The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 179 179: Earlier

Nathan

I stord out of the pack house, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

Imdiately, I shifted. Ragnar erged with practised ease, his dark fur rippling in the moonlight as I caught Lyla's scent in the wind. The trails were fresh, tinged with blood from all the Ferals and Trinax she fought.

I followed her scent through the maze of mingling scents surrounding the White Moon Pack. My paws pounded against the earth, as I pushed forward. I tracked her through the territory, following a path that took toward the White Moon Pack's borders.

Almost at the borders, it veered off to the edge of the dense forest surrounding the pack's territory. As I approached the tree line, my hackles rose, indicating that soone was watching . I stopped for a mont; my ears perked as I surveyed the area. There was nothing… no one except . But sothing felt… off.

Shrugging it off, I prepared to enter the forest, since her scent was stronger in that direction. Just then, a chilling sensation washed over . I wasn't alone. Ragnar let out a low growl, as he whirled, muscled bunched ready for an attack only to find myself face to face with a familiar figure.

Standing a few yards away was it – the sa being that had been haunting for a few months now. Since that incident with Lyla at the White Lake pack. Not only had I had several encounters with it, but It was also in my head. Always suggesting devious motives. All attempts to fight it with resources I know about and heard have proved abortive.

Hissing, I shifted back to my human form, ready for a fight as my expression hardened imdiately.

"What do you want?" I demanded, glaring at the being. My voice was laced with irritation.

The being cocked its head, studying with an unsettling calmness. Then he approached , taking asured steps. I also noticed it had a thoughtful expression on its face.

"How long have you known about Lyla's wolf?" it asked.

I hissed, stepping around him as I moved toward the forest. I had no ti for gas, not with Lyla's scent growing fainter by the second plus the Harvest Moon would reach its peak any mont now, I had to reach Lyla first before anything.

As I moved, the being followed after , clearly unperturbed by my silence.

"I didn't know anything about that," it continued, its voice carrying an edge of curiosity. "But your calmness… you knew, didn't you?"

I stopped abruptly, spinning to face it. "Why do you care?"

It smiled faintly as if it was amused by my hostility. "Because I have Lyla's interests at heart," a smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Not just that, she killed many of my Ferals and Trinax today. I had instructed them not to harm the priestesses, but rely delay them. I wasn't expecting a two-tailed wolf to tear through them like they were nothing."

"That's life," I said flatly, as I shrugged and tried to move past it again.

It blocked my path again, forcing to stop. "Have you made your decision yet?"

I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. "You're Xander, right? Or is it the Dark One?" I said mockingly. "Listen carefully – I'm not going to do what you want. You can ask a thousand tis, but my answer will always be No. I'm not joining your revenge sche or whatever it is you're doing."

Xander's lips curled into a grin, his teeth gleaming in the moonlight. "You say that now," he said lightly. "But sooner or later, you'll co looking for ."

"Not on my life. Not in this lifeti," I shot back.

His grin widened. "Fine," he shrugged. "You can tell yourself that but when it happens, rember I already told you. Also, because of how much we share in common, let tell you sothing…"

His tone shifted to a conspirational glee. "Tonight, Ramsey will make a bold stance. He's going to announce to the world that he loves Lyla."

I scoffed. "Ramsey? He won't. Please, he's too self-conscious to do sothing like that."

"Want to bet?" Xander's smile widened, his eyes glinting with mischief.

I glared at his outstretched him, gritting my teeth in annoyance.

Xander continued. "No matter how hard you try to take Lyla for yourself or claim her, she'll never be yours, Nathan. You will never have her. But if you join …" he leaned in closer, spreading his hands in magnanimous gesture. "… I would be kind enough to give her to you."

"You an join the suicide pogrom you have going on. Do you want to help you steal the power of the White Moon Throne? You want to assist you to rule my world and that I'll be under you? You must be really insane. If it worked in the past, it won't now… because your ideas are as stupid as you are."

He didn't say anything, he watched for a minute before sighing. "Nathan, I never said anything about ruling you. I just want to create a world where everyone is equal."

"That is not possible," I said in a steely tone. "Nothing can be equal. Besides, this clickbait you have going on is really la. I thought you had your act together. I can't wait for Lyla to get back her powers and end you."

"I intend not to be ended this ti around," he said in a smug tone. "The last ti I was ended, I had to wait for 10,000 years. I can't again. Anyways, you cannot marry, Lyla. Your father is against it, Luna Vanessa is against it. She clearly suggested you marry her daughter Clarissa."

"You will not tell who to marry, Xander," I continued moving, stopping to sniff the air. In my human form, I was slower.

"When Lyla finds out you lied to her? What are you going to do about that? That day in the room, you lied to her, to cover up the truth… how long…"

"STAY AWAY FROM !" I turned to him, shouting. "Leave alone. Stop following around like so deranged gods. Are you truly the Dark ONE? Because I can sll your desperation from a mile afar."

He paused, staring at pointedly. After a few seconds, he disappeared back into the shadows, leaving alone.

I took a deep breath, shaking off the lingering unease before shifting back to Ragnar, letting his senses guide through the forest. Lyla's trail grew stronger, leading to deeper into the forest.

Eventually, I found her.

She lay at the base of a massive oak tree, still in her wolf form which was sprawled out in exhaustion. Her chest rose and fell with laboured breath and her white fur was matted with dirt and traces of blood. Her twin tails were curled around her like a shield.

As I approached her, her ears twitched and she lifted her head weakly to look at . I changed back to my human form; I didn't want to startle her. Her eyes flashed with recognition when she saw it was and laid back down.

I knelt beside her, reaching out to stroke her fur gently. "It's okay," I murmured, with a low soothing voice. There were several cuts and bruises all over her body and she seed to be nursing her hind legs.

In this state, she won't be able to heal, unless she changes back into her human form. She nuzzled my hand with her nose at so point, staring at with soulful eyes. As her breathing slowed, my free hand fished out the vial Nanny had given .

Carefully, I uncorked it, the sharp scent of herbs wafting into the air. Carefully, I held it to her mouth.

"Drink," I urged softly.

The wolf hesitated, her eyes flicking between the vial and my face. Then as if understanding my intent, she lapped at the poiton.

I glanced up at the sky, my heart pounding as I watched the moon inch closer to its fullest state. "Please," I whispered, "Please let it work."

Monts later, the transformation began. Fur receded, and bones shifted until Lyla lay unconscious in my arms. When the transformation was complete, I quickly shrugged off my jacket, draping it over her to shield her from the night's chill.

I cradled her carefully, one hand supporting her head as her eyes fluttered open. For a mont, she gazed up at with such tenderness that my heart clenched. After a while, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Ramsey," she whispered. "Thank you."

Before closing her eyes again. I stared down at her, as a storm of emotions swirled within . I pulled her closer, trying to ignore the way my chest ached. Xander's words echoed in my mind.

No matter how much you try to claim Lyla for yourself, you'll never truly have her.

But as I held her, I made a silent vow. I didn't need Xander or his twisted bargains. Whatever was in front, I would protect Lyla – even if it ant knowing she would never choose . I would let my heart break into a thousand pieces before I let Ramsey have her.