Page 49 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

Heather examines the dress with the intensity of a surgeon assessing a wound.

“Yes. Can I set up over there?”

She points to a small table strewn with makeup products and hair tools.

“Yes,” Violet answers, “Let me just move all this stuff.”

They start moving like they can read each other’s minds. In minutes, Heather is set up, getting the dress pinned, and ready to do whatever she needs to do to fix it.

Disaster averted.

“Trey, you go stand outside the door and guard the room. Everyone here is a wolf. We can’t let them see Heather. Someone is bound to know who she is.”

I stand outside the closed door of the bridal suite and listen to my sister and my mate talking and giggling like old friends.

This is exactly what I wish for my sister on her big day. My mind falls on the scenario of Heather becoming my wife once again.

The wolf in me starts howling to get out, to get to her. I dream of being in a groom’s suite with Brody and our friends, but this time, he’s helping me get my bow tie straight and making sure my tuxedo is perfect.

A rush of heat runs through my whole body.

At that moment, my phone goes off again. It’s the Hanover estate, which means it may be something about our father.

I answer the call and walk quickly around the corner to find a bit of privacy. Heather and Violet are wolves, too, and they share my keen sense of hearing. I don’t want them to hear this conversation.

“Mr. Hanover?”

It’s one of the nurses. “Yes, hello. What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry to tell you this, sir, but your father has passed. I would have waited to tell you until you got home, but you left instructions to call with any major updates.”

“You did the right thing. Thank you for notifying me.” I run a hand through my hair, grasping the news.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Hanover.”

“Thank you,” I murmur thickly.

I end the call and put my phone in my pocket. I knew this was coming, but I still feel gutted. My father has never been the most affectionate with us.

He’s never been a traditional father figure, but he’s still my father, my Alpha, and this is a monumental event—the end of an era.

I have to take a moment to catch my breath and stop myself from changing. Something primal inside me wants the wolf to come out, but this is not the time or place.

I’ll go for a run after the reception. Right now, I have to pull myself together for Violet.

“I’ll go get her. You want to set up in the bridal suite for the getting-ready shoot?”

I hear one of the bridesmaids talking in the hallway a few feet away from me. I look up and see she’s talking to the photographer.

Shit, she’s heading to the bridal suite, and she’s ahead of me. I move quickly, but she’s too far away for me to catch up, even with my wolf speed.

Her hand is on the door, and I feel like my whole world is about to end. She turns the doorknob, and I freeze.

I see the door open, see Violet standing there, and I hear her shrieking. I see Heather’s eyes go wide when the bridesmaid points and says in a hiss,

“Exile!”

She runs off, and I watch Violet go after her in a blur of cream and pastels. She stops and turns when she passes by me.

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