The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 238

Third POV

Martha paced the length of her elegant living room, her eyes darting to the ornate clock on the mantelpiece every few minutes. The moon was already high in the sky, its silver light streaming through the tall windows and casting long shadows across the polished floor.

Freya should have returned hours ago. Their conversation that morning had been so positive—Freya finally opening up about her feelings for Thorne, Martha sharing the truth about her continued connection to the Grey family. It had felt like a new beginning. So where was she now?

Martha had tried calling Freya's cell phone repeatedly, but each call went straight to voicemail. She'd even called the restaurant where Freya was supposed to meet Kaelin Brooks, but they claimed no knowledge of either woman.

"She promised she would call if there was trouble," Martha murmured to herself, wringing her hands anxiously. "She promised."

The doorbell's sudden chime made her jump. Hope surged through her as she rushed to the front door, praying it would be Freya standing on the other side.

Instead, she found Miles Everett, impeccably dressed as always, a neatly wrapped gift bag in his hand and a warm smile on his face. The smile faltered when he saw Martha's distressed expression.

"Martha, it's been a long time," he greeted her, his voice tinged with concern. "Is everything alright?"

"Miles! What a surprise," Martha said, trying to compose herself. "Please, come in."

Miles stepped inside, his keen eyes taking in the elegant foyer. "I brought this for Freya," he explained, lifting the gift bag slightly. "I heard she was staying with you now. Is she home?"

Martha's face fell. "That's just it, Miles. Freya went to meet Kaelin Brooks this afternoon at The Crescent Bistro, and she hasn't come back. She's not answering her phone, and I'm starting to worry."

Miles's expression immediately shifted from friendly to alarmed. "She went to meet Kaelin? Alone? When did she leave?"

"Around four o'clock," Martha replied, wringing her hands again. "She should have been back hours ago."

Miles set the gift bag down on a nearby table, his entire demeanor changing from casual visitor to focused physician. "Tell me exactly what happened. Did she say why Kaelin wanted to meet her?"

Martha nodded quickly. "Kaelin had Freya's silver crescent pendant—the one her professor gave her. She sent Freya a photo of it and asked to meet."

"And Freya went, just like that?" Miles asked, his voice sharp with disbelief.

"She was determined to get it back," Martha explained. "It means a lot to her. I wanted to call Alpha Thorne, but Freya insisted on handling it herself."

Miles pulled out his phone, his fingers moving rapidly across the screen. "I'm calling my team now," he said grimly. "I need you to give me the exact address of the restaurant."

Martha recited the address, watching anxiously as Miles placed the call. When someone answered, his voice became authoritative and precise.

"I'm sending you a location," he said into the phone. "I need you to get there immediately and investigate any surveillance footage in the area. We're looking for Freya Riley. She was last seen meeting with Kaelin Brooks at The Crescent Bistro around four this afternoon."

He paused, listening to the response. "Yes, that's right. Check the surrounding areas too. She might have left with Brooks."

Martha wrung her hands, her anxiety mounting with each passing moment. "Should we call Alpha Thorne?" she asked softly.

Miles hesitated, then shook his head. "Not yet. Let's see what my team finds first."

His phone buzzed with an incoming call less than ten minutes later. Miles answered immediately, his expression growing more concerned as he listened.

"What did you find?" he asked, putting the call on speaker so Martha could hear.

"We found Riley at the restaurant," a male voice replied. "Security footage shows her entering around 4:15 PM, but there's no footage of her leaving through the main entrance."

"What about other exits?" Miles pressed.

"That's where it gets interesting," the voice continued. "The manager refused to provide access to all their surveillance footage, citing customer privacy. But one of our contacts spotted scent traces of Riley and another wolf—female, with Moon Phase markers—at the service entrance in the back."

Martha gasped. "Moon Phase markers? That would be Kaelin. Her family's bloodline carries the syndrome."

Miles nodded grimly. "Anything else?"

"There's more," the voice on the phone said. "Alpha Thorne's Deltas are also in the area. They seem to be tracking the same scent trail we found. They haven't spotted us yet, but they're getting close."

Miles considered this information, his expression troubled. "Keep tracking the scent. And—" he hesitated briefly. "Notify Alpha Thorne's team that Freya Riley is missing. Tell them she was last seen with Kaelin Brooks."

Martha looked at him in surprise. "I thought you wanted to avoid contacting Alpha Thorne."

"That was before I knew his people were already tracking her," Miles explained, ending the call. "If Grey's enforcers are already on her trail, then they might be closer to finding her than we are. Freya's safety is what matters most right now."

Martha nodded in agreement. "Thorne's sense of smell is exceptional, especially when it comes to Freya. If anyone can find her, it's him."

Miles's expression darkened slightly at her words, but he didn't comment. Instead, he pocketed his phone and headed for the door. "I'm going to join the search. You stay here in case Freya returns or tries to contact you."

"Please find her, Miles," Martha pleaded, her eyes filling with tears. "I have a terrible feeling about this."

"I will," Miles promised, his voice resolute. "And when I do, whoever took her will answer to me." The unspoken "and to Alpha Thorne" hung in the air between them as he departed, leaving Martha alone with her fears and the steadily rising moon outside.