The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 228

Freya’s POV

My throat tightened as Elena Stone's question hung in the air between us. The restaurant seemed to grow quieter, as if every wolf in the vicinity had paused to listen for my answer. I could feel Kaelin's satisfied smirk burning into me, her victory already assured in her mind. My heart pounded against my ribcage, each beat painful as I faced the inevitable end of another attempt at rebuilding my life.

I lifted my gaze to meet Elena's eyes directly. There was no point in lying anymore. The charade had reached its inevitable end.

"Yes, Mrs. Stone," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "My real name is Freya Riley."

A collective murmur rippled through the nearby tables. I reached up and slowly pulled down the silk scarf at my neck, revealing the crescent-shaped white patch that marked me as a Riley. My fingers brushed against it lightly, a gesture that had become almost unconscious over the years—touching the mark that once brought pride, now brought only pain.

"I was once a member of the Riley family," I continued, feeling strangely calm now that the truth was out. "I was exiled by the Moon Crescent Court three years ago."

Kaelin's triumphant laugh was soft but cutting. "It seems your new boyfriend doesn't even know who you really are," she said, her eyes gleaming with malice. "How pathetic."

The word sliced through me, reopening old wounds. My fingers trembled slightly against the tablecloth.

Her companion, a sleek Beta with calculating eyes, leaned forward. "Alpha Thorne would be very interested to know how an exile managed to infiltrate Stone Group," she added, her voice dripping with false concern.

At the mention of Thorne's name, something inside me cracked. My eyes burned with unshed tears. So he wasn't content with banishing me, with taking my payday, with seeing me struggle? Now he wanted to hunt me down wherever I found safety? The unfairness of it made my wolf want to howl in anguish.

For a brief moment, a wild impulse surged through me—to find Thorne myself, to stand before him and demand why he was so determined to destroy every chance I had at survival. My jaw clenched tight enough to ache.

My wolf bristled at the threat, hackles raised within me. Before I could respond, Jasper stood, positioning himself slightly in front of me. His Alpha presence filled the space around us, protective and commanding.

"You've said quite enough," he stated, his voice low but carrying an unmistakable warning.

I caught a flicker of uncertainty in Kaelin's eyes. She hadn't expected Jasper to defend me so openly.

What happened next, however, surprised us all.

Elena Stone's expression shifted from shock to something unnervingly calm. With elegant precision, she placed her napkin beside her plate and regarded Kaelin with a level gaze.

"Kaelin Brooks," she said, her voice smooth as polished stone, "do you honestly believe I would be so oblivious about who my son is dating?"

The restaurant fell silent. Even the waitstaff seemed to freeze in place.

"The Stone family never acts blindly," Elena continued, her tone steady and powerful. "Of course I know who Freya is."

I stared at her, completely blindsided. This was not the reaction I had anticipated.

"We've even discussed how to handle her... past," Elena added with a subtle emphasis that made it clear she was improvising masterfully.

Kaelin and her friend exchanged confused glances, their victory clearly slipping away.

"Her design talent is genuine," Elena said, turning slightly to gesture toward me. "And that's what Stone Group values, isn't it, Alpha Stone?"

Jasper, recovering quickly from his own surprise, nodded. "Absolutely, Mother."

Kaelin's lips thinned as she tried to salvage the situation. "Mrs. Stone, you must realize this violates pack law. Exiles shouldn't be—"

"I imagine Alpha Grey would be more concerned about his Beta acting without authorization," Elena interrupted smoothly, "than about a designer's history."

My wolf wanted to growl in appreciation at Elena's skillful verbal counterstrike. I kept my face neutral, but inwardly I was impressed by her quick thinking.

"Associating with exiles will tarnish your bloodline reputation," Kaelin's friend whispered, just loud enough for us to hear.

Elena rose to her feet, her full Alpha-mate presence unfurling. Despite being a Beta herself, years of standing beside an Alpha had given her an unmistakable air of authority.

"Thank you for your... concern," she said with a glacial smile. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we'd like to continue our family lunch."

The dismissal was unmistakable. Kaelin and her friend had no choice but to retreat, their faces fixed with strained smiles that didn't reach their eyes. I watched them weave between tables toward the exit, Kaelin's shoulders rigid with humiliation.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Elena's elegant facade vanished like morning mist. Her eyes turned cold as she looked at me.

"Now," she said, her voice dropping several degrees, "tell me the truth."

I lowered my gaze, shame washing over me. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Stone. I shouldn't have hidden my identity from you."

Jasper immediately stepped in. "It's my fault, Mother. I asked Freya to pretend to be my future mate."

Elena's sharp gaze shifted to her son. "You asked an exile to pose as my future daughter-in-law?"

The way she said "exile" made my wolf curl inward. No matter how accepting some might seem, that word always carried the weight of disgrace. I felt my shoulders hunch slightly, my body instinctively making itself smaller.

"I never meant to deceive you, Mrs. Stone," I said quietly. "I've been working at Stone Group under the name Mia Potter because I needed a fresh start. When Jasper asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend temporarily, I agreed because..." I hesitated, not wanting to reveal the full extent of Jasper's manipulation. "Because I felt I owed him for the job opportunity."

Elena studied me for a long moment. "I did like you, Freya," she finally said with a sigh. "You're pretty, sweet, and undeniably talented."

The past tense wasn't lost on me. My heart sank, a heavy weight settling in my chest. Another door closing, another rejection.

"But you're both a Grey Moon Pack member and an exile," she continued, her voice gentle but firm. "You could never be a Luna of the Silverstone Pack."

I nodded, understanding completely. Pack politics were ironclad, especially regarding potential Lunas.

"You also can't continue working at Stone Group," Elena added. "This will create undesirable attention for us."