The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 204

Chapter 204: Midnight madness…
Nathan

The wedding aftermath…

I lay on the matrimonial bed with Clarissa snoring gently beside me.

It could have been Lyla. It still felt like a dream that I had come this close to making her mine. I stared blankly at the ceiling as the shadows danced across it in the dim light. The events of the failed wedding kept playing in my mind like a twisted movie, each scene fanning the flames of my anger.

The silk sheets felt suffocating against my skin, and it didn’t help that Clarissa was beside me. I had tried my best to get out of sharing a room with her but the elders had insisted, saying it was tradition.

What was worse, Lyla didn’t want to hear a word I was saying afterwards. She’d wanted to leave and return to her old life. She didn’t try to put up a fight, not even in the slightest bit and that pained me more than anything.

Perhaps, if she had shown some resistance, I’m sure the elders would have come to a different conclusion or may have allowed our will to prevail.

Finally giving up on trying to sleep, I let out a frustrated growl, throwing back the covers as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I stalked to French doors, threw them open, and walked into the balcony. The cool night air hit my bare chest, but I barely noticed because my eyes were fixed on the full moon hanging low and heavy in the skies.

Its silvery light cast long shadows across the pack grounds.

I tilted my head, waving one of my hands at it while the other hand gripped the marble railing until my knuckles turned white. “You’re pushing me to the wall, aren’t you? Always watching, always judging. You’re not different from the rest of them, you know.”

Then I let out a bitter laugh, “It seems the entire Woodland family was created to make my blood boil. Lyla, Logan, Vanessa and now I’m stuck with my least favourite. Is this you trying to teach me a lesson?”

“You should have listened to me.”

A familiar voice filtered into my mind. I stiffened, it had been silent since the Harvest Moon saga, so I was surprised to hear it speaking to me again.

“I don’t want to hear it,” I muttered under my breath but the voice continued.

“You know what your real problem is, you had the perfect opportunity to claim Lyla for yourself. She could have been yours tonight and every other night. You might have been too tired and sleepy from having a fill of her but you hesitated. You let her slip through your fingers because you refused to listen to me.”

I scoffed, running a hand through my hair before crossing my arms and leaning against the balcony railing. “At least I took your advice about the blood oaths. I have all the Alphas of the South and the West bound to me now.”

A cruel smile played at the corners of my mouth as I remembered the ritual, the way they’d all pledged their loyalty, not knowing the true extent of what they’d agreed to. “That’s more than you can say.”

The voice chuckled darkly. “Ah, yes, the blood oaths. A clever move, I’ll give you that. But you and I both know that power is only half the battle. You want more power, don’t you? You want revenge?”

“Just because you think you can read my thoughts doesn’t mean I’ll play your game,” I retorted.

“But I know exactly what you’re planning, and I’m more than willing to help you take your revenge. After all, what are friends for?”

I stood in silence for a long time, watching the moonlight dance across the forest canopy. The rage I’d been suppressing suddenly burst out of me.

“I hate how they’re all acting like nothing happened like they didn’t offend me!” I snarled. “Those Alphas just stood there and watched while that bitch and her bastard brothers from the West ruined everything for me. My special day – destroyed!”

I clenched the rails tighter. “I used to think Alpha Logan was my only enemy. Now? Now I have a long list.”

“That’s it,” the voice purred, clearly pleased by my outburst. “Why do you keep suppressing what you feel? You’ve been bottling all that anger for far too long, Nathan. You have nothing left to lose, after all. Let it all out. Embrace the darkness within you.”

“Shut up!” I snapped and for once, the voice obeyed.

I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly. For a moment, I was quiet, letting the cool breeze wash over me. Before I exclaimed again.

“I hate them all! Every single one of them – those Alphas, the Woodland family except Lyla and everyone who dared to undermine me. They’ll regret it.”

“That’s the spirit. Embrace it. You’re stronger when you let go of your inhibitions. When you stop caring about their opinions.”

“I will still make Lyla mine,” I whispered. “No matter what it takes she belongs to me.”

“How do you suppose that would happen? She doesn’t care about meeting you anymore, Nathan and I know from first-hand experience that the more you push yourself to them, the angrier they get and most times, that anger turns into resentment. I suggest you give her space.

“Space?” he chuckled dryly. “I’ve given Lyla all of that and for the longest time. I cannot spend the rest of my life waiting for her to make up her mind about us. She belongs with me and with no one else and I will get her, no matter who stands in my way.”

After the voice went silent, a faint sound of movement behind me caught my attention. My lips curved into a knowing smile. I didn’t need to turn around to know what it was. Clarissa’s scent of Jasmine and rain filled the air. For a moment, I wondered how much she had heard, how much she understood.

I turned my head slightly; my voice was calm but tinged with annoyance. “Clarissa, you can stop sneaking around now. I know you’re there.”