The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 30

Freya's POV

Terror gripped me, my hands beginning to shake uncontrollably. Terra had been arrested—because of me. But why did they capture me? Did Thorne order them to do this? It had to be. Thorne discovered I had escaped and was conducting a city-wide manhunt for me. To catch me, he took Terra. I felt sick, bile rising in my throat.

I slipped back around the building, my heart hammering in my chest. My wolf paced anxiously beneath my skin, clawing to get out, to run back to Moon Bay and free our friend. I barely made it to the bathroom before a wave of nausea hit me. I locked myself in a stall and pressed my forehead against the cool metal door, trying to steady my breathing. My lungs burned, refusing to take in enough air.

This was my fault. Terra had helped me, and now she was suffering for it.

The rational part of my brain urged me to keep going, to take advantage of my escape. After all, what could I do against the Frontier Guards? I was one weakened exile with no resources, no power. But my wolf raged against that logic, howling that we couldn't abandon a packmate who had risked everything for us.

I sank to the floor of the stall, ignoring how filthy it was, and buried my face in my hands. My fingers trembled against my skin as tears threatened to spill. The wolf that had survived three years in the Wilds, that had endured moon-silver poisoning and beatings and humiliation, wouldn't leave a friend behind. That wasn't the wolf way. There was no honor in that.

"But going back is suicide," my human side argued. "You barely got out alive last time."

"Better to die with honor than live with shame," my wolf countered.

After several minutes of internal struggle, I emerged from the bathroom with new resolve, my jaw set in determination. I found Lou refilling his thermos with coffee from the truck stop cafe.

"Change of plans," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "I need to go back to Moon Bay."

Lou raised an eyebrow. "That's the opposite direction, lady."

"I know." I pulled out the rest of the cash Ryder had given me, my fingers still unsteady. "Is this enough for a bus ticket back?"

He glanced at the money, then back at me. "Should be. Bus station's about a quarter mile that way." He pointed toward a small building with a blue roof. "You sure about this? Exiles don't usually head back to the cities they were kicked out of."

"I have to," I said simply. "Someone helped me, and now they're in trouble."

A look of understanding crossed Lou's face. "Wolf code, huh? Honor among the pack." He nodded slowly. "Good luck then, Freya. You look like you might need it."

---

The bus back to Moon Bay was half-empty, which suited me fine. I sat at the back, hood pulled up to hide my face and the telltale mark on my neck. I'd stopped at a small convenience store and purchased some cheap perfume to mask my scent.

As the bus rumbled along the highway, I worked on my plan, my nails digging half-moons into my palms. Terra was being held by the Frontier Guards, probably at their headquarters in the government district. Breaking her out directly was impossible—I'd be caught before I got anywhere near her.

No, I needed someone with authority. Someone who could order the Guards to release her.

The thought made my stomach clench painfully. There was only one wolf in Moon Bay with that kind of power: Thorne Grey, Alpha of Grey Moon Pack and Chief Judge of the Crescent Court.

The wolf who had exiled me. The wolf who'd kissed me, then left me to Kaelin's mercy.

My hand absently touched my lips, remembering the feel of his against mine. The memory sent an unwelcome heat through my body, pooling low in my abdomen. I shook my head sharply, angry at my weakness, my teeth grinding together. That kiss had meant nothing to him—just another power play, another way to demonstrate his control.

Still, he was my only hope of freeing Terra. The question was, why would he help me? Would he release Terra if I went back? What could I possibly offer him that would make him release a prisoner on my behalf?

"Anything," my wolf whispered. "We'll offer anything."

The thought made me shiver, goosebumps rising on my arms. I couldn't deny the truth of it. For Terra, I would pay whatever price was necessary.

By the time the bus reached the outskirts of Moon Bay, twilight was settling over the city. I'd changed clothes in the bus bathroom, swapping my jeans and t-shirt for a dark hoodie and leggings that would help me blend into the shadows.

I slipped off the bus at a stop near the industrial zone rather than the main terminal. This area was sparsely populated, mostly abandoned factories and warehouses—easy to move through undetected. The city's proper borders were still a mile away, guarded by checkpoints that would be looking for exiles trying to return.

But I hadn't survived the Wilds by being predictable. Instead of approaching the checkpoints, I made my way through the ruins of an old canning factory, following a path I'd discovered during my first days back in Moon Bay. The rusty fence had a hole just big enough for someone of my size to squeeze through.

Once inside the city limits, I kept to the shadows, moving carefully to avoid aggravating my injuries. The pills were still working, but I could feel the dull throb returning to my abdomen. I needed to rest soon, but first, I had to make it deeper into the city.

As I passed through an alley, I heard voices and pressed myself against a wall, breathing shallowly to avoid detection. My heart raced, pounding so loudly I feared they might hear it.

"Alpha wants the exile found," a gruff voice said. "Every Delta in the city is looking."

My heart skipped a beat. They were looking for me. Had they discovered I'd left the city and returned? My palms began to sweat, and I felt my wolf stirring anxiously.

"She won't get far," another voice replied. "Not with those injuries. Doc said she was barely stable when she disappeared."

"Alpha seemed really worked up about it. Never seen him like that before."

"Yeah, well, I'm not asking questions. Just find the exile, bring her to him, and don't mess her up any more than she already is. That's the order."

Their footsteps receded, and I let out the breath I'd been holding, my chest aching from the effort. So Thorne had his Deltas searching for me—but why? Was he angry I'd left? Or was there something else behind his urgency?

I could choose to reveal myself now, let these Deltas take me to Thorne. But that would put me completely at a disadvantage—a captured exile, not someone voluntarily seeking help. Last night in the hotel room, Thorne had suggested I could 'tempt him,' and that naked hunger in his eyes couldn't have been my misreading. Perhaps... perhaps I could use that. If I were captured by Deltas, Thorne would question me in front of others, but if I found him privately...

My heartbeat quickened, from fear but also from another emotion I refused to acknowledge. I needed to meet him on my terms, to retain some dignity and bargaining power. If he truly wanted my body, maybe I could exchange that for Terra's freedom.