The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger.

Lyla

"Dead serious. Many people think Ramsey is weak and doesn't know how to decide. You cannot imagine the things he has prepared. He's so patient that it drives me up the wall a lot of times, and truthfully, he's the most patient Lycan I have ever seen."

Everything began to make sense "So this battle right now?" I asked.

"I already sent word that there will be a sudden attack."

"But you said you didn't—"

"I lied," he admitted with a shrug. "It's strategy, Lyla. The warriors being sent are just a distraction from the real plan."

"But all those people who died. We've suffered a lot of losses, Lenny. Ramsey is big on protecting the people and all of that. Why would he do something like that?"

Lenny stared at me for a few seconds and sighed. "In the grand scheme of things, there is no way we can do this without losing warriors, Lyla. To say the truth, the number of casualties we've lost is less compared to…"

"That is not an excuse," I shook my head. "People died, they walked into a trap set by their Lycan Leader. I feel so sad thinking of all those innocent lives we've lost in the name of strategy."

"What would you have him do, Lyla?" Lenny said quietly. Ramsey didn't want any of this, but it has to be done. A small sacrifice for a greater good, and all the families of those warriors who died were well compensated, so they do not feel the impact of the loss of their loved one."

"Oh, please," I scoffed. "Money cannot fill the void left by a loved one. My father and I weren't the best of buddies when he was alive, but his death left an absence in my heart. In Nanny's, Luna Vanessa, and Clarissa, no revenge would take away the pain."

"I shouldn't have told you," Lenny shook his head. "Have you ever wondered why Ramsey doesn't tell you things like this?"

"The same reason I don't tell him things about me, too," I retorted. "It's to protect each other. In our quest to protect, we left out the most important thing: communication. These days, we're doing better. You were going to tell me about the plan?"

I asked, changing the topic.

"What plan?" Lenny frowned.

"How you plan to manipulate the Dark One and his armies. Have you forgotten?"

He smiled slightly. "I can't tell you that. Ask me something else, and I will answer you, but I'm sorry, I can't share that information with you."

"Why?"

"Because if he senses you know, he'll know it's a trap. You're more connected to him than any of us, and you're like an open book. It's easy to read you. Well, except your mate, he's blind."

I froze. "The Dark One can sense me? He can read my thoughts?"

"When you use your power, yes," Lenny nodded.

I felt sick. "Then why me? Why not someone else?"

"Because he believes you're the one who will unlock the Throne," Lenny said. "Neriah was strong, but you were born a promise to us. Your gift is evolution. You're not just a Moonsinger—you're the turning point."

I didn't know what to say.

Lenny stood up beside me, brushing the grass off his pants. "Don't look so scared, Lyla. We've come too far to lose now."

I turned to him. "Are you still passing information?"

He looked me dead in the eye. "Yes. But only what we choose to give. That's the game now. Feed him just enough… The more he buys into the lie, the easier it would be for him to fall."

I wanted to believe him. I mean, there was no reason not to. Why would Lenny lie to me in the first place? Why would he cook up stories knowing I could easily walk up to Ramsey and clarify them?

"Does Ramsey know you've told me? Is he behind this, too?"

Lenny shook his head. No. But he'll figure it out when you confront him because I know that's exactly what you'll do. It's just me and him that are on the plan. Not even Caius knows; he wouldn't have agreed to it."

"Of course," I scoffed. "Caius is sweeter than you. You're cruel, Lenny. Do you know that? From the moment I saw you at the hall, sitting neutral, watching Alphas argue over who's to be the next Alpha of Blue Ridge, I saw the coldness in you, to this day…"

"I am his Beta, Lyla," he interrupted me. "Anything I do, I do for Ramsey's interest only. I do not give sweet advice. I try to keep him alive as much as I can, and I tell him the hard truths because that's my job. I'm sorry, I'm not smiling and laughing with you, but I have a job."

I remained seated, trying to clamp down on the thousand thoughts running through my head. "How do I know I can trust you? Any of this could be another lie."

"You don't," he admitted. "But ask yourself this—if I truly served the Dark One, why would I reveal his plans to you now? And there is no reason to lie, Lyla. I respect you so much as Ramsey's mate and the only woman who has a measure of control over him, but I do not fear you enough not to speak the truth. After all, we're not of equal species. In a fair fight, I'll win."

It was a fair point. Unless this, too, was part of some deeper manipulation.

"I also have a feeling that you have unique abilities, Lenny, and maybe you might win if we go that route," I teased, watching him quietly, hoping he would fall for my bait.

"I don't," he shook his head, then, in a more serious expression, quietly said, "Whatever you decide to do, do it quickly. The attack will be happening any moment now."

With that, he walked away, leaving me alone with the rippling waters and the brunt of impossible choices.

I sat there until the sun was high in the sky, mirroring itself across the lake. If I am lucky, I might still get to enjoy this lake one last time. The Veilwalk may have revealed many things about my purpose, but one thing was clear: to end the cycle, I had to die.

My death would stop our dance with the dark one for centuries. It would undo everything that had gone wrong. I was the last Moonsinger, and my purpose is to end the Dark One's rule and those vicious Ferals.

Tears gathered in my eyes, but I sniffed them back. I wish my children had a choice. To be honest, I wish I did, too, but… duty first, before anything else.

I finally rose and started heading back to the pack house. My mind was made up. I needed to be part of the plan if we were playing with fire. Not just as bait, but as the weapon I was always meant to be.

***

When I returned to the pack house, everything was alive with chaos.

Guards rushed through the corridors, herding families toward the secure underground shelter. Children clutched their parents' hands, their eyes wide with fear; they didn't fully understand.

Older people were being moved too, supported by one or two guards.

This was really happening. All those skirmishes, all those border fights—they had just been practice rounds. The real war was beginning.

And with wars, you can tell when it would start, but never when it would end.

I paused, watching the organised evacuation. According to Ramsey, the shelter had enough food supplies for five years. It connected to a tunnel system leading to small human towns where our people could relocate if they didn't hear from the fighters for three weeks. Money, clothes, medicine—everything needed to start life afresh had been made available for every family accordingly.

I stood there momentarily, wishing desperately that things could be different. That we could find another way.

"We've been looking for you. Where did you go?" Terra's voice cut through my thoughts as she grabbed my arm, steering me away from the main flow of people toward a corner.

I forced a smile. "Just went for a walk to clear my head. Sorry."

Terra nodded, reaching into her pocket to pull out a small glass vial filled with dark liquid. "Drink this. It'll give you energy and make you less sluggish. It's also good for the baby," she pressed the vial into my hands. The Alpha Lycans and the war council gathered a few minutes ago, and Ramsey was looking for you. You should find him; they might be waiting for you."

I uncorked the vial and downed the bitter liquid in one gulp, wincing at the taste. Whatever Terra had given me worked fast—energy surged through my veins, sharpening my focus.

"Thanks," I said, handing back the empty vial. "Where is he?"

"War council room. They've been at it for hours."