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

162 After everything we’ve shared?

Nathan

I leaned back in my office chair, phone pressed to my car, with a smile tugging at my lips as Lyla’s voice filled the room through the phone.

The warmth of her voice was the only antidote to my endless tasks and preparations for the Harvest Moon Festival.

“I miss you, Lyla,” I said softly, sighing with longing that was becoming hard to suppress… “It feels like I haven’t seen you for ages.”

“I miss you more,” she sighed. “I honestly wanted to return as soon as I recovered, but the High

Priestess would not hear a word of it. She insists I should wait until after the Harvest Moon S

Festival, and then I can go with you!”

“Yeah,” I nodded, glancing at the scattered reports on my desk. “You wouldn’t miss me if you saw this mountain of work I’m buried under. Everyone’s running around like their tails are on fire. We’ve enjoyed a week without any Feral threat; nothing has been sighted since then. So, we’re preparing for the festival. Patrols, food arrangements, the elders‘ seating plan – it’s madness.”

“Sounds like fun to me, she chuckled. “It’s not different here, though. We had some Priestess from the Moon Temple over yesterday, and I’ll be joining them in performing some barricade spells on the borders of the White Moon Pack. I heard they’ve been travelling to packs all over the region.”

“Yeah, they came to ours last week. It’s temporary. But you don’t have any powers; how are you helping them?”

“I wish I knew. They insisted, and they’ve been giving me this weird stare. One of them outrightly asked me if Nanny was my real mom.”

My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know how long it would take until Nanny revealed the truth to Lyla. As much as I’ve been itching to tell her, it wasn’t in my place. Still, I was getting anxious by the day. The more Lyla blossomed into a woman, the more she was beginning to look like her mother.

“Don’t take it to heart… that’s how they all are, I finally responded, trying to make light of the situation. “Anyways, you should brace yourself because when you become a Luna… there’ll be more work for you. The Elders are trying to pass it into law, something about letting women train and being managed by the Luna of every pack. They want to ensure everyone can defend themselves against the Feral attack.”

“Here, children from ages 6 are enrolled on a

-training school that teaches basic defence skills and survival. But don’t worry, I’m sure it’ll not be as bad as it was predicted.”

“Yeah!” I murmured, drawing in a deep sigh.

“Hmm…. are you sure you don’t want me to take over as Alpha for a day? You sound tired,” Lyla

said.

“Tempting offer, but I’d rather have you here for other reasons,” my voice dropped slightly,

<

everything

laugh again. Her light–heartedness eased the tension in my shoulders. “Speaking of the Festival,” I continued.

her end before she answered. “Just you,

wrap myself in a bow if

everything and nothing at once. I was happy, and something had changed. I didn’t know if it was the distance or something else,

could feel the longing in her voice too whenever she spoke. Was she falling for me

of the year would start, her voice broke

the door to my office swung open without warning. Clarissa came

knowing what

on,

but calm.

entered the office fully, closing the door behind her. “Hello, Alpha,” she said cheerily. “Am I

I replied automatically, though something in me wished

Do you mind? And before you say no, I asked your father and your secretary, and she said you

basket before muttering

thoughtful of her, Lyla replied warmly. “Thank her for me.”

to Clarissa, then added reluctantly. “I should probably let you go. I’ll

is better, I should be done with whatever I

I placed the phone on my desk, an uncomfortable silence settling over the office. Clarissa stood expectantly with the food container. I managed to smile as I took the food from her. “Thank you

things, you know. If anything, I’m glad I can

everything

has brought me food and small gifts, sought me out

didn’t get

try it later,” I said, trying to put the container inside the

if it turned out well. Can you

No, but that might lead to another argument. So, I just

and herb–crusted chicken. For one, it didn’t look like a new recipe, but it looked appetizing. I took a bite and

her a

delicious. You’ve

in my office, settling in like she belonged there. She

glad you like it.

of the container, hoping I still had a polite smile on my face. She was going to be my sister–in–law soon,

I asked,

my mother’s place at the Harvest Moon Festival. The doctors want her to rest a lot