The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger by Ejiofor Dorcas

195 Confrontation...

Lyla to

“What will | do with the ring?” he said quietly. “You're the only woman | want wearing that ring

“You have a new woman. | don’t want it anymore.”

Turning away, | grabbed my bag from the floor and started toward the door. Just s | reached for the handle,

Nathan's voice stopped me.

“You can't leave.”

| whirled back to face him, my fury boiling over. “And why the hell not?”

His expression had hardened, it was almost difficult to know what he I've

Was thinking! cancelled your permit to leave Blue Ridge and return to the human world.”

| froze instantly. My hands fell to my sides, trembling. “You...what? You can’t do that!”

“I can,” he responded, his voice was devoid of emotion. “And | have. | am the Alpha, remember? And this is my

decision.”

For a moment, | stared at the boy that | had prayed for

everything to get a husband like him. At the man who had stared attenderly but his eyes had blazed with

rage when he learnt of all the things Ramsey had done to me.

When did he change? Why would he choose to betray me?

“You...you can’t controllike this,” | said with a shaky voice.

His eyes softened briefly but his resolve remained unbroken as he moved to the door, pausing with his hand on

the handle. “Think about my offer, Lyla. Really think about it. It's the only way.”

With that, he turned and walked out, leavingstanding in stunned silence.

My legs gave out beneathand | sank to the floor, with tears streaming down my face. My chest heaved as |

sobbed. | didn’t even know which of the things that had happened tothat | was crying for.

Was it because of how the wedding turned out to be or my real identity being exposed? There were just so many

things to cry about.

The sobs cfor thirty minutes. It was violent, uncontrolled, racking my entire body. But as my sobs quietened

to hiccups, a new resolve began to grow in my heart.

“No,” | whispered to myself. “Crying won't solve this. Tears won't fix anything.”

Tears won't helpnow, they never had. | pushed myself to my feet, wiping my face roughly with the back of

my hand. | grabbed my fallen bags. | couldn't stay here, not another moment.

| left Natha’s house and decided to check into a hotel in town. The room was simple and quiet but it was the

perfect place | wanted to be.

Shours later, | was in a taxi going to Golden Gates Pack. My heart was pounding as we

neared the

rate Not only wae | already feeling awkward. | didn’t know how to confront Nannu

195 Confrontation

Honestly, | didn’t feel as bad as | know | should or maybe the passage of hours had diminished the anger | felt.

But cto think of it, | wasn’t as angry as. | just wanted to know why she had kept it away from me. So, it was

answers | needed, clarity and a path forward.

After we passed the gates, the taxi drovestraight to the Moon temple. After | was dropped off, | stood in front

of the gates of the temple, wondering if this was a good idea and if | was ready for this.

| didn’t even know what to say or how to start the conversation. | stared at the gates of the temple as memories

of Nanny’s stories about this place flooded my mind. She didn’t say specifically

and

abo was a Moon Temple but she had toldso much about the place she grew up in

her best friend.

She had been clear enough back then and | would have insisted on knowing what she actually meant. When she

talked about their waking and sleeping bells. Why hadn't | figured it out?

| still stood at the gate, quietly.

“Lyla!” a voice called out from behind makingjump. | spun around to see Nanny’s best friend, Terra standing

a few feet away from me. She had a smile on her face and kind eyes.

“Priestess Terra.” | breathed in relief.

“It’s Wise Woman but you can just callTerra. What are you doing here? Did you cto check up on Nanny?

Isnt today supposed to be your wedding day? Why are you here?” Even | didn’t know that.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I just...| needed to find answers. | want to see Nanny.”

“Sure of course. Cwith me,” she said gently. Together, she pushed open the gate and | followed suit.

It was a different world inside the temple altogether. | spotted a group of children a little shy of three years old,

practising fighting and a lot of people in different age groups practising. | hurried behind Terra, catching up with

her long strides.

“Why are there children here?” it was none of my business, | didn’t even know how the question cto my

mind.

“Sigma children are brought in as infants. Sare a little after a year old or a few months old, depending on

how strong the child is. This is our calling”

“Do the children ever know who their parents are?” | asked.

“Nope, and there's absolutely no way for you to contact them. The essence of serving the Moon Goddess

to give your service a hundred per cent. There are latterly no in-betwens here. So, we're all orphans here:

I nodded, trying to picture nanny as a child bawling and crying when she was brought here. We continued the

rest of the walking in silence until we stopped in front of one building that was at the end. Terra rapped on the

door twice. At the third time, the door opened and Nanny emerged.

10:26

195 Confrontation...

She went pale as soon as she saw me.

“Lyla? What are you doing here?” she asked. “Is everything okay? I'm sorry | couldn’t cto the wedding...”

“Is it true?” | interrupted her.

“True?” she eyeswith confusion. “What are you talking about?” she demanded.

“Are you my mother?”