The Alpha’s Chosen Outcast

19. HEATHER

Chapter 19

HEATHER

In a few days, I’m getting married. It’ll be a small ceremony with my friends here, Sam as my maid of honor (and wedding planner), and Jessie, Gretta, and Violet on video chat. But the best part is that my parents are here.

Trey flew them out, and I still can’t believe it. After five years, my whole family is together and about to grow larger.

When we return to the city, we’ll have a grand ceremony and reception with the whole pack, but this one is just for us.

A private event that solidifies my status as the female Alpha without anyone interfering. It won’t matter if someone stands up and says they object at the big wedding because we’ll already be married.

By doing it this way, we can enjoy it. It won’t be extravagant, but I don’t need that. I have all I need with me.

My father is going to walk me down the aisle, and my mother is going to be here to help me with my dress and everything else. And I have my mate. My true love. That’s all I need.

After breakfast and a lot of tears, my mom takes the garment bag down that’s been hanging on the back of the kitchen door. I figured it was for her mother-of-the-bride dress.

She lays it on the cleaned-off dining room table and, with a few more tears, she unzips it to reveal her own wedding dress. I gasp at the sight.

“I want you to have this, Heather.”

“Mom, no, I can’t accept this. I know how important this dress is to you.”

She made this dress herself, and it was the foundation for my motivation to make beautiful wedding gowns. The dress is pale blue with a cream-colored lace overlay. She knitted that lace by hand.

The overlay covers the entire dress, and the sleeves are made of it too. There’s intricate beading along the bodice and waistline, a testimony to her patience and effort.

I’m similar in size to my mother so I’m pretty sure it’ll fit me without much alteration. I touch the lace overlay on the skirt and look up at my mother.

“Are you sure? I may have to alter it.”

“I’m absolutely certain. Alter it. Make it your own. Add some of the embroidery you love to do with a bit of color. And one day, if you choose to go that route, you can hand it down to your own child. It’s your first heirloom.”

My arms are around her again, and I can’t stop a fresh stream of tears from sliding down my face. This is more than I could ever imagine having.

It’s more than I dreamed I’d get when I was first exiled. I thought I’d disappear and just survive. This is my fairytale. And it’s real.

I wipe the tears from my face as I step back from my mother. “I guess we have some shopping to do, then.”

Mom laughs, and Dad smiles at me. He hasn’t stopped smiling since we sat down to breakfast. He smiled the entire time we were eating.

rey is beaming at me from the doorway to the kitchen. We are whole. This is our new family, right here in this room.

I set up my parents in the living room. My space is pretty small, but the living room will suffice. I’m gonna have to talk to Jessie about ending my lease and maybe working at her sister’s shop when I leave. I hope she’ll understand.

I haven’t told her or Gretta about my wolf nature yet, but this is a small town. They probably know already. I’m sure our server figured it out at the diner last night.

As I’m in my bedroom getting ready, I think about the looks exchanged between my father and Trey at the dining room table. Something is going on between them. Does my father not want me to marry Trey? I’ll have to ask him.

We’ve always been open with each other. After five years, it feels like no time has passed. If it weren’t for my friends here, I’d be content to forget my entire time in exile.

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 of their 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.”

“Why can’t they leave us alone?” My hands curl into fists. “How is this really hurting them?”

“It’s all about power and control. They want everyone, including Alphas, to acknowledge that power. That’s why they stick to the old laws as much as possible. Those laws benefit them.”

“And who do they think they are to deserve that power?”

“Remember, most of the elders used to be Alphas too. Or the family of Alphas. That’s why they think they’re better than everyone else. Alpha’s don’t always serve until they die. Usually, they step down and join the elders. Their brothers, uncles, and fathers do as well. That’s why they think they deserve the respect they demand.”

“And that gives them the right to sanction assassinations when someone goes against them? This is insane. We have to stop them.”

“It’s not that easy, Heather. Look, your father and I have this. Please don’t do anything stupid.”

“Excuse me?”

“You know what I mean. I can’t imagine something happening to you, and I don’t want you going off on your own to handle this.”

I sink into the couch. “Well, you really do know me.”

“Of course I do.”

“Okay, fine.” I sit up straight again. “I promise not to do anything stupid.”

He hugs me, and we stand and walk back to the table. He said not to do anything stupid, but he never said what “stupid” means or according to whom.

In my opinion, going after this guy and persuading him to bring me to the elders so I can convince them to call this all off is a smart play. But Trey doesn’t have to know that, and neither do my parents.

I’ll have to trail after Trey and my father when they disappear again.

That way, I can find out what they’re planning to do, and I can find this assassin on my own. Then I’ll get him to bring me to the elders or get them on video or something, and we can put this all behind us.

In a few days, my father will walk me down the aisle, and I’ll marry my mate. Nothing is getting in the way of that.

We head back to my place after lunch, and I can see that the mood has changed. Sam and Callie don’t know why, and I’m not about to share any of it with them.

When they press, I brush it off as “family stuff,” which gets them to back down. We’re all feeling the magnitude of a family reunited after so long, especially since now they know my secret.

Back at my place, Trey and my parents spend time getting to know each other. Then, I show my mom some of the designs I’ve worked on over the years, and Trey talks with my father about his role as his in-law back in the city.

Everything looks so idyllic, but at the same time, I know that there’s a man who’s been described as an assassin somewhere in this little town waiting to take one of us out. Probably me.

The death of another Alpha so soon after Trey’s father would cause a ton of chaos. I’m sure this guy is here for me. To say that’s unsettling is an understatement.

I tell them I need time to decompress since the next few days will be really busy—but I really need time alone to plan.

Trey and my father want to be my heroes. I get that. I’m not gonna let anything happen to either of them because of me.

Now, how do I find an assassin who doesn’t want to be found?