Chapter 184
Thorne's POV
Morning light streamed through the windows of my hotel suite, finding me already dressed and reviewing documents at the desk. I hadn't slept well, my thoughts consumed by Freya's injuries and Kaelin's suspicious behavior. Mark had confirmed that Freya had returned safely to the hospital, but that did little to ease the restlessness of my wolf.
My phone chimed with a message from Dr. Everett, informing me that Freya Riley was scheduled for discharge today. The message included a note that her recovery was "proceeding at an unusual rate," which only confirmed what I already knew – my Alpha healing had accelerated her body's natural processes.
I set the phone down, my decision made. I needed to see Freya again, to understand exactly what had happened to her, and why Kaelin had reacted so strangely to the mention of her injury. The investigation I had promised to conduct would begin with Freya herself.
The drive to Silverstone Central Hospital took less than twenty minutes. As I strode through the main entrance, the staff's reactions were immediate – backs straightening, eyes lowering, scents spiking with a mixture of fear and respect. Even in another Alpha's territory, my status commanded deference.
I was directed to the east wing, where private patients were housed. As I approached Freya's room, a familiar scent stopped me in my tracks. Dr. Miles Everett was coming out of her room, a medical chart in his hands.
He spotted me immediately, his posture stiffening as recognition dawned. "Alpha Thorne," he said, his voice carefully controlled despite the challenge that flashed briefly in his eyes.
"Dr. Everett," I replied, nodding curtly. "I'm here to see Ms. Riley."
Miles stepped into my path, blocking the door. "I'm afraid that's not possible without an appointment. Even Alpha status doesn't override patient confidentiality."
My wolf bristled at the challenge, but I kept my expression neutral. "I need to speak with her about a legal matter."
"Any legal matters can wait until she's fully recovered," Miles insisted, his stance unwavering. "She's been through enough already."
The implication in his tone – that I was responsible for her suffering – wasn't lost on me. My patience thinned dangerously.
"Step aside, Dr. Everett," I said, my voice dropping to the register that no Beta could ignore.
Miles flinched slightly but held his ground. "With all due respect, Alpha Thorne, I can't do that. Ms. Riley is my patient, and in my professional opinion, she needs rest, not another interrogation from the man who exiled her."
My control slipped, a growl rumbling in my chest as I stepped closer to him. "You forget yourself, Doctor. You may be a Beta elite, but you're addressing an Alpha."
"I'm addressing the man who destroyed Freya's life," Miles shot back, his own control fraying. Gold flecks appeared in his eyes – not the solid gold of an Alpha, but enough to show his wolf was close to the surface. "You took everything from her – her family, her dignity, her future. And for what? Because she dared to challenge your perfect Beta mate?"
His words hit like physical blows, each one feeding the guilt that had been growing inside me since I discovered Freya in Terra's apartment. "You don't know what you're talking about," I said, but the conviction in my voice wavered.
"Don't I?" Miles stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I was there when she was first brought back from the Forgotten Wilds. I saw what three years of exile did to her body. Silver scars that will never fade, malnutrition, trauma that would break most wolves." His eyes bored into mine. "You've already taken so much from her. At least let her heal in peace."
Before I could respond, the door to Freya's room opened, and she appeared in the doorway, steadying herself against the frame. She was dressed in casual clothes rather than a hospital gown, her face pale but determined.
Miles turned immediately, concern replacing anger. "Freya, you shouldn't be up yet."
She ignored him, her eyes fixed on me. The sight of her standing there, clearly still in pain but refusing to show weakness, sent a surge of admiration through me that my wolf echoed with a proud rumble.
Miles positioned himself between us, a physical barrier that made my teeth clench. "Freya needs to rest," he insisted again.
I opened my mouth to override him, to command him to leave us, but Freya spoke first.
"It's alright, Miles," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I need to go back to work anyway. The binding ceremony pendant designs won't complete themselves."
With that, she stepped around Miles and walked past me toward the elevator, her gait steady despite the slight stiffness in her injured leg. My wolf urged me to follow, to support her, to ensure no one else could harm her. Instead, I watched her go, noting with satisfaction that my healing had indeed accelerated her recovery.
Only when the elevator doors closed behind her did I turn back to Miles, my voice low and controlled. "She's recovering well, isn't she?"
At this time, I naively wanted the man in front of me to know that Freya's recovery depended on me. My wolf howled inside: "Tell him that I licked her wounds and she recovered so well. Tell him she's ours."
I smiled provocatively and told my wolf through the mind link, "He knew it a long time ago. After all, when Freya came back yesterday, she must have smelled of us."
Miles met my gaze without flinching. "For her sake, I hope you're right. But remember this, Alpha Thorne – you've already failed her once. Don't make the same mistake again."