#Chapter 24: Outcast

Nathan quickly took my arm and led me over to the picnic area.

Instantly, I felt eyes on me. I blushed and pulled Nathan’s jacket closer around my shoulders, averting my gaze to the ground.

“Hold your head high,” Nathan said. “It’s just a picnic. Come with me; I have to mingle for appearances.”

I felt like a statue as I followed Nathan around. He was so outgoing and polite, and so many people seemed to want to talk to him. But I just felt like an outcast who was only following him around like a lost puppy.

No one wanted to talk to the traitor’s daughter, either. Especially not when I had a ruined dress and an oversized men’s jacket on.

Suddenly, while Nathan was talking to another man who I didn’t immediately recognize, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see Jenifer standing there, and my face turned red.

“I-I’m so sorry about the dress,” I stammered. “I fell during the hunt and I think I ruined it.”

Jenifer’s bulging eyes slowly looked me up and down. There was a long si