The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The edge of freedom…
Lyla

A few days later.

I wandered aimlessly through the healing grounds of the White Moon Pack. The wound on my back still throbbed with every step I took, but I had grown stronger in the last few days. It was also a constant reminder of the chaos that had brought me here.

I drew the shawl I had thrown over my shoulders around me as I continued to walk. The air was crisp with the scent of pine and wet earth, a reminder that the world outside here was waiting for me. A world I once belonged to before everything here had changed me.

The healers had agreed I was strong enough to return home today, although I was told I still needed a lot of rest and to avoid doing strenuous activities until I healed perfectly. But it was the wound in my heart that truly pained me.

Despite everything, I found myself still missing Ramsey, my ex-mate. No matter how much I tried to push him from my thoughts, he crept in. Though our bond was severed, it still felt like lint clinging to my skin. I could still feel the burn of his rejection and the emptiness that followed.

I was his mate once. He hadn’t loved me, that much was clear, but at least he had never lied to me or given me false hope. There were no pretences, just the harsh truth and his rejection. In a way, that had been more comforting than being betrayed later on.

My thoughts suddenly drifted to the dream I had the day before I woke up from the coma. I could still recall every vivid detail in that dream, but no matter how much I tried to figure out what I could mean, nothing made sense, and I still felt unsettled, like the dream was trying to communicate something to me.

“I’ll ask Nanny,” I whispered to myself, making a mental note to bring it up as soon as I returned to the human world. My Nanny was an expert in interpreting strange dreams, especially all the ones that used to haunt me when I slept.

The Pack Healers and their Helpers had shown me more kindness than I’d ever experienced in a year, except for my Nanny and Nathan. But despite it all, there was a lingering feeling that I didn’t belong here. Here, I was an outsider, a girl with no pack and no family to call my own. It was time to go back to my life and forget everything that had happened here.

I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t realize how far from the healers’ quarters I’d wandered until I found myself at the edge of the pack lands, close to where pack warriors were patrolling.

Just as I turned to retrace my footsteps, one of the warriors caught sight of me and smirked. He nudged at the man beside him, and they both turned their attention toward me, their gazes mocking as their lips curled into a sneer.

“Well, well,” the first one called out, sauntering towards me. “If it isn’t the shameless wolfless deviant from the gala, what are you doing here? When I heard the rumours, I thought they were false.”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment and anger. I opened my mouth to retort, but before I could, two more warriors approached.

“Maybe Alpha Ramsey just thought she was pretty enough to keep around,” one of them leered, his eyes running the length of my body suggestively. “Brought her home to…enjoy himself.”

The others laughed, the sound grating on my nerves. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out, knowing I was outnumbered. I clamped on the anger that simmered on my chest. Fighting would only make things worse. These men were warriors – strong, capable and dangerous. I was no match for them.

“I was just leaving,” I said through gritted teeth, turning to go.

As I turned to leave, hoping the banter would stop, one of them grabbed my wrist, his grip painfully tight. Another placed his hand on my waist, the touch made my skin crawl.

“Don’t be in such a hurry,” he whispered into my ears, his breath hot against my skin. “Why don’t you stay and have a little fun with us? We’ll treat you so well that you don’t have to worry about your pheromones disturbing everyone.”

“Let me go!” I cried, struggling against them, panic rising in my chest. I tried to yank my wrist free but their grips were too strong. My heart pounded with fear as the warriors closed in on me. I was about to scream when a furious growl split the air, shaking the ground beneath us.

The sound was so filled with rage that it sent a chill down my spine. The warriors froze, they seemed to know who it was. They turned towards the source, their eyes wide with terror.

It was Ramsey.

In a blur, he yanked the warrior holding both my wrist and waist captive and slammed him to the ground with such speed and strength, I’ve never seen before. The warrior let out a pained grunt as he hit the earth with a loud thud. But Ramsey wasn’t satisfied. He grabbed the other two, lifting them by the collar and tossed them aside as if they weighed nothing.

“How dare you?” he snarled, his voice husky with fury. “How dare you lay your hands on her?”

The rest of the warriors, who had been watching in shocked silence, scrambled back with fearful expressions. They knew better than to challenge their Alpha when he was in this state.

And then he turned to me, where I was sprawled on the ground – it felt like the gala night all over again and for a brief moment, I saw something in his eyes – concern, maybe even guilt. But before I could say anything, a car skidded to a stop nearby and Nathan leapt out, his face was filled with concern.

“Lyla!” he called out rushing towards me. “Are you alright? What happened?”

Still shaken from everything, I nodded weakly. “I… I’m fine.”

Nathan’s eyes flicked towards Ramsey, then back to me. “Did he try to touch you?”

“No!” I shook my head. “It was the warriors – he came before they could do anything.”.

“They will be disciplined,” Ramsey finally said, his voice cold and formal. “I apologize for their behaviour. It won’t happen again.”

Nathan lifted me, his hands circling my shoulders protectively. “It shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” he said glaring at Ramsey. “What kind of warriors prey on innocent women?

Ramsey’s jaw clenched but he ignored Nathan and turned to me. “The Healer said you’re strong enough to go home. Why are you still here?”

At that moment, I wanted to scream… like just falling to the ground and screaming my lungs out. Every time I meet Ramsey, he shows me another level of cruelty higher than the one he showed me last time.

I found my voice at last, anger giving me strength. “I was about to leave, Alpha and you don’t need to worry, after today, we will never see each other again.” Then I turned to Nathan, “Did you bring it?”

He nodded and from his pocket pulled out two bunches of money which he took and placed them at Ramsey’s feet.

“What is the meaning of this?” Ramsey growled.

“I can pay my own bills, Alpha Ramsey. C’mon Nathan, let’s go. I don’t belong here.”

As we walked away, I fought the urge to look back as I climbed into the passenger seat. Soon, we left the White Moon Pack lands and for the first time in the last few minutes, I sighed in relief.

Ramsey had saved me, again. But why? He had rejected me and cast me aside like I meant nothing to him. So why did he keep showing up, protecting me?

The question lingered in my mind until Nathan suddenly asked. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

I shook my head flashing him a warm smile. “No, I’m fine. Just… shaken up I guess. And thank you for the money, I’ll pay you back as soon as you can.”

“You don’t have to, Lyla. I’m just glad that you don’t owe him anymore. What will you do now?” he asked me, his gaze flickering between me and the road.

“I’m going to leave, Nathan,” I said with a painful smile “I’ll never fit in here, no matter how much I try. With humans, it’s easier and better. The only thing they call me is a freak and that’s all. I can walk around without fear.”

“Lyla… are you sure?” his voice sounded strained. “I can talk to your parents…”

I shook my head slowly “You know how it is with them. It won’t work and I don’t want you going through all that trouble for me. Also, I need to stay far from Ramsey. I thought not having a wolf would make the rejection less painful but it hurts.”

“I’m sorry!” Nathan sighed “I wish I could take the pain away.”

“You have done enough, already,” I smiled at him. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

As the car sped down the road, away from The White Mountain region, away from Ramsey; I knew that no matter how far we went, the bond between us – fractured as it was – still tied us together.