The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 217

Freya’s POV

Sleep evaded me all night. I stared at the ceiling of my apartment, Jasper's words circling in my mind like hungry wolves. Thirty million moon silver coins—an impossible sum designed to keep me tethered to Stone Group. I could fight it legally, but what judge would side with an exile against an Alpha?

The first light of dawn filtered through my blinds when I finally accepted the truth. Stone Group wasn't just my best option; it was my only option. I needed stability while searching for Ethan. I needed income. I needed the protection that came with being "Mia Potter" rather than Freya Riley, the disgraced exile.

I rose from bed, my decision made. A quick shower to wash away the night's restlessness, a simple outfit of black pants and a high-necked blouse to hide my crescent birthmark, and I was ready to face whatever the day would bring.

As I stepped out of my building, the crisp morning air carried a familiar scent that made my wolf stir uneasily beneath my skin. Jasper Stone leaned against his black SUV, smoking a cigarette with casual elegance. His silver-flecked hair caught the morning light, and his eyes—those cold, calculating Alpha eyes—found mine immediately.

He dropped the cigarette, crushing it beneath an expensive leather shoe.

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me," he said, his voice carrying across the quiet street. "Riley wolves always have backbone."

I approached him cautiously. "How did you know I'd decide to stay?"

His smile was all teeth, a predator's display. "Because you're smart. And because you have nowhere else to go." He opened the passenger door for me. "Let's get you to work."

"I can take the bus," I said, hesitating.

"Get in, Freya. I'm waiting for you."

My wolf bristled at the command, but I complied. The interior of his vehicle smelled of leather, tobacco, and his distinctive Alpha scent.

During the drive, Jasper outlined his expectations. I would continue my work on the upcoming collection while he would ensure no one questioned my absence or recent illness. We would arrive separately at Stone Group to avoid unnecessary gossip.

As we pulled into the underground parking structure, I felt my anxiety spike. "What if someone saw the news? What if they recognize me?"

Jasper considered this, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. "You're 'Mia Potter' at Stone. If anyone asks, you were briefly hospitalized with pneumonia." He glanced at me. "Your personal life is your own business."

"You make it sound so simple."

"It can be." He parked in his reserved space. "Go up first. I'll follow in ten minutes. If you have any trouble, message me. I'll handle it."

I nodded, grateful for his unexpected consideration. "Thank you, Alpha Stone."

His eyes darkened at my formal address. "Jasper. We're past formalities now, aren't we?"

I slipped out of the car without answering, making my way to the elevator. My reflection in its polished doors showed a woman trying desperately to appear normal, composed, confident. If only they knew the chaos beneath.

---

The design department was already bustling when I arrived. Conversations died as I walked in, followed by a wave of whispers. I kept my gaze forward, heading straight for my desk, when Emma White emerged from her office. The dark circles under her eyes spoke volumes.

"Mia!" she exclaimed, rushing toward me. "Where have you been? I've been calling and texting for days!" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I was so worried after seeing the news."

I allowed her to pull me into her office, away from curious eyes. As soon as the door closed, her professional demeanor crumbled.

"Freya, what the hell happened? One minute you're calling in sick, the next you're being carried into the hospital by Alpha Thorne Grey himself?" Her eyes were wide with concern. "And then those photos online... everyone's talking about it."

I sank into a chair, suddenly exhausted. "It's complicated, Emma."

"Complicated?" She paced her small office. "The photos, the speculation—you and Thorne Grey? Is it true? Are you two...?" She couldn't even finish the question.

"No!" I said too quickly. "I was sick—pneumonia. I collapsed in a public place. He happened to be there and took me to the hospital. That's all."

Emma studied me skeptically. "That's all? Freya, Alphas don't just 'happen' to help random wolves, especially exiles. There's more to this."

"There isn't," I insisted. "He felt responsible because..." I hesitated, unwilling to reveal my traumatic shower experience. "Because I got sick at Grey Estate. It was just duty."

"Grey Estate?" Emma's voice rose an octave. "What were you doing there?"

"It's not what you think," I said, rubbing my temples. "Look, it's over now. I'm back, I'm better, and I just want to work."

Emma sighed, relenting. "Fine. But your absence created problems. Some of the team noticed similarities between you and... well, the exile in the photos."

My blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"

"Your hair, your build..." She lowered her voice further. "And the timing. You disappeared right when the news broke." She touched my shoulder. "We need to be careful. Make sure your birthmark stays covered. And we stick with 'Mia Potter'—no slip-ups."

I nodded, feeling a familiar dread settling in my stomach. "I understand."

"Good." Emma straightened, shifting back to her professional persona. "The showcase collection is due next week. You'll need to catch up quickly."

As I left Emma's office, the whispers around the design department grew more noticeable. I kept my head high, walking to my workstation with forced confidence. My sketches were still there, untouched. I reached for my tablet, trying to ignore the eyes boring into my back.

The whispers weren't quite soft enough for wolf hearing.

"She disappears for days right when that scandal with Alpha Thorne breaks..."

"The timing is suspicious. And look at her—same build, same hair..."

I kept my breathing steady, focusing on my screen, but my wolf was restless, sensing danger.

Melissa approached with Carter. They stopped at the desk across from mine, speaking just loudly enough to ensure I heard.

"Did you see how the exile in those photos had a crescent mark on her neck?" Melissa's voice dripped with false innocence. "Just like the one Mia's always hiding with those high collars."

My fingers tightened around my stylus. I felt my wolf rising, danger signals flashing through my body. Stay calm. Don't react. Don't let your eyes shift.

"Alpha Thorne would never associate with an exile," Carter replied, his tone deliberately skeptical. "Unless she tricked him somehow."

"The Riley girl," Melissa continued, her voice harder now. "Too ashamed to use her real name. What kind of wolf hides behind a fake identity?"

My cheeks burned with humiliation and anger, but I kept my eyes down, focusing on breathing evenly. One reaction, one glimpse of my wolf eyes, and any doubt would vanish.

"I heard the Rileys were traitors," someone else added. "No wonder she's hiding."

Each word was a barb, designed to provoke a reaction. I remained motionless, my wolf howling silently inside me.