The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 58

Freya's POV

Cold concrete pressed against my cheek as consciousness returned, bringing waves of pain. My head throbbed where I'd been struck, and the moon-silver collar around my neck burned like ice, severing most of my connection to my wolf. I tried to move my hands, only to discover they were bound behind my back with what felt like moon-silver handcuffs.

My heart hammered against my ribs as panic surged through me. I swallowed hard, trying to force down the fear rising in my throat. Stay calm. Assess the situation. Don't show weakness.

The room swam into focus gradually—concrete floors, metal support beams, broken windows letting in streams of moonlight. An abandoned factory of some kind. The air smelled of rust, mold, and fear. My own fear, sharp and acrid, mingled with another's.

"She's waking up," a male voice said from somewhere to my right.

I turned my head slowly, wincing at the pain. A large wolf-man with a scarred face stepped into view, his eyes glinting with malice. My breath caught, and I fought the urge to shrink away from him.

"Welcome back, Riley," he sneered. "Comfortable?"

I didn't answer, pressing my lips together to stop them from trembling. My gaze darted around the room, searching for escape routes, while my mind raced through possible scenarios. The exit was too far. The windows too high. My stomach twisted with dread as reality set in—I was trapped.

My gaze fell on another figure slumped against a support beam several feet away—Terra. Her face was bruised, dried blood caking her temple, but her chest rose and fell with steady breaths. Relief washed through me to see her alive, followed immediately by guilt. She'd been dragged into this because of me.

"Don't waste your time looking for a way out." The scarred man crouched down to my level. I could smell the stale blood on his breath as he leaned closer. "No one leaves without Cole's permission."

As if summoned by his name, another man entered the room. Tall and powerfully built, with dark hair streaked with gray at the temples, he carried himself with the confidence of an Alpha, though his scent marked him as a high-ranking Beta. His eyes, cold and calculating, assessed me dispassionately.

"Freya Riley," he said, his voice surprisingly cultured. "Last surviving member of the Riley family still in Moon Bay. How far the mighty have fallen."

I pushed myself into a sitting position, refusing to remain prone before him. My arms shook with the effort, but I forced my spine straight, chin lifted despite the terror coursing through me. "Who are you?"

"Cole Raine." He studied me for a reaction. "But I suppose that name wouldn't mean anything to you now. Your father made sure my family was thoroughly disgraced before our exile."

The name stirred a vague memory—heated arguments overheard in my father's study, raised voices discussing territory disputes. My throat tightened as pieces fell into place.

"The Raines were exiled fifteen years ago," I said, memories surfacing. "Your father tried to poison members of the council who opposed him."

Cole's expression darkened. "Is that the story they tell? That we were simple criminals?" He laughed bitterly. "Your father, the great Alpha Riley, never understood what real power meant. He exiled us for having ambition, for wanting to change things in Moon Bay."

He began to pace, his agitation evident. "My father died in the Wilds. My mother and sisters disappeared. I spent years rebuilding, waiting for the perfect moment to return." He stopped directly in front of me. "And then fate delivered you right into my hands. The last Riley, working as a common servant."

"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly. My mouth had gone dry, and I licked my lips nervously.

Cole nodded to his scarred lieutenant, who grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked my head back painfully. I gasped, tears springing to my eyes despite my determination to show no weakness.

"I want justice," Cole hissed, leaning close enough that I could feel his breath on my face. "I want the Riley name to be synonymous with disgrace, just as you made mine. And you're going to help me."

"I won't help you do anything," I spat, even as my heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst from my chest.

The blow came without warning—a backhanded strike that sent me sprawling. The taste of blood filled my mouth as Cole's lieutenant hauled me back upright. My vision blurred with tears I refused to shed, jaw clenched against the pain.

"You will," Cole said calmly, straightening his sleeve. "Or your friend dies slowly while you watch."

He turned and walked away, signaling to his men. "Make sure she understands how serious I am. Don't kill her, but make sure she feels it."

The scarred Beta smiled, revealing yellowed teeth. "With pleasure, boss."

My muscles tensed, bracing for what was coming. The first blow landed on my ribs, driving the air from my lungs. The second struck my kidney, sending white-hot pain through my body. I refused to scream, biting my lip until it bled, but couldn't stop the whimpers that escaped with each impact. Without my wolf's healing, each injury would linger, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of hearing me beg.

As darkness began to creep in at the edges of my vision, I thought I heard Terra calling my name. Then consciousness slipped away once more, and I fell into the merciful embrace of oblivion.

---

I don't know how much time passed before I woke again. The moon had shifted position in the sky, visible through the broken windows. My body was a catalog of pain—bruised ribs, split lip, aching muscles. Every breath hurt, sending sharp pains through my chest.

"Freya?" A whispered voice drew my attention. "Freya, can you hear me?"

I turned my head to see Terra had somehow managed to work her way closer to me, despite being bound herself. Her face was pale with worry, eyes wide and frightened.

"Terra," I croaked, my throat dry and raw. I tried to shift closer to her, wincing as pain shot through my side. "Are you okay?"

A bitter laugh escaped her. "I should be asking you that. They've been using you as a punching bag while I've just been tied up."

I tried to smile, but my split lip made it more of a grimace. "I've had worse." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. I'd never been beaten like this, not even in Silver Shackle.

"In Silver Shackle?" Her eyes were full of guilt. "Freya, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. They caught me and threatened you."

"It's not your fault," I whispered fiercely. My voice trembled, betraying the strength I tried to project. "They would have found another way."

Terra shifted closer until our shoulders were touching, offering what comfort she could. I leaned into her warmth, grateful for the human contact after the brutality. "Do you know what they want?"

I nodded slightly. "Cole Raine wants revenge against my family. My father had his family exiled years ago."

"That's not all," Terra said, her voice dropping even lower. "He wants you to confess to the Moon Howl illegal trading. Take the blame for everything they found. The moon silver he used for you was the goods they illegally traded at the Moon Howl."