The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 87

Thorne’s POV

Martha wrung her hands, clearly distressed. "Miss Freya was missing yesterday morning. I searched everywhere, worried sick about her. When I finally found her in the basement, she was... she wasn't herself. She was freezing cold, confused, her wolf too close to the surface."

My grip tightened on the edge of the table, the wood creaking in protest. "The basement? What was she doing there?"

"She was locked in, Alpha," Martha said, her voice dropping to a whisper though we were alone in the room. "All night. In the dark. With no food or water."

I felt my control slipping, my wolf pushing against my skin, demanding retribution. "Who locked her in?"

Martha hesitated, then squared her shoulders. "Rebecca and Diane, I believe. They've been... unkind to Miss Freya since she arrived."

"And you have no idea how she got these chemical burns?" I asked, my voice dangerously soft.

Martha shook her head, clearly distressed. "No, Alpha. I only found her in the basement. She was already ill by then, but I had no idea it was this serious."

"I want everyone assembled in the main hall," I ordered, already striding toward the door. "Everyone, Martha. And call Mark—I want the security footage from the east wing basement reviewed immediately."

"Yes, Alpha," Martha said, hurrying to follow my instructions.

---

Within thirty minutes, the entire household staff was assembled in the main hall. They stood in nervous clusters, whispering among themselves, clearly aware that something significant was happening. I took my place at the front, my face set in the hard mask I wore in court when passing judgment.

Mark arrived shortly after, tablet in hand. "I have the footage, Alpha," he said quietly.

"Show me," I commanded.

The footage was grainy but clear enough. I watched as Rebecca and Diane cornered Freya near the basement door, their body language aggressive. Though there was no audio, I could see Freya's reluctance, the way she tried to back away only to be forced down the stairs. Then the door closing, a key turning in the lock, and the two women walking away, laughing.

"Enough," I said, my voice cutting through the hushed whispers of the assembled staff. "Rebecca. Diane. Step forward."

There was a moment of stillness, then movement as the crowd parted. Rebecca emerged first, her chin high though her scent betrayed her fear. Diane followed more reluctantly, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"Do you know why you've been called here?" I asked, my voice deceptively calm.

Rebecca licked her lips nervously. "I assume it's about the Riley girl, Alpha."

"The Riley girl," I repeated, letting the words hang in the air. "You mean Freya Riley, formerly of the high Beta Riley family, currently under my protection?"

Rebecca's confidence faltered visibly. "Yes, Alpha."

"Did you lock her in the basement overnight?"

Rebecca glanced at Diane, who remained stubbornly silent, then back at me. "Yes, Alpha, but—"

"Did you pour cleaning chemicals on her skin?"

Another pause. "It was just water, Alpha. For cleaning—"

"Water with industrial-strength caustic agents," I corrected, my voice hardening. "Agents that have burned her skin and caused an infection that has her currently unconscious with fever in my bedroom."

A ripple of shock went through the assembled staff. Rebecca paled visibly, while Diane began to tremble.

"We didn't mean to hurt her that badly," Rebecca said quickly. "It was just a prank. To teach her her place."

"Her place," I echoed, letting my eyes shift fully to wolf gold. "And what place would that be, Rebecca? Since you seem to understand the hierarchy of my household better than I do."

Rebecca swallowed hard. "She's an exile, Alpha. She doesn't belong here, especially not—" She cut herself off abruptly.

"Especially not what?" I demanded.

"Especially not in your private quarters," Diane blurted out, then clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with fear.

So that was it. They'd seen Freya entering or leaving my rooms—likely when she was treating my silver wound—and had drawn their own conclusions. Conclusions that, given my complicated history with Freya, weren't entirely wrong but were certainly not what they assumed.

"Who else was involved?" I asked, my gaze sweeping over the assembled staff.

Two more Beta wolves reluctantly stepped forward, both kitchen assistants who had clearly been drawn into Rebecca and Diane's petty vendetta. I noted their faces, committing them to memory.

"Edith," I said, my voice slicing through the tense silence. "As head of household, were you aware of this behavior?"

Edith stepped forward, her face a careful mask of composure though her scent betrayed her anxiety. "No, Alpha Thorne. I was not directly aware. However..." She hesitated, then straightened her shoulders. "I should have been. The responsibility for oversight falls to me, and I have failed in that duty."

I nodded, acknowledging her honesty. "Indeed you have."

I turned back to Rebecca and the others. "You have abused your positions in this household to torment someone under my protection. You have caused physical harm that could have been permanent. You have defied my authority by deciding who deserves respect within these walls."

My voice dropped to a growl, the wolf in me pushing closer to the surface. "For these offenses, you are immediately dismissed from service and banished from Grey Estate. You will leave today, with only your personal belongings. Mark will escort you to ensure you take nothing that doesn't belong to you."

Rebecca's face crumpled in shock. "But Alpha, we were only trying to protect your reputation! Everyone knows she's trying to come between you and Miss Kaelin—"

"Silence!" I roared, my Alpha voice echoing through the hall. "You acted without authority, without knowledge, and without mercy. You will face the consequences."

I turned to Edith, who stood rigidly at attention. "Edith, you have served the Grey family loyally for many years. However, your failure to maintain order and protect all members of this household cannot go unaddressed."

Edith bowed her head, accepting the rebuke. "I understand, Alpha."

"You are relieved of your duties as head of household," I continued. "Martha will assume that position, effective immediately."

A collective gasp went through the room. Martha herself looked stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Alpha, I—" she began, but I held up a hand to silence her.

"You demonstrated loyalty not to rank or status, but to justice and compassion," I said. "Those are the qualities I expect in those who lead in my household."

I turned back to the assembled staff, letting my gaze sweep over each of them. "Let this be clear to everyone: Freya Riley is under my protection. Any further attempts to harm her will be met with immediate and permanent removal from Grey territory. Do I make myself understood?"

A chorus of "Yes, Alpha" echoed through the hall.

"Mark," I said, turning to my security chief. "Escort the dismissed staff to collect their belongings and then off the property. Immediately."

Mark nodded, his expression grim. "With pleasure, Alpha."

The room began to empty as the staff dispersed, whispering among themselves. Martha approached me hesitantly.

"Alpha, I don't know what to say. I'm honored by your trust, but—"

"But nothing," I cut her off. "You've earned this position, Martha. Now go see to Freya."