The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 205

Freya’s POV

Amy helped me to sit on a wrought iron bench in the garden, the sketchbook resting firmly on my lap. The quiet rustling of leaves and distant birdsong provided a soothing backdrop as I tried to keep my attention away from what had just happened. Behind me, I could still hear Thorne's low, commanding growl as he'd chased after Lucy's retreating form. The sound had reverberated through the garden, a primal warning that made even the birds fall silent.

My hand trembled slightly as I began to sketch the garden's landscape. The moon silver mark on my wrist caught the sunlight, reflecting a cold, metallic glow that reminded me of my status—no matter how much Thorne defended me, I was still marked as an exile. I took a deep breath, focusing instead on capturing the elegant curves of the rose trellises and the cascading fountain in the center of the garden.

"That's beautiful, Ms. Riley," Amy's soft voice said from behind me. "Your lines flow like moonlight."

I turned to see Amy standing there, her eyes still downcast but her posture slightly more relaxed than before.

"Thank you, Amy," I replied, patting the space beside me. "You don't have to keep working in the garden right now. Why don't you sit with me for a while?"

She hesitated, then perched nervously on the edge of the bench. "I don't want to get in trouble."

"You won't," I assured her. "I'd like you to stay with me instead of going back to where the others might... give you a hard time."

Amy's eyes flickered up briefly, gratitude evident in them. "They don't like me much. I'm just an Omega, and I only came from Shadow District last month. I don't know all the rules here at Grey Estate."

My heart ached for her. The hierarchy in wolf society could be cruel, especially to those at the bottom. "I can teach you how to trim the roses properly when I'm feeling a bit better," I offered. "I used to be a maid here, you know."

Her eyes widened. "Really? But you're a Beta from the Riley family."

I smiled sadly. "Life takes unexpected turns sometimes. But roses—" I gestured to the garden, "—roses I understand. They need a firm hand but gentle touch. Cut too much, and they wither. Cut too little, and they grow wild."

Amy nodded eagerly, but her posture suddenly stiffened, and her gaze dropped to the ground. The scent of pine and winter reached me a moment before I heard his footsteps. My wolf stirred uneasily within me, recognizing Alpha presence before my human side could even process it.

Thorne approached the garden bench where we sat, his wolf still simmering with anger from the confrontation with Lucy. Amy immediately stiffened at his approach, her head bowing in instinctive submission. Even I found my posture changing slightly, though I made a point of continuing my sketch rather than acknowledging him directly.

"I've had her removed from Grey Estate," he stated without preamble, his voice still carrying traces of the growl that had erupted when he'd heard Lucy's vicious words.

My pencil paused momentarily on the paper, but I didn't look up. "Thank you, Alpha Thorne," I replied, my voice deliberately cool and formal.

"Grey Estate doesn't need that many servants anyway," he continued, watching my profile closely. "Especially ones planted by the Brooks family."

At this, my eyebrows raised slightly, but I still didn't meet his gaze. Instead, I added delicate shading to my garden sketch.

"Amy," he said, his tone gentler than the one he'd used with me, "you may go help Martha in the kitchen for the remainder of the day."

The young Omega nodded quickly, rising to her feet. "Yes, Alpha," she murmured, casting a quick, concerned glance at me before hurrying away.

Once we were alone, Thorne moved closer to the bench. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his eyes lingering on the slight flush I could feel in my cheeks.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Alpha," I replied, keeping my tone distant.

I kept my eyes fixed on my sketchbook, not trusting myself to look directly at him. My head was pounding, and despite the pleasant temperature, I felt alternately too hot and too cold. The last thing I needed was for him to realize I was feeling unwell.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Thorne studying my sketch. Then his gaze shifted to the designs visible on the adjacent page of my sketchbook—the binding ceremony rings I'd been working on for him and Kaelin.

"What's this?" he asked, his voice suddenly sharp as he reached for my sketchbook.

I reluctantly relinquished it, knowing I couldn't refuse an Alpha. "The binding ceremony rings you commissioned," I explained evenly. "I've been working on several designs based on Ms. Brooks' specifications."

Thorne stared at the designs, his jaw tightening. I'd incorporated elements from both the Grey and Brooks family crests—the crescent moon of the Grey pack intertwined with the mountain peaks of the Brooks family, set with moonstones and sapphires.

"These are Kaelin's requirements?" he asked, his voice unnaturally calm.

"Yes," I replied, keeping my tone neutral. "She was very specific about incorporating both family symbols and the particular gemstones. The design is meant to represent the union of your bloodlines."

Thorne's eyes flashed gold momentarily—a sure sign his wolf was close to the surface. "Riley's landscapes are impressive," he said coldly, "but these binding ring designs are hideous."

Before I could respond, he dropped the sketchbook onto the ground between us, the pages fluttering in the breeze. I stared at it, too stunned to immediately react. Had he really just thrown my work on the ground like trash?

"I'll redesign them," I said finally, reaching to pick up the sketchbook, pride forcing me to keep my voice steady. "I'll make sure they meet your expectations, Alpha Thorne, and those of your future Luna."

Thorne watched my face carefully as I picked up the sketchbook, his eyes searching for something. His scent shifted slightly, carrying notes of frustration and something else I couldn't identify.

"How do you do it?" he asked, unable to keep the edge from his voice.

"Do what, Alpha?" I asked, carefully smoothing the pages of my sketchbook.

"Sleep in my bed at night and design binding ceremony rings for me and another Beta during the day," he said bluntly. "How are you so matter-of-fact about it all, Riley?"

A flash of genuine emotion finally broke through my careful composure—anger, bright and hot. Color rose in my pale cheeks, making the fever I was trying to hide even more apparent.

"I'm doing exactly what you asked of me," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "What more do you want? Wasn't designing the rings and necklaces your Luna's request? Now you're interfering with that too? Make up your minds, the two of you, before coming to me with your demands."

He hadn't expected such direct pushback, and I could see his wolf surge forward in his eyes, gold flecks appearing in his irises.

"Aren't you even slightly reluctant?" he pressed, taking a step closer to me. "Don't you feel anything about creating the symbols that will bind me to someone else? Where's the Freya who used to chase after me? The one who would have been devastated by this commission?"

My head was spinning now, not just from the headache but from the absurdity of his questions. How dare he? After everything he'd put me through, did he really expect me to still pine for him?

"Why would I be reluctant?" I asked, my voice rising despite my effort to remain calm. "I'm thrilled about it, actually. I can't wait for you to be bound to someone else. Then maybe you'll finally leave me alone."

I stood up too quickly, causing the world to tilt alarmingly. I gripped the back of the bench to steady myself, but the motion did little to stop the garden from swaying around me.

"I just want you both to leave me in peace," I continued, my voice growing weaker as my legs threatened to give way beneath me. "That's all I've ever wanted."

Thorne's expression changed from anger to concern as he looked more closely at me. "Freya, you're burning up," he said, reaching toward me.

I tried to step back, but my legs finally betrayed me. The sketchbook slipped from my grasp as darkness crept in from the edges of my vision. The last thing I felt was Thorne's arms catching me before I hit the ground, and the last thing I heard was a deep, worried growl rumbling from his chest.