Page 68 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

Switching gears, I turn my focus back on the dress. I need some fabric, a few sewing notions, and something I can use for a cover after the ceremony is over. I don’t want to ruin my look with an ugly coat. Oh, and I need shoes!

Sam and Callie come over, and they bring it up about my father and Trey. They notice weird tension between them and ask me what’s up.

I haven’t had a chance yet to ask Trey about it, but I don’t think it has anything to do with planning our wedding.

By the time we stop and head over to the diner for lunch, I’m annoyed. I have to know what’s going on, and I won’t take any oftheir evasive maneuvers for answers. This is not how we’re going to start this relationship.

I stride over to Trey and my father as they sit hunched close together, talking on the couch beside where the fire is lit in the fireplace. The diner has this spot for people to hang out and talk with coffee if they don’t want to order a whole meal.

“What’s going on?” I’m not taking any shit.

My father looks up with his eyebrows hiking up.

“Honey, we’re just talking. Trey is about to become my son-in-law, and he’s also my Alpha. There’s a lot we have to get straight about that before we go home.”

“Bullshit.” I cross my arms and look between them. “There’s something else going on. Tell me.”

Trey looks at my father. “I told you we can’t keep this from her. She’s too smart.”

“I know my daughter is smart. Don’t tell me who she is.”

“Dad, we’re not doing this.” I insert. “I’m an adult, and I’ve been on my own for years. I can handle this.”

Trey puts his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s sit down.”

My father walks away as Trey and I sit down on the couch. I suppose my father’s going to tell the others that we need a minute to ourselves.

Honestly, I’m glad this conversation will be private. I feel like I’m about to be blindsided by the next tragedy. Thus is my life.

“Heather, I saw someone here this morning before your parents arrived. I wasn’t sure if he was who I thought he was, but I’m sure now.”

“Who is he?”

Trey sighs and looks away from my face for a second.

“I hope this doesn’t become the reason you choose not to marry me.”

“I thought we’d been through this. Nothing is going to keep me from marrying you. Besides, you said you took care of all that mess back home with the elders.”

He looks back at me, and I see in his eyes that this stranger proves he didn’t take care of everything.

The elders aren’t as in line with Trey’s plans as he thought, and this man, whoever he is, wants to help ensure Trey’s plans fail. Which means he wants to stop our wedding.

“Trey, who is this man, and what is he doing here? How does he even know you’re here?”

Trey shakes his head as he speaks, “I don’t know how he found us. I’ve seen him with my father before and with other elders. He’s never at meetings, though. He does some shady dealings for them. More like a henchman.”

“Shady things?”

“Yes. He’s dispatched to clean up messes…or to make people disappear.”

“How does he make people disappear?” I swallow down my anxiety.

“When you’re a wolf who knows where to dig in the woods, it’s not that hard to make people disappear.”

“So who is he here for?”

“I’m not really sure about that. Probably one of us. That would be the best way to end the wedding, which is what the goal would be for the elders.”

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