The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 179

Chapter 179: Earlier…
Nathan

I stormed out of the pack house, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

Immediately, I shifted. Ragnar emerged with practised ease, his dark fur rippling in the moonlight as I caught Lyla’s scent in the wind. The trails were fresh, tinged with blood from all the Ferals and Trinax she fought.

I followed her scent through the maze of mingling scents surrounding the White Moon Pack. My paws pounded against the earth, as I pushed forward. I tracked her through the territory, following a path that took me toward the White Moon Pack’s borders.

Almost at the borders, it veered off to the edge of the dense forest surrounding the pack’s territory. As I approached the tree line, my hackles rose, indicating that someone was watching me. I stopped for a moment; my ears perked as I surveyed the area. There was nothing… no one except me. But something felt… off.

Shrugging it off, I prepared to enter the forest, since her scent was stronger in that direction. Just then, a chilling sensation washed over me. I wasn’t alone. Ragnar let out a low growl, as he whirled, muscled bunched ready for an attack only to find myself face to face with a familiar figure.

Standing a few yards away was it – the same being that had been haunting me for a few months now. Since that incident with Lyla at the White Lake pack. Not only had I had several encounters with it, but It was also in my head. Always suggesting devious motives. All attempts to fight it with resources I know about and heard have proved abortive.

Hissing, I shifted back to my human form, ready for a fight as my expression hardened immediately.

“What do you want?” I demanded, glaring at the being. My voice was laced with irritation.

The being cocked its head, studying me with an unsettling calmness. Then he approached me, taking measured steps. I also noticed it had a thoughtful expression on its face.

“How long have you known about Lyla’s wolf?” it asked.

I hissed, stepping around him as I moved toward the forest. I had no time for games, not with Lyla’s scent growing fainter by the second plus the Harvest Moon would reach its peak any moment now, I had to reach Lyla first before anything.

As I moved, the being followed after me, clearly unperturbed by my silence.

“I didn’t know anything about that,” it continued, its voice carrying an edge of curiosity. “But your calmness… you knew, didn’t you?”

I stopped abruptly, spinning to face it. “Why do you care?”

It smiled faintly as if it was amused by my hostility. “Because I have Lyla’s interests at heart,” a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Not just that, she killed many of my Ferals and Trinax today. I had instructed them not to harm the priestesses, but merely delay them. I wasn’t expecting a two-tailed wolf to tear through them like they were nothing.”

“That’s life,” I said flatly, as I shrugged and tried to move past it again.

It blocked my path again, forcing me to stop. “Have you made your decision yet?”

I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. “You’re Xander, right? Or is it the Dark One?” I said mockingly. “Listen carefully – I’m not going to do what you want. You can ask me a thousand times, but my answer will always be No. I’m not joining your revenge scheme or whatever it is you’re doing.”

Xander’s lips curled into a grin, his teeth gleaming in the moonlight. “You say that now,” he said lightly. “But sooner or later, you’ll come looking for me.”

“Not on my life. Not in this lifetime,” I shot back.

His grin widened. “Fine,” he shrugged. “You can tell yourself that but when it happens, remember I already told you. Also, because of how much we share in common, let me tell you something…”

His tone shifted to a conspirational glee. “Tonight, Ramsey will make a bold stance. He’s going to announce to the world that he loves Lyla.”

I scoffed. “Ramsey? He won’t. Please, he’s too self-conscious to do something like that.”

“Want to bet?” Xander’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with mischief.

I glared at his outstretched him, gritting my teeth in annoyance.

Xander continued. “No matter how hard you try to take Lyla for yourself or claim her, she’ll never be yours, Nathan. You will never have her. But if you join me…” he leaned in closer, spreading his hands in magnanimous gesture. “… I would be kind enough to give her to you.”

“You mean join the suicide pogrom you have going on. Do you want me to help you steal the power of the White Moon Throne? You want me to assist you to rule my world and that I’ll be under you? You must be really insane. If it worked in the past, it won’t now… because your ideas are as stupid as you are.”

He didn’t say anything, he watched me for a minute before sighing. “Nathan, I never said anything about ruling you. I just want to create a world where everyone is equal.”

“That is not possible,” I said in a steely tone. “Nothing can be equal. Besides, this clickbait you have going on is really lame. I thought you had your act together. I can’t wait for Lyla to get back her powers and end you.”

“I intend not to be ended this time around,” he said in a smug tone. “The last time I was ended, I had to wait for 10,000 years. I can’t again. Anyways, you cannot marry, Lyla. Your father is against it, Luna Vanessa is against it. She clearly suggested you marry her daughter Clarissa.”

“You will not tell me who to marry, Xander,” I continued moving, stopping to sniff the air. In my human form, I was slower.

“When Lyla finds out you lied to her? What are you going to do about that? That day in the room, you lied to her, to cover up the truth… how long…”

“STAY AWAY FROM ME!” I turned to him, shouting. “Leave me alone. Stop following me around like some deranged gods. Are you truly the Dark ONE? Because I can smell your desperation from a mile afar.”

He paused, staring at me pointedly. After a few seconds, he disappeared back into the shadows, leaving me alone.

I took a deep breath, shaking off the lingering unease before shifting back to Ragnar, letting his senses guide me through the forest. Lyla’s trail grew stronger, leading me to deeper into the forest.

Eventually, I found her.

She lay at the base of a massive oak tree, still in her wolf form which was sprawled out in exhaustion. Her chest rose and fell with laboured breath and her white fur was matted with dirt and traces of blood. Her twin tails were curled around her like a shield.

As I approached her, her ears twitched and she lifted her head weakly to look at me. I changed back to my human form; I didn’t want to startle her. Her eyes flashed with recognition when she saw it was me and laid back down.

I knelt beside her, reaching out to stroke her fur gently. “It’s okay,” I murmured, with a low soothing voice. There were several cuts and bruises all over her body and she seemed to be nursing her hind legs.

In this state, she won’t be able to heal, unless she changes back into her human form. She nuzzled my hand with her nose at some point, staring at me with soulful eyes. As her breathing slowed, my free hand fished out the vial Nanny had given me.

Carefully, I uncorked it, the sharp scent of herbs wafting into the air. Carefully, I held it to her mouth.

“Drink,” I urged softly.

The wolf hesitated, her eyes flicking between the vial and my face. Then as if understanding my intent, she lapped at the poiton.

I glanced up at the sky, my heart pounding as I watched the moon inch closer to its fullest state. “Please,” I whispered, “Please let it work.”

Moments later, the transformation began. Fur receded, and bones shifted until Lyla lay unconscious in my arms. When the transformation was complete, I quickly shrugged off my jacket, draping it over her to shield her from the night’s chill.

I cradled her carefully, one hand supporting her head as her eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she gazed up at me with such tenderness that my heart clenched. After a while, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

“Ramsey,” she whispered. “Thank you.”

Before closing her eyes again. I stared down at her, as a storm of emotions swirled within me. I pulled her closer, trying to ignore the way my chest ached. Xander’s words echoed in my mind.

No matter how much you try to claim Lyla for yourself, you’ll never truly have her.

But as I held her, I made a silent vow. I didn’t need Xander or his twisted bargains. Whatever was in front, I would protect Lyla – even if it meant knowing she would never choose me. I would let my heart break into a thousand pieces before I let Ramsey have her.