The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 17 17: Finally, a rejection

Lyla

He stiffened at my touch at first, but then his arms ca around , holding gently. His hand moved to my hair, smoothing it down as he whispered.

"You're safe now... everything is fine."

We stayed like that for what seed like an eternity before I heard the handle of the door to the room turn. Ramsey pushed back as if he had just touched hot coal, adjusting his shirt as the Pack healer and a few nurses entered the room.

"Alpha!" the healer said as soon as he spotted Ramsey. "No one inford of your presence. Welco," he said.

Ramsey cleared his throat, his gaze darting at for a second before he took the Healer's outstretched hand. "I had to co see for myself. Thank you for doing your best and bringing her back."

The healer laughed. "It wasn't , Alpha. It was all her and the other gentleman that was here, Nathan, right? Anyway, I need to check on the patient and know how she's feeling."

The healer ca to , a smile on his face.

"Welco back, Miss. It's a good thing you're awake. Now, your body will heal quickly. Can you tell your na first?" he asked.

My gaze darted to Ramsey, and he shook his head, an indication that I shouldn't say my na. He was avoiding anything that would tie to him. I swallowed hard and looked out of the window.

"You can just call Miss," I said.

"Great!" He nodded. "Can you tell how you feel?"

I hesitated, trying to think of how I felt now. Aside from the dull ache in my heart from my mate thrusting away from him like I was so dirty secret, I felt strangely fine.

"I'm fine, I think. A little… confused and out of touch with the tiline, but I'm fine."

"That's normal," the healer nodded. "You've been unconscious for nearly a week. You suffered a Feral attack on your back and the wound was so deep that we thought it wouldn't heal, because you have no wolf and…"

"She has a wolf!" Ramsey suddenly said, interrupting the healer. "The entire attack must have startled it. Isn't it, Miss?"

Was he now resorting to lies to protect his pristine image? I was sure the healer and the nurses didn't catch us hugging. So, what was the extra layer of security?

"Yes!" I nodded, confirming his lie. "I suffer from panic attacks and my wolf, too, does that. There are periods where she shuts down for a while and does not communicate," I added.

"Oh!" The pack healer nodded, but he didn't seem to believe it. "I'll examine you now!"

A few minutes later, he was done with the routine checks.

"Miss, you're going to be fine. The wound will take a lot of ti to heal, or maybe faster if your wolf reconnects anyti now, but you'll recover. So, all you need to do is just rest and don't push yourself. Your body needs it."

"Thank you!" I let out a sigh of relief.

The healer nodded again, his gaze darting to Ramsey, who was standing silently in the corner before turning back to .

"I'll leave you to rest. If you need anything, please call ."

With that, the healer left the room, leaving behind the silence between and Ramsey.

I turned my gaze back to him, half expecting an apology for what he did, but the expression I had seen on his face before–the one filled with concern had changed and was replaced by sothing colder and more distant.

"I ca here to reject you officially, Lyla," he stated, his tone as cold and emotionless as ever.

I blinked, certain I had misheard him. "What?"

His eyes t mine, devoid of warmth. "In the beginning, I thought I could cope with having you as my mate," he continued, not bothering to repeat what he had said. "But I can't deal with this kind of weakness, Lyla. I'd be wasting our ti if I accept you. You've been unconscious for seven days and yet you cannot heal…there was no change. Every day was the sa as before. You're too weak."

My initial surprise gave way to anger that was slowly simring inside .

"I just ca out from death's jaw, Ramsey. Do you really think this is what I want to hear? After everything you pushed to do? How can you be so cruel? Do you hate that much? Surely, this is beyond not having a wolf."

His expression hardened. "Maybe, but you can call a monster if it pleases you. You are clueless about how much responsibility lies on my shoulders. Do you know what it ans to protect our entire world…Carrying you along with would only an extra baggage."

My heart shattered at his description. "You don't an that…"

"I do!" he said, without skipping a beat. "Having you by my side — soone who can't even heal properly," he scoffed, "Is an extra burden that I cannot afford. You'd be baggage, Lyla—all the things I neither want nor need."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at the man–My mate, before .

This would be the thousandth ti I have wondered why the Moon Goddess had chosen this brute as my mate. Everything I knew about the mate bond being sacred, about it bringing strength, instant love and protection for others, clearly didn't want to work for .

This was cruel…the height of it.

Tears shone in my eyes, but I swallowed them, refusing to give in to the pain that had spread from my heart to every part of my body.

"I can't believe this," I laughed dryly. "First, you wanted as your mate, but you wouldn't acknowledge as one, at least not in front of everyone. And now you're rejecting because I'm not good enough for you?"

He didn't flinch. "Yes."

"Fine!" I spat. "Let's not waste any more ti, Alpha Ramsey. Reject . See if I care."

Sothing flickered in his eyes–regret? Pain? But it was gone so quickly I thought I must have imagined it. He pulled himself to his full height, squaring his shoulder.

"I, Ramsey Kincaid, Lycan Leader of the White Moon Throne, reject you, Lyla…" he paused, frowning. He didn't know my surna.

So mate he was.

"Woodland," I supplied coldly.

He nodded and continued without a flicker of emotion. "Reject you, Lyla Woodland, as my mate from this day onward and forever."

I swallowed hard, fighting the pain that gnawed inside . "I Lyla Woodland, accept your rejection."

The words had barely left my lips when pain exploded through my body. It felt as if every cell, every fibre in my body was being torn apart. His mark on my neck burned with an intensity that threatened to consu . I bit back a scream, refusing to show weakness in front of him.

I forced myself to remain still, my eyes still locked on his face.

For a mont, he hesitated, his expression flickering with sothing unreadable. But then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving alone.

I stared at the door, holding my burning neck, half-expecting, half-hoping that he would return. That he would say it had all been a mistake, a cruel joke. But the door remained shut.

A sob rose in my throat, and this ti, I didn't hold it back. I curled in on myself, ignoring the protest of my healing wound and let the tears flow freely. Every dream, even the slight hope I had harboured about my future with Ramsey, crumbled to dust.

Why? The question echoed in my mind.

Why had the Moon Goddess given a mate only to have him reject after saying that he wanted ? Why had he waited until now, when I was at my most miserable?

As my sobs quieted, I felt a new emotion growing within . Anger… not the fleeting rage I had felt when we had argued; it was deeper than that. How dare he treat this way? How dare he dismiss as weak and call baggage?

I took a deep, shuddering breath, wincing at the pain in my back. I was injured, yes. Weakened… definitely. But I was not broken.

"I'll show you," I whispered fiercely to the empty room. "I'll beco stronger than you could ever imagine, Ramsey Kincaid. And one day, you'll regret this decision."

I pushed myself into a sitting position, ignoring my body as it scread in protest.

I have been passive for too long, letting others — my parents, Alpha Ramsey, Marisa, and her friends — dictate my life, but no more.

From this mont, I would forge my path and beco a force to be reckoned with, a woman that no one–not even the mighty Lycan Leader of the White Moon Throne–could dismiss as weak.

As the last light of day faded from my window, I made a vow to myself. I would heal, I would train, and I would learn everything I could about this world I had run away from for too long.

When the ti was right, I would show Ramsey Kincaid exactly what he had thrown away.

I may have lost my mate, but I had gained sothing else and I would rise from this…

I will grow stronger…

With or without him.