The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 247

Thorne's POV

I left Freya's room with conflicted emotions churning inside me. The doctor's firm instructions about her need for rest and recovery echoed in my mind as I strode down the corridor toward Kaelin's room, my posture rigid with barely contained anger. Not at Freya, but at the entire situation—the pieces that didn't fit together, the inconsistencies in Kaelin's story, the lingering questions about silver treatments in Silver Shackle Prison.

Pushing open the door to Kaelin's hospital room, I was immediately assaulted by the sterile scent of antiseptic and medication that couldn't mask the underlying smell of fear permeating the air. I moved to stand by the window, watching the moonlight cast long shadows across the courtyard below, while my mind processed everything that had happened. The rescue operation had been successful, but something about the entire situation felt wrong.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sharp click of heels against the polished hospital floor, followed by a familiar scent—lavender perfume mixed with anxiety and rage. I turned just as Olivia Brooks burst through the doorway, her usually perfect appearance disheveled from what must have been a frantic journey to the hospital.

"Kaelin!" she cried, rushing past me to her daughter's bedside. "Oh, my baby!"

Kaelin lay pale against the white sheets, her blonde hair spread across the pillow in stark contrast to the ugly bruise forming on her forehead. Her eyes had taken on an unnatural grayish-white hue, unfocused and unable to track movement. The silver exposure had hit her hard, exacerbating her moon phase syndrome to dangerous levels.

Olivia's gaze darted frantically between her daughter and me, her nostrils flaring as she caught the scent of silver and fear clinging to Kaelin.

"What happened?" she demanded, her voice breaking. "Her father got a call saying she'd been kidnapped, but no details. Who did this to her?"

I stepped closer to the bed, my voice deliberately calm. "Derek, a wolf who was exiled three years ago. He orchestrated the kidnapping."

"Derek?" Olivia's face contorted with confusion. "What would he want with my daughter?"

Before I could answer, Kaelin stirred, her hand reaching out blindly until her mother grasped it.

"Mom?" Her voice was weak, scratchy. "Is that you?"

"I'm here, sweetheart," Olivia soothed, smoothing Kaelin's hair back from her forehead. "I'm right here."

Kaelin's face crumpled, and tears began streaming down her cheeks. "I can't see," she whispered, panic edging into her voice. "Everything's gray and blurry. Mom, I'm scared—I can't shift either. I tried, but nothing happened."

Olivia shot me an accusatory glance before turning back to her daughter. "It's going to be okay, darling. Alpha Thorne is here. He'll make sure you get the best care."

I watched the interaction carefully, noting how Kaelin's breathing quickened at the mention of my name, how her fingers twitched against her mother's hand.

"Thorne?" Kaelin turned her head toward where she thought I stood, though she was off by several feet. "Thorne, are you there?"

I moved closer to the bed, allowing my scent to reach her more clearly. "I'm here."

As soon as I spoke, Kaelin's hand shot out, grabbing my arm with surprising strength for someone in her condition. Her grip was desperate, her unfocused eyes wide with what looked like fear.

"Derek," she whispered urgently, "what happened to him? Did you... take care of him?"

There was something about her tone, a nervous edge that made my wolf instincts prickle with awareness. Despite her blindness, she seemed almost frantic to turn toward my voice, her body language tense with expectation.

I studied her face for a moment before answering. "What exactly would you like me to have done with him, Kaelin?"

Her expression shifted subtly—a flicker of alarm before she composed herself. "He kidnapped me, Thorne. He held me with silver chains. He deserves to be punished."

"Of course," I agreed, watching her reaction. "And he will be. But you seem to have something specific in mind."

Kaelin's face suddenly paled even further. Her grip on my arm tightened, and her voice dropped to a trembling whisper. "Thorne, you have to kill him! He... he'll lie! He'll make up things about me!"

The desperation in her voice was unmistakable. My wolf growled internally, sensing deception. Whatever had happened on that boat, Kaelin was terrified of what Derek might reveal. But to expose my suspicions now would be premature. First, I needed more information.

"Don't worry," I said, my voice deliberately reassuring. "Mark has already handled the situation. Derek won't be speaking to anyone."

The relief that washed over Kaelin's face was immediate and telling. Her shoulders slumped, and a small, grateful smile curved her lips. "Thank you," she breathed. "That's... that's good."

Olivia had been watching our exchange with growing agitation, her eyes darting between us. Now she turned to me, her expression hardening into one of outrage.

"This is all because of that exile!" she spat, her elegant features contorting with hatred. "That Riley girl! She and Derek must have planned this together!"

Kaelin nodded weakly from the bed. "It was her," she confirmed, her voice gaining strength as she spoke. "She pushed me... in the boat cabin. That's why I can't see... she and Derek planned the whole kidnapping."

I kept my expression neutral despite the anger rising within me. The accusation against Freya was absurd—she'd been a victim, not a conspirator. The silver burns on her wrists and ankles were proof enough of that. But I needed to play along to see how far they would take this lie.

"Those are serious allegations," I said evenly. "Conspiracy to kidnap and assault a potential Luna would be enough to have Freya exiled again—permanently this time. But we would need evidence to support such claims."

Olivia's eyes gleamed with triumph, clearly believing I was taking their side. "Of course there's evidence! Kaelin is blind because of her!"

"Kaelin," I continued, focusing on her instead of her mother, "do you have any proof that Freya was working with Derek? Something concrete that would stand up in Moon Crescent Court?"

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Kaelin's face before she composed herself. "I... she was waiting for him. At The Crescent Bistro. She lured me there."

"And do you have any evidence of this arrangement? Messages? Witnesses who saw them planning together?"

Olivia stepped forward, her cheeks flushing with indignation. "We'll find evidence! That exile must be punished! This time, send her somewhere farther away, somewhere she can't come back from!"

I studied Olivia's face, noting the genuine rage there, but also something else—a calculation that didn't fit with a mother's natural concern. My wolf sensed the wrongness of it all, the artificial nature of their outrage.

Before I could respond, the door opened, and Dr. Maloy entered. His expression was grave as he approached.

"Alpha Thorne, may I speak with you outside?" he requested, his tone professional but urgent.

"Of course." I turned back to Kaelin and her mother. "Excuse me for a moment."

In the hallway, Dr. Maloy's professional demeanor gave way to serious concern. "The silver exposure has affected Ms. Brooks severely," he explained. "In patients with moon phase syndrome, silver doesn't just block shifting—it can temporarily deactivate the visual neural pathways connected to their wolf senses."

"Will she regain her sight?" I asked.

"Most likely, yes, but it's complicated. The silver residue is currently pressing on her shifting nerve centers. We need to perform a silver toxin separation procedure, but it's extremely delicate." He hesitated. "A standard operation could result in permanent loss of shifting abilities."

I frowned. "What are our options?"

"There's only one wolf in Moon Bay skilled enough for this procedure," Dr. Maloy admitted. "Dr. Miles Everett. His techniques for removing silver contamination are revolutionary."

At the mention of Miles, I felt my jaw tighten. The Beta doctor was not only skilled but also fiercely protective of Freya—a complication I didn't need right now.

"Is there no one else?" I asked, knowing the answer before he spoke.

Dr. Maloy shook his head. "Not with his level of expertise in silver toxicity. And given Ms. Brooks' condition, we can't afford mistakes."