Page 53 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

The human side of me hears the words come out of my mouth, but it’s like someone else is speaking. My wolf is a part of me, but right now, she’s brave, and I’m not.

In a daze, I see Trey kiss my fingers and stand up. There is light applause throughout the room.

He pulls me toward him with one hand and kisses me in front of everyone. At that moment, I don’t care what else happens. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I am complete. My wolf and human sides are both one with him after this vow.

Violet and Brody whoop, and everyone claps a little louder, but something seems off. They don’t seem to be as enthusiastic about their Alpha marrying his mate as I’d expect them to be.

Part of me doesn’t want to acknowledge this. That’s the part that wants to revel in the moment I experienced on that stage.

Trey leads me back to the table where I’d been sitting before, next to the head table. We sit down, and he lets my hand go.I look at him, and I can tell he sees the fear on my face. His concern shows.

“Heather, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you, but everything happened so fast.”

“I don’t…”

“You don’t want to marry me?” His face goes white.

“No, it’s not that!” I say quickly, “I just would have wanted to do that differently, at least wearing proper wedding guest attire.”

He looks me up and down. “You’re beautiful as always. I know Violet doesn’t mind. We talked about this in the car on the way over. She and Brody agreed to it.”

“They did?”

“Yes, of course they did. You’re about to be Violet’s sister-in-law, after all, and I think she already sees you as family. She wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“That’s why you did this, right? To save my life?”

“That’s part of it. You’re my mate. I’ll do anything to protect you. The thought of you having to marry someone else has been killing me.”

“I didn’t realize you felt that strongly about it.”

“Did you want to marry someone else?”

I smile at him. “No, absolutely not.”

He puts his arm around me, and I feel like this is where I should have always been. I lean my head on his shoulder.

When I look around the room again, the people staring at us, our pack, are giving us mixed messages. Some of them smile, but others scrutinize.

There are furrowed brows and mouths set in straight lines, some shaking their heads and others refusing to look at us.

I’m not sure what to make of it all. I will be their female Alpha once Trey and I are married. What happens until then?

Will I go live at the Hanover estate? With my parents? Shit, we have to tell my parents. They’ll be furious to know that I’ve been back and didn’t contact them.

What will they think about me being married? I’m going to betheirAlpha, too. I have no idea how that works.

As female Alpha, what are my duties? Shouldn’t I know that before I get married and take on that power?

Trey stands and gestures for me to follow him. We make the rounds throughout the room, and he introduces me to people and accepts congratulations on his ascension to Alpha status.

I notice that they don’t congratulate us on our engagement. When he introduces me, most people nod their heads and say a polite, “nice to meet you.” They turn to Trey and talk tohimlike I don’t exist.

I take the opportunity to listen in on the conversations around me.

Many people are whispering about Trey finding loopholes and shunning those who came before him. They’re not happy about our engagement. They think he’s skirting the law to do what he wants without regard for tradition.

The wolf in me is immediately protective of my mate, and I have to battle her to stay put instead of turning and pouncing on everyone opposed to us. By the time we sit down for dinner, my anxiety is ramped up all over again.

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