167 The forever | dream of...
Lyla
“I missed you, | murmured to Nathan for maybe the thousandth tsince he arrived, placing my head gently on
his shoulders. | hadn't realized how much | missed him until now.
“I missed you more, he replied, squeezing my hand gently. “You look beautiful as always and...” he paused for a
minute, running his eyes the length of my body. “Different-but in a good way. Did | miss out on anything? I'm
sure you've been busy, too
“I didn’t change. | said quickly, steering the topic of my physical appearance. Since Nymeris manifested herself
to me, I've gotten many compliments about my appearance. Although, | haven't felt Nymeris for a few days now,
but | wanted to attribute it to the stress that cwith all the Harvest Moon Festival.
The first thing | would do as soon as | go back to Blue Ridge was to learn everything | need to about having a
wolf. Learn everything I'm supposed to learn about my wolf. | was dying to run through the forest with the moon
shining brightly above us and the wind in
my fur....
“And yes, I've. Been busy, | continued, grinning. “But it’s been good. | enjoy working, the apprentices are doing
great too, and everything's on track for the festival:
He smiled. “I'm so proud of you, Lyla. Every day... and I'm lucky that a few months from now, we'll be together
forever-hopefully.”
I smiled. “I can’t wait.”
We continued walking, talking and trying to catch up with lots of things. | noticed it was just my sister Clarissa
walking a distance behind us, but | didn’t want to think too much of it. | wanted to ask about my mother and all,
but still, | was afraid | would ruin the mood. Perhaps later.
because
Moreso, | felt a lightness in my heart that | hadn't felt in weeks, and | knew it was b
Nathan was here.
As we neared the central square, | noticed Nanny was watching us from a distance. Her expression was
unreadable, but | waved to her like a small child, earning a sad smile in return. Nanny has been acting strange
for sdays now.
| would wake up to
find her watchingintently by my bedside; most times, her eyes were swollen with unshed tears; at other
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇttimes, | saw sadness in them. All attempts to find out what could be the problem always end in the sthing...
silence on her part.
After the little details | gathered here and there from the whispers of the other priestesses, it seemed Nanny had
left the Moon Temple-ran away-would be a perfect word. She was next in line to the High Priestess but suddenly
ran away one morning and only turned up recently.
However, no one seem to know why she ran away.
| realized for maybe the millionth tagain that there was not much | knew about her. We've spent the better
part of our life together, catering to my needs, and making sure my pheromones do not hinder my everyday life.
Nanny has sacrificed so much for me... much more than all the people in my life put together
The foover | dream of
Nanny has sacrificed so much for me... much more than all the people in my life put togeth and the fact that she
had a lot going on with her and I’m unable to help her hurtmore than
anything.
“What's on your mind?” Nathan asked suddenly, noticing my momentary distraction.
“Nanny,” | sighed. “She’s been... different lately. | don’t know how to explain it. She’s still herself, but
sometimes, | feel there's something she’s not telling me. | don’t know... I'm just feeling like a sheep backed to a
corner. | think | can handle a lot of things now, but no one wants to tellanything and the fact that Nanny is
still-tight lipped hurts even more.”
Nathan frowned slightly. “Have you asked her about it?”
| shook my head. “I tried-subtly but | don’t want to push her. | feel she’s ashamed of opening up p toand |
get it... it’s difficult to talk about certain parts of your life you wish never happened. She's always been there for
Nathan nodded, though he looked thoughtful. “Sometimes, people keep secrets with good intentions, Ly” But
they can still hurt when they cto light
| glanced at him, sensing a deeper meaning in his words. “Is there something you're not telling
me?”
He smiled softly, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “Nothing you need to worry about right
now.”
| didn’t press further, choosing to trust him. Together, we continued towards their lodgings.
As soon as we entered the room, he pinnedto the wall, sliding his hand under my dress, rough and
unapologetic. Catching my eyes, he smirked when he saw the embarrassed look on my face.
