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...

a small, satisfied hum leaving her lips

she saw me watching

her voice was still thick with

what was happening. How had this happened? Where was Lyla? I was sure it was her yesterday. What was going on here? When

ample bosom. They stared at me with their pinkish bud and to say the truth, they looked warm and inviting. I tore my eyes from there and

gripped my chest. Her first? She had been a

stomach churned violently at the implication. I threw off the covers and swung my legs off the bed. I needed to get up. I needed to breathe. I practically leapt from the bed. My body was tense, my hands had curled

the hell had

wasn't angry.

know what I

I couldn't tell. I spotted a discarded robe on the floor and snatched it up, shrugging it on as I strode toward the

following me as I

from the crystal decanter on the counter. I needed something to steady my nerves,

to my lips, I downed it in

behind me, sliding a hand up my back, pressing my

empty stomach," she whispered, her breath

my throat but did nothing to ease

across the room, watching

She didn't even flinch.

her. "You manipulated your way into my bed. You pretended to be Lyla!" My voice

were affecting her, she didn't show it. She just

she said evenly tucking her hair behind her ear. "You assumed I was her. I was only trying out a seduction tactic I learned earlier. I

entire body was

knew exactly what you were doing. You knew I thought you

raised an eyebrow. "Did I ever claim to be someone

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

dropping to a dangerous whisper. "For deceiving me, you will

surprise, Clarissa laughed—it was a bitter sound

you," she said. "You deceived me too, Nathan. You made me believe you cared about me, that I was special to you." Her eyes hardened. "You've been using me to get to Lyla all along. I think

had been using her, keeping her close because she was Lyla's sister. After all, she might be useful in my plans. But that

my father burst into the room, his face

him, alarm cutting through

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

My stomach dropped.