The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Gala from hell

Lyla

I stood at the foot of the grand stone steps, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The pack house loomed over me like a fortress, its cold walls whispering memories of a life I had been cast off from.

I couldn’t believe three years had passed since that fateful night when my parents had sent me away in the dead of the night.

I had felt like a thief, banished without explanation or warning and nothing but a thousand dollars, clutching a single bag that was my clothes forcing me to vow never to return.

But now I was back.

I swallowed the knot in my throat, steeling myself.

I didn’t want to come, but my father’s command was not a request.

The annual werewolf gala was tonight and I was to attend.

I had no choice.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy oak door, and the rush of familiar scent filled my lungs, bringing with it a flood of childhood memories both painful and good.

I had barely closed the door when my mother’s voice reached me.

“You’re late,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing as she took in my appearance.

Her sharp eyes flicked over me as if she was inspecting something unpleasant on the bottom of her shoe.

Beside her, my sister, Clarissa, gazed at me with a look that was somewhere between pity and disdain.

“I see you still haven’t learned to control yourself during your heat,” Clarissa scoffed.

“Father, it’s not a good idea for her to go like this.

She reeks…”.

“You think if we had a choice, I would have driven four hours to go and get her,” My father hissed “The invitation had stated that every family must send a representative that is 18 and above and ripe for mating.

I had no choice.

She was never an option, to begin with.

”

I flinched, “I’m sorry,” I began but my mother cut me off with a sharp gesture.

“Save it,” she snapped “We’ve been doing so well without you and we want it to remain that way.

Just remember, you’re here because we had no other choice.

Don’t disgrace us today.

If you cause a scene, or so much as draw unwanted attention… we will remove your name from the family register and disown you.

Do you understand?”

was my fault but I nodded instead, my throat

me had vanished a long time ago buried under

been enough for them, not without a wolf, not with the monthly

“I understand,” I whispered.

“Clarissa will lend

stupid hair of you…” She turned to my sister “Give her one of

up with two giant silver streaks in her hair will make everyone think

”

and indicated that

bit my tongue, feeling the sting of tears behind my eyes

Clarissa, my hands trembling as we

of the pack warriors dropped me off in front of the grand ballroom, my father had been too embarrassed to do

dress and headed towards

music and clinking glasses grew louder with

as I reached the entrance and the moment I stepped inside, I felt it – the weight of hundreds of

felt like a

could feel the heat crawling up my

me again and my pheromones spilled into the air announcing my

heard the whispers before I

smell?” everyone turned, their noses wrinkled

“Is she… in heat?”

“No control at all.

be locked up and not

trying to snag

biting into my skin as I

ignore them… everything will

and I saw Cassidy Thorne step forward, a mocking

realize they let mutts attend this year,”

was the epitome of werewolf beauty

there was a time when I wanted to be her

suppose they’ll let anyone in these

”

rippled through the crowd and

apology, I forced myself to look away and moved to a quiet corner of the room,

hated how powerless I felt, how my body betrayed me every month turning me into a joke

steady my breathing and fight back tears when I felt a strange

the

alone, dressed in black from head to toe,

gaze was fixed on

were sharp

with chiselled features and an air of quiet strength…but more than

ballroom faded and

eyes that held me captive – curiosity and …something more… My heartbeat quickened,

Who was he?

on it,

Darius standing in front of me, his lips twisted

has taunted me since I was a child and was the first person to spread my wolfless situation

the offer to be his

bore

well, if it isn’t the Woodland