Page 8 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

“Uuuuuugh, I hate this.”

“Me too, Mr. Cauley. I know my outlook may seem cold to you, but please trust me. I never liked any of this.”

“But your father is the one who had her exiled for that article she wrote.”

“Right, my father. Not me. I didn’t do this to your family, and, given the choice, I wouldn’t have done it had I been Alpha at the time.”

“I know. That’s why I came to you instead of your father.”

“Let’s keep that between us,” I say quietly.

He nods, then continues, “So if you do find her and she is alive, will you bring my daughter back here to us or leave her in exile?”

“I can’t answer that for you the way things stand.”

“You mean while your father is still alive and holding the position of Alpha.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“That’s the reason, Trey, and we both know it. If Heather came back to live with us, she’d either have to stay in hiding, we’d have to be in exile with her, or we’d all be dead. Frankly, I’m not sure which outcome I’d prefer.”

“You’d leave the pack for your daughter? Abandon your position and your ability to change with the pack?”

“In a heartbeat. Even if it was my last.”

“Look, I told you I don’t have any answers, and that’s the truth. I do think that the whole issue of finding her should be put to bed. That part of the law is what baffles me the most.”

“That was actually a provision put in by your father in particular. The Alphas must know where exiles are at all times so that they can hold the threat to their lives over their heads so that they’ll always live in fear.”

“I didn’t know that.” I frown.

“Do you know what happens if they do find her?”

I shake my head, urging him to continue.

“If my daughter is found, she won’t be killed. She’ll stay in exile, and that cruel provision will be over her head for the rest of her life. But ifyoufind her and just tell us where she is without telling your father, we could have our daughter back.”

“And what makes you think I’d really do that?”

“Because you’re not like him.”

“But I’m also not Alpha.”

“Right.” He crosses his arms over his chest.

“Look, I have to go,” I say, “but I promise you that I will tell you if I find even the tiniest lead. Okay?”

“Fine.”

I get up and hold out my hand for him to shake. He obliges and makes his way to the back, where his wife is sitting, and seems calmer.

I look over at Samuel and Luca, still at our table, and they nod at me. I head out, knowing they’ll take care of anything else that comes up.

I have a wedding dress designer to contact, and I need to get back to my father. He could only have moments left, and when he goes, I have to take immediate action.

The transition isn’t going to be easy, but I’m ready to fight for what this pack needs.

Time to haul us out of the past and start building our future.

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