The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 201

Freya’s POV

The silver scars gleamed faintly in the moonlight—a network of thin, silvery lines across my collarbone and shoulder, disappearing beneath the shirt. Some were surgical in their precision, while others were jagged and cruel. All of them bore the telltale metallic sheen of tissue damaged by moon silver.

Thorne's expression transformed. For a brief moment, raw shock broke through his carefully controlled façade. He took a step toward me, then stopped himself.

"Every exile who dared to resist got these 'gifts,'" I continued, unable to stop now that I'd started. "Silver-laced whips for the defiant. Silver water immersion for the 'unclean.' Silver needles for those who needed to be 'reminded of their place.'"

Thorne's eyes fixed on the scars, his expression hardening into something dangerous. "Names," he demanded. "I want the names of everyone involved."

I let the shirt fall back into place, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable. "Why? So you can give them medals for a job well done?"

"Freya." The single word carried the weight of an Alpha command, though he was clearly trying to restrain his power. "Give me their names."

I sank back onto the bed, suddenly exhausted. "I only remember a female guard and a male guard. The male guard was called Officer Carter. That's all I know."

Thorne's eyes flickered with recognition at the name, and I knew immediately that he was familiar with this Carter person. A low growl rumbled in his chest, barely audible but unmistakable to my wolf's sensitive hearing.

"I'll look into this," he said, his voice tight with controlled rage. "Until I've investigated fully, you're not leaving."

"What?" I stood up again, indignation overriding my fatigue. "You can't keep me here against my will!"

"I can and I will." His tone left no room for argument. "Consider yourself a protected witness."

"Protected from what? The damage is already done!" I gestured wildly at my shoulder.

"From whoever is behind this," he replied calmly. "And from Jasper Stone, who seems unusually interested in you."

I scoffed. "Jasper has been more helpful to me than you ever were. He helped me find my parents—something you actively prevented!"

A flash of guilt crossed Thorne's features before his expression hardened again. "You'll stay in this room tonight. We'll discuss the next steps in the morning."

"This room?" I echoed, looking around. "Your bedroom? I should be in a guest room."

"You'll stay here where I can ensure your safety," he insisted, moving toward the door. "Get some rest. The bathroom's through there if you need it."

Before I could protest further, he left, closing the door firmly behind him. I collapsed back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. My wolf, usually so rebellious, seemed oddly content to be surrounded by the Alpha's scent, which only frustrated me more.

I must have dozed off because I jerked awake at the sound of the bedroom door opening. Disoriented, I sat up quickly, my heart racing. The room was darker now, with only a small bedside lamp providing illumination.

Thorne entered, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. His bare chest glistened slightly from a recent shower, and his Alpha scent filled the room, stronger and fresher than before. My wolf immediately went alert, pressing against my consciousness with unexpected interest.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, scrambling to stand up from the bed.

Thorne regarded me with mild surprise. "Getting ready for bed," he replied simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"I thought you'd be sleeping somewhere else," I said, backing away slightly. "I assumed you were giving me this room for the night."

A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "This is my bedroom. Why would I sleep elsewhere?" He moved toward the closet, his back muscles rippling with the movement. "You'll be sleeping here tonight as well."

My pulse quickened, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks. "I'm not sharing a bed with you! You're about to complete the binding ceremony with Brooks!"

Thorne paused, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. He turned to face me fully, and I forced myself not to look below his face.

"This isn't up for debate, Freya," he said, his voice low and commanding. "You either lie down willingly, or I'll help you lie down."

The threat sent a shiver down my spine—not entirely from fear. My wolf's reaction to his Alpha dominance was uncomfortably strong, and I hated how easily my body responded to him. I moved to the far edge of the bed, putting as much distance between us as possible.

"Fine," I muttered, sliding under the covers. "But stay on your side."

Thorne disappeared into the bathroom, emerging moments later wearing sleep pants but still bare-chested. He moved with predatory grace as he approached the bed, and I felt the mattress dip under his weight as he slid in beside me. I inched closer to the edge, determined to maintain distance between us.

He noticed my movement and made a sound that was halfway between a chuckle and a growl. "I don't bite, Freya. Unless you want me to."

"In your dreams," I snapped, keeping my back to him.

The silence stretched between us, filled only with the sound of our breathing. I was acutely aware of his presence—his warmth, his scent, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat that my wolf's hearing picked up easily. I tried to relax, but every muscle in my body remained tense.

Suddenly, his arm wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me across the bed toward him. I gasped in surprise as my back collided with his chest, his body heat immediately enveloping me.

"What are you doing?" I hissed, trying to wriggle free, but his arm was like an iron band around me.

"Keeping you from falling off the bed," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "And ensuring you don't try to sneak out during the night."

I stopped struggling, knowing it was futile. His chest was warm against my back, and despite my anger, my wolf found his proximity comforting. I could feel his heartbeat against my shoulder blades, steady and strong. The sensation was disturbingly intimate.

"This is inappropriate," I whispered, trying to ignore how perfectly I seemed to fit against him. "Kaelin is your Luna."

His arm tightened slightly around me, and I felt a low rumble in his chest. "I told you not to mention anyone else," he said, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "And until I've investigated what happened to you in Silver Cage, I won't be completing any binding ceremony."

The implications of his words hung in the air between us. I didn't know how to respond, so I remained silent, listening to his breathing gradually slow as he relaxed behind me. Despite my determination to stay alert, the combination of emotional exhaustion, the comfortable bed, and the undeniable security of being held by an Alpha gradually lulled me toward sleep.

Just before consciousness slipped away, I felt Thorne's fingers gently trace the outline of my crescent birthmark on my neck—the mark of the Riley bloodline that had once been respected throughout Moon Bay. The touch was so light I might have imagined it, but it sent a shiver through me nonetheless.

"Sleep, little wolf," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "You're safe now."