The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Twenty years ago 2
Miriam (Nanny)

One week later, I got a summon from the Priestess Council.

I moved through the halls of the temple towards the Grand hall where the council had gathered. The Moon Temple was quiet, as it always was, save for the quiet prayers and chants from Moon worshippers. But today, the silence felt oppressive.

When I entered the hall, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me.

Seven women, fourteen pairs of eyes stared at me from where they were perched on their seats, but it wasn’t the pleasant smile I had seen on their faces, three months ago, when I was announced as the future High Priestess, the one bearing the Silver mark. It was pure disdain like they’d rather be anywhere else than in this hall with me.

The other priestess sat in a half-circle with High Priestess Liora in the centre, her face was unreadable.

“Miriam!” one of the elder priestesses broke the silence, her voice was devoid of emotions. “Step forward and kneel,” she commanded pointing to the red circle in the middle of the hall.

I nodded and complied, kneeling on the cold stone floor. This was the first time, I was getting summoned before the council. In all my Nineteen years in the temple, I’ve never had any reason to be called by the council.

I used to be a model student – the kind all the priestess recommended and wished other students would be like. Now, I stood before them not because I had fought, bickered or neglected one of my duties – but because I had committed a grave crime. I had done what no one else had been able to do.

“Child!” another priestess continued “Do you know why you’ve been called here.”

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.

“Tell us what you told Mother Liora,” she said quietly.

I lowered my head, shame coating my cheeks. “I…I told her I was with child.”

“But how can you be with child when you took vows of purity, to remain untainted by the desires of the world? Was it not months ago, that you pledged yourself to the goddess and her service? How are you then with child?”

My hands trembled on my lap. “I – I’m sorry,” I whispered. I never meant for it to happen.”

“So, if you hadn’t gotten pregnant, would you have continued the act?” One of the priestesses scoffed. “How can you be so worldly and have the silver mark? I think the goddess was wrong about you.”

“Tania!” Mother Liora called out the Priestess who had just spoken. “Do not play the role of the goddess. Let her be the final judge.”

“I’m sorry, Mother!” Priestess Tania sighed and turned back to me. “Tell us, how did it happen?”

My head snapped up as I turned to stare at the woman. I could see they all had curiosity dancing in their eyes. Surely, they didn’t mean I should describe everything I did with that Alpha.

“He… He touched me!” I stared lowering my gaze.

“Where?” Priestess Tania asked, arching her brow at me. “Tell us in clear detail how he touched you. We need to know if you’re truly pregnant or not.” My eyes sought Mother Liora but she remained silent.

“I… I haven’t bled for two full moons. I’m pregnant.”

“There could be lots of reasons that a woman cannot bleed, Miriam and since we’ve decided to make sure this news doesn’t go beyond this hall, we have to make sure you’re indeed pregnant. Besides, our healers know nothing about a woman getting pregnant and we cannot risk going to someone outside. So, tell us child.”

I closed my eyes, trying to summon the courage to speak.

“I –” I began, with a shaky voice. “It wasn’t planned.” I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look up to the women. The faces of the older priestess were impassive, some cold, others laced with curiosity and quiet sympathy. But none of them could protect me now. Not even Mother Liora.

“I met him when at the Annual Moon Goddess Worship ceremony. He was with the entourage that had come with the Lycan Leader.”

“He was one of the warriors? Servants?” Priestess Tania asked. She seemed like the main interrogator for today.

“No!” I shook my head. “I’m sorry but I cannot disclose his rank. It would do us no good!”

A collective scoff rippled through the women, as they all stared at me with disbelief in their eyes.

“Are you in love with this man that you cannot reveal his identity? You shouldn’t protect him at a time like this!” Priestess Khaliah said softly. She was Mother Liora’s bosom friend.

I wanted to tell them who the Alpha was and his name. I could even sketch out his face if they wanted for easy identification but I had committed two sins in one. I had lain with a man that was mated.

