The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 76

Freya's POV

Evening shadows stretched across my small attic room as I huddled under a thin blanket, trying to find some comfort after the emotional turmoil of just hours ago. My body still felt numb from the shock of watching Thorne tear my designs to pieces earlier this evening. The confrontation was so fresh that I could still hear the sound of paper ripping in my mind. The devastation of seeing my work destroyed and facing the reality of my trapped situation had left me physically and mentally drained.

I glanced at my tablet sitting on the desk, the only place where my complete designs still existed. The digital files were my last hope—Thorne had destroyed the paper sketches, but he didn't know about my backup files. It wasn't much, but it was all I had left of my future plans.

A sharp knock at my door startled me from my thoughts. Before I could respond, the door swung open, and two Beta female servants entered—Rebecca and another woman named Diane. I recognized Rebecca from the cleaning staff, but we'd barely exchanged words before. Their expressions were cold, and their scents carried an undercurrent of contempt and disgust that my wolf immediately sensed.

"So this is where you've been hiding all evening," Rebecca said, her eyes sweeping over my room with obvious disdain. "Edith may have given you a sick leave, but that doesn't excuse you from your assigned duties."

I sat up slowly, pulling the blanket around my shoulders. "I'm really not feeling well. Martha can confirm—"

"Today's your turn to clean the basement on the east wing," Rebecca interrupted, her voice sharper than necessary. "The schedule was posted last week. Illness doesn't change the rotation."

I frowned, trying to recall any mention of basement cleaning. "I don't remember seeing my name on that rotation."

"Perhaps if you weren't so busy plotting against our Alpha and Miss Kaelin," Rebecca said with undisguised hostility, "you'd pay more attention to your actual duties here."

My head snapped up at her words. The sudden mention of Kaelin sent a chill through me.

Diane stepped forward, her lips curled in a sneer. "We know who you really are, Freya Riley. Miss Kaelin told us everything about how your family betrayed the Alpha bloodline, and how you tried to harm her."

"I never—" I began, but Rebecca cut me off.

"Save your lies. Everyone knows the Riley name is synonymous with treachery."

As they spoke, Diane's eyes drifted to my desk, where my tablet lay. She moved toward it, picking it up before I could stop her.

"What's this?" she asked, tapping the screen. Her eyes widened slightly as it illuminated, showing my design files. "Oh, look. More of your little designs, even after Alpha Thorne made his feelings about them clear."

My heart rate spiked. Those digital files were my only remaining copies, my only chance at rebuilding something of my life. I took an instinctive step forward, but Rebecca moved between us.

"I need that," I said, trying to keep the desperation from my voice.

"I'm sure you do," Diane replied, scrolling through my designs with deliberate slowness. "These are quite good, actually. It would be a shame if something happened to them."

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice low.

"We told you," Rebecca said. "The east wing basement needs cleaning. Now."

I looked from Rebecca to Diane, who held my tablet with casual disregard. My wolf growled inside me, sensing the trap but recognizing the threat to something I valued.

"And if I go clean the basement, you'll return my tablet?" I asked, already knowing their answer wouldn't be trustworthy.

"Of course," Diane said, though her scent reeked of deception. "When you're finished."

I weighed my options quickly. I could refuse and watch them destroy my last chance at the design competition, or I could play along and look for an opportunity to regain my tablet and escape whatever they were planning.

"Fine," I said, my tone sharper than I intended. "I'll clean the basement. Give me my tablet."

"After," Rebecca insisted. "Consider it... insurance for your good behavior."

My wolf bristled at the blatant manipulation, but I forced a nod. "Let me get my cleaning supplies."

As I gathered what I needed, I slipped a small metal letter opener into my pocket—not much of a weapon, but better than nothing. I also palmed my phone, knowing they might try to leave me without means of communication.

Rebecca noticed the phone in my hand. "You won't need that. There's no signal in the basement anyway."

"I'll use it as a flashlight if needed," I countered, gripping it tighter. "Unless you'd prefer I fumble around in the dark and take twice as long?"

They exchanged glances, then shrugged, apparently deciding it wasn't worth arguing over. As we walked toward the east wing, I kept my senses alert, mentally mapping our route and noting potential escape paths or places to seek help if needed.

---

The two women walked me to the corridor leading to the east wing, pointing me toward a heavy wooden door at the end of a seldom-used hallway.

"All the supplies should be down there," Rebecca said, her tone falsely casual.

"The lock on the basement door has been sticking," Diane added, examining her nails with feigned disinterest. "The maintenance crew won't be here until tomorrow to fix it, so be careful not to let it close all the way behind you."

My wolf's instincts were screaming danger signals now. I paused at the basement door, turning to face them directly.

"I know what you're planning," I said quietly. "And whatever it is, Thorne will find out."

Rebecca's smile faltered slightly. "We're just following the cleaning schedule, Riley. Don't be paranoid."

"And my tablet?" I challenged.

Diane patted her pocket where she'd slipped my device. "Safe with me until you finish your work."

Knowing I needed to get my tablet back but also suspecting their intentions, I decided to play along—but on my terms. I grabbed a nearby broom, snapping the handle to create a makeshift weapon that I could plausibly claim was an accident.

"Fine," I said, opening the door and looking down into the stairwell. "How long is this supposed to take?"

"As long as necessary," Rebecca said, her smile returning.

I rolled my eyes at their transparent ploy but stepped onto the first stair. "I expect my tablet back when I return," I said firmly, trying to wedge the door open with a piece of the broken broom handle.

Rebecca quickly stopped me. "Don't damage estate property," she said sharply, removing my improvised doorstop. "Just go do your job."

With no choice but to comply, I descended the staircase, keeping the door ajar with my foot as long as possible. The light switch at the bottom of the stairs worked perfectly fine, illuminating a large basement with stone walls and a packed earth floor. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with dusty boxes and forgotten items. In one corner stood old furniture draped in sheets, like pale ghosts in the dim light.

The basement was much cleaner than I'd expected, making me wonder why they'd insisted it needed cleaning at all. I had just begun to examine the space when I heard a sudden sound from above—the heavy thud of the door closing, followed by the unmistakable click of a lock engaging.

My heart sank, though I wasn't surprised. I bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and pushed against the door. It didn't budge.

"Hello?" I called, pounding on the door with my fist, playing along with their trap. "The door closed! I'm locked in!"