Page 73 of The Alpha's Chosen Outcast

The next couple of hours are a blur. We get back to Heather’s place, and everyone is still there.

Melissa patches up Raymond and she’s able to get the silver out before it spreads, with the help of Sam, who turns out to be an adept assistant.

Meanwhile, I call the elders, and they seem surprised to find me angry instead of spiraling into grief over the loss of my mate.

I order them to clean up their mess and warn them that consequences are coming when I get home. For once, they actually sound afraid. They never expected this outcome, and now they’re probably reeling.

The next day, we’re back to wedding planning. Raymond is weak but regaining strength by the minute. It looks like Heather and her parents want to put all of this behind us. Heather attributes their willingness to do so to me.

After seeing me go to battle for her, I’ve earned their respect and trust. We set the date for this weekend, then plan on going straight back to the city.

Sam and Callie spring into action, getting the tiny backyard behind Heather’s cottage ready for a small wedding.

Logan helps me with his own connections to get our marriage license pushed through in time. For that and for his part in saving Heather’s life, I make him my best man. I’m sure my friends back home will understand.

The night before the wedding, Raymond and I go to the local bed and breakfast so that Heather and I can spend the traditional night apart.

I lay there in bed, thinking that the next time I see her, Raymond will be walking her down the aisle. I stare at the ceiling and smile. My mate. My wife. I can’t wait.

When the time finally arrives, I see her, and she’s more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

She’s added some of her signature embroidery to her mother’s dress and a bit of colorful lace she must have found at the thrift store. It’s perfect. She’s perfect.

The town’s officiant is a justice of the peace who has agreed to be here on short notice—of course, my handsome monetary incentive motivated him as well.

When he says, “You may now kiss your bride,” I feel it again. That feeling like something inside me is snapping into place—like gears lining up in my mind.

After I kiss Heather, I look into her eyes and see that she feels the same. Our connection as Alphas is official. The elders can’t do anything to stop this now.

That night, we participate in an age-old wedding tradition that’s become common knowledge to the public.

We’re happy to let Callie, Logan, and Sam see it, too. We change inside the house, and the Cauleys introduce us as “Mr. and Mrs. Hanover,” and we come out as wolves.

They all clap and cheer. In response, we lift our noses and howl at the moon, our cries mixing with their cheers in a celebratory call to nature, our joined families, and our pack, even though they’re back in the city.

Violet calls us on video chat to congratulate us and makes us promise to throw a huge party with the pack and all the pomp and circumstance when she gets home.

We agree, of course. I’ll do anything to keep my mate happy. She is mine, and I am hers. From this day forward, for all of our days. Forever.

THE END