The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

49 The perfect way to unwind ...

Lyla I threw my arms up, bracing for the impact, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I could feel the creatures" hot breath on my skin...

And then I woke up.

My scream tore through the air, as I bolted upright in bed gasping for breath.

My clothes were soaked and plastered to my trembling body like a second layer, my heart still racing as if I hadn't yet realized the dream was over.

I looked around wildly, looking for the stick, my chest heaving ... it tooka moment to realize I was no longer in the forest.

The familiar surroundings of the guest room in Xander's house slowly cinto focus the soft glow of the bedside lamp, and the rumpled sheets tangled around my legs.

But something was wrong.

I wasn't alone.

Sitting on a recliner in the corner of the room, watchingintently was Xander.

"Xander ? " my voice was hoarse and my throat was still raw from screaming.

"What ... what are you doing here?" He didn't respond.

A chill ran down my spine.

There was something ... off about the way he was looking at me.

His eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, remindingof ...

"No ! " I cried out, scrambling backwards on the bed.

For a heartbeat, just the briefest of seconds, I saw something else in Xander's eyes.

The eyes of that creature the one that had attacked- the seyes I had seen on the man that had cto my bedroom the last tI had my heat ... although Nanny had said it was her.

And then I screamed ... opening my mouth as wide as I could.

My scream pierced the silence and within seconds, my door flew open with a bang as someone rushed in fumbling for the light switch.

As the room flooded with sudden brightness, my screaming intensified, my eyes wide with terror when I saw it was Xander, holding a spoon.

" Lyla ! " he called out, rushing to me, but I screamed louder pressing myself at the head of the bed.

Every part of my body was trembling now.

I pointed to the now - empty recliner in the corner of the room.

"You ...

you were just there!" I gasped, my voice hoarse and shaky.

"You were sitting right there just now.

How did you ...

?" Confusion clouded Xander's features, his brows furrowing as he glanced betweenand the chair.

"What? Now ! I wasn't in here," he sounded both confused and concerned.

"I was in the kitchen, trying to make you dinner.

" That was when I noticed he had an apron on and it was splattered with various cooking stains, flour dusting the front and the faint smell of food.

"I cwhen I heard you scream.

40 The perfect way to unwind ...

My chest heaved as I blinked rapidly, my mind struggling to process the conflicting information.

I had seen him, hadn't I? Sitting there, watchingwith those intense eyes as that creature but Xander who was standing at the doorway, with concern on his face felt nothing like what I'd awakened to.

"But... I saw you fear.

... you were," I whispered trailing off as I rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the lingering Had it all been part of the dream?" You were right there.

" Read the latest and free at Xander shook his head and approached my bed, stepping cautiously, his hands held out in a calming gesture.

"It's okay, Lyla .

You must have been dreaming.

I promise I wasn't in here.

As he reached the edge of my bed, he hesitated, I could see he was trying not to scarebut something incraved comfort and needed to feel safe.

I reached out and Xander didn't.

hesitate to gatherinto his arms.

As soon as his strong arms enveloped me, the terror that had grippedbegan to subside His familiar warmth, and the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear soothed.

I could feel myself relaxing in his embrace.

I let out a shaky sigh, pressing deeper into his arms.

"What happened?" he asked softly, his hand running soothing circles on my back.

"What's got you so spooked and, in my house, too? Was it those Panthers? Did you see them ? " "No!" I murmured.

"I had a terrible dream, it was so real ... for a moment, it felt like I was back to the pack and in the Northern Forests where I was attacked by Feral wolves," I leaned away from him, meeting his gaze.

"I didn't tell you before but just before I cback to the human world, I was attacked after ... " I swallowed hard " My mate toldto bechis sex toy and live in sabandoned house by the edge of the pack.

"Feral wolves?" he asked gently.

I nodded.

"Not just them... they also cwith a creature, clad in white.

Last time, I wasn't able to see its face but it was visible this taround and it spoke toand said a lot of strange words.

Said I was the Moonsinger and should go back to my mother ... it felt so real, " I sighed leaning into his chest again.

“Trinax ! " his chest hummed as he said softly.

"What?" I pulled back "A" Trinax," he repeated, brushing the hair from my face " I'm sorry, I wasn't there to protect you.

I'm so mad at myself right now.

I chuckled, feeling light.

"It was a dream, Xan ... there is no way you could cprotecteven if you wanted to, don't be angry.

By the way ... ” I paused, a puzzled expression on my face, "What's at Tri ... " " A Trinax," he finished " They lead a cluster of Ferals... they're always together " Like a shepherd leading sheep?" I asked.

"Something like that," he nodded as he flasheda quiet smile.

"What did it want withthough? Ahh ... " I shook my head trying to clear the images of his from my thoughts " It felt on real " CYCS The perfect way to unwind...

He pulledclose to himself again, his hands sliding up and down my arms as if he could.

physically rub the fear out of my body.

"It was just a nightmare, Lyla," he said softly.

"Your mind was playing tricks on you.

The fight with Nanny must have stirred up sold emotions, maybe triggering the memories of the attack.

It's normal after something like that.

I nodded slowly, wanting to believe his explanation.

But a nagging doubt lingered in the back of my mind.

It had been months since the attack and I'd never dreamed about it before.

Why now? And what about the voice that claimed to be my wolf? It didn't feel like a simple replay of past events.

I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on the voice, to see if it was really inlike it claimed. "Are you there?" I murmured silently.

I waited for a few minutes, trying hard to concentrate but nothing ... Wolf Indeed! I scoffed inwardly.

It was all a ruse.

Xander was right, maybe it was my past traumas playing.

Suddenly, Xander stood up, clapping his hand together.

"I know exactly what you need ! " he announced, a mischievous grin spreading across his face .

I eyed him warily, not sure what to make of his sudden enthusiasm.

"What?" I asked staring at him with a mix of curiosity and apprehension in my voice.

Xander's grin widened.

"It's a surprise," he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"The perfect remedy for nightmares and bad moods.

Trust me, I'll make you forget all about that dream.

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest defensively.

"I'm not in the mood for surprises, today, Xan " "You will love this one, darling," he pinched my cheeks lovingly.

"Trust me.

Despite my lingering unease, I found myself getting intrigued by this mysterious surprise and Xander's enthusiasm was infectious.

"Okay," I said managing a small smile.

"What do I need to do ? " "Get dressed, he instructed, already backing towards the door.

Something nice, but comfortable and sexy ... " his eyes ran down the of my length of my body suggestively, causingto take a sharp inhale of breath. "Meetdownstairs in twenty minutes.

"

Long after he left, I sat on my bed, still shaken by the nightmare and the lingering fear of what I'd seen - or thought I'd seen. The idea of leaving the safety of my room, even for Xander's so-called surprise felt daunting.

But staying here, alone with my thoughts, didn't seem like a better option either.

Then again, I was here to live my life on my own terms, wasn't I? To experience newnew things and make my own choices? This surprise of Xander's, whatever it was, seemed like the perfect way to unwind.