The Alpha's Fated Outcast Rise Of The Moonsinger novel Chapter 256

Neriah

I paused staring at my father strangely

He seemed to regret what he said and turned his back to me. I waited for a few seconds, expecting a follow-up explanation of who the Dark One was or any other information but my father remained silent.

"Who is the Dark One, Dad? And why would he gladly have me?"

He lowered his head, muttering some expletives under his breath. When he turned, he had a resigned look on his face.

"Listen to me, Neriah, I know you've been meeting him, haven't you? I saw you go out the other morning and I know you lied to me the other day too about not knowing where he was. You have met him."

I knew instinctively he was talking about Corvus but somehow, instead of accepting that, I decided to play dumb.

"Met who, Dad?"

"Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

My heart lurched painfully against my ribs. I raised my chin, holding my father's gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."

His eyes flashed with annoyance. "Don't lie to me, Neriah. Can you tell me why you were in the woods – why you left the pack house to the forest three days ago and so early in the morning? And why did you go back to the exact spot where we saw you that day we were looking for an intruder."

My heart stopped. He knew. But how? I was sure no one was following me that day.

"I… I didn't…"

A sharp crack echoed through the room as his palm struck my cheek. I stumbled back, my vision blurring.

"You will not embarrass this family or this pack." His voice was like ice. "You will do as you're told. You will marry Rian."

Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

"I have a mate," I said defiantly meeting my father's gaze again.

My father's eyes darkened.

"Not anymore." A cold wave of nausea washed over me. "You don't get to choose, Neriah." He leaned in close; his breath was hot against my ear. "You never did."

My body trembled, but deep inside – beneath the fear, beneath the hurt – I felt bold. Even right now, I was staring down at my father, something I never would have been able to do in a million years.

His hand gripped my chin until it began to ache but I didn't flinch as we continued to stare down at each other.

"You will obey me. It is for the good of our world and it might be better you don't go into the forest in search of him again. It is for your good, Neriah."

I wanted to say: If you just tell me why? If you only satisfy my curiosity, you wouldn't need to tell me what to do.

But I said nothing. My heart pounded in my chest, but this time – for the first time – I didn't look away. And in that small, silent act of defiance, I knew that something about me had changed forever.

~~~

In the end, I went back to the forest.

As soon as I left my father's office, rather than going to my room, I walked right into the forest and headed for the tree. Something I wouldn't pull off on a normal day but the truth was, I didn't fear my father as much as I did this morning.

And what better way to understand what is going on than to meet the man who is directly linked to everything that is happening? I couldn't go to the pack, especially now. The hostile look I was getting was unbearable and I knew that the only reason why I hadn't been beaten to a pulp yet was because of my father's status.

But tonight… I must find out.

When I arrived at the tree, it was empty. My fingers brushed against the bark of the great tree where I had seen him – the strange man with green eyes. Corvus. His name was also the Dark One my father said, the name had been whispering at the edge of my mind ever since that day, pulling me back here.

I glanced around, suddenly feeling afraid. The forest was dark and quiet. Would he even come?

"You shouldn't be here."

A voice cut through the stillness. I spun around, my breath catching in my throat. From the shadows, Corvus emerged, his green eyes glowing faintly beneath the moonlight. He was exactly as I remembered.

"You came…" I whispered. "How did you know I wanted you to come?"

"You called me," his gaze flicked past my shoulders, scanning the forest. "It's not safe. Your father…"

"I'm not safe anywhere, either," I interrupted him, surprising myself with the bitterness in my voice. "Now with what they've planned for me."

His eyes turned to me immediately, the intensity in them pinning me in place. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The only sound was the distant rustling of the wind on the leaves.

"You want to run," he said finally.

"I want to be free."