The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 96

Freya's POV

As we drove through the affluent neighborhoods surrounding Grey Estate, I rehearsed what I would say to Jasper Stone. I needed to be firm but respectful—he was an Alpha, after all, and Alphas weren't accustomed to being denied. I'd ask for the extension, explain my creative block, and leave immediately. No lingering, no getting drawn into whatever game he was playing. And afterward, I'd stop at a public bath house to wash away every trace of his scent before returning to Grey Estate.

It was a good plan. Simple. Direct.

But as the taxi pulled up outside the Lunar Café, my wolf's unease grew stronger. The café was upscale but not ostentatious, exactly the kind of place an Alpha might choose for a discreet meeting. Through the window, I could already see Jasper Stone seated at a corner table, his powerful frame unmistakable even from a distance.

I paid the driver and took a moment to gather my courage before entering the café. The rich scents of coffee, fresh pastries, and various wolf pheromones hit me immediately. Several heads turned as I entered, noses twitching subtly as they tried to identify my scent and place me in the hierarchy. Thanks to Martha's treated jacket, their expressions showed only mild curiosity rather than the disdain usually reserved for Rileys.

Jasper Stone watched me approach, his eyes flashing momentarily gold—a deliberate Alpha display. He wore a deep blue tailored suit that emphasized his broad shoulders, and the silver-black hints of his wolf nature seemed to shimmer just beneath the surface of his skin. Two Beta guards sat at nearby tables, pretending to be regular customers but obviously there for his protection.

"Ms. Riley," he said as I reached his table, his voice a smooth, controlled rumble. "How kind of you to join me after all."

I inclined my head slightly—not a full submission gesture, but enough acknowledgment of his status to be polite. "Alpha Stone. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

He gestured to the chair across from him. "Please, sit."

"I won't take much of your time," I said, remaining standing. "I just wanted to discuss the deadline extension for the competition, and then I really need to get back."

Something flickered in his eyes—annoyance, perhaps, at my attempt to control the interaction. He leaned back, one eyebrow raised. "Sit down, Ms. Riley. If you've gone to the trouble of sneaking off Grey Estate against your Alpha's wishes, surely you can spare time for lunch."

My cheeks burned at his direct reference to my disobedience, but I forced myself to sit. There was no point denying it—he would have guessed as much the moment I suggested meeting outside Grey Estate. And correcting his assumption that Thorne was "my Alpha" seemed pointless.

Before I could speak again, Stone raised a hand, and a server appeared instantly at our table.

"The lady will have the herb-crusted lamb with winter vegetables," he said, not bothering to consult me. "And bring another glass for the wine."

I stiffened at his presumption. "Actually, I—"

"Need to eat," he finished for me, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're too thin, even for someone recently returned from the Wastelands. Grey isn't feeding you properly."

My wolf bristled at the implied criticism of Thorne, which was ridiculous considering how often I'd criticized him myself. "The food at Grey Estate is excellent," I said stiffly. "I just haven't had much appetite lately."

Stone's eyes narrowed slightly. "Stress, I imagine. Living under the roof of the man who exiled you can't be easy."

I didn't take the bait. "About the design competition deadline—"

"Yes, your request for an extension." He swirled the red wine in his glass, studying it as if the answer might be found in its depths. "You mentioned a creative block. Care to elaborate?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "I've been having trouble finalizing the central motif for the design. The tribal moon concept is there, but something's missing."

"And this sudden block has nothing to do with Grey discovering your participation and forbidding it?" Stone's gaze was sharp, knowing.

I tried to keep my expression neutral, though my heart rate had picked up. "I'm just hitting a wall creatively. It happens sometimes in design work."

Stone smiled, the expression not quite reaching his eyes. "Of course. Though I find it interesting that you're so concerned about a deadline extension when your name won't even appear on the submission. You could be designing under any pseudonym, and Grey would never know."

A pseudonym would solve the problem of my name appearing in the competition, but it wouldn't address the real issue: Thorne had forbidden me from participating at all. And something told me Stone knew this perfectly well.

"The anonymity policy protects participants from bias," I said carefully. "But it doesn't change the fact that I've hit a creative impasse."

The server returned with my food and a glass for wine. Stone poured a generous amount from his bottle, sliding it toward me. The lamb smelled delicious, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since early morning. Despite my reservations, I took a small bite, the rich flavors exploding on my tongue.

"I suspect," Stone said, watching me eat with an unsettling intensity, "that an Alpha as controlling as Grey wouldn't just forbid you from entering under your own name. He wouldn't want you entering at all, would he? After all, you'd be creating for me—for the Silverstone Pack."

I set down my fork, appetite diminishing. "My artistic block is real, Alpha Stone. I've been working during the night hours since I have duties during the day. The time constraint is making it difficult to complete the design to my standards."

Stone leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "You know, compared to an Alpha who merely imprisons designers, you might find an Alpha who appreciates your talent more helpful. Say, for instance, me." His smile showed the edge of a canine tooth. "All you have to do is ask nicely."

The implication was clear: beg for his help, acknowledge his superiority over Thorne, and he would grant my request. My wolf growled at the manipulation, but I kept my expression neutral.

"I appreciate the thought, Alpha Stone, but truly, the issue is simply time. With my other responsibilities, I can only work on the designs at night, and it's not enough to finish by the deadline."