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4.47% The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. / Chapter 11: Finally, freedom!

Chapter 11: Finally, freedom!

Lyla

"You'll be fine, Lyla," I muttered to myself. "You will go back to before… before you met him… before the gala, before everything. You don't need him… you don't need them…" my voice cracked, but I kept walking.

I was free, yes, but nowhere felt like home anymore.

Going back to Blue Ridge—to my pack wasn't even an option. My parents would kill me before they let me spend a night under their roof. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I sniffed them back…none of my problems have ever been solved by crying.

I crossed to the side of the road, noting a lot of people walking towards the White gate. Most of them were either injured and were supported by people or lying down on some transport. I felt fear seep into my heart for a minute…

If Ramsey was right about the Feral wolves, was it really safe for me to be leaving? Especially as I had no wolf. Feral wolves were once werewolves, but they lost their humanity, and they could not be reasoned with. If I stumbled upon one, I was as good as dead.

I hesitated for a minute, turning back to look at the white gates, half-expecting to see Ramsey running towards me, but I would be foolish to think that was possible. Taking in a deep breath, I turned and continued down the path.

I didn't care if I would walk the entire way to the human world. I just wanted to leave. I wish I could undo everything, to return to the moments when I was just the unwanted wolfless girl—at least it was a lesser pain compared to what I feel now.

I walked faster, my pace matching the pounding of my heart.

I walked for what felt like hours, refusing to think, allowing my feet to lead me. Slowly, I left the protective terrain of the White Moon Mountains and ventured deeper into the thick forest. I had barely noticed; since I was lost in thoughts.

I paused for a minute and took stock of my surroundings. I was in a forest, filled with thick trees that were so tall that they blocked the sun's rays. A shiver ran down my spine, as every instinct in me screamed for me to turn back. A fearful premonition suddenly filled me… my heart began to race… it was as if I knew something was about to happen — something bad. I spun on my heel, ready to retrace my steps, but it was too late.

They emerged from the shadows…seven pairs of eyes gleaming at me. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the sight of these strange wolves circling me. They were not rogues — they looked too clean to be rogues. Aside from the star-shaped mark on their forehead, they were twice the size of a normal werewolf.

They looked sleek and well-fed and they were not snarling or trying to attack me like a rogue would.

For a moment, they stared at me... and I stared back, wondering what they wanted. 

"Uhm… Hi!" I ventured, my eyes trained on every one of them. "So, I think I am lost and I'm sorry for trespassing. I was about to turn back," I said, spinning around.

But none of the wolves made a sound. They all remained in their positions, eyes fixed on me.

My eyes darted to the path I had just come from, half-expecting anyone to show up, but that was not possible. I was too far from any pack. Even if I decide to make a dash for it… I wouldn't go far. I just had my human strength. I could never outrun a wolf.

"I don't want any trouble," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "You don't want anything from me. I am poor and broke and I live like an orphan."

A large wolf, clearly their leader, hung back and was watching me. There was something about his eyes that felt familiar.

"Please," I said again, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just let me go this once, I promise, you'd never see me here."

I moved, and the wolves moved with me. I panicked and tried to move faster, only for my heel to catch an exposed root. I tumbled to the ground, leaves and twigs scraping against my palm.

"Stay back!" I cried out, suddenly raising my hands at them. I saw them pause and for a flitting moment, I saw fear flash in their eyes. All seven of them. It was as if they expected me to do something. But they recovered quickly.

"My death won't benefit you!" I sobbed, scrambling backwards on my hands and knees. "I have no pack, no family to mourn me if I die. Please, just let me go!"

But the wolves remained silent. Their eyes gleamed with an intelligence that chilled me to my core. These were not rogues — it was clear they weren't driven by hunger or desperation. There was a purpose behind their actions—it was as if they were calculating every step I took. My heart sank as I stared closely at them… wondering what they were.

"I don't want to die," I sobbed, curling in on myself as the circle of the wolves tightened. "Not like this. Not alone in the dark." But they continued towards me.

My chest heaved, and I shut my eyes, bracing myself for the inevitable. 

"Please!" I begged, my voice breaking. "Please…"

Suddenly, their leader lunged forward… instinctively. I threw up my arms in a futile attempt to protect myself as a scream tore from the back of my throat. I waited for his impact on my body, but he flew backwards and crashed into the tall trees behind us.

For a moment, shock registered on their faces and mine too. I spun around, hoping to see who my saviour was, but it was just me and the wolves.

I also noticed that the other wolves had taken a step backwards and I could tell they were afraid... but of who? I wondered. Surely not me.

