The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

Chapter 223 223: Clarissa...

Clarissa

What if love wasn't about leaving, but about staying – no matter the cost?

What if the person you adored carried dark, dangerous secrets, but instead of running, you found yourself drawn in even deeper?

They say love makes you blind. But what if it makes you see everything – every dark secret, every twisted deed – and you choose to stay anyway?

I've loved Nathan for as long as I can remember. At first, I thought it was because he chose Lyla over me. But it wasn't jealousy that kept me joined to the hip with him—it was the thrill, the fascination that grew each time I uncovered a part of him no one else saw.

I didn't fall in love with Nathan because he was perfect – he's far from that. I fell in love with him because I was the only one who saw his imperfections. Each time fate made me witness his darkest moments, each terrible secret I discovered, it only pulled me deeper under his spell.

While others saw the charming Alpha heir obsessed with Lyla, I alone saw the monster beneath the mask – and goddess! That monster was beautiful.

Call it madness, delusion of grandeur – loving a man capable of such things. But the first time I had stumbled on him lying next to his dead mother and weeping uncontrollably despite how it was taboo to do so to the dead, and how he would lay next to her each night… I knew he used to see me but wouldn't say anything.

When he opens to door to where she laid embalmed, he'll keep it half opened and I would spend the night with him. I felt special. Chosen. Like the universe itself was conspiring to show me the real Nathan, the one no one else would believe existed.

All the times, he had confided in me, or I had helped him bury his blood-stained clothes or help treat his cuts or run errands for him… instead of fear, it only made me fall harder.

I know he doesn't love me. Not yet. But that doesn't matter if everyone loved the people who loved them back, who will hurt? Who will be broken? Who will be bitter? More than anything, what matters more to me is that he belongs to me. Only I understand the darkness that lives inside him.

Only I can him for what he truly is.

And I'll make sure he never belongs to anyone else.

~~~

I sat at the vanity in our room carefully brushing out my long dark locs cascading over my shoulders like silk. A small smile played on my lips as I heard the heavy stomping of boots coming towards the room.

Nathan was angry.

and I knew exactly why – my brother, the baby in my mother's womb,

shrugged off his jacket, throwing it carelessly to the floor. He peeled off his shirt next, his muscles

settled on the covers, pretending to read a book. A while later, the sound of running water

barely glanced at him, keeping my eyes on the book as I turned a page absentmindedly

nakedness was nothing new, just as his cold silence had become a routine. Most days, he would only grunt at my words and

to the imagination, but I focused on my book. I felt rather than saw him stop in front of me, likely expecting me to look up to acknowledge him or attempt a conversation. Normally, I would. Normally, I would have made some teasing remark or

refused to give him what he wanted. I flipped the pages of my book with

closet. When he returned, he was putting on a pyjama bottom and was shirtless. Instead of heading to his room or the couch or

skipped a

but I maintained a

wedding night. Our marriage had been a performance since he told

The only sound in

knew he wasn't

eternity, I rose and walked to the bathroom. Once inside, I leaned against the sink, staring at my

man will always seek comfort when his plans – plans he had

On one hand, I was dressed like Lyla – the way she styles her hair, the sheer blue

or attempted to get inside his

my hands and reapplying Lyla's scent. When I returned, he was sitting in bed and

way his eyes lingered on me. Was he

the briefest glance before returning

I do something?" he

moment, and then shrugged. "Nothing. Did

before sighing heavily and leaning back against the headboard. We were silent for a while

your mother and

coolly. "Thanks to you, they were able to perform the surgery in time

Silence again.

did you go? The maids said

shrugged. "You know, just

exactly?" his voice carried