The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 253 253: The night that chaned everythbing III

Neriah

"The alliance between the Auréans and the Western Cliffs – although I heard they're in the process of changing their na dates back to Seven Generations," he explained. "Originally ford during the Great Drought when both territories needed to share resources to survive. That is how your people and why your people were finally accepted as part of the werewolf communities."

"How do you know all this?" I asked, genuinely curious now.

"Let's just say I've had an educational upbringing," he replied with a mysterious smile. He sampled a small piece of the honeyed apple and nodded approvingly. "Like your feast preparations – thorough and thoughtful."

I couldn't help but smile at the complint. There was sothing magnetic about him – a self-assured grace that seed both natural and practised. I could also tell he was a Lycan, though his aura felt different – stronger sohow, more contained, like a closed fire that could roar to life at any mont.

After helping pick food, still engaging in conversation about everything from traditional cooking thods to territorial trade agreents, he turned to with a smile. He had picked up a glass of the fernted honey ad and was swirling the liquid lazily.

"But food – food is a particular passion of mine." His gaze flicked over my face. "You're not much of a drinker I see."

My fingers tightened around my plate. "Not tonight."

"Wise decision," he murmured, taking a slow sip from his glass and not bothering to find out why.

There was sothing about him – sothing that made the air around us feel heavier. He had this swag around him that seed different from the warriors and the nobles I regularly t – less rigid formality and more genuine charm.

"Are you here alone?" he asked suddenly.

My brow furrowed. "No."

"Good." He set his glass down and turned fully toward . His amber eyes locked onto mine. "I've taken enough of your ti and attention," though his expression suggested he didn't regret it in the least. "And also keep you from your companion. But before I go…" he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

"May I ask your na?"

"Neriah," I replied, surprised at how easily my na slipped out. Normally, I was more guarded with strangers, especially at formal events.

"Neriah," he repeated as if testing how it felt to say my na. "Would you save a dance for before the night ends, Neriah?"

I stiffened.

Before I could answer, he bowed his head, tipping off an imaginary cap in ga esture that seed strange yet charming. "Until then," he said and walked away with the sa confidence with which he approached.

As I watched him disappear into the crowd, a strange flutter in my chest that I couldn't quite na. It took several monts to realize I was still holding the plate of food.

"Neriah!"

I jumped nearly dropping the plate. Thas had returned and was coming to . He was slightly breathless as if he'd hurried to reach . He had an uncomfortable look on his face, his usual easy smile was replaced by a tense, tight-lipped expression.

"Who was that you were talking to?" he asked, his eyes darting to where the mysterious man had vanished among the growing throng of guests

I blinked, still rattled. "I don't know. He didn't say."

Thas glanced over my shoulder, searching the crowd. His hand remained firmly around my wrist. "You don't know who you were just talking to?"

"No," I repeated, shaking my head. "He didn't introduce himself. Just talked about the food and recomnded food, and asked for a dance later."

He drew closer to himself, pulling with an urgency I was not used to. His fingers were cold against mine and I could feel a slight tremor in them.

"That's the son of the Lycan Leader. Rian," he announced in a hushed voice, his eyes still scanning the crowd warily. He recently returned from the Lycan packs overseas." Thas grip on my hand tightened almost painfully. "Stay away from him, he's dangerous."

"Dangerous?" I echoed. "He seed perfectly charming to . What do you an?"

Thas's expression darkened. "There are rumours… stories about what he did while away from the territories. Nothing confird, but…" he broke off. "Just trust on this, Neriah. Keep your distance."

Suddenly the sound of the drums announced the procession of the Alphas led by the Lycan Leader and they began to enter. I couldn't help but search the faces of the man I now knew as Rian. The man my father wanted to marry. The man the Thas had just warned about.

Suddenly, he entered and sprinted lightly to where his father was at the front of the procession. The Lycan Leader glanced at him before continuing with what he was doing. I could tell that Thas was tensed.

And it was normal for people like us. He was having a premonition that sothing bad was going to happen. From the corner of my eyes, I stared at him, wondering what he would do, what he would say if I told him about my father's decision while still wishing my father had taken care of this for .

"Stay close!" he whispered to , pinning to his side, and circling my waist with his hand. I just stood there like a zombie wondering why he was going through all of this.

My gaze was fixated on Rian and his father who were currently having a discussion. Suddenly, Rian straightened and looked up, his eyes searching the crowd until our eyes finally t.

As soon as his gaze was on mine, his smile widened. His eyes darted between and Thas followed by an amused smile. He whispered sothing to his father again who pointed.

Suddenly, he gwentup and walked towards the raised platform. As he settled behind that raised platform, his gaze sought mine again…

And sowhere, deep inside, past all my reasoning and sense of duty, all I could think of was the dimple on his cheek… the promise of a dance before the night ended and a small voice that whispered that the real danger might be how intrigued I already was.