The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 212

Chapter 212: Shattered trust and an arrest…
Lyla

As soon as the door closed behind Beta Jeremy and Nanny, Nathan came to me, his eyes were red and glassy with unshed tears and pain across his features. He looked completely broken and for the first time in forever, I didn’t recognize him –, this shattered version of himself had replaced strong Nathan I’d known had replaced the strong Nathan I’d known.

He closed the space between us, grabbing my shoulders, as his fingers trembled against my skin. “Did I ever mean anything to you?” His voice cracked.

I froze completely as I stared at him, not knowing what to do or say.

“It’s been only three days, Lyla. Three days since our wedding didn’t happen. Do you have any idea what I’ve been doing to try to fix it? To keep us together? How I’ve had to put up with your sister’s whining every fucking single night because I won’t be with her? And you…” his voice faltered and his grip on my shoulders tightened. “You’ve already tumbled into his bed.”

My breath caught in my throat. “Nath, it’s not like that…”

“Don’t you dare, Lyla,” he cut me off with a laugh that sent chills down my spine. He released my shoulders and began pacing the room like a caged animal.

“Gosh! I’m so stupid!” He threw his head backwards laughing like a madman. “Nathan Tanner, you’re so fucking stupid!” he growled, gritting his teeth before he turned to me again. “Do you know how much I didn’t want to believe it? When I was told Ramsey spent the night in our pack? At the same hotel room, you were lodged, on the same floor, in your fucking room…”

A tear rolled down his eyes. He marched to the mini bar and picked up a decanter with a drink, smashing it on the wall opposite him. I flinched, taking a step backwards. I’ve never seen him angry.

He stalked back to me, his eyes were brimming with sorrow and rage at the same time. They saw him, Lyla. They fucking saw him leaving your hotel room. Now, I cannot trust you.”

“Nathan, please,” I tried to interject, but he wouldn’t let me speak.

“Did you fuck him again?” he pointed his index finger at me. “Of course, you did. Why else would he leave your room the next morning? If you wanted to be with a man so much, I am here, Lyla. My body burns for you, craves your touch, wants you…”

“Nathan, I tried again. “If you can just listen to me for a second.

But he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to hear anything I was saying. ”

“What does he have that I cannot give you? Tell me, Lyla… what does he have?”

“Nathan, you’re twisting this!” I snapped, tired of being shut up. His eyes widened as he turned to me. “Yes!” I continued, giving him a pointed stare. “I never asked you to be loyal to me. Hell, I wasn’t, except of course when we were together.”

“Here we go again!” he threw his hands in the air, in exasperation.

“But that’s the truth. I didn’t ask you not to perform your marital vows. Why are you trying to guilt trip me into thinking all of this is my fault when you were there when everything happened? And you made that choice…”

“I did it to save you!” he yelled. “They would have taken you away and locked you up. I did it because I wanted to save you.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have, Nathan. I don’t need saving neither did I ask you to save me. I was ready for whatever was going to happen.”

“So, you expect me to sit back, do nothing and watch you be taken away?”

“I am not your responsibility, Nathan. I understand you want to help me and all but I am not your responsibility. You don’t owe me anything. You keep doing things for me, knowing fully well that I’d never be able to pay back. I appreciate everything you’ve done but…”

“I love you!” he thundered, looming over my face. “I L-O-V-E you, Lyla. How else am I supposed to say this to be heard? I am not doing this because I am loyal. I want to protect you, to keep you safe…” his voice cracked again and a tear rolled down his cheeks.

“Lyla, please!” he cried “I love you. Can’t you see? Can’t you see that I want to be with you? What else do you want me to do? How can I convince you? Tell me, and I’ll do anything.”

I stared at him for a minute, suddenly feeling weak. I cared about Nathan, but I wasn’t crazy about him. If he was put side by side, with Ramsey, I would choose Ramsey without a second thought.

“You’re married to my sister, Nathan,” I said softly. “I love Clarissa, we’re not the best of friends but…”

“Don’t change the topic,” he stalked closer, his eyes flashing. “Clarissa doesn’t care about you that much. You should look at for yourself first.”

I sighed. “Nathan, I shouldn’t even be talking to you because you deceived me just like Nanny, my father – practically everyone! You joined them in keeping me in the dark. You have no right to stand here and judge me.”

“That’s not what we’re talking about, Lyla!” he growled. “Can you for once truly acknowledge my feelings?”

I took a step back. “I cannot acknowledge your feelings, Nathan. You have a mate and I’ve moved on. You should too. Come to terms with it, or do you expect me to chase after you like some fool.”

His expression twisted with frustration. “I expect you to fight for what we had,” he said.

I shook my head; the entire charade was making me exhausted. “It’s already a lost cause, Nath. I cannot fight for something that doesn’t exist anymore.”

I tried to turn away, but before I could, Nathan grabbed my arm and spun me around, pinning me against the wall his body pressing against mine, as he tried to kiss me. I struggled against his grip, panic exploding through my body as I tried to dodge his lips but his grip was too strong.

As we struggled, his breathing became heavy, and his lips brushed dangerously close to mine. I fought harder, hitting his chest, and twisting like a snake. Finally, he let me go. I stumbled away from him, my chest heaving. Without thinking, I walked up to him and slapped him hard across the face.

He didn’t flinch, instead, he sneered and said in a calm tone. “You belong to me, Lyla. I’d rather die than let anyone else have you.”

The dangerous glint in his eyes made my blood run cold. It was an unsettling mixture of obsession and something darker. This wasn’t the Nathan I knew – or perhaps it was and I’d been blind all along. Memories began to flood back, pieces of a puzzle I’d never wanted to complete.

How he always held grudges, how he loved talking about revenge.

I remembered the day at First Training school when I was Eight and Nathan was Eleven, he had pushed a boy off a branch of a tree because the boy and his friends had mocked me. I’d seen it happen but I’d been too afraid to say anything Back then, Nathan had simply said,

“It did it for you.”

Now the dots are connected.

Slowly, I backed away from him, Ramsey’s warning ringing in my mind.

I could see Nathan, clearly now. the darkness that had always lurked beneath his protective nature, the possessiveness I’d mistaken for love.

He started toward me again and I shrieked, my heart was pounding wildly in my chest as I braced myself for the worst. But instead of forcing himself on me again, he trapped me against the wall, placing both hands beside my head.

He leaned in and sniffed my neck, running his tongue along my neck in a way that made my skin crawl. I remained still. I was terrified to move.

When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with lust, sending fresh waves of fear through my body.

“You’re forbidden from returning to the human world and you will not see Ramsey again, ever. Or else…” he trailed off as if suddenly realizing he was acting out of character.

I stood there watching as he backed away.

Before he could continue speaking, a heavy knock shook the door. Before Nathan could go see who it was, the door was pushed in, hanging by its hinges. Immediately, Nathan shoved me behind him, growling at the men.

The newcomers filed into the room, looking as if they got intel that Ferals were here. My eyes widened in recognition. They were the warriors from the White Mountain Region – the special forces that had arrested me before.

Their leader came forward, holding out a seal which he flashed in front of Nathan.

“Alpha Tanner, by the order of the White Mountain Council, we’re here to arrest Lyla Woodland. Anyone that interferes with the arrest would be charged with treason.”