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

198 The other side of love....

A few hours before

Ramsey

| stood on the fitting platform, the wedding shop’s mirror reflecting my image as the tailors ran around me,

making last-minute adjustments to the Tuxedo I had on.

According to their plans, | will be dressed in a tux for the first part of the wedding, while the second part

will be our official Ceremonial Joining attire. | stood still, mechanical, trying to focus on anything except the

thought of Lyla getting married today.

Each tick of the clock on the wall felt like a countdown to my hell.

“Do you want us to shorten the cuffs? the tailor suddenly asked me, staring atwith uncertainty.

“Whatever you please,” | murmured, refusing to meet his gaze.

Despite my calm expression, my thoughts inside were far from calm. | couldn't stop thinking about Lyla. | had

purposely avoided my phone today because | had to resist the temptation to look up the ceremony.

Although Nathan had ruled for barely a year as an Alpha, he had becinfluential in our world. Many

werewolves looked up to him, and despite his insistence that he wanted a simple wedding. everyone couldn't

stop talking about it, and | didn't have an issue with Nathan.

| just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Lyla would be walking down the aisle to another man. The

mere thought sent a sharp pain through my chest which | swallowed; | couldn't afford to let it show.

As the tailors went away to adjust the cuffs, the bell above the shop door chimed and in the mirror’s reflection, |

saw my grandfather enter. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

“Ramsey, he started in a gruff voice. “When they toldyou were here, | thought they were joking.”

“I have fittings,” | replied curtly, adjusting the lapels of my tuxedo.

After the Harvest Moon Festival, we had avoided each other like plague. We barely had our meals together and

the only twe'd bump into each other was at the meeting hall or something else. There was one night when |

got up to get myself snacks from the small kitchenette downstairs, | caught him making out with one of the pack

housemaids.

Aside from that, we've not said two words to each other.

“You're cutting it close,” he murmured, walking around me, inspecting. “Your wedding is tomorrow. Shouldn't you

het]

“This is preparing,” | said flatly.

He wanted to say something in reply to that but decided against it. “The suits fit well,” he

©

198 The other side of love....

commented. “At least something is going according to tradition around here.

My jaw clenched. “Did you need something?”

“I thought you might want to know how Alpha Nathan's wedding is progressing. | hope you have settled with him

because he’s an influential link between us and the werewolf now according to my sources. You would need him

in the long run.”

He settled into one of the waiting chairs. “Anyways, the wedding will start soon. It's a pity your declined his

invitation to go, it would have been...”

“I didn’t ask to be filled in...” | cut him short.

“No, you never do ask the important questions, do you?” His voice carried that familiar note of disappointment |

was used to. “Just like you didn’t ask before making a fool of yourself at the Harvest Moon Festival.

| finally turned, dismissing the tailor who had returned a while ago with a gesture. “We've been through this”

“Have we? Because | don’t recall you ever explaining why you chose to disgrace our family

name...”

“Is that what you were worried about? The family name?” | laughed bitterly. “Not the fact that you manipulated

and lied...”

“| protected our legacy!” his voice rose. “Everything | did was to

ensure our bloodline remained pure, remained strong. But you...” he shook his head. “You let your emotions

cloud your judgment. Just like your father.”

The mention of my father’s nmadeclench my fists. “Are we done here?”

He rose to his feet, straightening his jacket. “The ceremony should be starting soon and our representative said

Nathan looked quite... satisfied with his choice and Lyla seemed to be ready to becthe next Luna of Blue

Ridge. | hope you stop chasing her now. It’s enough that you had her before her mate but... I'm hoping that

would not be a trouble in the future.

Mentioning Lyla’s nfelt like a dagger to my chest. “Great, Grandpa. I'm happy for Nathan and | wish them

the best of luck. Any other thing you'd want to

report on?”

He snorted. “You're such a terrible liar, Ramsey. | know you've been thinking about her.”

| shot him a warning glance. “Drop it!”

“You've been avoidingsince the Festival when you know it’s justand you now and any other family you'll

make with Cassidy. It’s tyou stop sulking and act like the Lycan Leader you were raised to be. Furthermore, |

hope you've done away with your mistresses?”

“Why? You want to have them too?” | fired back, holding his gaze. “Sleeping around with the maids in the pack

house? | guess it’s something | learned from you.”

My grandfather laughed, crossing his arms. “I will let you disrespecttoday but in the end, you still did my will

so | won't take offence. Besides, burying yourself in work and pretending you don’t care will not solve anything.

Lyla’s not coming back, Ramsey. She's sealed to Nathan Tanner

198 The other side of love...

1 cdown from the fitting platform, sttripping myself of the fitting clothes. “This conversation is over. If you'll

excuse me, | have a wedding to attend tomorrow”

He only sighed but didn’t press further. “One day, Ramsey... you'll thankfor everything.” With those parting

words, he left the bell chiming mockingly behind him.

Back at my office, as soon as | entered, my staff looked up, each of them were staring atwith surprise. My

secretary walked up toimmediately | settled behind my desk.

“Alpha, what are you doing here? Your wedding is tormmorow. Shouldn't you be ... | don’t know, taking the day

off?”

| waved her away. “I have work to finish. The less | have to deal with after the honeymoon, the better.”

My secretary hesitated and | know she wanted to talk more but decided against it. “Alright,” she said cautiously.

“But don’t overwork yourself.”

| nodded and waited for her until she closed the door. | shifted my attention back to the little pile of work on my

desk.