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

147 Manifestation II

When my body volted awake, the first thing I noticed was the rough ground beneath me–damp earth and scattered leaves pressing against my skin.

lot again, I thought as panic rose in my chest.

1 blinked rapidly as the towering trees around me blurred into my view. I was in the forest again, no doubt.

I scrambled into a seating position, the dried leaves beneath me crinkling with my frantic

movement.

My hands flew to my hair, clutching at the strands tightly as my fingers trembled. My eyes darted around the clearing, trying to piece together the puzzle of how I had ended up here- again,

My breathing was shallow and uneven.

“Why how?” I stammered under my breath, my voice cracking with disbelief. My chest heaved as I spun, searching for any clue that might ground me in reality.

A voice interrupted my spiralling thoughts.

“You’re awake”

I whirled toward the sound, startled, my heart pounding like a drum. Leaning casually against a nearby tree, his arms crossed, stood Lenny. He had a calm, concerned, almost amused expression on his face.

*Lenny?* I called out shakily. “What–what are you doing here?”

He pushed off the tree and walked over to where I was. “I could ask you the same thing,” he said, offering his hand, “but I’m not interested in explanations right now,” he added flatly, cutting off any excuse I might want to give.

I stared at his outstretched hand before tentatively placing my hand on his. My fingers felt cold and stiff as he helped me to my feet and held me for a few seconds as I swayed slightly, still disoriented.

“The last night shift patrol team found you out here, he continued in a clipped but not unkind tone. “Thankfully, they brought it to my attention before anyone else saw. We’re fortunate it’s still dawn and most of the pack is asleep. You can sneak back into the pack house without

questions.”

His tone brooked no room for argument, so I nodded mutely. Feeling my cheeks redden as I avoided his gaze.

walk on your own? Do you want me to hold you or

said quickly, although I still felt slightly dizzy.

go then,” he said,

Manifestation

walked quietly but briskly, as I was desperate to avoid meeting anyone. It would be hard to explain my mysterious

Seth came out.

word, he bowed curtly to us and then brushed past us, going his

won’t say anything

you so much!” I nodded and fled into

clothes, stuffing them into the sink to scrub away the evidence. The earthy scent of the forest still

to pick up any movement. I washed off the stains, restoring the dress to its original colour. Throwing it into a bucket at the corner of the bathroom,

my tense r but doing nothing to cleanse the confusion clouding my mind. After washing off the worst of the grime, I wrapped myself in a soft bathrobe, my damp hair sticking to

coming up with a few lies, I

darling,” she said brightly, smiling at me briefly before moving over to the vanity table where she set the cup and turned to me, her keen eyes scanning the length of my

a wonderful night,… that was a lie. My

in my

is making you think you’re some sort of princess. Like I had a maid back in the human world or at Blue Ridge

in my hands, I sipped slowly, pushing the bitter taste

behind me, reaching for my brush and hair dryer on

Lycan Leader’s instructions. He said he didn’t want you doing anything with your hands. The Lycan Leaders gave the instructions. He didn’t want you to use your hands.

taking another sip. “I don’t want to get spoilt. The maids at Blue Ridge are my mother’s henchmen. I’ll be getting poison ivy mixed in my bath if I

dry my hair with practised care, just like she had always done when

and Nanny suddenly paused mid–stroke. From the mirror, I saw her nostrils flaring slightly as she sniffed the air, het brows

her voice filled with concern.

stiffenedd, my grip tightening on the hand of the chair I sat on as 1 imitated

wouldn’t press further, but Nanny didn’t seem like she was going to relent soon.

was nothing. Setting the brush and the dryer aside, she gently lifted my hair from my shoulder and pushed aside the collar of my robe. Her sharp intake of breath gave me all the

noticed a small gash on my neck that had been bleeding–a wound I had

happen? How did you get this she

hard while I was bathing, but I’m fine, Nan…” Larranged my hair back in place. “Stop fretting over a little blood.

open, bleeding gashes? Does being 23 make you immune to pain and injuries? What if it gets infected?