But the moment of surprise passed quickly. Two of the wolves closest to me snarled and lunged at me at once. It was as if they were trying to avenge their leader. They both leapt at me, teeth bared, and eyes blazing with fury.

Time seemed to slow as I watched them sail through the air. My heart pounded in my chest, every nerve in my body screaming for me to run, but I remained rooted to the spot. Just as their claws were about to make contact with my skin, an invisible force slammed into them.

The wolves yelped in surprise and pain as they were thrown backwards, crashing into the others.

I stood there, frozen in disbelief as I struggled to understand what was happening. I turned back again to see if someone was helping me, but it was just me. How was this possible? I hadn't moved, hadn't done anything to defend myself?

The remaining wolves circled warily around me again. They exchanged nervous glances… their leader had longed to recover and suddenly he jumped high, leaping through the trees with such speed that I couldn't keep up.

He jumped at me again. This time, his claws racked across my back, tearing through my dress and into my skin. I cried out in pain, stumbling forward. Another blow caught me in my ribs, stealing my breath away. I fell to my knees, gasping and coughing out blood.

The rest of the wolves had now gained confidence and circled me again, gnarling their teeth. Their leader came again, looming over me. His face was the picture of fury as he raised his clawed hands… I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the end…But the blow never came.

A roar, primal and furious, echoed through the thick forest. I opened my eyes just in time to catch a blur of motion slamming into the leader, sending him directly to the trees.

"Ramsey?" I whispered, almost hopeful despite myself.

But when he turned, his eyes were dark and stormy… that was when I realized that it wasn't Ramsey.


Chapter 12: The mate who doesn't want me...

Lyla

My heart skipped a beat as I recognized who it was.

It wasn't Alpha Ramsey, as I had secretly hoped, but Nathan. I mentally chided myself for even entertaining the thought of him coming to save me. He had made it clear enough that he wanted nothing to do with me.

What a fool I was to expect anything from him after everything.

My legs finally gave way as I fell onto the soft grass, wincing with pain. The wound on my back hurt. Nathan attacked the wolves, fighting them off. The fight didn't last so long, as the wolves seemed to be weakened, while Nathan was fighting so ferociously that they didn't stand a chance. Finally, they scrambled away, taking along with them their injured leader.

Silence fell over the clearing once more. Nathan shifted back to his human form and came towards me.

"Nathan?" I whispered, gritting my teeth. "What are you doing here? Are you alright?"

He didn't answer immediately. His gaze first scanned the area before it finally settled on me, darkening with annoyance.

"Are you out of your mind, Lyla?" he snapped, his chest heaving from the fight. "What the hell were you thinking?" he demanded again. "Do you have any idea what could've happened to you out here?"

I flinched at his angry tone but forced myself to meet his gaze. "I… I wasn't...."

"Damn right, you weren't thinking!" He interrupted me. "Walking through the forest alone? Do you have any idea how dangerous this forest is? Or do you just not care anymore? Those weren't just any wolves, Lyla. They weren't Rogues, they were Ferals and you're lucky to be alive!"

"Ferals?" A shiver ran down my spine. "That would explain why they look different. Thank you for saving me, Nathan."

"Is that all you have to say?" He bellowed, enraged. "Why didn't you want to see me yesterday?" He asked. "I drove all the way from Blue Ridge only to be told that you didn't want visitors. The butler said you were fine, but since you're out here in the forest, you're clearly not! What is wrong with you, Lyla?"

"Not now, Nathan," I sighed. "I'm too tired to argue. Besides, I'm not a child. I'm an adult and I can handle myself. You shouldn't have come here in the first place," I muttered.

"Handle yourself?" he retorted. "Is this the thanks I get for saving you?"

"Well, I didn't ask for your help either," I spat back, rising to my feet. My body was still shaking. "I didn't ask you or anyone to come save me!"

"That's the problem, Lyla…" he sighed, taking on a softer tone, "You don't have to ask. I am your friend. I have to always look out for you. You understand that, right? I care about you, and I don't need your permission to make sure you stay alive."

Tears gathered in my eyes, blurring my vision at his words. I wanted to accept them, but I was far too hurt to want comfort.

"I'm alive. You can go now," I said without looking at him. "I don't need you hovering over me."

"Fine!" he sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Let's get out of here. It's not safe. Let's just go home."

"No!" I said immediately, pushing away from his grasp.

"What do you mean, no?" His brows shot up.

"I mean, I'm not going back. I can't. Not after everything. Besides, my parents would not be thrilled to see me."

