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

57 Twenty years ago…

Miriam (Nanny)

Twenty Years ago…

The Moon Temple was quiet, save for the soft hum of the morning wind brushing through the

windows.

I was kneeling beside High Priestess Liora – Mother like we fondly called her, my hands clasped in

words. front of me in prayer, my heart beating in sync with the chants but there was no life in my I was scared.

Scared that the secret I’d been trying to keep these past few days would finally come to light. The like only person I had managed to tell was my best friend Terra – she was a moon worshipper just

me.

The Moon Temple had been home to me before I said my first words. I was born a Sigma Wolf–a rare breed of Wolves dedicated to the service of the Moon Goddess. We are often called messengers of the Goddess herself and as such, must keep ourselves pure.

I never knew my parents – because I was brought to the temple as soon as I was weaned and as per the culture here, every trace or means we could use to trace our origin is removed, that is done to make us fully dependent on the Moon Goddess and her service alone.

We are not allowed to mate – because we are born without mates and if a Sigma wolf goes as far as getting mated, the penalty is death. I moved up the stages of the Worshipper faster than anyone has in the history of the temple. By the time I was 19, I was already a ‘Moon Devotee‘ and was chosen by

e Moon Goddess to become the next High Priestess.

As a direct apprentice to the High Priestess, I was among the few chosen to learn the deeper mysteries of the Moon Goddess, I could perform healing rituals for packs, spiritual guidance to the Alpha and pack members, assist in ceremonial events, prepare sacred items and spaces for the rituals held by the High Priestes

The list is long, but basically, I get to replace High Priestess Liora when she dies and everything was going well, I already accepted the life of solitude, knowing that love, marriage and motherhood were forbidden. We were never taught about it and had little or no knowledge of what goes on between a man and a woman.

That was well, until, I had fallen in love.

He had come to the Golden Gates Pack as one of the entourage from the White Mountain Council, our eyes had met briefly across the hall when I had escorted Mother Liora to go greet the Lycan Leader.

I’ve seen a lot of men – tall, handsome, ugly and they never affected me the way this man did. His gaze lingered on my face for a little while before moving to my body, making me flush with embarrassment and leaving me with a tingling between my legs.

– mostly to the Alphas to hain almenote their etranth after

–

16:00

1/4

Twenty years

used to be. I had stumbled and was

that Alpha from before.

before his lips captured mine, so tenderly, that it made my knees weaken. Every evening, I would sneak to his room and let him touch me and please me, until one of the days, we couldn’t hold

but beautiful, so beautiful that the mere thought of it, sends a sweet, burning sensation through me. I knew I had erred but strangely, I didn’t feel convicted. I still followed Mother Liora in rituals

last month, I didn’t bleed.

had gone to the Alpha’s pack and told

love with, had a Luna. His eyes had grown cold

kill, Do not lie and remain true to yourself) together as Sigma wolves, I couldn’t bring myself to take a life. I just couldn’t. And now, kneeling beside Mother Liora, I was looking

remain true to

hand on my stomach, now gently growing with life. The initiation ritual should have been my crowning achievement, my

bells rang, indicating the end of the morning devotion. I felt Mother Liora stir beside me, coming out of her morning trance before rising gratefully to her feet. She noticed that I

– for some days now. Is something troubling you?

of my failure pressing down on me, suffocating me. But I

“There is… something I

gave way to concern as she stopped bent down beside me, touching my forehead, her sharp blue eyes taking

it,

hands trembling as I clutched them together.

years

“I–I’m pregnant.”

to be still as if the walls were holding their breath. Liora’s eyes widened, and for the first time in my memory, the High Priestess was speechless. The shock

shaking her head as she slowly rose to her feet. I mean, of course, it’s possible, because you’re a woman but, When? I’m sure no man is living

Mother!” I interrupted her softly. “It happened the day after my appointment

what have you done?” Mother’s voice was barely above

what this means?”

in my eyes as I tried to reach for her feet, but she took a step back.

sorry. I know I have betrayed my vows,