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?”

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 long time ago buried under shame and disgust. I had never been enough for them, not without

“I understand,” I whispered.

of you…” She turned to my sister “Give her one of your wigs too. It’s enough that she’s emitting pheromones, showing

and indicated that

of tears behind my eyes but refusing to let them fall.

later, one of the pack warriors dropped me off in front of the grand ballroom, my father had been too embarrassed to do

and clinking glasses grew louder with every step. The scent of power, strength and pure werewolf dominance filled the air as I reached the entrance and the moment I stepped inside, I felt it – the weight of

like a lamb

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 heard the whispers before I saw the

that smell?” everyone turned, their noses wrinkled

“Is she… in heat?”

Disgusting? She should be locked up and not here. Or is she

myself to remain calm. If I just ignore them… everything will be fine. But then,

to hear. Cassidy Thorne – was the epitome of werewolf beauty and elegance. Everyone dreamed their daughters would be like her…

through the crowd and I felt my composure crumbling. Murmuring an apology, I forced myself to look away and moved to a quiet corner of the room, my hands shaking. I hated how powerless I felt, how my body betrayed me every month turning me into a joke among the very people with whom I should by

fight back tears when I felt a strange prickling sensation at the back of my

from head to toe, melting perfectly with the shadows. His gaze was fixed on me. He had amber eyes, that were sharp and

was him. There was something about his eyes that held me captive – curiosity and …something more… My heartbeat quickened, not out of fear but out of a strange, unfamiliar

Who was he?

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