The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 345: Trials of echoes - past lives III

Lyla

After that, I was in a library, and there was a man. From the rich clothing and aura he carried, I could tell he was rich.

"Alpha Lorian, your Beta is here, asking for you. Should I let him in?" a woman ca to whisper to him.

Alpha Lorian raised his head and looked at the woman, smiling at her as his dimpled cheeks showed. "Yes, you can let him in. He would burn down this library if he could."

He was the Moonsinger before Raina. He was more interested in history than in ruling as an Alpha. He was the one who discovered hidden texts—the truth of who we were—and he sang to awaken minds.

More lives flashed before , each was more vivid than the last. A man who discovered his power when his mate was threatened. A Beta whose child died in his hands after a Feral attack, and unleashed sothing greater.

Each Moonsinger faced the Dark One differently, but one thing was peculiar about them. None of them seed to have the power to heal and transform. They were all regular Moonsingers who could weaken Ferals with their voices.

So fought the Dark One with armies, so alone. So nearly succeeded but fell short for various reasons: hesitation, pride, lack of knowledge, and inadequate preparation.

***

Finally, I stood in the Northern Forest. It was filled with people, people I had seen before. They were werewolves, yet different—more graceful, they carried energy that could intimidate an innocent bystander. They were the Aureans.

Among them walked a woman of extraordinary beauty, a beautiful girl who had just blossod into an adolescent. It was Neriah, the first Moonsinger.

Unlike the others, she didn’t discover her power through trauma or necessity. She sang before she could speak, her lullabies healing the sick, her battle songs driving away enemies.

"She is the Goddess’s daughter," an elder woman whispered to a child beside her. "Watch and learn."

I followed Neriah through the camp, feeling her joy in simple things—helping a healer tend wounds, teaching children to sing, laughing with friends around evening fires.

Then ti shifted again. This ti, I saw her eting with Rian. She had a smile on her face and seed happy.

The scene shifted, and it was Neriah again, with Thas. Her eyes kept darting backwards with urgency, as if she feared they’d be caught.

"I can’t choose between you," she told Thas. "My heart won’t allow it."

"Then don’t," Thas replied. "I can share, Neriah. My love for you is greater than jealousy. I want to be with you. Please."

The scene shifted to Neriah pacing around anxiously. Corvus stood behind her, smiling lazily.

"I’m pregnant," she said. I don’t know whose baby it is, but I t Rian after that day."

"The day we made love?" Corvus asked with a belligerent smile. "You don’t have to be shy about it. You’ve always been attracted to , Neriah, way before you t Rian and married him. Why do you deny that part of you?"

"It was a mistake," Neriah cried. "I’d wanted comfort that night, and you took advantage of . Now I don’t know what to do. If Rian ever finds out."

"He won’t," Corvus shrugged. "You can choose to co with , Neriah. Bind yourself to ; you have powers, so let teach you how to use them. If you return to Rian, he will know when the babies are born."

"What?" Neriah turned to him with fear in her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Corvus shook his head. "Just co to and do as I have said."

"No!" Neriah shook her head. "I told you it was a mistake. I love Rian; if I tell him, he would understand."

"Do you know the punishnt for infidelity among the Lycans?" Corvus smiled lazily. "Death. You’ll be killed, even if Rian..."

"Stop it!" Neriah scread. "Not a word from you again... forever. I think we shouldn’t et each other again. Everyone is getting suspicious; I cannot et you. I’m sorry, Corvus, you need to let go. I changed my mind. I want to remain married to Rian. He’s a good man after all."

A muscle twitched in Corvus’s jaw. "A good man? Huh? You were ready to throw it all away..."

"Back then, I didn’t realise the kind of person he would be to now that I’ve co to know him..."

"You cannot back out of our agreent," Corvus said gently, leaning away from the tree as he walked up to Neriah. "You agreed to do it. We swore an oath."

"I know that," Neriah nodded her head vigorously, reaching to hold his hand. "But things changed. If I had known that things would play out like this, I wouldn’t have..." She trailed off and quickly added. "But an oath can be broken when both parties agree to end it, right?"

"Not in this situation, Neriah. I love you. I have loved you since the first day I set my eyes on you, long before Thas, and long before Rian. Stay with . We belong together. They don’t love you anyway. Your father sold you off to the Lycan..."

"To get my mother treated," Neriah interrupted him. "He cares and loves her so much, as do I. That is a small sacrifice compared to the value of her life."

"The Lycans are using you. They’re lying to you, Neriah. Please..."

Neriah smiled, but there was sorrow in her eyes. "You know I cannot. The unrest from the Ferals is growing every day. They’re worse than rogues. I have my duty both to my world and to my mate."

His finger curled around her. "Why must you always think of duty before yourself? Before... us?"

"Th-there was and there is no us..." Neriah said, forcefully taking a step back. "You’ve read wrong anings into my intention from the first day I rescued you. I shouldn’t have. Turn yourself in..."

"The unrest from the Ferals will grow every day. If you bind yourself to , I can help you, I can help your people. Help , Neriah," he begged. "Your people... your gifts. I can help you. We will end the reign of the Lycans and fight against the Ferals. End the war before it begins."

But Moonsingers were bound for sothing greater. Our powers were not ant for destruction but for harmony, healing, guidance, and protection.

"About that," Neriah sighed. "I cannot. You know the cost of interfering with the natural order."

Corvus’s face darkened. "And what of ?"