The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 211

Chapter 211: The shadow of secrets…
Lyla

My chest tightened. “You can see the future?”

To me, Nanny has always been, Nanny – the woman who spoiled me silly and loves me more than my mother. I’ve never associated her with anything so spiritual as this. Even having this conversation with her right now, felt strange to me.

“In a way!” she muttered quietly. “It’s just clairvoyance for important things that want to happen and if I’m bonded to someone, it’s very easy for me to know when something wants to happen to that person.”

“Then you knew everything that was going to happen to me? Did you see them beforehand? Why didn’t you tell me that I’ll be dumped on my wedding day and…”

She reached out and touched my hand, stopping me. “I can’t…” she murmured.

“What do you mean? You just said…”

“You’re blocked off of everyone, Lyla. I can’t bond with you to that level to be able to have visions about you. The only time I can see what goes on with you is through some sort of ritual that saps energy and is very tedious, other than that, I can’t,” she shrugged.

“Not even a thing?”

“Not even a thing.” She nodded. “Even Terra, who can read people’s thoughts if she wants to, says you’re blocked off. I thought it was just me but it’s the same for everyone. But I think, Mother Liora did have a glimpse because when I went to the temple, way before we came back during that time you had the thing with…” she gave me a known look. “You know who…”

I nodded. She was talking about Xander.

“She already knew of everything that would happen and about the stars on your spine. Still, she couldn’t bond herself to you in a way that would help her sense you. But we think the only people who can do that is…” she lowered her voice, sneaking a glance at Beta Jeremy who was swirling his drink in the air with a faraway look in his eyes.

“Nathan and Ramsey.”

“Both of them?”

“Yes, but the one you’ve been most intimate with. The only reason why Mother Liora had allowed Nathan to help you when you you were trapped was because he didn’t have deep emotional ties to you as Ramsey…”

I scoffed. “What are you talking about, Nathan loves me. He would kill for me.”

Nanny shrugged. “I don’t know, dear. I’m only repeating what Mother Liora told me. I couldn’t succeed because I had a deeper emotional bind with you. I am your mother and…” she trailed off again, averting her gaze.

It felt so strange for her to say those words and I could feel awkwardness creeping in. Quickly, I changed the topic.

“So, you saved, Mother Liora that day of the Harvest Moon?”

“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “But it only delayed the inevitable.”

“Still, it must be so sad knowing that she would die… I’m so sorry, Nan,” I murmured.

She shook her head. “It’s fine, baby.” Though she sounded nonchalant, I didn’t miss the sadness in her voice. “She was very old, Lyla – very much. She’s seen plenty of Lycan Leaders – she saw the three Lycan Leaders from White Lake Pack, saw Ramsey’s father when he was the Lycan Leader and then coronated Ramsey too. She outlived her predecessor.”

“You were close to her, Nanny,” I continued softly. “It must still hurt.”

“Well, it does,” she shrugged “But the truth is, I already cried when I saw the vision and mourned in my own way but right now, I don’t feel grief. Not yet at least but I know it will come. For now, it’s … numbness.”

I nodded but wasn’t comfortable with how Nanny was trying to be casual about the whole thing. I also saw the sorrow in her eyes and I knew she was trying to be brave again.

“Don’t worry, she lived a full life and served her purpose. But thank you, baby, for your comforting words,” she added as if to justify her casual words.

My mind went back to the bottle of anti-depressant I’d found among her belongings. Was this one of the signs? I mean, I’ve had it rough a lot of times growing up but for some reason, I always managed to recover quickly – all thanks to Nanny, of course. So, I didn’t experience full-blown depression.

But I know the nonchalant façade she was putting on meant something deeper.

“What happens now?” I asked gently, hoping to steer the conversation into something less personal.

Nanny sighed and leaned back against the couch. “The mourning period for a High Priestess lasts for 21 days. After that, a new one – the predecessor is coronated. After the coronation, the second phase of the mourning would begin and stretch for a year. It would be filled with rituals, and ceremonies and ends with cleansing rites to ensure the spiritual balance of the temple is maintained. You know… something like that. It’s a lot and I don’t want to bore you.”

“That doesn’t sound boring,” I chuckled softly. “I want to know more. So … will you go back and resume your duties? I heard you are the next High Priestess.”

I felt her stiffen slightly as she lowered her gaze, staring at the floor. “No.” she shook her head, then met my gaze. “I’m not qualified – I am qualified by all standards of training, the silver mark and all but I am unworthy to take her place as High Priestess. I have a daughter which I don’t regret ever birthing, I’ve been with several men. I am not pure, Lyla. I’m sure they’ll figure something out.”

Her tone was clipped and I recognized it as a cue to drop the subject that she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Still, my heart ached for her. Before I could say more, the door opened and Nathan strode in.

He muttered a greeting to his dad – Beta Jeremy, and ignored both me and Nanny barely sparing us as much as a glance as he headed toward the staircase.

I couldn’t help but stare at him, wondering what was with the attitude.

Suddenly, he stopped mid-stride and turned, his gaze locking onto me. “Lyla,” he muttered “Come with me.”

The room fell into a tense silence.

Beta Jeremy immediately rose from his seat, his tone was cold. “Nathan, don’t forget you’re married. You can’t just order your ex-fiancee to your bedroom.”

Nathan’s jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with defiance as he turned to his father. “I need to discuss something with her,” he replied evenly.

Beta Jeremy crossed his arms. “Then discuss it here, in the sitting room. I and Miriam would leave.”

Nathan’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “You’re comfortable with being with your ex, spending the same night in the same space, being in the same room as her but I can’t speak to mine?”

His words hit like a lightning bolt, leaving the room frozen in awkward silence. But everything made sense to me now. Nathan’s statement explained the picture I’d found earlier. So, the tension between Nanny and Beta Jeremy was because they were once together?

But that also felt like a puzzle to me. Nanny lived all her life in the temple. How did they date?

Beta Jeremy finally broke the silence. “Say whatever you like,” he muttered. “But if you take Lyla upstairs, I’ll call Clarissa to join the discussion. The more, the merrier.”

Nathan’s gaze darkened as he stared down at his father, the air crackling between them.

Then he turns back to me. “C’mon on, Lyla. Let’s go,” he held out his hand.

Beta Jeremy growled. “I’m warning you, Nathan. Don’t test my patience. You have a mate now and I will not stand here and watch you disrespect her and your sacred vows.”

Feeling the growing storm, I raised my hand, in an attempt to calm both men. “Your father is right, Nathan,” I said carefully. Besides, I’m with Ramsey now. I don’t think he’d like it if he heard I was in a closed space with you, even though…”

I trailed off, realizing what I’d just revealed.

The room descended into an even heavier silence.

Nathan was staring at me with hurt in his eyes. The anger that had been simmering in them moments ago, had been replaced with disbelief and vulnerability I hadn’t seen before.

Before I could explain, Beta Jeremy muttered under his breath but loud enough for everyone present to hear.

“Like mother, like daughter,” before scoffing and moving over to Nanny’s side. She hadn’t said a word since the exchange.

“C’mon on Miriam,” he muttered.

Nanny hesitated, her eyes lingering on me before she allowed herself to be guided out of the room.