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

63 To a past and a future…

Lyla

It’s been a year and six months since that night…

Everybody has a turning point – a point where they become stronger or suddenly take up a cape and become a hero. Well, me… I wasn’t interested.

I wasn’t interested in becoming a hero for the people who mocked me, who shamed me for what I had no part in creating. I mean, if I am going to sacrifice my life and my peace, it should be for people who are worth it right?

That night had defined me in ways I still struggle to grasp. The dark memories had hovered in my mind like shadows, always present, though I had learned to push them away. I didn’t allow myself to think about the horrors, the danger I had escaped or the truths I’d uncovered about myself.

After that chaos, I and Nanny had moved far from the life we once knew and started afresh. For months, I uld wake up in the middle of the night drenched in a cold sweat with my puls racing, trying to shake off the nightmares that seemed too real.

Simple things became a challenge for me walking alone after sunset, staying home without Nanny, even sleeping with the lights off. But I had fought back, not with grand gestures of bravery but with small, everyday acts of normalcy.

No matter what the world expected of me, no matter the whispers of my lineage or my supposed destiny, I chose to be content being human. I made up my mind to never ever take up any responsibility.

I never looked up the news reports about that night. Never questioned Nanny about her real identity, never attempted to connect the dots that might have explained why 1, of all people, had nearly married a 100–year–old evil.

The only thing I was interested in these days was tackling my monthly heat while trying to be a

normal adult.

Today, standing in front of my full–length mirror, adjusting my graduation cap on my head, my reflection stared back at me. I was graduating from high school and it was a milestone I couldn’t

ignore.

All I could see was a woman who had thrived despite the trauma, who had channelled all her energy into her studies, instead of chasing answers to a question I didn’t want to ask.

My phone chimed with a notification and for a brief moment, my heart leaped, hoping it might

be him.

just another congratulatory message from a classmate. My fingers moved almost unconsciously to my chat history with Nathan, scrolling through two years of one–sided messages that had formed a digital shrine to a friendship that had

me that night – now

past

of silence. Two years of trying to understand what I’d done wrong. The last message. I’d sent him was three months ago: ‘Remember when you said we’d always be friends? I guess some promises are easier to break than

wondering what I might have done wrong. But I was done… I’ve survived many things thrown at me,

to understand what I did wrong. Two years of wondering if somehow I’d hurt you without realizing it. Today is

here. But…”

trying to still my trembling hands.

identified with someone like me, you could have just said so. You didn’t have to ignore me.

to reconsider, I pulled out the sim card from my phone,

final tie to my past… I was done.

building for weeks. “Are you ready sweetheart?

my eyes quickly and adjusting my makeup, making my final

time. I saw Nanny waiting at the bottom, camera already in hand, eyes glistening with proud

you,” Nanny breathed, reaching out to straighten my gown. “My beautiful girl, all grown up and graduating

constant, my saviour and my strength. Despite everything we’ve been through, Nanny has never faltered. She had held me together when I had been on the verge of

wouldn’t have done it without you,”

dhing that

this all on your own. You rose above everything that happened to focus on building your

the ceiling, blowing on my eyes. “Stop, Nan!” I chuckled shakily. “I don’t

dear. This is your day and we’re going to make it

allowed myself to feel proud of how far I had come. Despite the nain the heartache and the fear I had made it to this moment I had

ΠΗ

C

past and a

the next chapter

of our fresh start. I posed with my cap and gown against the backdrop of blooming roses and

a reminder that beauty could

time.

enough care and

joy as she adjusted the camera angle. “Give me