The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. Chapter 65 65: The extra mile

Nathan

I lay on my threadbare cot, counting the cracks in the ceiling for what felt like the millionth ti.

I had no idea how long I'd been here, I stopped keeping count after two years. The dungeon air hung thick with the stench of mould and decay…this place usually was ant to hold offenders like rogue wolves but Ramsey after seeing I wouldn't talk in the holding cells, had commanded they bring here.

The pungent sll of sweat and blood is enough to make anyone give in but I held my ground. The thought of Lyla, staying safe from her vile mate kept going. I'd die a thousand tis before I give him the tiniest information about her.

I shifted in my bed, groaning softly as my muscles ached from the cold. My skin where the iron cuffs held, was beginning to burn again but I had long since stopped noticing the discomfort. After years in these grim conditions – not being able to tell day and night apart, I had gotten used to the endless hours of silence and waiting.

Through the crack in the wall, light filtered through, casting strange shadows across the damp walls, where moss grew in patches like nature's halfhearted attempt to decorate my prison.

"Ragnar," I called out to my wolf. "Do you think they'll co today? It's been almost two weeks with no sign of them."

"Maybe they're not back from the ceremony. We overheard a guard saying sothing about it so days ago, right?"

"Yeah, maybe!" I was used to either Lenny or Ramsey coming to ask about Lyla three tis a week.

"We should ask for so blankets and candles the next ti Beta Lenny cos. It's getting colder these days. We deserve that much after staying here for four years," Ragnar said again.

Four years. Four years of the sa routine, the sa questions, the sa silence from my end. The chains around my wrists and ankles had beco almost like old friends- uncomfortable, unwanted but familiar. The cell, barely eight feet by ten, was my world, each corner holding mories of nights spent plotting, planning and sotis just surviving.

The sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor barely registered – I'd learned to tune out the regular patrols. But this ti, it was different. The heavy iron gate at the corridor creaked open and the sound of boots echoed down the narrow corridor.

I didn't even bother to lift my head. I could hear them coming. It was always the sa – the footsteps, Lenny or Ramsey appearing and then the door would slam shut again, leaving to rot in peace.

But this ti, the footsteps didn't stop at the door. They entered my cell. I sighed deeply, not bothering to sit up as Lenny with a few of the other pack soldiers entered.

"Don't waste your ti. I won't say anything today, just like I haven't for the past four years. Didn't know it was four years until a mont ago," I chuckled.

"I'm not here to question you," Lenny said, his voice oddly formal. Making turn to look at him.

He glanced at the soldiers with him and then back at . Without a word, the soldiers ca forward, kneeling beside and started unlocking my handcuffs and leg chains. The tal clanked to the floor with a thud. I blinked in surprise, sitting up slowly, rubbing my wrists, and feeling the hot air against my already irritated skin.

The freedom felt so strange after being so long in chains.

"You're free to go, Nathan," Lenny said, stepping back.

I stared at him in disbelief, with brows furrowed. I could have risked a laugh but I couldn't help but think if this was a trick, so new way to break .

"That's a new approach, Beta Lenny. What's next? A friendly chat over coffee?"

"I don't know how you've managed to remain cheerful for four years, Nathan," Lenny scoffed. "But this isn't a joke. You're free to leave."

"What kind of ga are you playing? Did your master put you up to it?" I asked, refusing to move an inch.

Lenny didn't answer. Instead, he turned on his heel, and the soldiers with him, leaving the cell door open behind them. I kept rubbing where the chains had left permanent marks, waiting for the punchline, the trap. But nothing ca.

Finally, I wobbled to my feet and approached the doorway cautiously, my muscles tense and ready for an attack that didn't co as I staggered out of the cell.

The small gate leading to the corridor of my cell was equally open. I peered into the darkness of the dimly lit corridor, noticing that soone was standing in the shadows. Without needing a light to see his face, I knew who it was.

Alpha Ramsey.

My heart quickened slightly, but I kept my expression blank as I wobbled toward him. As usual, his presence filled the air, his cold, calculating gaze was locked on . Lenny and so soldiers stood a few paces behind him.

I stopped a little distance away from him and bowed my head in reverence.

"Lycan Leader!"

"I told you to stop greeting , Nathan… I know you mock in your heart."

"Just like you, Alpha Ramsey, I am tied to serving you for the rest of my life. Not sothing I would have done willingly if I had a choice."

He scoffed and turned to the soldiers, waving his hands slightly.

"Leave us, except you, Lenny."

As soon as we were alone, I leaned against the wall to support my legs which still felt like rubber under .

"You're free to go," Ramsey finally said. "The soldiers will not stop you."

"And to what do I owe this unexpected generosity, Lycan Leader? Do you expect to believe that after four years, you're just letting walk out of here? No strings attached?"

He didn't respond imdiately, instead, his gaze bored into mine, mockery and amusent glinting in his eyes as his eyes hovered the length of my body. Then, in a asured tone, he asked.

"How does it feel, to spend four years of your life, locked in a dungeon not deserving of an Alpha heir … over a woman who ans nothing to you?"

A slow smile spread across my face as I chuckled softly, crossing my arms. "What makes you think Lyla ans nothing to ?" I straightened, eting his gaze directly. "She ans everything to or rather, we an a lot to each other, so much that I'd gladly take another four years in a dungeon worse than this for her."

Annoyance flashed in his eyes but he quickly suppressed it. He always tried to suppress his emotions around – so power play I think but I thought it was funny.

"You're a fool, Nathan Tanner," he muttered under his breath. "You think you're so sort of hero? Do you think she would care that you did this? Lyla is nothing to and you're nothing to her."

I arched a brow in his direction and stepped forward, closing the gap between us. "You can convince yourself of that, Ramsey, if it makes you feel better. But we both know the truth." I paused, my voice softening. "Wait until she hears what I'd had to endure… whose arms do you think she'd co running to?"

"Pray to the Goddess, Nathan – you believe in her, don't you? Pray that nothing on earth ever makes you cross my path wrongly again. I'm not sure I'll be as lenient next ti."

I laughed, my eyes still fixed on him. "You should know by now that your threats don't work on anymore." I tilted my head, studying him. "Tell , how does it feel?" I asked, drawing closer to him.

"How does it feel seeing and knowing that another man is willing to fight for your mate – for the woman you love so much that you've been searching for, for four years?"

"I do not love her!" he growled.

I ignored him. "Doesn't it sha you, Alpha Ramsey? Doesn't it tear you apart that I'd go the extra mile for Lyla – sothing you couldn't do?"

I watched as a muscle in his jaw jumped – my words struck a nerve. But I didn't care. I reached out, adjusting his collar with deliberate slowness, loving the way his entire body went rigid at my touch.

"Deep down, you know it," I continued, still whispering. "You know that no matter what you do, no matter how much you try to hold onto her, Lyla will always be beyond your reach."

"She's my mate, Nathan Tanner… she doesn't have her wolf and I may have rejected her a hundred tis but she's still tied to and still belongs to ."

I laughed, leaning to his ear, and said with a cold voice. "That's why you do not deserve her. You think won are commodities to be toyed and played around with. From what I see, you didn't grow up with lots of love and you don't know how to treat a woman especially one like Lyla."

"And you know?" he retorted with a smirk turning to stare at . "You're just like in so many ways. Holding on to a woman who doesn't even know you have these feelings for her."

Then I stepped back, smiling at him, choosing to ignore his words as I said in a loud voice. "You're beginning to grey, Alpha… maybe you should rest more and stop running around in circles. Thank you for releasing . I am grateful, I swear!"

I patted his shoulders one last ti and brushed past him, walking down the corridor.