“You were waiting for this, weren't you? Now I'm here, we can practice all those things you'd say
toon the phone.”
“Well...” | swallowed hard, managing a nervous smile, “I didn’t think...”
The words barely left my mouth when his lips claimed mine. An instant rush of energy pools all over my body as
he starts to ravage my lips. His mouth left mine, trailing wet kisses down my throat, sucking on it. He drags
hungry kisses to the space in between my breasts and then down to my stomach.
“Nathan...” | gasped, taking in shaky breaths. “I can't. Please, | can't... please.”
“What?” he pushes away from me, panting, “Why? | want you, Lyla... please...”
| leave his arm, tugging at my dress that had ridden up during his exploration. “I can’t, Nath, until the Moon
Festival is over. | can’t be with a man. The High Priestess told me.”
“What?” his face fell. “That's cruel, | mean... it's not like you're a sigma or something. Why would they subject
you to something like that?”
As | opened my mouth to reply, a knock sounded on the door. Before Nathan could respond, the door opened and
Clarissa walked in-letrephrase that.
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167 The forever | dream of...
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Her gaze flitted fromto Nathan and then back to Nathan, practically ignoring me. “Alpha Nathan, can | talk to
you for a moment? It'll be real quick, | promise.”
Nathan shifted uncomfortably, reaching for my hand as if he needed the extra layer of security. “Can't it wait? |
just...”
“It cannot,” she said pointedly.
“I know | am not too small for you not to have noticed me, | tried not to show the anger coursing throughin
my voice. “I was here first, didn’t you see? You can’t just cin and demand his attention without considering
what he was doing first. Nathan,” | turned to him. “What's the meaning of this?”
“I'm sorry, Nathan said hurriedly, trying to calm me. “Just go, we'll talk about whatever it is you want later,
okay?”
“No, | won't!” Clarissa dropped onto the bed, crossing her legs. “If anyone should leave, then it’s her and not me.
| want to talk to you. Besides, | guess she doesn’t know yet? That would explain why she’s givingthis
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmattitude.”
“Clarissa, Nathan warned, “I told you to stay out of it!
“Know what?” | turned to Nathan, already feeling riled up. “What am | supposed to know?”
“It’s nothing consequential, darling. | promise I'll tell you, but you just have to calm down, okay?”
Nathan said.
“I'am calm,” | laughed dryly. “Don’t | look calm enough to you? | just need to know what is going on, but first, let
her leave and | mean it. How can she cin here and disrespectlike that? | am older than you, Clarissa.
You should show srespect.”
“I only give respect to people who deserve it. There's nothing about you that demands respect, Lyla. Plus...who
do you think you are? Do you think becoming an upgrade of your lowly self would make any difference or change
who you are?” Clarissa laughed. “Oh, my poor girl, you
have no idea.”
“Are you going to stand here and watch her insult me?” | turned to Nathan, who just stood there with his eyes
closed and both of his hand in his hair. “Nathan?”
“Lyla, please!” he turned towith a pleading gaze. “I just need you to trustthis taround, okay? I'll
explain everything and Clarissa, leave...now!”
“I won't!” she answered, flashing him a defiant gaze. “The only person who shouldn't be here is her and no one
else. So, nope... | won't be leaving. Ask her to leave instead.”
My eyes widened with shock. | stalked over to where she was, not thinking through my reached for the neck of
her blouse, dragging her to her feet.
“What did you just say?” | demanded.
“I said, you're the intruder. If anyone should leave, it should be you and not me,” Clarissa repeated.
“We're dating, | fumed. “And we plan on taking things to the next level.”
“Forget about it, dear!” Clarissa snickered. “There's no next level for you and him.”
actions. |
167 The forever | dream of
“Clarissa...” Nathan's warning growl cagain.
“And why is that?” | challenged. “You have a problem with that?”
“Nope!” Clarissa shook her head. “Because I'll be marrying him instead, and not you, Lyla