exile wearing the silver chains of shame. The memory made my scars burn with phantom pain.

"Freya?" Jasper's voice pulled me back to the present. "We don't have to do this today if you're not ready."

"No," I said firmly, grabbing my purse. "I've waited three years to see my family again. I'm not waiting another day."

The ride to the Forgotten Wilds was mostly silent. I stared out the window, watching as the civilized areas of Silverstone territory gave way to increasingly wild landscapes. The forest grew denser, the road rougher. My anxiety mounted with each passing mile.

"Your father seemed pleased when my people told him about your visit," Jasper said, breaking the silence. "He's been asking about you for years, according to my contacts."

I turned to him, surprised. "You've been in contact with my father before?"

"Not directly," Jasper clarified. "But I've had people keeping an eye on exiled wolves who might be... useful." He gave me a sidelong glance. "Your father was once a respected Beta in Riley Enterprises. His knowledge hasn't diminished with exile."

I wasn't sure how to feel about Jasper monitoring my family for his own purposes, but I couldn't deny the gratitude I felt for this chance to see them.

"You're nervous," Jasper observed, his tone gentler now. "Don't be. Your parents only want to see that you're alright. Everything else is secondary."

"It's not just seeing them," I admitted. "It's going back there. To the Wilds." My voice dropped to a whisper. "I still have nightmares about that place."

Jasper reached across the console and briefly squeezed my hand—a gesture that surprised me with its casual intimacy. "You've adapted remarkably well since returning. Everything is moving in a positive direction. This visit is just another step forward."

I offered a small smile, genuinely touched by his encouragement. "Thank you for arranging this. It means more than I can express."

"Don't thank me yet," he replied with a wry smile. "Thank me when we've successfully completed our visit and you're back in the safety of Silverstone territory."

As we approached the border checkpoint to the Forgotten Wilds, my wolf began to stir anxiously. The tall electrified fences topped with moon silver brought back a flood of memories—the day of my sentencing, the humiliation of being processed, the fear of what awaited me beyond those barriers.

"We're here," Jasper announced unnecessarily as we pulled up to the guard station. "I'll wait for you. Take all the time you need with your parents."

I nodded, my throat suddenly too dry for words. The border guards were approaching our vehicle, their expressions stern and suspicious as always.

"You can do this," Jasper encouraged. "Be brave, Freya. Talk to your father, really talk to him. And when you return, I have a surprise waiting for you."

"A surprise?" I asked, momentarily distracted from my anxiety.

"Something good," he promised with a smile. "Now go. Your family is waiting."

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car. The weight of the moment pressed down on me as I approached the checkpoint, my steps heavy with dread and anticipation. The moon silver detectors at the entrance made my skin crawl with instinctive discomfort. Every wolf knew the burning touch of moon silver—but exiles like me knew it intimately, painfully.

I kept my head high as I walked toward the border guards. I wasn't a criminal now; I was a registered visitor with proper authorization. But the shame of my past sentencing clung to me like a shadow as I stepped into the processing area, preparing to once again enter the place of my nightmares.

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Thorne's POV

The security monitors cast a blue glow across my office as I watched Freya approach the border checkpoint. My fingers drummed impatiently against the polished wood of my desk, each tap an expression of the frustration building inside me.

"Magnify camera three," I instructed the security technician, who immediately complied. The image zoomed in, showing Freya's face clearly as she stood at the checkpoint, her expression a complex mixture of determination and fear.

My wolf stirred restlessly within me, golden eyes fixed on her image. She looked beautiful in that deep purple dress, but it was the subtle fear in her eyes that made my chest tighten uncomfortably. I knew that fear—had caused it, in fact, when I sentenced her three years ago.

The camera angle shifted, revealing Jasper Stone's luxury sedan parked nearby. My eyes narrowed, a low growl building in my throat. Of course Stone would be the one to arrange this visit. Of course he would use this opportunity to ingratiate himself with Freya.

"Alpha Thorne?" The technician's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "We have visual confirmation that the visitor is proceeding to the meeting area. Border patrol has confirmed the presence of Robert and Victoria Riley in the designated location."

I nodded, my eyes never leaving the screen. "Continue monitoring. I want to know everything that happens."