Page 6 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

Our mother was, too. I was ten when she died, and Violet had just been born. Violet doesn’t remember any of it. That’s how I make her let this go.

“You’re just like Mom was, so stubborn, never willing to let anything go until you get what you want.”

“Really?”

“Yes, and as you grow into your womanhood more and more, I see her in your face.”

She touches her face and looks off into the distance. I set down two teacups and pour the tea. It’s chamomile and vanilla.

She needs to calm down. I add in a honey stick to each cup and push one toward her. She picks it up without thinking, sips, and looks up at me.

“You have one part right, Trey. I’m not letting this go until I get more information out of you. So don’t think you’re off the hook with a little compliment and a good cup of tea.”

I hide my smile in my own cup, and we sip silently for a few minutes. When she’s done, she puts her cup by the sink, grins at me, and initiates her goodbye.

“You’ll tell me when I can meet up with that designer then? When she’ll get here?”

“Yes, I’ll make it happen. Anything for my baby sister’s wedding.”

“I’m not a baby.”

“You are to me.”

She sticks her tongue out and prances off. I clean up the tea things and think about what’s next on my list. I’m meeting my inner circle at The Rising, a Were-owned restaurant and club.

Greyson, Luca, Austin, and Samuel have been my confidants since kindergarten. I know that Father wants me to turn to his lieutenants but he doesn’t know I plan to change things.

I’m not partial to the new laws. I always felt that if we were going to reveal our existence, we should share the whole truth. I don’t want to rule through fear.

Humans have nothing to do with our laws, so I don’t know why Father and the rest of the old guard are set on keeping some things secret.

At The Rising, I order my usual chicken parm hero and a sprite. I don’t fuck with caffeine or alcohol. It’s not a religious thing. It’s an Alpha thing. I know that any substance that dulls my senses could make me vulnerable.

Right now, I can’t have that. Most people may not know how sick my father is, but they know something is up. And a few of his closest people are aware of his condition.

This place has always been a spot where wolves can relax. The windows are blurred, and the place is a wolf-only “dining club.” They don’t let just anyone in off the street.

I look around and see a few in wolf form, lying on rugs by the fire or diligently watching everyone else. Then there are those who come here to change back.

In some cases, people live with humans who might know that wolves exist but they’re not exactly comfortable with seeing the change happen.

For them, having a safe place to change back makes things easier. The owners at The Rising set out to make sure that this will always be that place for all wolves of our pack.

Greyson, Luca, Austin, and Samuel arrive at the same time. They all live together in a house not far from the Hanover estate where I live.

They started this habit in college when they lived in the dorms and decided they didn’t want it to end after they graduated. They’ll probably keep it up until they find their mates.

They sit down and pick up the conversation they started on the walk over.

“Yeah, but we won’t have to deal with that much longer, will we, Trey?” Luca, a tall blond man with long hair that’s buzzed underneath, says as he turns to me.

“What won’t you have to deal with?” My brows knit together.

“Hiding where we go from women we’re fucking.” Greyson, a stocky, medium-built man with brown skin and brown hair, speaks up with a laugh.

“Why would you have to hide that?” I ask.

“He means how we’re not allowed to talk about council meetings or anything like that,” Austin chimes in. He is a tall Black man with coarse black hair buzzed close to his head.

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