The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 329: And the guilt dissipates

Lyla

Around us, the Ferals began to retreat into the forest, as if their connection to Nathan had been severed with his death. Cassidy stood frozen a few steps away from us, her face had gone white with shock.

A strangled cry escaped my lips as I held Nathan close to my chest, hating the way my tears were falling on his still body, mingling with his blood. He looked peaceful in death, the tornt of the possession finally lifted.

The friend I'd known since childhood was gone, but at least he'd died free.

Ramsey touched my shoulder, silently comforting as I sobbed. I felt like my heart would explode, and sowhere in my mind, I knew the threat wasn't over. This was only the beginning.

I pressed a gentle kiss to Nathan's forehead, saying a final goodbye to the boy I'd once known before gently laying him down on the grass.

"We need to finish this, whatever this is and fast," I said, wiping my tears as I rose to my feet. "I cannot last through another death. I don't care what I must do, but we'll take the war to Xander."

"Or maybe you should rest," Ramsey suggested quietly. "I know this is a little too much to unpack…"

"I'm fine," I stopped him mid-sentence, turning away to look at Cassidy, who was still standing there. "Yeah, I killed my best friend with my hands, but I'm fine. I'm beginning to get bored anyway, there must be sothing more exciting in these endless talks and fighting. I'm going to lose my mind."

Our warriors moved to tend to Nathan's body while Ramsey waited until they were within earshot of us. Caius muttered sothing about him still being around, and that is dangerous. We need to retreat into the safety of the region.

"Lyla…" Ramsey tried again to touch , but I shrugged him off.

"Not now, Ramsey. I don't need your words of advice or pity. I am fine, and can I be alone? Now?"

I brushed past him towards the gates.

"Lyla!" he called after , but I kept walking. An unexplainable anger, or was it resentnt, filled my chest at this mont, and it didn't help that Ramsey wouldn't stop calling my na.

"Ramsey, please," I threw over my shoulders. Everything is fine, and I'm tired. Can you just let be?"

"Stop pushing away, Lyla," he sighed, coming to stand in front of . "I know Nathan was your friend, and maybe you might have loved him at so point, but stop pushing away. It is not my fault that Nathan died."

I rolled my eyes, crossing my hands over my chest. "I never said it was."

"You might not think so now, but you already resent , and if you leave here without us talking about it, your mind will end up telling you that it's my fault that he died. But it's not. I have nothing to do with Nathan's death."

"Relax, Ramsey," I scoffed and walked past him. "I'm not mad, I'm only grieving and also…" I stopped and turned to face him again. "From here on, we'll do things my way. Give thirty minutes to freshen up," I pointed at Nathan's blood on my clothes. "Gather everyone at the war room, I'll join you all shortly."

Without waiting for his response, I walked towards one of the parked cars and slipped into the driver's seat, driving off before the driver assigned to it realised. As I drove, tears blurred my vision, but I pumped the engine faster. This was the only reality I needed to wake up.

This was real. The fight, my death… all of it is real.

As soon as I arrived at the pack house, I tossed the key to one of the guards and took the stairs two at a ti, until I was at the door which opened automatically. Seth was, as usual, by the door. He bowed stiffly to .

As soon as the door closed, soone called my na. When I turned, I saw Clarissa coming out of the kitchen. She looked different, and her belly was showing now. She had a wide smile on her face.

Behind her was my stepmother, Luna Vanessa, carrying my stepbrother. He was making cooing baby sounds and smiling at everyone. I clamped my teeth on my lower lip to stop the emotions that flooded all at once.

How could I explain to Clarissa that I killed her Mate? After she had trusted enough to help him return to his senses. I stopped and waited for her to approach .

"Hey," I managed, then nodded in Luna Vanessa's direction. "When did you arrive?"

"A while ago," Clarissa said breezily, pregnancy looked good on her.

For a second, I wondered how I would look when my belly was the sa size as hers, but the thought fizzled out as soon as it crossed my mind. I wasn't keeping the baby.

