Page 27 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

“Ah ha!” I say out loud.

“Ah ha, what?” I jump as I see Violet standing there, leaning against one of the bookcases.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to see you frantically searching through…what is that you’re reading?”

“It’s one of Father’s journals.”

“Why do you need that?”

I close the journal and put it under my arm, walking past her to leave the room. I have what I need.

“Oh no, you’re not getting away that easily!” She runs to catch up with me. “What were you doing in the archives, Trey? You’re not a big history buff and you were obviously after one of Father’s journals in particular. What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing, Violet.”

“I’m really fucking sick of you saying that. I know there’s a lot going on you’re not telling me.”

I stop in the middle of the hallway and turn to face her.

“You’re right. I do have something on my mind, and Father’s journal can help.”

“How? Why do you need it? Come on, Trey, just tell me.”

“I don’t want to have to kill Heather,” I say it flat out.

“Why would you?”

“After she designs your dress, I can’t just let her leave.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t let her walk away with the knowledge that she was here, and I let an exile live.”

“Who is she going to tell?”

“That really doesn’t matter.”

“And something in that journal can help?” She points at the book under my arm.

“Yes. I think there might be something in Father’s notes when he wrote the new laws that could give me a loophole.”

“All this work just so you don’t have to kill her? I don’t buy it.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have feelings for her.” She narrows her eyes.

Mine go wide. “Violet, no. That’s not true.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself, but I’ve never seen you go out of your way this much for your buddies, let alone some exile you barely know.”

“It’s more than that. This is also about me. I don’t want to have to deal with the consequences of killing her.”

“What consequences?”

“Mostly, having to tell her parents that she’s dead.”

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