The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

277: For I have two foes...

Lyla

"Nathan has been gathering allies from beyond and all the packs around us, too – forces willing to march under the Blue Ridge banner—Alphas who are desperate, who believe in whatever promises he made. Promises of power, of vengeance, not to mention all of them are bound to him through the blood oath, and those who disagree with him meet their death like my brother," she sobbed.

I stared at her, still trying to wrap my head around everything she said.

"It's a death wish, Lyla," she sobbed.

"You think I can just tell him to stop?" I scoffed. "You think he'll listen to me? He had me thrown into a pit, tortured me nonstop, and then forced me to take the blood oath. I am probably just like any of you now."

"But he trusts you," Luna Vanessa countered. Her gaze was still pleading. "You're the only one he allows access to whatever he's doing. All his meetings…"

"That's because I'm the Moonsinger and should know these things."

"Or because he still loves you. If you tell him to stop – if you tell him it's wrong – he might reconsider."

My frustration was mounting. Anger and confusion were slowly building up inside me. "Why are you telling me this? Why not speak to him yourself?"

Luna Vanessa's eyes softened. "Because I can't reach him, Lyla. Not the way you can. He's… slipping away. He asked Clarissa to come back to the house. He lives on his own, except his father, of course."

"Just because…"

"Lyla," she stopped me, reaching for my hands. "Stop trying to make excuses. We all know his feelings for you are genuine. And there's more – more that you need to know." She paused as if she wanted to gather strength. "I've been talking to other Alphas – mostly your father's closest friends, and we'd like to do your father's bidding."

saying a lot of things at once. Explain properly

deeply, her gaze never leaving my face. "Your father left you a letter, and I know you've read the content

me like a punch—the letter – my father's so-called final words to me. I had never had the chance to read it because I didn't think it would contain anything, and I wasn't in the mood to read an entire blackmail

in my wildest imagination did I think it would be something important. But she didn't know, and no one

I responded

know this, but even as a child, after the death of his mother, Nathan would do strange things. Things that frightened everyone. Your father wanted you to rule in his stead. He loved you, Lyla.

chest. My father – his absence, his coldness. The way he had treated me…why should I believe the words of a woman who hated me too? There

didn't say anything, I just

It was in the letter, too. He only said in words that Nathan should rule." Her voice caught, and tears gathered in her eyes. "He loved your mother, and despite all the threats, I knew he just had to play along to satisfy me. But

do. Why are you saying all of this now?" I gestured angrily toward the sleeping baby. "Isn't

things because Nathan will kill us all if he continues down this path.

sure he knows what he's doing, Luna

forces, Lyla. He's been doing all these strange things with magic and forcing our warriors to do strange rituals. I've heard things … terrible things. He wants to create an army unlike anything our world has ever seen.

had trusted—a boy whose pain had turned him into something

a man I had resented, whose love

don't know what you want me to do…" I

torture… he needed you weakened but alive. Your power is essential to his plans; I'm sure

in the first place? I demanded though doubt had already begun to gnaw at me.

by ambition and jealousy. Your father never stopped loving your mother. She was the third person in

pained smile crossed

same way. You constantly reminded me of what I and my daughter could never bet to him." She looked toward the baby again. "But now I understand what truly matters and how important love is. I won't let my son grow up

Nathan's strange behaviour lately, the way he'd insisted I stay close to him after my rescue, the blood oath, the