The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger by Ejiofor Dorcas

Chapter 2: The Gala from hell

Lyla

I stood at the foot of the grand stone steps, my heart hammering against my ribs. The pack house loomed over me like a fortress, its cold walls whispering memories of a life I had been cast off from.

I couldn’t believe three years had passed since that fateful night when my parents had sent me away in the dead of the night. I had felt like a thief, banished without explanation or warning and nothing but a thousand dollars, clutching a single bag that was my clothes forcing me to vow never to return.

But now I was back. I swallowed the knot in my throat, steeling myself. I didn’t want to come, but my father’s command was not a request. The annual werewolf gala was tonight and I was to attend. I had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy oak door, and the rush of familiar scent filled my lungs, bringing with it a flood of childhood memories both painful and good.

I had barely closed the door when my mother’s voice reached me.

“You’re late,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing as she took in my appearance. Her sharp eyes flicked over me as if she was inspecting something unpleasant on the bottom of her shoe. Beside her, my sister, Clarissa, gazed at me with a look that was somewhere between pity and disdain.

“I see you still haven’t learned to control yourself during your heat,” Clarissa scoffed. “Father, it’s not a good idea for her to go like this. She reeks…”.

“You think if we had a choice, I would have driven four hours to go and get her,” My father hissed “The invitation had stated that every family must send a representative that is 18 and above and ripe for mating. I had no choice. She was never an option, to begin with.”

I flinched, “I’m sorry,” I began but my mother cut me off with a sharp gesture.

“Save it,” she snapped “We’ve been doing so well without you and we want it to remain that way. Just remember, you’re here because we had no other choice. Don’t disgrace us today. If you cause a scene, or so much as draw unwanted attention… we will remove your name from the family register and disown you. Do you understand?”

them that none of this was my fault but I nodded instead, my throat was too tight to speak. The last remnants of any affection my family had for me had vanished a

“I understand,” I whispered.

you something from her wardrobe. You might want to also fix that stupid hair of you…” She turned to my sister “Give her one of your wigs too. It’s enough that she’s emitting

Clarissa nodded and

sting of tears behind my eyes but refusing to let them fall. I followed Clarissa, my hands

one of the pack warriors dropped me off in front of the grand ballroom, my father had been

and clinking glasses grew louder with every step. The scent of power, strength and pure werewolf dominance filled the

like a lamb among

could feel the heat crawling up my neck, my cheeks flushing against my will. My body betrayed me again and my pheromones spilled into the air announcing my presence like a siren’s call. I

smell?” everyone turned, their

“Is she… in heat?”

be locked up and not here. Or is

as I willed myself to remain calm. If I just ignore them… everything will be fine. But then, a sharp voice cut through the murmurs and I saw Cassidy Thorne

and elegance. Everyone

of the room, my hands shaking. I hated how powerless I felt, how my body betrayed me

I felt a strange prickling sensation at the back of my neck. Something from across

the shadows. His gaze was fixed on me. He had amber eyes, that were sharp and piercing like molten gold. He was devastatingly

moment, the noise of the ballroom faded and all I could see was him. There was something about his eyes that held me captive – curiosity and …something more… My heartbeat quickened,

Who was he?

of me, his lips twisted into a sly grin. He has taunted me since I was a