If I revealed that, they might go into a heart attack.

“I do not love him, Priestess Khaliah,” I turned to her “I just do not want to talk about him.”

The other Priestesses wanted to complain but Mother Liora shook her head quietly, an indication for them to let it go. So, I continued.

“I took some healing potions to the guest quarters the next day, that was the first time we met face to face. I felt drawn to him.”

“Drawn?” Priestess Shea scoffed as she eyed me suspiciously. “Are you suggesting the Goddess led you to him?”

I shook my head quickly. “No, no. It wasn’t the goddess. It was something else… something within me. I wanted to leave after dropping off the potion but… I couldn’t. I felt weak.”

“He must have been a handsome man then,” one of the younger priestesses who just joined recently, Zahra laughed, drawing a glare from the others.

“He is handsome,” I confirmed her words. “He asked me my name and I told him who I was, that I was a servant to the Moon Goddess. But he… he didn’t care. He said I was beautiful and was like no other woman he had ever seen.”

“Those simple words made you fall?” Priestess Tania scoffed. “If you wanted to be praised for your looks, you would have come to us every day and we’ll remind you. Why did you fall for those cheap words.”

I couldn’t answer. I didn’t know what to say.

“What happened next?” Mother Liora spoke suddenly, prompting me to continue.

“We took a walk into the forest… it was evening and he made me shed my robes so no one would know I was a Sigma. I walked with him. We talked, and…” my voice faltered again as a tear rolled down my cheeks what we had had been so beautiful. So much, that I couldn’t describe it with words.

“If you only walked and talked with him, it means you didn’t get pregnant,” Priestess Tania observed. “Did something else happen?”

I nodded, choking on a sob. “We met in secret after that. Several times. I knew it was wrong, but he … he made me feel things I had never felt before. He would kiss me and run his hands all over my body. I liked it!” I admitted quietly. “I didn’t want him to stop.”

My fingers trembled as I clutched the folds of my robe. “One night, on the night of the Full Moon, after I had assisted Mother with the ceremony, I slipped into the forest and I met him. It felt different that night,” I took a shaky breath. “He touched my hand and my… breasts. I didn’t stop him.”

The priestess shifted in their seats.

“We kissed!” I admitted. “And then… we … he… I couldn’t stop it like before. I didn’t want to stop it.” My face flushed with shame. “He took off my clothes and his clothes and he put himself inside of me…” I trailed off.

Most of the women’s face was red, especially, Priestess Zahra. The hall was silent, no one spoke for a long moment until Priestess Khaliah broke it.

“She’s pregnant!” she sighed and turned to me. “You knew the consequences of such an act, Miriam. How could you break them so easily.”

“I didn’t mean to,” I stammered. “I thought I could control myself but I was wrong. I know I’ve betrayed the goddess and all of you. I’m truly sorry.”

“Who is the father of this child?” Priestess Tania suddenly asked, her voice was colder now.

“I – I cannot say,” I whispered, maintaining my stance.

“You cannot say?” her eyes narrowed. “Or will not?”

I didn’t answer, I continued staring at the ground.

“Mother!” Priestess Tania called out to Mother Liora. “What if he had taken advantage of her? She’s only a child… we need to know who he is. He needs to be held responsible for this mess.”

“She has refused to tell us his name. We’ll not force it out of her.” Mother Liora said quietly, her gaze was still on me.

Priestess Tania was frustrated by Mother’s reply, but she didn’t push further.

“By all rights, per our customs, you should be executed,” she continued. “Any breach of purity is met with death, coupled with the fact that you’re a ‘Moon Devotee’.

I nodded. I had known when I had allowed him to slip between my legs but the pleasure had been unbearable, at that moment, I felt like I would freely give myself up to be killed rather than not explore the sweetness pooling between my legs.

“But,” she continued, her gaze shifting toward Mother Liora. “There are those among us who believe that your life should be spared.”