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.

visitor’s quarters – mostly to the Alphas to hain almenote their etranth after their inumane it was dark and the Night

–

16:00

1/4

years ago….

I had stumbled and was almost

was that Alpha

lips captured mine, so tenderly, that it made my knees weaken. Every evening, I would

through me. I knew I had erred but strangely, I didn’t feel convicted. I still followed Mother Liora

last month, I didn’t

had gone to the Alpha’s pack and

Alpha, the one I had fallen desperately in love with, had a Luna. His eyes had grown cold when he discovered I was with child and he had told me to my face to get rid

Aside from the three oaths (Do not 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 for the best way to break the news. Terra had insisted I run away because if they knew I had been with a man, death would be the penalty but

true to myself until the

life. The initiation ritual should have been my crowning achievement, my

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 was still kneeling in front of the altar and came to

quiet today – for some days now. Is something troubling you? Are you anxious about the Initiation tests?”

tightened and I lowered my head, unable to meet her gaze. The weight of my failure pressing down on me, suffocating me. But I had to say it. I couldn’t hide the

“There is… something I must confess.”

stopped bent down beside me,

it,

clutched them together.

Twenty years ago.

“I–I’m pregnant.”

silence that followed after the confession was deafening. The air in the temple seemed 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

as she slowly rose to her feet. I mean, of course, it’s possible, because you’re a woman

the day after my appointment as your

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

what this means?”

reach for her feet, but she took a step back.

so, so sorry. I know I have betrayed