"Lyla, please be reasonable. I know there's friction between you and them, but do you think they'd actually turn down their child after this awful experience?"

"Oh, please!" I laughed bitterly. "You don't know my parents, Nathan. Besides, I don't belong here with all of you."

"Is this about being a deviant?" He paused and came towards me, sniffing the air. Before he looked at me again. "I'm guessing the worst of it has passed, right? Besides, I don't care about that. You're my friend."

"It's not just about that." I shook my head. "It's everything. The whispers, the stares, the pity…and next month, I'd have to deal with another episode of pheromones. I can't take it anymore."

"Fine, we can't decide that in the middle of a forest. Let's go home and figure it out together."

"I'll pass, Nathan." I gritted my teeth as another episode of pain flashed through me.

I didn't want Nathan to know about the wound, so I pressed my jacket tighter.

"So you'd rather risk your life out here?" he gestured to the forest around us. "That's not a solution, Lyla. It's running away."

Anger flared in my chest. "Don't you dare judge me! You have no idea what it's like!"

"Dammit, Lyla!" he shouted suddenly, stepping in front of me, forcing me to meet his eyes again. "Stop with this self-pity act! You always do this—you push everyone away, always refusing help, acting like you can take on the world alone! And for what? To prove some point? That you're stronger than everyone else? Because newsflash—you're not invincible!"

"That's not true!" I protested weakly.

"It is Lyla," he sighed, reaching for my hand. "You never let anyone in. It's like you have this wall around you. Please let me in…help me understand…"

A tear rolled down my cheek. "I'm not trying to prove anything. I just want…"

"What, Lyla? What do you want?" He demanded, his voice softening, though I could tell he was still angry. "To be left alone? To suffer in silence? Is that what you want?"

"I don't belong here!" I cried, my voice breaking as the tears I was trying to hold finally spilt over.

"I am a deviant, Nathan. I have no business existing. Even the one person who could have helped me… who could have made me less of a freak… doesn't want anything to do with me."

Nathan's eyes widened with confusion. "What are you talking about? Who doesn't want anything to do with you?"

"My mate," I whispered, the word tasting like ashes in my mouth.

"Your mate?" Nathan couldn't hold back his surprise. "Lyla, you found your mate? You have a mate?" He repeated with disbelief.

I showed him Ramsey's mark at the side of my neck, sniffing back tears. "But it doesn't matter again. He doesn't want me."

"That's impossible," Nathan frowned. "The mate bond doesn't work like that. Are you sure…."

"I'm sure," I cut him off. "You should have seen the way he looked at me, Nathan. Like I was nothing… less than nothing."

Nathan was silent for a moment, as though he was processing this information. And then he spoke again.

"Who is it? Who's your mate, Lyla?"

"You don't need to know," I said, trying to focus on Nathan's face, which was blurring. "It's not like he wants me, anyway. It'll be better if you or anyone don't know."

"No, it's not better," Nathan snapped. "Tell me who hurt you, Lyla…"

I shook my head, immediately regretting the movement as a wave of dizziness washed over me. "No, I won't say!" I slurred.

Nathan frowned. He must have noticed that all was not well with me. "Lyla, are you feeling alright? You look pale!"

"I'm fine!" I insisted, "Just tired."

"Are you sure?" he came closer and touched my forehead. "You're burning."

"I said I'm fine!" I said forcefully, feeling every part of my body growing heavy.

As I tried to move away from him, I swayed and landed on his chest.

Nathan reached out immediately and tried to steady me, but his hand immediately touched my wet and sticky jacket. Making a frustrated sound, he quickly tore my jacket off my shoulders and then gasped.

"Lyla! Oh, goddess! You're bleeding!"

"What?" I feigned surprise, trying to turn and look, but the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through me and I gasped. "One of those Ferals must have scratched me."

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" Nathan demanded, inspecting the wound. "This is serious, Lyla. I need to get you back to the pack healer."

I weakly tried to push his hand away. "No, I told you… I can't go back. I don't belong…"

"This isn't up for debate," he said firmly. "You're hurt, and …".

My vision darkened, and my insides were burning with pain. I grabbed onto Nathan, trying to stop my eyes from fluttering shut. I must be strong…

"Lyla!" I heard Nathan's voice sounding from afar.

I wanted to open my mouth to tell him that I would be fine, that it was just a small gash but I felt myself falling… and then… just before I closed my eyes, I glimpsed something… someone in white, just like that night… watching us from the shadows.

My heart skipped a beat as I tried to strain my eyes to figure out who it was.

But my body could not hold on any longer. My eyelids fluttered shut, and my world went black. 


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