The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 260 260: The truth is... I had no idea

Lyla

I ca alive with a loud gasp as my eyes flew open, consciousness rushing back to like a tidal wave.

The sunlight seared through the trees, warm and rciless. My body felt heavy like I'd been asleep for years instead of hours. A dull ache throbbed in my skull, and as I slowly adjusted my eyes, the world around swayed.

I was lying on my back in the middle of the Northern forest clearing, the scent of damp earth and pine needles filling my nose. Neriah's sword was nowhere to be found. For a mont, I just breathed, staring up at the golden sky filtering through the canopy above. It felt unreal—like I wasn't truly back. But the pounding in my head was too real, my limbs too sore.

How long had I been out?

I groaned, forcing myself up onto my elbows. The fragnts of my trance still swirled in my mind like scattered puzzle pieces – faces, voices and sensations all jumbled together. The mont I lifted my head, dizziness washed over in nauseating waves, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut. My breathing was ragged, and my throat felt parched.

I tried to stand up but my legs gave out. Positioning myself on all fours, I crawled out of the forest to where my bag was outside of it.

Dragging myself upright, I reached for my bag—thank the goddess, it was still intact. My hands fumbled with the straps as I pulled out my water flask, unscrewing the cap with shaking fingers before bringing it to my lips. Cool water gushed down my throat, soothing the dryness.

The first gulp was heaven, cool liquid sliding down my parched throat and bringing imdiate relief. I drank greedily until I had to stop for breath, inhaling deeply before taking another long sip.

"Okay, Lyla. Think," I muttered to myself, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "What did you see? What does it an?"

The visions had been so vivid—the ancient pack, the rituals, Thas... Thas with his piercing eyes that sohow seed so familiar. And the power, the incredible surge of energy that had flowed through my veins like liquid fire.

Dried leaves and twigs where clinging to my hair and clothes. My limbs still felt like lead ane every movent sent waves of discomfort over . I needed to give my body ti to reboot.

I managed to find a tree trunk and relaxed against it. I exhaled deeply, pressing my fingers to my temple, trying to piece together the vision I had just witnessed. My past life as Neriah. Corvus—no, Xander. The Dark One. And what I had done to him. From everything I gathered from the vision, I didn't even know who was the villain anymore.

Everyone seed to be hurt. Did Neriah run away with Thas? The vision I had about being in a field with lots of dead people with Ramsey and Nathan dead… does it connect to everything?

Everything I thought I knew… it had all been a lie.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I sat there, staring at my trembling hands. What do I do now?

Return to White Moon Pack? Face Ramsey? Confront him about the truth?

Or…

I swallowed, my stomach twisting. I could go to Blue Ridge.

To Thas.

No—Nathan.

The thought of Nathan sent a shiver down my spine. There had been sothing about Thas in my vision that had reminded of him, a similarity that I couldn't quite place but that nagged at the corners of my consciousness.

A man I knew nothing about, yet everything inside told he was connected to . My heart clenched at the thought, confusion warring with instinct.

The trance had left weak, but I couldn't stay here. I needed answers, and staying in White Moon ant being surrounded by people who had lied to my whole life. The betrayal settled like a stone in my chest.

With a deep breath, I gathered my remaining strength, I pushed myself to my feet, my legs wobbling beneath . My vision blurred, but I forced myself forward, stumbling toward the path that led out of the Northern Forest.

The trees thinned gradually as I approached the edge of the woods, sunlight breaking through in larger patches until finally, I erged into the open.

As I erged from the trees, the bright sunlight made squint, and then I saw him.

Nathan.

He was leaning against a sleek black SUV, arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression unreadable as he watched erge from the trees. My heart sank in my chest, and for a mont, I wondered if I was still in a trance, still seeing visions.

The sight of him stole my breath.

For a brief, disorienting second, my vision twisted. Nathan's face wavered, shifting into Thas'—the sa sharp jaw, the sa stormy eyes filled with sothing unreadable. My heart pounded. Is he Thas? Is he the one from my visions?

I didn't know if my feet moved toward him, or if he ca to first, but suddenly, he was right there. His hands were firm as they caught my shoulders, steadying .

"You look like hell, get in," he said, his voice smooth but unreadable.

I blinked up at him, dazed. He didn't ask what I was doing there. He didn't question why I had just stumbled out of the forest like a lost child. He only opened the car door and helped in.

I wanted to ask him how he knew where to find , why he was here, if he knew about my visions—but exhaustion weighed my tongue down, and all I could do was let my head rest against his shoulder as he settled into the seat.

The ride to Blue Ridge was silent.

I kept sneaking glances at him, wondering if he felt the sa pull I did. If he knew what I had seen. My fingers curled into my lap. Does he know?

But he didn't say a word.

When we reached the packhouse, he stepped out and barked orders to the nearest maid. "Take her to my room and have her cleaned up."

I stiffened. "Your room?"

He ignored . Instead, he looked at for a long mont, his face unreadable before he simply said, "Rest. We'll talk later."

And then he left.

~~~

The maids led into a lavish room different from Nathan's room. I've never been to this part of his house. The room was big and beautiful and slled of cedarwood and sothing distinctly him. They didn't ask questions, only carried out their orders.

They bathed , scrubbing the dirt and sweat from my skin, brushing out the tangles in my hair. Their hands were gentle, but my mind was restless.

Every mont alone made the mories flood back stronger. I wasn't Neriah, yet I was. I wasn't supposed to rember, yet I did.

I was drowning in a past that wasn't mine, yet it shaped everything about .

A sharp creak made flinch.

The door had opened.

At first, I thought it was Nathan, but then I saw her.

Clarissa.

Her eyes were ice as they flickered over the maids, then settled on . "Out," she ordered.

The maids hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances.

"I said out."

This ti, they obeyed.

As the last one shut the door behind her, Clarissa turned to , her lips curled into sothing between disgust and triumph.

"I don't know what kind of ga you're playing," she said, stepping closer. "But you don't belong here. Why did you co back, Lyla? Nathan is my mate – he's, my husband."

I swallowed back the exhaustion pressing down on . "Clarissa, I don't have the energy for this and more than anyone I am not disputing the fact. I am also engaged to Ramsey. Nathan only resuced . By the ti I'm well rested, I'll be on my way back to where I am supposed to be."

"Liar!" she scread, knocking a stool down as she crossed the room to where I am. "You're a manipulative, lying bitch. You want to have all the n, Lyla. You want to fuck both Nathan and Ramsey… you want to…"

"I will not stand here and listen to you make baseless accusations again," I managed to stand on my feet. "I'm done, Clarissa. I am you older sister and you should respect as one. Besides, I am the soon-to-be Luna of the White Moon Throne. You should know better than that."

Her hand moved so fast I barely registered it until I saw her palm coming straight for my cheek.

Instinct took over.

I lifted my hand to deflect the slap—except the mont our skin almost connected, a burst of white-hot energy shot out of .

Clarissa's body flew across the room.

She crashed into the wall with a sickening thud, gasping as the force knocked the wind out of her.

I staggered backwards as my eyes widened.

I had felt that power before—the first ti the Ferals attacked . That sa energy, that sa overwhelming force that had thrown them backwards and had stopped them from harming that day.

Clarissa groaned, her fingers digging into the floor as she struggled to push herself up, eyes wide with sothing between terror and disbelief.

I stared at my hands, heart pounding. What the hell was that?

Clarissa's turned to , the fear in her eyes quickly replaced by seething rage.

"What the fuck are you?" she whispered.

I didn't have an answer.

And the truth was, I had no idea.