The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 182 182: Fractured moments

Ramsey

I sat behind my desk, the warm glow of the morning sun casting long shadows over the stacks of docunts on my table. The room was silent except for the rhythmic scratch of my pen against paper.

My concentration was broken by a soft knock, followed by Lenny entering my office.

"Alpha," he began. "The doctors at the pack hospital just inford that they'll be discharging Cassidy today."

I nodded, my eyes not leaving the papers before . "Good," I said simply and continued writing.

Silence stretched between us until Lenny cleared his throat.

"There's sothing else," he continued hesitantly. "The lab called earlier. They called to inform you that the finished product for the anti-pheromone depressor is ready and can be used now. They want you to use it on the person it was made for so that they would know if adjustnts need to be made."

I paused for a fraction before nodding. "Good, then have it sent to the person it was made for."

There was another slight pause before Lenny called out to . "Ramsey," he started, his voice was filled with irritation. "Won't you give it to her yourself?"

"I don't need to deliver it myself," I responded quietly.

"C'mon Ramsey," Lenny sighed. "You've been working on this for years. The resources you've poured into it, the ti you've spent… you should at least…"

"I said it's not necessary," I cut him off.

"What happened to all the plans you made? This was supposed to be your coback path. Why are you still hesitating?"

"She's engaged to another man, Lenny. I'm not that stupid to break off their union. It's over, Lenny."

He stood still for a mont, I could feel his frustration but he knew better than to push further. "Fine then, I'll go about my duties. See you later," he turned and left the room, closing the door with more force than was necessary.

I exhaled deeply, rubbing my temples. Lenny had barely left when the door opened again. This ti, it was my grandfather, Elder Eldric, who strode in holding a small stack of ornate papers.

"I brought so samples for the wedding invitations," he announced, placing them on my desk.

I glanced at the designs briefly before returning to my docunts. "Pick whichever one you think is best, Pop. I trust your judgnt."

He hesitated, his eyes studying . "You could at least pretend to care," he muttered.

"I care," I replied tersely, not looking up. "I just have a lot on my plate right now."

He sighed. "Fine, I'll handle it," he muttered, lingered for a mont longer, then left the office, closing the door behind him.

Alone again, I leaned back in my chair, running my hands through my hair, the tension in my chest refused to ease, and for the first ti today, I allowed myself a mont of stillness. I didn't want to think about anything.

However, my mont of solitude was short-lived when another soft knock on the door ca and the door opened imdiately. I raised my head, irritation flashing in my eyes.

"I said…"

The rest of the words dried up on my lips when I saw Lyla standing in the doorway. She hesitated, her hand still on the doorknob as our gaze t.

"What do you want?" I asked, with a weary sigh. I wasn't even angry.

She blinked. "I…nothing. It's just that I've been trying to see you for two days now and we will be leaving tomorrow. I just wanted to co see you." As she spoke, she entered the office fully, closing the door softly behind her.

"I also heard Cassidy was injured. I hope she's doing better now. That night, I wanted to explain…"

"Talk to soone who's an expert in these things," I interrupted, my gaze returning to my desk. "I'm not."

My brows knitted together as confusion and hurt crossed her face at the sa ti. "What's with the cold attitude?"

"Not now, Lyla," I murmured under my breath. "I don't have ti for things like that."

She stepped closer, her voice was firr. "I thought we were cool."

"We are," I replied flatly without looking at her. "I'm just busy."

Her shoulders sagged, and she let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine," she said turning to leave. "But just as she reached the door, she paused again and ca back to face .

"I just wanted to thank you," she with a trembling voice. "For everything. While I was here at the pack, even though you didn't say much, I felt your kindness. I'm truly grateful for all your help."

I nodded. "It's fine."

We stood in silence for a mont, until Lyla spoke again. "Nathan proposed to ."

My gaze didn't waver, "I know," I replied. "He ca to before the festival to ask for my permission."

Her lips parted in surprise, but she quickly recovered. "Well… I wanted you to know. And… I feel indebted to you, Ramsey. "I'd feel better if you'd let buy you a al. Just one al, to show my gratitude."

"You don't have to…" I said with an exasperated sigh.

"Please," she interrupted, her eyes pleading. "I insist"

"Lyla," I tried not to snap, rising to my feet. "You don't need to feel indebted to . Everything I did for you; I did because it was necessary. Because it's my duty as Alpha."

She flinched at the sharpness of my tone. For a mont, neither of us spoke.

Then quietly, she said, "I see."

Without another word, she turned and left the office, the door clicking softly shut behind her.

I stared at the empty space where she had stood. My knuckles were white where they gripped the edge of my desk. The weight of everything I'd left unsaid pressed down on like a physical presence, but I refused to acknowledge it. Instead, I forced my attention back to work…

Burying myself in the familiar comfort of duty and responsibility.

That was after all…the only thing I was good at.