The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 200

Freya’s POV

Suddenly, the water stopped. Through the haze of my panic, I became aware of Thorne staring at me, his expression transformed from anger to confusion, then to dawning horror.

"Freya?" His voice sounded distant through the roaring in my ears. "What's happening? What's wrong?"

I slid down the wall to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest, shivering violently despite the steam filling the room. "No more silver water," I whispered, rocking slightly. "Please. My wolf can't take any more."

Thorne crouched before me, his rage evaporated, replaced by something that looked almost like concern. "Silver water? Freya, what are you talking about? This is just regular water."

I blinked rapidly, trying to separate past from present, the prison from this bathroom. My wolf whimpered within me, caught in the memory of pain and weakness.

"In the Silver Cage," I managed, my voice barely audible. "They held me down... in silver-infused water... said my scent was contaminating the prison... said I needed purification..."

Thorne's expression shifted from confusion to something darker, more dangerous. "They put you in silver water? As punishment?"

I nodded, unable to form more words as the memories overwhelmed me. My wolf continued to whimper, curling into a defensive ball within my mind, as if trying to protect itself from a pain that was now only memory.

"As cleansing," I finally whispered. "Every week. To remove the... the contamination of my bloodline." I looked up at him through wet lashes. "To remove the stench of traitor blood. Isn't that what you're doing now? Cleansing me of contamination?"

Something broke in Thorne's expression then—a crack in the perfect Alpha facade that showed something raw and almost vulnerable beneath. He reached toward me, then hesitated, his hand hovering in the space between us.

"I didn't know," he said quietly. "I didn't know they did that to you."

I laughed bitterly, the sound harsh even to my own ears. "Of course you didn't. Why would the great Alpha Thorne concern himself with the treatment of exiles? You signed the papers, washed your hands of me, and never looked back."

His jaw tightened, but not with anger this time. "Freya, I—"

"Don't," I cut him off, struggling to my feet, leaning against the wall for support. "Just don't. I want to go home. I want to change into dry clothes that don't remind me of drowning in silver. I want to forget this day ever happened."

Thorne stood as well, keeping a careful distance between us now. "I can't let you leave like this."

"You can't stop me," I shot back, though we both knew it was a lie. He was an Alpha in his own territory—he could do whatever he wanted.

For a long moment, he simply looked at me, water dripping from my clothes to pool on his expensive marble floor. I must have looked pathetic—soaked, shivering, eyes wild with remembered trauma—but I lifted my chin and met his gaze with every ounce of dignity I could muster.

"What happened to you in that prison?" he finally asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "What did they do to you, Freya?"

I shook my head, wrapping my arms around myself. "Nothing you didn't authorize when you signed my exile papers."

The golden flecks in his eyes intensified, his Alpha wolf rising closer to the surface. "Answer me. What did they do to you in the prison?"

I sat on the edge of the massive bed in Thorne's bedroom, my damp clothes clinging uncomfortably to my skin. My body still trembled from the flashback in the bathroom—the sensation of silver-infused water burning through my system remained so vivid that even now, my wolf cowered within me. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to find some semblance of comfort in this unfamiliar territory.

The king-sized bed I perched on was covered in plush bedding that smelled intensely of him. That scent both calmed and agitated my wolf in equal measure.

Thorne had reluctantly left me alone to change into dry clothes—a soft gray t-shirt and black sweatpants that he'd provided. They hung loosely on my frame but smelled of him, which made my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin. I had no idea why he'd brought me to his personal quarters rather than assigning me to a guest room, but I was too exhausted to argue further.

The door opened, and Thorne entered carrying a steaming mug. His hair was still slightly damp from his own shower, and he'd changed into a simple black t-shirt and lounge pants. The casual attire did nothing to diminish his Alpha presence, which filled the room immediately. My wolf instinctively lowered her gaze, though I forced myself to meet his eyes.

"Drink this," he said, extending the mug toward me. "It will help stabilize your scent."

I accepted the mug cautiously, surprised by this uncharacteristic show of concern. The warm ceramic felt good against my cold fingers. I inhaled the aroma of herbal tea mixed with something sweeter—honey, perhaps.

"Why the sudden concern for my wellbeing?" I asked, my voice raspy from crying. "You didn't hesitate when you sentenced me to exile."

Thorne's expression darkened as he moved to stand by the window. Moonlight outlined his tall frame, casting half his face in shadow. "The exile sentence didn't include private torture sessions," he said quietly. "If I had known..."

"Known what?" I let out a bitter laugh. "What exactly do you think happens to exiles in the Silver Cage Prison?"

His jaw tightened, golden flecks appearing in his eyes as his wolf responded to my challenge. "Tell me everything, Freya. Who used silver on you?"

I took a small sip of the tea, buying myself time to consider how much I wanted to reveal. The warm liquid soothed my raw throat, and I could feel some of the tension slowly leaving my muscles.

"Why does it matter now?" I finally asked. "It's been three years."

"It matters." His voice was flat, brooking no argument.

I set the mug down on the bedside table and stood, suddenly angry. Three years of pain and humiliation welled up inside me, demanding release. With shaking fingers, I reached for the collar of the borrowed t-shirt and pulled it aside, exposing my shoulder and the upper part of my chest.

"You want to know what happened?" I asked, voice trembling with rage. "This is what happened."