Page 66 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

Would they dare to go that far?

I start breakfast at the condo, stopping when I hear a light tap on the door. When I open it, Raymond and Melissa are there with their suitcases, and an airport shuttle van is driving off behind them.

“Where is she?” Melissa looks into the condo behind me. “Is she awake yet?”

“She’s not. I’m making breakfast for everyone. Come on in.” I see that Melissa is holding a garment bag. “Here, let me take that.”

She reluctantly hands it over, and I hang it on the door between the dining area and the kitchen.

Raymond and Melissa come in with their bags, leave them by the door, and sit down at the table. They crane their necks, searching around the place.

“So this is where my daughter lives. It’s a cozy little spot,” Raymond remarks.

I turn to Melissa, “The bathroom is over there if you need it.”

I point to the door in the hallway, and she nods and goes over to it. When I hear the door shut, I turn to Raymond.

“Did you tell anyone you were coming here?”

“I told work I’d need a few days off, but I didn’t tell them why.”

“You’re sure they don’t know you were cominghere?”

“Trey, what’s going on?”

“I thought I saw someone in town today. Someone who shouldn’t be here—someone that only the elders would send.”

“You mean?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think he’s here for you or…?” His voice trails off.

“I’m not even sure it’s him.”

“Heather’s mother cannot know about any of this.” Raymond looked at the bathroom door.

“Agreed. We’ll figure it out and take care of it ourselves if need be.”

The toilet flushes, and a sliver of light shines in the living room as Melissa emerges from the bathroom. She shuts the door and walks back to join us.

“What…” She looks back and forth between us. “What were you two talking about?”

“It’s nothing, dear, don’t worry.”

Melissa crosses her arms, but her pouting is short-lived. We all turn our heads as we hear footsteps coming from the bedroom. Raymond and Melissa stand up. Heather calls out before we see her.

“Mmmm, is that bacon I smell? Did you go shopping?”

“Yeah,” I call back. “Your surprise is here, and it’s more than bacon.”

“It’s here now?” Her voice is much closer and Melissa puts her hand to her chest.

Heather appears in the doorway, pulling a robe closed over her sleep shirt, her feet clad in fuzzy slippers. She screams when she sees her parents. Melissa and Raymond jump up and circle the table, wrapping Heather up in their arms.

I go back into the kitchen to let them have their moment alone. They don’t say a word to each other, but I hear muffled sobs from all of them. I don’t interfere.

This is their moment, and Raymond and Melissa have waited for this for five long years.

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