"They told us you went out to assess so threat at the eastern border. Is everything alright now?" Clarissa continued.

"Yes,' I nodded. "I hope it stays that way, too."

"Are you hurt?" Luna Vanessa asked suddenly.

"Why do you have blood stains on you?" Nanny's voice sounded through the entire foyer, filled with alarm, as she rushed to where I was standing, grabbing imdiately. "Are you hurt anywhere? Stay still, I'm calling…"

"I'm fine," I pushed her away gently. "The blood is not mine," I added, looking at Clarissa and Vanessa, who had gone quiet at Nanny's presence. The atmosphere was awkward now. Now that I think of it, I've never seen Nanny and Luna Vanessa talk to each other, even politely.

Even now, I could still sense it, and I couldn't bla Luna Vanessa. Her Nanny stole her Mate's love from her.

"Then whose? Ramsey's?" Nanny asked, peering over my shoulders. She wouldn't even acknowledge Clarissa, Luna, and Vanessa's presence.

I nudged her silently, nodding my head towards them. "Say, Hi," I whispered.

"We already said our Hellos," Luna Vanessa said, staring at Nanny coolly. "I have no interest in ever becoming friends with your mother, Lyla. In a way, I didn't hate you. I resented you, yes, but not in a way that I couldn't stand you because it wasn't your fault you didn't ask to be born, but I cannot say the sa for your mother."

"It wasn't her fault either, Luna," I said quietly. "She didn't know he had a mate."

Vanessa nodded in agreent. "True! But she could have stopped sleeping with him when she found out. I still don't understand why she was made a High Priestess; she doesn't deserve to be one after causing so much pain and unhappiness."

Nanny turned to her, her back was ramrod straight as she regarded Luna Vanessa with defiance. "I know you want my blood, but I won't stop you from hurting. Logan and I loved each other, and I'm sorry I had to take advantage of your hospitality after finding out everything, but we couldn't help it. You'd better move past it, Vanessa. You were his wife, his Luna, and everyone would forever know you as his Mate."

"You wish, Miriam," Luna Vanessa snickered. "I made a few changes to the family record, and I made sure they included your na, not as his mistress… the word is too elegant for soone like you. Long after we've died, you will not be rembered as the High Priestess, but as the High Priestess who…"

"That's enough, Mom." Clarissa touched her mother's arm. "Dad wasn't exactly righteous, and you know you don't hate Miriam as much as you claim you do. Else you wouldn't have allowed her to stay the entire ti."

Luna Vanessa scoffed. "I still hate her."

"While we're at confessions," I decided to let everything bare now. If Clarissa wanted to hate , she might as well do it now. "Clarissa, I promised to help Nathan but couldn't."

I felt her tense.

"Nathan? W-What happened to him? Has he been found?"

I nodded. "We found him, and I killed him. I'm sorry, but I had to put an end to the person he had beco. Besides, he was leading an army of Ferals and…"

The words were not finished on my mouth before Clarissa rushed forward and hugged . "It must have been so hard for you to do it all on your own, and you don't have to be sorry; he was far too gone."

The tears I've been holding rushed down my cheeks in torrents, soaking Clarissa's blouse. Her baby bump was pressing against mine, and I thought I felt it move, or was it mine?

I leaned back to look at her. "You're not angry with . I… I killed your Mate," I sniffed back tears. "You begged not to, and I…" I was hysterical now. Who knew I was going to be affected by this?

"Shhh…" Clarissa chuckled and hugged again. "My ti at the Moon Temple taught a lot of things, and I know you would never intentionally kill Nathan if you didn't have more than enough justification. I should apologise for putting so much burden on you. It's not your fault, Lyla. Nothing has ever been your fault. You didn't ask to be any of this; I know this more than anyone.

For the first ti since Nathan brought back from the human world, I felt the weight of guilt slowly dissipating as I broke down in Clarissa's arms.