The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 27

Freya's POV

Ryder's hands tightened on the steering wheel, but he didn't press for details and instead stiffly changed the subject. "You were in bad shape back there. Still are."

"Dr. Maloy was treating me, but I couldn't stay. Not with her there." I pressed a hand to my wound, grimacing.

"Dr. Maloy? Alpha's private physician?" Ryder shot me a sharp look. "So Alpha was helping you."

"I don't know what he was doing," I said truthfully. "One minute he was... we were..." Heat rushed to my face at the memory of that kiss, of Thorne's hands on my body. "Then Kaelin arrived, and I ran."

Ryder reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a small package wrapped in brown paper. "Here, it's not much, but it should help. Venison jerky—made from my last hunt."

The scent of dried meat hit my nostrils, and my wolf surged forward with such intensity that I gasped. I tore into the package, barely managing to thank him before taking a desperate bite. The rich, gamey flavor exploded on my tongue, and I had to fight the urge to devour it all at once.

As I ate, I felt a curious sensation spreading through my body. The protein combined with Dr. Maloy's medicine seemed to be accelerating the healing process. A faint warmth pulsed from my core outward, and though I was still weak, the debilitating dizziness was beginning to subside. My wolf, so feeble just moments ago, stirred with renewed interest, taking in Ryder's scent more carefully.

"When's the last time you ate?" Ryder asked, watching me with a mixture of concern and something else—pity, perhaps, or guilt.

"This morning," I answered between bites, savoring the protein that my wolf so desperately needed. "I think. Days are... blurring together."

Ryder drove in silence for a few minutes, occasionally glancing at me as I ate. Eventually, he pulled into a small, secluded park on the outskirts of the business district. At this hour, it was deserted, the only light coming from scattered lampposts and the waxing moon overhead.

"We should be safe here for a bit," he said, turning off the engine. "No one comes to Crescent Park at night—too many memories of the old days when Alphas would hold judgment here instead of in the courts."

I finished the last of the jerky, feeling marginally stronger. The medicine in my system seemed to be working faster now, the sensation of warmth spreading to my extremities. I could feel my wolf responding to it, pressing closer to the surface of my consciousness, no longer cowering in pain.

"Why are you really helping me, Ryder? You never liked me."

He turned to face me fully, his expression serious. "I don't like that you keep pursuing Alpha without caring about his feelings. I thought you were just another social climber." He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that reminded me painfully of Thorne. "But seeing you injured like this, I can't just stand by and watch you die. After all, you're also a member of the pack."

"You were wrong about a lot of things," I said, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.

A silence fell between us, broken only by the distant sounds of the city and the soft hum of the car's cooling engine.

---

"What's your plan?" Ryder finally asked. "Where will you go?"

I stared out at the dark park, at the silver of moon visible through the trees. "Away from Moon Bay, if I can. There might be other Riley family members out there—cousins, distant relatives. Someone who can help me clear my family's name."

"You won't get far in your condition," he pointed out. "And with no money or connections..."

"I'll manage," I said, more confidently than I felt. "I've survived worse."

Ryder seemed to wrestle with himself for a moment before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a sleek wallet. He extracted several hundred-dollar bills and held them out to me.

"Take it," he said when I hesitated. "Consider it an apology for believing the worst about you."

My pride wanted to refuse, but my survival instinct won out. I took the money with trembling fingers. "Thank you."

"There's something else you should know," Ryder said, his voice growing softer. "Thorne and Kaelin... their binding ceremony is scheduled for the next full moon."

The news hit me like a physical blow, stealing my breath. Despite everything—the exile, the betrayal, the pain—hearing that Thorne was about to permanently bind himself to the woman who had nearly killed me cut deeper than I expected.

"I see," I managed, my voice barely audible.

"For what it's worth," Ryder continued, "I don't think he loves her. Not really. It's a political match, an alliance between the Grey and Brooks bloodlines."

"It doesn't matter," I said, though the wolf in me howled in protest. "I just need to get away from here, find my family, rebuild something of the life that was taken from me."

Ryder nodded, then reached into another pocket and pulled out a small card. "My number," he explained. "If you're ever in real trouble, call me. I can't promise I'll always answer, but..."

"Why would you risk helping an ex-exile?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I don't want to see you die on the street," he said simply. "Whatever happened three years ago, no one deserves that."

I tucked the card and money securely into my pocket, oddly touched by his blunt honesty. "I should go. The longer I stay in one place..."

"I understand." Ryder started the car again. "I'll drop you near the eastern border of the city. There's less security there, and you can slip out without being noticed."

The drive to the city limits passed in relative silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. When Ryder finally pulled over on a quiet street lined with warehouses, I felt a strange reluctance to leave the safety of his car.

"This is as far as I can take you," he said. "Beyond those buildings is open country. Follow the river east for about five miles, and you'll reach the junction where Moon Bay territory meets neutral ground."

I nodded, gathering my strength for what lay ahead. As I opened the door, I could feel that Dr. Maloy's treatment was continuing to work. The pain had dulled to a manageable ache, and my limbs felt lighter than they had all evening. Whatever he had given me was powerful medicine indeed.

"Thank you, Ryder. I won't forget this."

"Be careful out there," he said, and for the first time, I saw genuine concern in his eyes. "And Freya? Whatever you do, stay away from both Thorne and Kaelin. For your own safety."