The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

Chapter 378: Red flags and wreckage...

Lyla

I sat in Paul’s car in front of my house, my hands folded protectively over my growing belly as an uncomfortable silence stretched between us. The afternoon had started innocently enough.

I’d gone to farmer’s market to pick out some fresh vegetables because I was craving it. I also didn’t want to go with Ramsey. The last time I went with him, the women had swooned around him, asking for his number.

Some of the bold ones even took pictures.

The only thing that had stopped me from actually fighting that day was how Ramsey had ignored every one of them, focusing on me. I’d left the market with open glares from the women.

Coincidentally, I ran into Paul after I finished shopping, nearly three days after he’d visited us, and he offered to drive me home.

Now I was beginning to regret accepting his offer.

I turned toward Paul, managing a polite smile.

"Thank you for bringing me home," I said, reaching for the door handle. "I appreciate you taking the time to—"

My words died as I tried the handle and found it wouldn’t budge. The door was locked.

I tried again, noticing the door wouldn’t budge. I tugged again, harder this time. Nothing. The door was really locked.

Paul’s hand suddenly covered mine, his fingers warm and unwelcome against my skin. I pulled back instinctively, a warning bell going off in my mind as I turned to face him.

"What do you think you’re doing?" I asked, trying to keep the anger simmering inside me from showing in my voice.

Paul turned to me with pleading eyes that I’d never noticed before. Desperate, hungry eyes that made my skin crawl. "I love you, Lyla. I’ve loved you for the longest time, and you broke my heart. You showed up a few days ago with a husband, pregnant with his child. What am I supposed to do with these feelings?"

I blinked. "What?"

"I’ve loved you for the longest time," he said, leaning close. "I swear."

I sighed, rubbing at my temple.

"You sound ridiculous, Paul. We never even got around to you asking me out. Why should I feel entitled to your feelings?"

"But you were nice to me that day at the office," he insisted, his voice taking on a wheedling quality. "You agreed to go out with me."

nicely and I was trying to be polite," I shot back, my anger building. "You were my

reached for the door handle again, pulling on it frantically. "Get over yourself

back against his seat. When he opened them again, there was something different in

he said, his voice taking on a bitter edge. "You always had this snobbish air around you, like you were better than everyone

I stared at him, my mind racing. I didn’t recall ever seeing Paul in college, nor had

things in life," Paul continued, his voice growing more aggressive. "Instead of living in this old, dingy house with some nobody, you could have everything with me. And you choose

tried to compose myself while frantically working the door handle, but it wouldn’t budge

said, my voice deadly

his eyes. "If you agree to one date with me, I’ll open the door.

disbelief. "You’re insane, Paul. I’m married and will soon be a

leaning toward me with eyes blazing. "You don’t know what

insane," I stared

"I’m in love."

or else I’ll shout and the

he said quietly. "I don’t

moved to reach for me. That was when I

metal, the door was ripped

looked up, I saw Ramsey standing beside the destroyed door, holding the entire car door in his hands as if it were made of cardboard. His expression was blank, too calm, but I could see the storm raging in his dark eyes, and through our mate bond, I felt his fury simmering just beneath the

mangled door with a crash and wrapped me in his

you hurt?" he asked quietly, his voice was strained, and it

seen

shook my head against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent and letting

"Good," he said simply.

calmly to the other side of Paul’s car and ripped the driver’s side door off as well, the metal screaming in protest as it separated

sat frozen in place, mouth

"What the hell—?"

out of his now-doorless car,

the hell do

by the throat and slammed him against the side of the car with enough force to

to trap my wife?" Ramsey’s voice was deadly quiet. "Who the

choking, his feet scrabbling for the ground as he clawed at Ramsey’s iron grip around his throat. Blood

let him go!" I rushed to them, trying to pull my husband’s arm away from Paul’s neck. "You’re going to kill

could feel his rage like a living thing, fed by the knowledge that someone had threatened his pregnant

purple, his struggles growing