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

126 How is your child?

126 How is your child?

Miriam

I sat alone in the temple, the golden rays of the evening sun filtering through the stained glass windows, casting shadows from the windows on the marble floors. I was on one of the meditation alcoves, staring intently at my phone.

My fingers trembled slightly as I traced the outline of the figure on the screen, holding back tears as I took a deep breath. I’ve been coming here every day since I arrived to pray for him. I wanted to mourn him too, to release the anguish in my heart but I couldn’t.

Most of all, his last message to me, two days before he died was a chance to reconcile and confess everything to our daughter but… as usual, I was adamant because I thought I had all the time in the world.

I heard footsteps coming towards the temple and I hastily shoved the phone into my pocket, wiping the tears in my eyes as I composed myself into a

meditation pose.

The door finally creaked open and Terra’s aura filled

126 How is your child?

the temple. I turned to her, flashing her a quiet smile. Her auburn hair was tied neatly into a braid and her sharp green eyes were filled with concern as she paused returning my smile.

“Miriam,” she said gently, closing the door behind her. “Are you alright? You’ve been praying a lot more these days than when you were here. Is everything fine?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I responded, perhaps a bit too quickly but I managed a faint smile to throw her off. “Just felt like praying.”

She arched a sceptical brow at me but didn’t press further instead she walked over and sank onto the alcove next to me, resting a hand on my shoulder.

“Mother Liora just returned from the White Mountains and she’s asking for you.”

“Oh, do you know why?”

“No idea,” she shook her head still studying me. “Are you sure you’re fine though? You seem a bit distracted since you came. You’ve hardly been sleeping and what’s with the hunger strike? The kitchen said you’ve been returning your plates with food and I can tell

126 How is your child?

you’re grieving. Is something wrong? Maybe I can…”

“Terra,” I cut her short, flashing her an assuring smile. “I have a lot on my mind but it’s mostly just business and all. I’m fine. Now, I better go to Mother Liora, I don’t want to keep her waiting.”

my

Terra nodded. I summoned another smile as I rose to

feet and without another word, I left the temple making my way to the praying room reserved only for a High Priestess. I wondered why she wanted to see

me.

room, I heard loud voices of argument. I paused, my heart pounding, wondering what they were arguing about. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and quickly scanned the room.

meditation while Superior Priestess Diana – one of the priestesses of the Temple who held authority equal

–

and claim it as the Moon Goddess’s will and

is your child?

will of the goddess,” Mother Liora said, her eyes still tightly shut.

“Because…‘

and all eyes turned to me. Mother Liora’s eyes opened too fixing me with a

she called out. “Prepare

Mountains tomorrow at dawn. There is a cleansing ritual that needs to be performed

and stayed away for years and now you want her to take on such sacred

of what was happening dawned on me. I rushed toward Mother Liora, kneeling

do this. Lyla… I haven’t even

How is your

and you reported them to me. The Dark One has already marked her and his power has taken root inside her. If we do not act, her powers will never be activated. So, we need to cleanse her and draw out the poison of his

about you, Mother Liora? You have the silver

mark too.”

need to connect yourself to her for the cleansing to take place. The Dark one’s power is nothing to joke about and

perform the cleansing ritual. She’s trained her entire life as

Liora’s gaze turned cold. “Jemimah may have trained all her life as a Silver wolf, but without the mark, attempting to perform the cleansing will kill

is your

to the White Mountains yourself and have her perform the cleansing.”

played favourites with her, Liora. You’re too blind to see her fault.”

all the people born

priestess for each season. Mine reign is coming to an end, and soon she’ll take over. I don’t want to talk

at me and huffed angrily before storming out of the praying room. One by one, the other priestesses began to leave too. As soon as it was just me and Mother Liora, I opened my mouth to talk but

“Mother…”

Miriam,” she said quietly. “It’s time for my devotion. We’ll meet in front of the gates by 5 am

be

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How is your child?

feet slowly my mind

praying room, I jumped with fright when I saw

her face.

I shouted holding my chest. “You scared me, Jemimah. Are you waiting to see Mother? She’s doing her

said.

wall and came

eyes bore into mine as she stopped in front of