The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 213

Chapter 213: Big reveal …
Lyla

Nathan growled, stepping towards their leader. His pupils had blackened.

“Why? On what grounds?” he demanded, still shielding me.

“We do not owe you an explanation, Alpha Nathan,” their leader replied coldly. Then he side-stepped Nathan, and came toward me, preparing to read the arrest warrant but I held up my hand.

I stepped out from behind Nathan, my head held high despite the trembling in my hands. “There’s no need to read out the arrest grounds,” I said. “I’ll go with you willingly.”

Nathan turned to me, staring at me with disbelief. “Lyla, no…”

I cut him off with a glance. I was better off going to White Moon Pack than staying here with Nathan’s erratic behaviour. Perhaps, this was Ramsey’s ploy to get me out. I had mentioned to him earlier what Nathan had done. Perhaps, this was his way of rescuing me.

As the men surrounded me, cuffing my feet and arms, I caught one last glimpse of Nathan’s face. The possessive rage I saw there confirmed what I now knew with certainty – the man I had liked was gone if he had ever truly existed at all.

They bundled me and dragged me out of the house into their vehicle.

The journey to the White Mountain Region passed in tense silence. I sat at the back of the armoured vehicle, surrounded by stoic warriors who refused to meet my gaze or answer my questions.

Through the tinted windows, I watched the familiar route that should have led to White Moon Pack where Ramsey’s authority would shield me, instead, they took an unexpected turn down a winding path leading directly to the White Mountain Council building.

Since I’d been there before, the roads were familiar.

“This is not the road to White Moon Pack. Where are you taking me too?” I half rose from my seat, wishing my hands were free.

“Sit down!” their leader said roughly “We were asked to bring you in like a thief. Don’t make me change my mind.”

“The Lycan Leader will not let this pass if he knows you guys are maltreating me. Let me go this instant.”

“We do not answer to him, Miss Woodland,” the leader said again. There was a sneer on his face. “And I won’t tell you about keeping quiet next time. I’ll take you out myself.”

Fear gripped my heart at his threat also surprised at the confirmation that they did not answer to Ramsey confirming my suspicions that he wasn’t aware that I was being taken. I decided to play it cool and not show this was getting to me.

Soon, we arrived at the imposing gates of the White Council and from the car, I saw a handful of elders waiting at the entrance. Their robes billowing in the breeze. I recognized several faces among them – Elder Eldric – Ramsey’s grandfather and Elder Thorne, Cassidy’s father.

This is not good.

When the vehicle stopped, I was led towards the cluster of elders. They all had blank expressions and judging eyes as I wobbled towards them. Elder Eldric was the first person to approach me., his weathered face, reminding me of Ramsey was set in hard lines.

“The only reason you’re not languishing in a dungeon somewhere is because of what your father did for me. Otherwise…”

“You mean how he saved your life?” I fired back. I wanted to start with greetings which was the expected thing to do but if I hadn’t been whisked like a criminal to come meet them, perhaps, I would have used that approach.

“What am I doing here?” I continued; my voice stronger than I felt. “Why was I arrested?”

A cold smile played at the corners of his mouth. “You’ll find out tomorrow when the council gathers. But I’ll give you a hint – you’re the reason the White Moon Throne wedding was cancelled.”

I stared at him in disbelief my mouth falling open. “I had nothing to do with that,” I said firmly.

Elder Eldric scoffed, crossing his arms. “Don’t lie to me, Woodland. We know the Lycan Leader spent the night in your hotel room.”

Heat rose to my cheeks – not from shame, but from anger. “And how exactly is that my fault?” I demanded taking a step towards him. “Ramsey is the Lycan Leader. He showed up in my room in the middle of the night. What was I supposed to do? Turn him away? Tell him to go to hell?”

Elder Eldric’s face darkened as he growled. “Try not to seduce him!”

A humourless laugh escaped my lips as my eyes widened from the accusation coupled with the absurdity of his claim.

“Seduce him? It was the other way around, but I’m not about to have this conversation with you like this,” I lifted my chin meeting his gaze squarely. “If you’re going to blame me for stopping a wedding then you should have your grandson arrested too. He came to me, not the other way around.”

Elder Eldric’s face flushed to red, his hands trembling as he pointed towards the guards. “Take her to the Holding cells,” he barked. “A few hours in there will make her regret ever living.”

Two guards hesitated for a moment, glancing at each other as if questioning the severity of his orders. But a glare from Eldric was all it took for them to comply.

I raised my chin defiantly as two warriors flanked me, grabbing my arms. I held my head high; I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing my fear even though my heart was pounding against my ribs.

The Council might think they could break my spirit with cold cells and threats, but they didn’t understand – I already survived betrayal from everyone I’d ever trusted. What more could they possibly do to me?

“I am the Moonsinger, Elder Eldric and I will not forget what you’ve done today.”

“A Moonsinger without her powers is not worthy to be called one,” he retorted. “Ramsey is not here to save you again.”

“I can save myself,” I clapped back, loving the curious look that entered his eyes. “Just you wait and see.”

The warriors led me through the dark stone corridors. With each step into the Council’s fortress, my resolve straightened.

They could lock me away, but they couldn’t change the truth. Ramsey had chosen me, had come to me and I would not allow the Council to paint me as the villain in this story.

As the cell door clanged shut behind me, I sank onto the hard bench against the wall and closed my eyes, thinking of Ramsey, wondering if he knew yet what had happened. The White Mountain Council were known to be ruthless in their judgement. They were a stand-alone body that could make decisions for the Lycan Leader.

Was this what they wanted to do? Elder Eldric clearly wanted to punish someone for the failed wedding alliance and they’d chosen me as their scapegoat.

It was ridiculous to blame me for the wedding’s cancellation as if I had orchestrated the entire situation. Ramsey’s actions were his own, yet I was being punished for them.

As the hours ticked by, I couldn’t stop thinking about my situation and doubt began to creep in. What if Ramsey couldn’t intervene? Or changes his mind. What if the council decided to make an example of me? I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I couldn’t afford to let fear consume me.

“I can break us out!” Nymeris’s voice sounded in my head out of nowhere, startling me.

“What?” I quietened my thoughts to hear her properly. “What did you say?”

“I said, I can break us out. If you want though.”

“And what happens next?” I sighed. “I don’t want to be on the run like a criminal, Nymeris. There must be another way other than breaking out. I am trying to form an identity and I don’t want to seem like a fraud.”

She was quiet for a minute and then I heard her sigh.

“Ramsey!” she muttered. “Everything’s in his hand.”

“Everything’s in his hand? What do you mean?”