Page 52 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

“Over there. By the head table.”

Diane points at a large round table bordered by two shorter rectangular ones. The round table has two throne-like chairs and a setup with flowers similar to the ones that had been in Violet’s bouquet. I sit down at the end of the table, the better to run if this all goes wrong.

I feel like I’m on display as I hear the whispered conversations around me. I’m not dressed for a wedding and everyone knows I’m the exile sitting here awaiting my fate for the punishment of existing.

I wrote a personal account of my coming-of-age ceremony. I didn’t tell any big secrets. The entire exile never should’ve happened in the first place.

Maybe Trey has found me a husband, but I don’t know why he’d want to announce that here in front of everyone. I can’t imagine how that would be a good thing.

It’s probably the only thing that would save me right now, though. I’m shaking, and my claws are out. No one around here is going to care about that, though.

The lights start going wild, and I see the DJ moving around the controls on his board. He introduces the bridal party, including the disgusted Diane, and then he announces Violet and Brody as the newly married couple making their debut.

When they enter, they’re dancing. They have huge smiles on their faces, and they keep dancing all the way to those thrones at their table. Violet’s dress really did turn out beautifully.

If it’s the last one I ever make, at least it’ll put me down in history as a fashion icon. I’m not shy about that. I know I’m awesome for that dress.

Then Trey enters the room. The applause and conversation die down. That’s when it’s confirmed for me, and I think everyone else, too. Trey is Alpha. I can feel the power radiating from him. I can feel the wolf inside me aching to be next to him.

He takes the microphone and thanks the DJ, who goes off to do something else while Trey takes over the stage.

“Hello, everyone. Thank you for being here to celebrate Violet and Brody with us. Let’s have a round of applause for the bride and groom!”

Everyone starts clapping. I do, too, because I’d look out of place if I didn’t, and I’m already terrified of what’s going to happen next. I don’t want to draw any more attention to myself.

Trey continues, “I have a couple of announcements to make, with permission from the bride, of course.” He turns, and they share a smile. “Tonight, you may have all felt something shift. A ripple of power that has gone through us all, signifying an event that happens once in a generation: The passing of an Alpha.”

Whispered conversations and murmurs erupt all around the hall, but Trey doesn’t let that deter him. He has more to say.

“As my father’s heir apparent, his power has passed to me. The wolf ancestors have made their choice. I, Trey Hanover, take the mantle as your new Alpha.”

As if by instinct, everyone in the room stands, goes down on one knee with their arms at their sides, and bows their head. I follow suit, again not wanting to draw any extra attention to myself.

“Thank you for your acceptance. You may rise.”

We all get up and sit back in our seats. Trey isn’t done with his speech, though. I’m getting nervous about what he’s leading up to.

“You may have also noticed that there is an exile in our midst.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit. What is he doing? I look frantically at Violet, but she has a grin on her face. She knows what’s coming.

“I didn’t want to take away from my sister’s big night, but it looks like the secret is out. Heather, could you come up here?”

I’m paralyzed in my seat as he stares at me with his hand out, waiting for me to walk over and take it with my own. Everyone is looking at me now.

Out of sheer force of will—just wanting to get whatever is about to happen over with, I stand and walk to the stage. I feel like I’ve just run a marathon when I get there and take Trey’s hand.

“This woman stood up for herself when she was barely an adult. She wanted to fight for unity amongst humans and werewolves but that’s not what happened. Instead, our kind turned our backs on her, and she’s been in exile ever since. Tonight, I reveal that she is my mate, and as Alpha, I have the power to help her in a way no one else can.”

With the microphone in one hand and my fingers in his other, he gets down on one knee and looks up at my stricken face. My eyes are so wide I feel like they’re about to pop out of my skull.

“Heather Cauley, will you be my wife, my Alpha partner in this pack, and acknowledge me as your mate forever?”

I feel my heart beating in my throat. The silence in the room is thick, like every single person in the room is holding their breath while they wait for me to answer.

I know there’s only one way to get past this—the way my wolf so desperately wants it to end.

I let her take over, “Yes, Trey. Of course, I will.”

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