The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

Chapter 347: Ramsey’s dangerous games

Lyla

I stepped into the foyer of the pack house, my boots were still coated in dust from the Veilwalk. My mind was racing with everything I’d witnessed. And if there’s one thing I know, we couldn’t afford to wait any longer.

I passed Seth, who was at his station. He grunted his greetings, though he looked like he hadn’t slept the previous night.

Ramsey stood near the staircase, talking with Darren and Lenny. Their heads were bent together, almost touching each other, and they spoke in really low tones—I wasn’t even hearing the sound of their whispering. When they noticed me, both men straightened abruptly.

"We’ll finish this later," Darren muttered, nodding at Ramsey before shooting me a guarded look.

"Yeah, I should check on the patrols anyway, Caius has his hands full with other duties", Lenny added, backing away after bowing politely in my direction.

I watched them leave, a prickle of unease crawling up my spine. Something about their reaction felt off.

Ramsey turned and started toward me. When he reached me, he scanned my body, his eyebrows creased in a frown. "Where did you go?" he asked. "I checked your room this morning, and it was empty."

I took a deep breath. "I did the Veilwalk. I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you beforehand, but I was worried you might try to stop me. Circe, Nanny, and Terra helped with a few priestesses."

His eyes widened. "Veilwalk? Isn’t that for Moon Priest and Priestesses?"

"No," I shook my head. "It’s also for Moonsingers. I had to see for myself, understand the intent of my powers and learn how to use them effectively."

"And what did you discover?"

I quickly summarized what I’d discovered—leaving out the relationship between Rian, Thames and the Dark One. I didn’t want to hurt Ramsey or complicate things further.

I also told him the truth about the Dark One, what he did with Neriah’s people, how and why he would always meet his doom at the hand of every Moonsinger, and how that would also mean another rebirth.

"We don’t need to wait for the twin moon, Ramsey. We should launch an attack now and take him by surprise. I’m not worried about the other Ferals, I’m worried about my people who The Dark One turned into Ferals. It is tough to fight the ferals; talk more about ferals who have abilities similar to mine. I know you might disagree..."

"I do," Ramsey nodded. He didn’t look surprised; honestly, I was expecting another reaction rather than the thoughtful look he had on. "Lenny was just telling me the same thing a while ago. Darren and I do not see eye to eye on so many things, but he agreed. Attacking first, taking the first to them would be the best thing to do."

I blinked, thrown off balance. "Lenny suggested attacking now?"

"Yes," he gave a slight shrug. "He’s worried that the twin moon or fighting under the twin moon would enhance the strength of the Ferals and even the Dark One. But if we go at them now, when they’re not expecting, it would give us the advantage, and we’d be able to protect our fortress, the White Mountain Region. More packs have arrived, mostly Werewolves. The attack by the Ferals is spreading day after day."

I wasn’t interested in hearing the news about the Ferals spreading day after day. I was more interested in Lenny’s suggestion.

Something cold settled in my stomach. Why would Lenny, who always advocated for caution, suddenly push for an immediate assault?

"Did you learn about anything else during the Veilwalk? Like, how to kill the Dark One?" Ramsey asked, watching me closely.

"Yes," I nodded. "I have better control of my pheromones now, which is the one thing I need to kill the Dark One, once and for all. Who knew that would be my powerhouse?"

Ramsey stared at me intently, as if he were expecting more. When more wasn’t forthcoming, he sighed.

"What? You were expecting me to say something else?"

He smiled. "Nothing, baby. What will you do now?"

"I need to go bathe and change," I said, needing time to process this new information. "I’ll meet you afterwards, and you can tell me about the strategy. When will the warriors move?"

Ramsey looked at his watch. "About an hour and thirty minutes from now."

"Great," I nodded. "I will find you before then."

He nodded, pulling me close for a kiss. His lips lingered on mine. "Thank you for telling me about Veilwalk," he whispered before releasing me. "Be careful, Lyla."

As I walked to my bedroom, his words echoed in my mind. Be careful. Did he suspect something too?

The hot water cascaded over my shoulders, but it did nothing to wash away my unease. Lenny’s suggestion of an immediate attack made no sense. Unless...

The women’s warnings about Lenny being a dark friend flashed through my mind. Could it be? I’d known Lenny for some months now, compared to when we first met when I was younger, and I could trust him. In fact, he has proven to be a worthy Beta countless times. But the coincidence was too perfect to ignore.

I dried myself quickly and dressed in simple clothes—dark jeans and a loose sweater. Then I pulled out my phone and texted Lenny: Meet me by the lake. Just you.noveldrama

Twenty minutes later, I sat on a flat rock facing the water, watching ripples spread across the surface as the evening breeze picked up. The lake felt calm today and was the only location far from the pack house where we could talk without being eavesdropped.

I heard footsteps approach, but didn’t turn around. Lenny settled beside me, his lanky frame folding awkwardly onto the rock.

Neither of us spoke for several minutes. The silence stretched between us like a living thing, filled with unasked questions and dangerous answers.

Finally, I broke it. "I don’t care what you are," I said, slowly, "All I need is for you to tell me whose side you’re on."

Lenny stiffened beside me just for a moment—a tell so slight I might have missed it if I hadn’t been looking for it. Then he turned to me, his expression blank.

"Ramsey’s," he said.

I nodded, studying his face. "Is going to attack the Dark One a trap?"

Lenny frowned, he looked at me strangely before shrugging. "No."

"But why are you asking all these questions, Lyla?" he countered, facing me fully. His brows were arched in surprise. "Did I do something wrong? And I hope you’re not trying to rope me into doing something stupid again. I won’t"

I shook my head. "Far from it, Lenny. Nanny and Terra think you’re a dark friend, but they say you pose no danger to us. Contradictory words. I honestly don’t know how to feel about it or interpret it."

At that, Lenny threw back his head and laughed—a genuine, startling sound that echoed across the lake. "I’m not a dark friend," he said when his laughter subsided.

I turned toward him fully. "But you are passing information to the Dark One."

His smile faded, and my heart sank with fear. I felt him hesitate for a second before he nodded once.

"You’re admitting it?" I asked.

"I am not a dark friend, Lyla. If I were a dark friend, I’d fight on opposite sides, not here. But I pass information to the Dark One."

"How did you know I was pregnant?" I asked the question that had been nagging at me for days.

He shrugged. "I just knew. Sometimes, I know things without explanation." A brief smile flickered across his face. "Call it a gift. I don’t want to tie it to my mother, but just like Circe, I know things, too."

That didn’t help at all.

The casual way he confirmed my suspicions scared me more, but I kept my expression neutral. "If you pass information to the Dark One, what is in it for you? What did he promise you?"

He leaned back, suddenly relaxed, relieved to finally speak the truth. "His ultimate goal is to wipe out the Lycans," he said matter-of-factly. But first, he must gain access to the White Moon Throne. And who better to use than you, Lyla?" His eyes glinted. Our power comes from Neriah herself. And after he’s regained his form, he plans to rule with you by his side."

My blood ran cold. "How do you know all this?"

"The Dark One told me," Lenny replied casually, as if discussing the weather. "He mentioned it as his motive."

I stared at him, stunned into silence. "You... speak with him?"

He nodded. "Ramsey knows about me sharing information with the Dark One. Right after the Harvest Moon, I started giving him information."

My heart pounded painfully against my ribs. "So every time there was an attack, every time we failed... it was because the Dark One knew our plans?"

Lenny nodded. "We needed to win his trust, to make him believe that Ramsey has a mole and that he was losing control"

I felt a little dizzy at the information. "You’re serious?" I whispered.