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

49 The perfect way to unwind…

Lyla

I threw my arms up, bracing for the impact, my heart hammering against my ribs. I could feel the creatures” hot breath on my skin…

And then I woke up.

My scream tore through the air, as I bolted upright in bed gasping for breath. My clothes were soaked and plastered to my trembling body like a second layer, my heart still racing as if I hadn’t yet realized the dream was over.

I looked around wildly, looking for the stick, my chest heaving… it took me a moment to realize I was no longer in the forest. The familiar surroundings of the guest room in Xander’s house slowly came into focus the soft glow of the bedside lamp, and the rumpled sheets tangled around my legs.

But something was wrong. I wasn’t alone.

Sitting on a recliner in the corner of the room, watching me intently was Xander.

“Xander?” my voice was hoarse and my throat was still raw from screaming. “What… what are you doing here?”

He didn’t respond. A chill ran down my spine. There was something… off about the way he was looking at me. His eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, reminding me of…

“No!” I cried out, scrambling backwards on the bed. For a heartbeat, just the briefest of seconds, I saw something else in Xander’s eyes. The eyes of that creature the one that had attacked me – the same eyes I had seen on the man that had come to my bedroom the last time I had my heat… although Nanny had said it was her.

And then I screamed… opening my mouth as wide as I could.

My scream pierced the silence and within seconds, my door flew open with a bang as someone rushed in fumbling for the light switch. As the room flooded with sudden brightness, my screaming intensified, my eyes wide with terror when I saw it was Xander, holding a spoon.

“Lyla!” he called out, rushing to me, but I screamed louder pressing myself at the head of the

bed.

Every part of my body was trembling now. I pointed to the now–empty recliner in the corner of the room. “You… you were just there!” I gasped, my voice hoarse and shaky. “You were sitting right there just now. How did you…?”

brows furrowing as he glanced between me and the chair. “What? Now! I wasn’t in here,” he sounded both confused and concerned. “I was in the kitchen, trying to make you

was splattered with various cooking stains, flour dusting the front and the

perfect way to

him, hadn’t I? Sitting there, watching me with those intense eyes as that creature but Xander

awakened to.

off as I rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the lingering fear. Had

and approached my bed, stepping cautiously, his hands held out in a calming gesture.

the edge of my bed, he hesitated, I could see he was trying not to scare me but something in me craved comfort and needed to feel safe. I reached out

strong arms enveloped me, the terror that had gripped me began to subside His familiar warmth, and the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear

his hand running soothing circles on my back. “What’s got you so spooked and, in my house, too? Was it

had a terrible dream, it was so real… for a moment, it felt like I was back to the pack and in the Northern Forests where I was attacked by Feral wolves,” I leaned away from him, meeting his gaze. “I didn’t tell

he asked

it spoke to me and said a lot of strange words. Said I was the Moonsinger and

chest hummed as he

I pulled back

“Trinax,” he repeated, brushing the hair from my face “I’m sorry, I wasn’t there to protect

no way you could come protect me even if you wanted to, don’t be angry. By the way…” I paused,

“What’s at Tri…”

“They lead a cluster of Ferals… they’re

a shepherd leading

as he flashed

though? Ahh…” I shook

thoughts “It

CYCS

perfect way to unwind…

me close to himself again, his hands sliding up and down my arms as if he could. physically rub the fear out of my body. “It was just a nightmare, Lyla,” he said softly. “Your mind was playing tricks on you. The fight with Nanny must have stirred up some old emotions, maybe triggering the memories of the attack. It’s normal after something

the attack and I’d never

events.