The Alpha’s Exiled Mate Chapter 15

The Alpha’s Exiled Mate Chapter 15

“I have a better idea,” a tall, thin man proposed, his scent reeking of an unsettling excitement.

“Let’s recreate the trial scene. I’ll play the esteemed Alpha judge, and she can… relive her

sentencing.”

I rose to my feet immediately. “No. That’s enough.” My voice was steady, but my heart

hammered in my chest.

The tall man smiled coldly. “Sit down, Riley. You don’t give orders here.”

“This has gone too far,” I said, backing toward the door. “I’ll dance for you, but I won’t-

“Two thousand dollars,” Gold Watch interrupted, pulling out his wallet. “Right now, in cash, if

you play along.”

I froze. Two thousand dollars. That was more money than I had seen since returning from

exile.

“Three thousand,” the female with the necklace added, “if you make it convincing. Truly show

your… remorse.”

“And if I don’t?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

The tall man shrugged. “Then we inform the Shadow District patrol that an ex-exile is impersonating a dancer to gain access to high-society clients. I wonder what the penalty for

that might be?”

“Wolf King would lose his license,” Purple Shirt added. “And you’d lose any chance of working

in Moon Bay again. Is your pride worth that?”

I stood there, trembling with rage and helplessness. My nails lengthened slightly into claws, a

reflexive response to the threat. But what choice did I have? This humiliation or return to the

Wilds-possibly forever this time.

“Fine,” I whispered, the word tasting like ash.

The thin man seated himself in the central position, mimicking Thorne’s posture and tone. The others arranged themselves in a semicircle, playing the court audience. I was ordered to

kneel in the center of the room, head bowed, hands on my knees.

“Freya Riley,” the man intoned, deliberately mimicking Thorne’s authoritative voice, “you stand

accused of betrayal. How do you plead?”

I remained silent, jaw clenched tight.

“I said,” he repeated, voice hardening, “how do you plead?”

“I didn’t betray anyone,” I said quietly, raising my eyes to meet his. “In the real trial or now.”

A murmur of displeasure rippled through the room. Gold Watch leaned forward.

“We’re paying you for a performance, Riley. Not your version of events.” His eyes were cold.

“Four thousand. Total. If you say what we want to hear.”

Four thousand dollars. Enough to rent a real room somewhere.

“Guilty,” I said softly, each word like a blade across my tongue.

“Louder!” another guest called. “Let us all hear your confession.”

“Guilty!” I raised my voice, feeling tears threaten but refusing to let them fall. I wouldn’t give

them that satisfaction.

“Now,” the fake judge continued, “tell us exactly what you did. Confess your crimes against

Alpha Thorne Grey and Beta Elite Kaelin Brooks.”

I hesitated, my wolf snarling within me at the mention of Kaelin’s name.

“Go on,” the female with the necklace prompted. “Tell us how you attacked poor Kaelin out of

jealousy and spite.”

My hands clenched into fists on my knees. “I… I attacked Beta Elite Brooks,” I forced out, the

lie burning my throat. “Because I was… jealous.”

“And?” Purple Shirt prompted, enjoying my discomfort.

“And… I deserved my punishment,” I continued, the words mechanical.

“More feeling!” Gold Watch demanded. “Make us believe it!”

I closed my eyes briefly, summoning the strength to continue this farce. When I opened them again, I made my voice shake with false emotion.

“I betrayed the trust of the pack,” I said, reciting the words they wanted to hear. “I acted out of jealousy and selfishness. I… deserve no mercy.”

The cruelest part came when they made me imitate my reaction to the sentencing. They wanted to see me beg “the honorable judge” for mercy, to witness my breakdown.

“Please, Your Honor,” I whispered, my voice shaking with suppressed emotion-not the emotion they thought they were witnessing, but rage at being forced to relive and distort the

worst day of my life. “Show mercy.”