Page 42 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

“What’s settled?”

“You’ll walk me down the aisle. We’ll make some excuse about why Father can’t be there and I don’t think anyone will notice anyway.”

“That’s probably true.”

She lets her arms fall to her side, and I see that look on her face. The look that says she’s about to use this information as leverage.

“I want a favor in return.”

“Of course you do.” That look never lies.

“I want to tell Brody.”

“We’ve been over this. You can’t tell him, it’s too big a risk.”

“I can keep him calm, Trey. I can make sure he doesn’t tell anyone about what’s going on. He could be of use with Heather’s Alpha issue too. His brother is the Alpha for his old pack, after all.”

“He is?”

“I can’t believe you didn’t know that. I’ve definitely talked about it.”

“You talk about a lot of things, Vi.”

“Okay, well, his brother is a few years older than you, and he’s the Alpha in his pack. Brody and I had to go ask his formal permission to marry and everything.”

“You did?”

“Oh my god, do you ever listen?”

“Yes,” I say with a sharp edge.

“Anyway, he lives over near Albany. It’s about three hours from the city.”

“Not being in the city is fine as long as she stays alive.”

“I can ask Brody to talk to him.”

“Fine, you can tell Brody. But make sure he understands the utter importance of maintaining secrecy in this matter.”

She beams at me. “I will, I promise.”

“I mean it. This is Heather’s life on the line, you get that, don’t you?”

Violet looks at me and smiles with that patronizing face she makes when she’s trying to placate me. I cross my arms and meet her with my own look, one she’s seen many times while we were growing up.

“She told me you felt the mating bond.”

“Fuck.” My knees almost buckle, and my arms fall limp to my sides.

“That makes her part of my pack, my family, exile or not. I’m not going to let anything happen to her, and I’ll make sure Brody won’t either. I have just as much prerogative to protect her now.”

I honestly didn’t think she’d take it this way. There’s more to this, though. We may have decided that I will walk her down the aisle. In the meantime, people will have questions, and I want Violet to know that I intend for her to be part of my leadership team.

I gather myself, straighten my spine, and take a deep breath.

“Okay.” I nod at her. “We can do this. I need your help with this transition. I want people to see thatbothof the Hanover siblings are in charge. If Father’s gone, I’m the CEO. I want you to be Chairperson of the Board, Head of the PR Department, and Head of the HR Department.”

She opens and closes her mouth but doesn’t say anything. I smile at rendering her speechless, a feat not often accomplished, especially not by me.

---