The Alpha's Fated Outcast Rise Of The Moonsinger novel Chapter 254

Neriah

"First, I'd like to thank the beautiful people of the Northern Forests for your warm welcome. It's truly a pleasure to be here. I love everything from the food, the drinks, the weather and the conversation…" he paused slightly, as his gaze returned to me.

Then he looked away. "It is truly a privilege to stand before you all. This is just me saying thank you for everything. I want to invite my father – the Lycan Leader to address us. Thank you."

He gave a short bow before he went back to where his father was sitting and escorted him back to the platform before retreating to his seat. His eyes met mine briefly again and he smiled.

I stood among the crowd, the plate of half-eaten food forgotten in my hands. My heart was still unsteady from the strange encounter with Rian earlier, but I pushed the feeling aside, forcing myself to focus on the speech.

I watched Rian – he still had the same lazy confidence to him even as his father spoke. Watching the two of them – father and son – mirror each other in ways that made my stomach churn. There was something about Rian that unsettled me, though I couldn't quite name it.

And now, the Lycan Leader's words only made that unease grow.

"This gathering tonight is more than a mere formality," he began. "It is merely an excuse to bring everyone into one place."

A few polite chuckles sounded from the Alphas, but the room quickly fell silent again. I frowned. What did he mean? An excuse?

The Lycan Leader's eyes scanned the crowd, his gaze making everyone stand a little straighter. Even the Alphas, seated with him on the platform seemed to lean forward.

"Something evil has made its way into our world," he continued with a grave tone. "A darkness that doesn't discriminate… but it has begun targeting one race in particular and we have gathered that should it get this race as it wants, the White Moon Throne would no longer be as we want."

Unease swept through the crowd. Immediately, I thought about Corvus but shook my head immediately, dispelling the thought. I'm sure it was nothing related to him. But, werewolf and Lycan gatherings were rarely this serious. Typically, they were celebrations of strength, displays of pack unity, and opportunities for potential mates to meet. But this felt different.

I felt there was more meaning to his words than how he sounded casual. My palms began to sweat, my heart pounding harder in my chest. What was he talking about?

"I do not have the luxury of time to explain every detail," the Lycan Leader continued. "But after much consultations with your Alphas and Alphas from various territories, we've concluded that the only way to fight against this coming evil is to tackle it head-on by using the powers of the White Moon Throne which it is seeking so badly to control. And to do that, we have to create a marriage bond between the people who can control this power…"

He paused as if to let the words sink in. Everyone was staring at him intently.

"So, the solution is a marriage bond between a Lycan and an Aurean."

My heart skipped a beat.

I heard the gasps ripple through the crowd, the quick exchange of whispers. My fingers clutched my plat tighter, my nails biting into the delicate porcelain.

It could only mean one thing; the confirmation of what my father had told me earlier.

The Lycan Leader seemed to wait for everyone to absorb the information before he continued further.

"I am here to officially announce the marriage between my son, Rian and the Alpha of the Northern Forest's daughter…"

The crowd – mostly our pack members exploded before he could finish. Clapping, hooting, and crowding filled the space. To my people, any marriage outside our pack was a great alliance but with a Lycan and not just any Lycan, the Lycan Leader himself, I could tell why why were happy.

Perhaps, now we would matter in the food chain. Maybe we would be needed and have other perks that come with being a werewolf. Relief washed over me as I turned to where Maya stood at the far end of the gathering.

Her olive skin had turned ashen, and all the colour had drained from her face. First, Maya had no plans of ever finding her mate or getting married. With my help, she had severed the mate instinct and that was because she wanted more out of life than just marriage.

Her hands were shaking. Her eyes were wide and her pupils had dilated. She looked like a deer caught in ahunter'ss crosshairs. I wanted to go to her immediately and tell her that the marriage wasn't for her.

Pack members already swarmed around her, congratulating her, touching her shoulder and pulling her into embraces. But Maya remained still. A fine sheen of sweat had appeared on her forehead and her lips were moving soundlessly – whether in prayer or protest, I couldn't tell.