The Alpha's Exiled Mate Chapter 98

Thorne's POV

I returned to Grey Estate earlier than usual. The cases at Moon Crescent Court had been straightforward today, and the final hearing concluded ahead of schedule, giving me time to organize some files before leaving. As my car passed through the estate gates, an inexplicable unease crawled up my spine.

My wolf lifted its head alertly, scenting the air. Something was off.

"Sir, you're back early today," Mark said as I stepped out of the car. "We weren't expecting you until dinner."

I nodded, my gaze sweeping across the front grounds. "Where is Freya?"

Mark hesitated briefly before answering, "I believe she's in the main house, Alpha."

But my wolf already knew that was a lie. I could sense her absence like missing notes in a familiar melody. I strode into the main house, immediately ordering Edith to summon all on-duty Betas.

Within minutes, the household staff had gathered in the great hall, heads bowed as they awaited my questioning. My gaze landed on Martha, who appeared particularly nervous, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her apron.

"Where is Freya Riley?" My voice was calm but glacial.

Silence followed.

"Perhaps she's in the gardens?" a young Beta suggested tentatively.

"Or upstairs cleaning?" offered another.

My wolf eyes flashed, golden light surging behind my irises. "I made it explicitly clear that she was not to leave Grey territory without my Alpha permission. Not one step."

All eyes instinctively turned toward Martha. As the newly appointed head of household, she was responsible for all activity within the estate.

Martha's shoulders slumped slightly, but she raised her head, fear mingled with determination in her eyes.

"Alpha, I... I helped her leave for a few hours. She said she needed to purchase some personal items."

I felt anger ignite in my chest. "You knew my orders, yet you took it upon yourself to defy them?"

Martha lowered her head. "Yes, Alpha. I take responsibility for my decision."

Just then, the front door opened, and a breeze carried in a familiar scent—mixed with something I couldn't immediately identify. Everyone turned to see Freya standing in the doorway, her face pale, surprise and fear flickering in her eyes.

She clearly hadn't expected to find us all gathered in the hall. Her eyes quickly scanned each face before settling on mine, like a deer caught in headlights.

"I... I just went to buy some personal supplies," she said hurriedly, one hand clutching her bag tightly. "I wasn't gone for long."

Then I smelled it—beneath the cedar oil and soap, hidden but unmistakable. Jasper Stone's scent.

My wolf rose up howling, rage and possessiveness sweeping through me like wildfire. I suppressed the urge to shift, my voice dropping to a dangerous timbre:

"Everyone, return to your duties."

No one dared disobey. The Betas dispersed quickly, leaving only Freya standing there, her fingers gripping her bag strap, fear more evident in her eyes now.

I strode toward her, grasped her wrist, and pulled her toward the stairs. "Upstairs. Now."

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Freya's POV

Thorne's fingers felt like iron bands around my wrist as he dragged me up the stairs. My heart hammered so loudly I could hear it thundering in my ears, my wolf whimpering anxiously inside me.

*He knows. He knows I went to see Jasper.*

Despite using cedar oil—just as Jasper had suggested—to mask his scent, it clearly wasn't enough. Or perhaps nothing can truly escape an Alpha's nose.

When we reached the master bedroom, Thorne pushed me inside and closed the door. The room instantly filled with his Alpha presence, so overwhelming I could barely breathe. My moon-silver mark burned like fire, and I could feel my wolf trembling beneath my skin.

Thorne turned to face me, his eyes flashing with golden wolf-light. He looked more dangerous than I'd ever seen him.

"You still don't know that Alphas can smell lies?" His voice was low and threatening. "Jasper Stone's scent is all over you."

I took a step back, my back against the wall. "I can explain—"

But Thorne gave me no chance. He stepped forward, one hand braced against the wall behind me, trapping me between his body and the unyielding surface. His chest heaved with barely controlled rage, the muscles in his jaw twitching.

"I can smell him," he said softly, his voice filled with anger and something more primal. "In your hair, on your skin. You are a wolf from my territory, yet you return carrying another Alpha's scent."

He grabbed my jacket with both hands and ripped it open, buttons flying across the room. I gasped at the sudden violence, my heart racing faster. His nostrils flared as he lowered his face to my neck, inhaling deeply.

"Here," he growled, his breath hot against my skin. "And here." His nose traced a path along my collarbone, then lower to the top of my breasts visible above my shirt. "Everywhere."

"It's not like that!" I tried to explain, my voice shaking. "It was about the Full Moon Ceremony design competition. I needed to discuss the deadline with him."

Thorne's hands moved to my shirt, yanking it free from my skirt. His fingers, usually so controlled, fumbled with the buttons in his haste. "He touched you," he said, voice rough with accusation. "I can smell his fingertips on your wrist, your arm." The first three buttons gave way, exposing more of my skin to his scrutiny.

My breathing quickened, not just from fear but from the strange reactions his touch and proximity awakened in me. His fingers brushed against the bare skin of my stomach, sending unwanted heat through my body.

"It wasn't planned," I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was just buying personal items like I said."

Thorne's palm flattened against my stomach, then slid up to just beneath my bra. His touch burned against my skin, and I couldn't stop the small sound that escaped my lips.

"You think I can't smell the café on you? The expensive wine he ordered?" he said, voice dropping an octave lower. His other hand gripped my hip, fingers digging into the flesh hard enough to leave marks. "You sat with him. You spoke with him. You let him get close enough to mark you with his scent."

His eyes locked on mine, dark with fury and something else—something hungry and possessive that made my knees weak. I could feel the hardness of his body pressed against me, the heat of him seeping through our clothes.

"I am not yours," I whispered, but even to my own ears, the protest sounded weak.

"Your body says otherwise," Thorne said, his thumb brushing the underside of my breast. "Your scent changes when I touch you. Your pulse quickens."