The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 35

Thorne's POV

I guided Kaelin out of the private dining room, her body dramatically leaning against mine as my hand firmly supported her elbow. Her familiar weight against my side triggered my instinctive protective response—after all, we'd grown up together—but beneath this instinct lay a trace of impatience that I quickly suppressed. Her body trembled beneath my touch, but the scent coming off her wasn't purely distress—there was something calculated there, something that made my wolf's hackles rise despite my outward calm.

"Don't move from this room," I ordered Freya before closing the door. My eyes locked with hers, conveying the silent threat: "I'll be back to deal with you after I've taken care of this." She flinched slightly, her own wolf recognizing the power behind my words.

As we turned away, I caught the flash of a cold smile on Kaelin's lips, directed at Freya. The expression vanished so quickly I almost thought I'd imagined it, replaced by the wide-eyed vulnerability she wore like armor.

"Thorne," Kaelin whispered, her fingers digging into my arm. "I need to get to the hospital. The symptoms are getting worse."

I flagged down a waiter and instructed him to call for my car. Within minutes, we were headed to Moon Bay General, Kaelin leaning heavily against me in the backseat, her breathing deliberately labored. The scent of her expensive perfume mixed with the chemical odor of the moon-phase medication she'd been prescribed, creating a sickly-sweet combination that made my nostrils flare with distaste. I couldn't help but recall how many times this scene had repeated itself over the years—since her first episode when we were kids, I had become her go-to support.

The emergency staff recognized us immediately—the Alpha judge and his soon-to-be mate warranted special attention. They quickly ushered Kaelin into a private room where a nurse administered her medication. I stood by the window, watching the city lights flicker beneath a cloudy night sky, my thoughts drifting back to the private dining room where Freya waited.

"Why were you with her?" Kaelin's voice had lost its tremulous quality now that we were alone, her tone sharper than the knife she'd used to cut her steak earlier.

I turned, keeping my expression neutral. "It's related to an ongoing investigation."

"In a private dining room at New Moon?" She adjusted herself on the hospital bed, her brown eyes narrowing. "That seems highly inappropriate for questioning a criminal."

"I'm investigating the illegal trade operations at the Moon Howl," I said, my voice deliberately cool and professional. "Freya Riley has information that could be useful."

"And you needed to wine and dine her for that information?" Kaelin's fingers clutched at the hospital blanket. "That exile tried to kill me, Thorne. Have you forgotten what happened three years ago?"

I sighed, both at the topic and at Kaelin once again using her condition to manipulate the direction of the conversation—a habit of hers I knew all too well but could never fully escape. I hadn't forgotten. How could I? The image was seared into my memory: Kailin and Freya stood face to face, blood matting her fur, her eyes wide with terror as she shifted back to human form. The scent of Freya all over the scene. The tooth marks on Kaelin's shoulder that matched Freya's dental records.

"I haven't forgotten," I said, moving closer to the bed. "And Freya Riley was found guilty. She served her sentence in the Forgotten Wilds and has been marked as an exile. Justice was served."

"Then why is she here? In Moon Bay? Dining with you like she's some respected member of the pack?" Kaelin's voice rose, her heart rate increasing enough that the monitor beside her bed beeped in warning.

I placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, feeling that familiar sense of responsibility while a wave of indescribable weariness rose from deep within me. "Calm down. Your condition—"

"I'm concerned about our bonding ceremony," she cut in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It's only few weeks away, Thorne. The preparations, the ritual... everything needs to be perfect. And now she's back, and you're..." She trailed off, tears welling in her eyes.

I inwardly sighed, feeling that familiar mix of obligation and slight frustration. Kaelin had been this way since we were pups—intensely needing reassurance, especially when her condition flared up. Years of caring for her during her episodes had created a protective habit that was hard to break, even when her dramatic displays tested my patience.

"Nothing will interfere with the ceremony," I assured her, though something cold and uncertain settled in my stomach at my own words. "Freya Riley is only here temporarily, and only because of the investigation."

The door opened before Kaelin could respond. Edward Brooks, her father and one of my most loyal enforcement officers, rushed in, his usually impeccable suit slightly rumpled from haste.

"Alpha," he acknowledged with a quick, respectful nod before turning to his daughter. "Kaelin, sweetheart, are you alright?"

I stepped back, allowing him space beside the bed, feeling a subtle sense of relief that Edward could take over the familiar routine of soothing Kaelin's anxiety—a duty I had performed countless times since we were young. Though I cared for her wellbeing, the constant need to manage her fragility sometimes left me feeling drained.

"The doctors have administered her medication. She should stabilize soon."

Edward's eyes darted between Kaelin and me, concern evident in his expression. "Thank you for taking care of her, Alpha."

"Of course." I straightened my jacket. "I need to return to some unfinished business. Stay with her."

"Yes, Alpha," Edward replied automatically, his attention already focused on his daughter.