The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

Chapter 264 264: The aftermath...

Nathan

I woke up feeling like I was floating.

For the first time in years, I felt light, sated, fulfilled.

Lyla.

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as memories of last night flooded back. Her soft sighs, the way she fit against me, the way she looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.

After twenty-six years of waiting, of restraint, I'd finally given myself to the woman I loved—the woman who was destined to be my Luna. I'd always believed that my first time should be with my true mate, and now it had happened. Lyla had come to me willingly and had initiated everything. It was better than I could have ever imagined.

I stretched languidly, feeling my muscles protest slightly. As I moved, I felt her stir beside me. I stilled, not wanting to wake her just yet. I wanted to savour this moment, this victory. After she settled back into sleep, I turned onto my back, letting my eyes roam lazily over her form, the way the golden morning light cast a warm glow over her bare skin.

And then—

All the hairs at the back of my neck stood and my breath caught in my throat as I stared at the form. Blonde hair splayed across the pillow where brown should have been.

It was blonde.

Blonde.

I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision and convince myself that it was just a trick of the light.

A creeping unease slithered down my spine. Lyla was a brunette. Had she dyed her hair?

When did she dye her hair? I was sure she was a brunette yesterday when I had picked her up from the Northern Forest. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I reached out to brush the golden strands away from her face.

The moment her face came into view, my entire body went rigid and the world stopped.

It wasn't Lyla lying next to me. It was Clarissa.

I just lay there, staring at her, wondering if I was trapped in some bizarre nightmare. This couldn't be real. No. No, this had to be a dream. Some kind of sick, twisted nightmare.

Last night I was with Lyla. I remembered her scent, her touch, her voice...

hum leaving her lips before she blinked up

When she saw me watching her, a

murmured, her voice

How had this happened? Where was Lyla? I was sure it was her yesterday. What was going on here? When did Clarissa come to my bed and

the truth, they looked warm and inviting. I tore my eyes from there and looked up at her. Her smile had faltered slightly at my silence. "Last night was amazing, the best night of my life, Nathan. I'm

icy sensation gripped my chest. Her first? She had been

needed to get up. I needed to

hell had just

wasn't angry. Not

know what

as I took a step, whether, from the lingering effects of last night's alcohol or the shock, I couldn't tell. I spotted a discarded robe on the floor and snatched it up, shrugging it on as I strode

Clarissa's eyes following me

I poured myself a generous glass of whiskey from the crystal decanter on

lips, I downed

up behind me,

empty stomach," she whispered, her breath warm against my

whiskey in one burning gulp. The alcohol scorched a path down my throat but did nothing to ease the turmoil inside me. I reached for the decanter again, ready to pour another, when Clarissa's hand closed over mine, stopping

across the room, watching it shatter

She didn't even flinch.

"You manipulated your way into my bed. You pretended to be Lyla!" My voice rose with each accusation. "You're a vermin, and I hate you for deceiving

she didn't show it. She just stood

hair behind her ear. "You assumed I was her. I was only trying out a seduction tactic I learned earlier. I had no

body was shaking at this

exactly what you were doing. You knew I

was Lyla?" She raised an eyebrow. "Did I ever claim to

mouth to argue but found I couldn't remember her explicitly claiming to be Lyla. Still, she had to have known. The room had been dark, I'd been drunk, and she hadn't corrected me when

I said, my voice dropping to a

was a

you cared about me, that I was special to you." Her eyes hardened. "You've been using me to get to Lyla all

she was Lyla's sister. After all,

my father burst into the room, his face ashen, chest heaving as though he'd

alarm cutting through my anger. "What's

knees, struggling to catch his breath. "Blue Ridge...pack," he gasped. "Under attack...White Moon

My stomach dropped.