The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger
Chapter 56

56 Shadows of doubt … 

Miriam ( Nanny ) 

It’s been three days since Lyla left the house .

I sat at the coffee shop , staring at my phone , with a deep frown etched on my face .

The Café was unusually quiet for a Saturday afternoon , making my thoughts louder .

At first , I had been so angry , so pissed at the girl , blaming myself for spoiling her and always letting her have her way and I had promised myself that I wouldn’t reach out , that when she was done with her tantrums , she would replace her way home .

But I was wrong .

I had mustered the courage to call Xander the second day after she left home after going to school and was told that she hadn’t shown up since the previous day .

I found his number in one of Lyla’s contact books and had called his line the entire day .

The more I called and it went unanswered , the more unease crept up my spine .

Something wasn’t right .

Xander was the only friend Lyla had .

I was sure of that and since they were dating , she was most likely to end up in his house .

Xander finally took my call on the third day and I had clearly heard Lyla’s voice in the 

background .

She had shouted something to me , calling out my name but I had been so fixated on Xander that I didn’t hear the words .

When I asked Xander what the problem was and why she was shouting , he brushed it off , laughing and saying they were just playing .

Even when I had insisted on speaking with Lyla , his tone had grown cold and he claimed , Lyla didn’t want to talk and had ended the call before 1 could protest .

I didn’t know where they lived .

There was no address in any of Lyla’s books and I couldn’t involve the human police .

They didn’t take things like this seriously .

Something was wrong , I could feel 

it .

Today , I found myself staring at my phone again , Alpha Logan’s number displayed on the screen .

My fingers hovering over the call button .

I’ve thought about calling him several times but the risk was too great .

With the way the Lycan Leader was still looking for Lyla , despite the many months that had passed since she left the pack , going as far as sending Panther trackers , he might have been monitoring her father’s calls .

One wrong move could put Lyla in even greater danger .

My thumb hovered over the dial button , my heart racing but at the last second , I turned the phone off and set it aside .

No , calling Logan wasn’t the answer .

As I sat there still lost in thoughts , my mind wandered to the strange marking I had noticed on her back a few months ago .

Those three stars line up perfectly on her spine – a mark I was most certain had not been there before .

I had cared for Lyla since she was a pup , dressed her , tended to her every need and not once 

50 Shadows of doubt ….

have I seen that mark .

At first , I had tried to dismiss it as a simple birthmark , but it kept gnawing at my mind .

My years of experience with the spiritual had taught me that nothing was truly ordinary .

Every sign , every mole , every freckle , every mark could mean something .

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I was sure those three stars on her spine meant something and it could also determine Lyla’s 

fate .

– 

I cursed under my breath , rising from my c That boy Xander from the first day I met him , gave me an odd feeling, the aura he had carried with him was darker even in all the years spent as a worshipper of the Moon Goddess I’ve never seen someone with such , aura .

I had tried to ignore it , to brush it off as me being a super protective carer .

But after meeting his father , Mr Dupree , the unease had crept back , more intense than before .

His aura was much darker than his son .

I regretted ever letting Lyla tutor Xander .

What had started as a simple arrangement had spiralled into something else and had changed my Lyla totally from the little sweet girl , she used to be into something else .

How could I have been so blind ? Lyla had struggled with many issues growing up , constantly battling the scars of abandonment at an age where the love and support of a parent to a child was paramount .

She had always craved love , attention anything that made her feel like she 

mattered .

I knew all too well that she would do anything to be with someone who showed her even the slightest kindness or affection .

Xander must have known that .

I couldn’t sit idly by any longer .

I needed answers , even if they were only fragments of the truth .

Maybe , it was time I took up my role in Lyla’s life .

I’ve been weighed by guilt from the past , so much that it has stopped me from doing all the things I loved to do .

I was done .

I gathered my things and closed my office before walking up to the front counter where Sarah , one of the café’s baristas was wiping down the espresso machine .

“ I’m heading out , Sarah , I informed with a smile .

“ But I don’t know how long I’ll be , if I’m not back .

by evening , go ahead and close up for the day , okay ? ” 

Sarah looked up , obviously surprised .

“ Is everything okay , Mrs Grayson ? Is it Lyla ? Is she alright ? I’ve been meaning to ask why she hasn’t come in for a few days now but I didn’t want to pry ” 

“ Lyla is fine ! ” I said with a tight smile .

“ And everything is fine , just some personal business I need to take care of .

I’m sorry for leaving you by yourself .

” 

“ It’s fine ! ” she shook her head , flashing me a dimpled smile .

“ Matt will be here soon to start his shift , there’ll be more than enough hands .

Besides , today seems like a slow day .

” 

“ I 

“ I thought so too .

See you later , I waved at her already moving to the door .

When I came out of the cafe , I exhaled deeply , my mind was already racing just thinking of my next move .

There was only one place .

I could go to for the kind of answers I needed .

It was a 

14 30 

56 Shadows of doubt … 

place I hadn’t visited in years .

It was the place that taught me everything I know and shaped me into the person I became and just when I was to attain leadership , I ruined it all … although , I wouldn’t consider the outcome as a mistake , because it was the best thing that ever happened to me .

I arrived at th 

the Golden Gates Pack south of Blue Ridge .

It’s been 20 years since I left and as soon as I stepped onto the familiar ground , a wave of Nostalgia hit me .

The air smelt different – different from the human world , different from Blue Ridge .

I didn’t have time for that .

The walk to the Moon Temple was a long one , but I didn’t mind .

It gave me time to clear my head , to prepare myself for what I might learn .

The temple was nestled deep in the woods , away from the bustle of the rest of the Pack .

That was where I had grown up and dedicated my life until 20 years ago .

I made my way through the winding paths , the trees growing denser around me , filling me with a strange sense of dread and hope .

By the time I reached the temple gates , the sun was beginning .

to dip below the horizon , casting long shadows across the forest floor .

The stone structure stood tall and imposing , its ancient walls covered in moss and ivy .

I hesitated only for a moment before pushing open the heavy wooden doors .

I walked through the compound , ignoring the young apprentice girls staring at me with curiosity .

Although they’ve never seen me , it’s always easy to spot a fellow worshipper .

I had made my mark visible to avoid being stopped .

I walked through the compound , straight to the praying hall .

Inside , the praying hall was dimly lit by candles , the air was heavy with the scent of incense .

Shelves lined the wall , filled with an eclectic array of crystals , herbs and ancient – looking tomes .

My footsteps echoed through the empty space as I made my way toward the inner sanctum , where I knew I would replace her .

I found the old woman kneeling before an altar , her back straight despite her age , her hands clasped in silent prayer .

My eyes moistened with tears as the image of me , kneeling next to her by this time every evening 20 years ago came to my mind .

It was after our evening prayer on that faithful day that I had shattered her heart .

I wondered if she had forgiven me .

I waited respectfully until she finished her devotions .

Just as she finished , I stepped forward , trying to keep my voice steady .

“ Mother ! ” I called quietly , bowing my head slightly in greeting .

Priestess Liora or Mother as we fondly called her , turned , her sharp eyes , though dimmed with age , were gleaming in the candlelight as she stared at me her mouth wide open .

“ Mi … ” she stuttered , rising from her praying position as she wobbled towards me , not before taking one of the candlesticks .

56 Shadows of doubt … 

pointing the candlelight at my face .

“ Miriam ? ” she stuttered with a shaky voice .

“ My child , is that really you ? ”