The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 145 145: Duty comes first

Ramsey

I leaned against the wall outside of Miriam's room, trying to hide the tent in my pants…the only thing that had stopped from taking Lyla right there and now was because of Miriam. If we had been alone…

Lax growled with need within , and I blocked him off. He'd make things worse. Sighing, I pushed myself away from the wall, adjusting my clothing to hide my bulge, hoping I'd walk out the rest. I was going to go see my grandfather and inform him of the victory today, but I needed to take care of a few things in my den.

So, I headed there instead.

I hurried into my office, shutting the door behind with a soft sigh. My mind was still buzzing with the thoughts of Lyla–the way her breast had felt against my chest, how soft and pliant she had been in my arms. The scent of her hair nuzzled my senses, sending another warm electric thrill through my body.

"She belongs to another man…" I muttered under my breath. "She belongs to soone else."

"Ramsey!"

A voice called out, startling and interrupting my thoughts. My eyes flew open only to see Cassidy at the window, her lithe fra silhouetted against the soft afternoon light. I pulled myself to my full height, feeling the warm satisfaction from helping save the Southern border and Lyla's warm hug dissolved.

I plastered a polite smile on my face as I nodded. "Cass, what are you doing here? You didn't tell you were coming?"

"Am I supposed to inform my mate that I'm coming to visit him?" she retorted, approaching . "Are you worried that I'm going to find you stuck in between another woman's legs?"

"Not this, Cass!" I sighed, moving away from her to my desk. I still had the bulge. "I literally just ca back from a fight."

"Then why am I slling her on you?"

I arched a brow.

"Lyla!" she pointed out. "I can sll her on you and I heard you spent almost thirty minutes with her locked up in this den. Guess what, when I ca here, her scent was everywhere, aning it was not a lie."

I sighed. "I don't know why you always feel the need to watch . Yes, Lyla was in my office for a while, but it was for a different reason and not what you think. Didn't we talk about using the pack staff to spy on ? I don't like it."

"I wouldn't have to do that if you gave reasons to trust you." she folded her arms and tilted her head, her dark hair catching the light. "Why was she here, Ramsey? Tell the truth, I swear I won't get mad. I've seen worse with you."

I gritted my teeth, trying to quell the irritation growing inside . "She was here like I ntioned, but it wasn't for whatever reason you think it is. She saw—a powerful vision about the Ferals and we saved the pack mbers at the Southern border of our pack because of that."

"You had to get on top of her for the vision to be clear?" she leaned closer and sniffed . "Because her scent is all over you. Can you explain that?'

"Cassidy, please! I don't want to do this right now."

"You promised to be accountable, Alpha Kincaid. You promised you'd be kind to , or you'd rather I tell your grandfather or the elders that…"

"A while ago," I interrupted her, "I was in Miriam's–that's her Nanny's room to check on her and I got excited and we hugged. Her Nanny was right there, so nothing happened. She had felt faint after the vision. I just wanted to make sure she was doing good."

She scoffed, taking a step closer and narrowing her eyes. "You always seem to be 'making sure she's okay.' Don't you think it's ti soone else took that responsibility?"

"I've not seen her since she arrived here and today there was a viable reason for that. She's the Moonsinger, Cass… we'll cross paths more often and in the future. It's nothing more than duty."

"Duty." She spat. "You're always so full of noble excuses, aren't you? Until our Joining Ceremony, I don't want to see you around her. If she has sothing so urgent to say to you, she can go through Lenny."

For peace to reign, I nodded and rose to my feet, glad that all the talking had cald down. I moved toward her.

"Fine, but let's not fight about it. Okay? How about we plan sothing for later?"

"I already went on a date with you this week," she rolled her eyes.

"How about a picnic by the lake, just you and ? No distractions, no interruptions. I promise."

She studied for a mont before the frown cleared from her face and sighed, entering my arms.

"Fine," she said at last, though her voice still held a note of reluctance. "Everything has been going well for a while and I want it to remain that way. Can you not just have anything to do with her?"

"I'll try, Cass, but it's almost impossible. I'll try. Once she recovers fully, she'll leave and would never co here again except for sothing official."

"That's better," she murmured. Then stood on her toes to kiss when soone barged in, making her stop.

"There's a door for a reason," she groaned, turning to see who the visitor was.

It was Lenny, and he had a stack of paper in his hands.

"I'm sorry, Cassidy, I didn't know you were here. I need Ramsey to look at sothing real quick."

She disentangled from , glaring at Lenny before prancing out of the office. As soon as the door closed, I sighed in relief.

"Thank you! That was fast."

"You were lucky. I was in the pack house already to see you. But you can't keep dodging her forever and if you're set to get married to her, kissing and sex need to happen at so point."

"If we get married!" I dropped into my chair. "The Moon Priest clearly says he didn't us getting married, so I'm going to hold on to that. Besides, she's looking for a way to trap . I told you about how I caught her putting sothing in my drink and the conversation with her mother afterwards. Heaven knows what she might have rubbed on her lips or in her mouth. I'm not taking chances."

"Ah… the things won do. Well, marriage and relationships are not for everyone," Lenny chuckled.

"You'll have to find a mate, eventually. Anyway, have they sent the relief materials to the Southern border?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Yes!" he nodded. "I just need you to sign this authorization form so the storage unit can give us what we want and I also brought this." he handed the stack of papers in his hand.

"The latest situation report about today's attack for tomorrow's morning assembly. We've also increased patrols as you ordered, and so far, we've had no further sightings."

"Good," I said, flipping through the docunts quickly. "Anything else?"

"Just one question," Lenny said, leaning closer as he whispered. "Are you planning to attend Lyla's cleansing tonight?"

I paused, glancing up at him. "No, I don't think so. If they need , you'll go in my place."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Not going to support her? I thought you said you'd try to win her over?"

"I gave up on that, a while ago, that darned Nathan warned yet again, I know this is funny but he scares the shit out of ," I chuckled, "In a good way though… so much that it makes jealous. He says for Lyla… he's ready to fight without a second thought, even though he knows the odds will be in my favour and that he might likely die."

"You could put him in his place once and for all," Lenny frowned "You keep enabling him."

"Over a woman?" I laughed. "C'mon, I have other things to do with my strength and I'm not a brute."

"Still, go for the cleansing," Lenny insisted.

I wanted to, but I shrugged, trying to keep my voice casual. "I've got other plans tonight. Cassidy and I are having a picnic."

"At night?" he scoffed. "Should I assu you're beginning to fall in love with her now? These days, it seems she has you wrapped around her pinky."

"That's the only way I can keep Lyla safe," I laughed softly, leaning back in my chair. "It's not love either. I'm just doing my duties."

"Duties? To who? Her or yourself?"

I didn't answer right away as my smile faded into sothing more subdued. "To everyone," I said finally."

He didn't press further. He gave a curt nod, took the paper I'd signed and handed back, and then left the room.

Alone, I stared out of the window, my thoughts turning back to Lyla. This was the right thing to do. Keeping my distance.

My life was a delicate balance and Lyla… she tipped the scales in ways I didn't know existed.

Yet, as much as I tried to convince myself that I could live without her, her lingering scent and the way my heart fills with joy whenever she's near—it is all becoming harder to ignore.

But duty… Duty cos first.