The Alpha's Fated Outcast Rise Of The Moonsinger novel Chapter 278

Lyla

I wasted so much time with Luna Vanessa that by the time I went to where Nathan was supposed to meet with the shooters, I was told he had returned to the Beta house.

Immediately, I hurried to him. But when I entered Nathan's home office, where an Omega had informed me he was, a chill ran down my spine. Clarissa was there, lounging comfortably on the edge of his desk.

Her legs crossed delicately, her manicured fingers drumming against the wood. Her smile was smug—too smug—and the glimmer in her eyes was unmistakable. It felt like I had walked into a scene I wasn't' meant to see.

Or maybe they were saying something about me, and my presence stopped the conversation.

Nathan barely glanced up when I stepped inside. His attention was glued to his phone, fingers tapping across the screen steadily. He looked up briefly, then back down.

Instantly, I felt uncomfortable.

""Where have you been?"" he asked casually. ""You're' more than thirty minutes late.""

I couldn't help but look at Clarissa again, tilting her head. The smirk on her face deepened. My insides twisted with uncertainty as I noticed her self–satisfied smile, which seemed to hide something—a secret, perhaps, or a victory I wasn't yet aware of.

I felt that she knew I had spoken with her mother, so I decided to tell the truth. Keeping my expression neutral, I faced Nathan.

"I stopped by to chat with Luna Vanessa," I replied quietly, meeting his gaze as a small smile played on my lips.

He paused, lowering the phone for just a fraction of a second. Not before I noticed his eyes darting between me and Clarissa.

""What about?""

My eyes shifted to Clarissa again. She was watching me intently, like a cat playing with its prey. It was maddening. I turned back to Nathan, keeping my voice steady.

"She wanted me to talk to you about the war with Ramsey," I began. "She wanted me to beg you not to go ahead with it. To try to convince you that we could seek other solutions and hope you will reconsider. She's worried. She thinks it's' too risky."

Nathan's expression barely changed. The phone was still in his hand, though he wasn't typing on it as rapidly as before. The room felt suffocating. I considered stopping there, but something in me—some need to stake a claim, to prove I wasn't afraid—pushed me to continue.

"She also brought up the letter my father left for me."

That seemed to catch his attention. Nathan straightened, meeting and holding my gaze for the first time I stepped inside his office. Clarissa's smirk faltered just a bit. The satisfaction in her eyes faded, replaced by something else—irritation, maybe.

"What letter?" Nathan's tone was cautious now.

I tried not to stutter. "The letter he left me before he died. She said she knew I'd read it and was keeping its contents to myself."

Nathan then turned to Clarissa, whose expression had shifted to one of casual disinterest—too casual. I could see the effort behind it. He set the phone down slowly, deliberately, and glanced at Clarissa again.

"Leave," he said firmly.

Clarissa didn't move immediately. Her eyes darted to me, like she dared me to celebrate the victory. She uncrossed her legs and stood gracefully, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"I'm not leaving. I am your mate, Nathan. If there's anyone who should leave, it should be her."

"Clarissa…" Nathan said softly. "We'll continue our conversation later. Just leave now."

"I don't think—"

"Leave," Nathan repeated, his voice had gone a notch higher and sounded colder too.

She shrunk back, but she didn't argue further. She swept past me with a glare, making sure she bumped into me, but I couldn't care less. I wasn't interested in her antics now. She closed the door, deliberately banging it shut.

Finally alone, Nathan leaned back against the desk, his gaze settling on me with a focus that made my skin prickle.

"I thought you were going to lie to me," he said.