Chapter 297 297: The Caged and the Free

Lyla

I sat in my small office in the underground prison, a history book open on my lap. The baby Feral—I'd named him Shadow—curled up against me, his strange blue-gray fur warm against my skin. Most of the Ferals had responded to my singing, regaining some of their sanity, but they still showed violent traits whenever someone other than me approached or when someone approached me.

One very funny trait I've noticed about them is how they become overprotective towards me as soon as they are restored to normal. They growl whenever someone is close to me and go berserk if they think the person is trying to attack me.

By attacking me, it could just be simple actions like hugging, shaking hands or any other thing. That was when I realized that changing them back to normal would mean filling them up with things they ought to learn. They were like empty storage disks ready to be filled.

So, I took it upon myself to train them daily for three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. As expected, they were fast learners and mainly learned by copying and adapting. They were brilliant creatures.

"There must be another way," I muttered, flipping through the ancient text.

I was searching for alternatives to defeating the Dark One that didn't involve me "stepping into the fire," as my father instructed in his last letter to me. So far, I've found nothing promising.

"What are you reading?"

I jumped, nearly sending Shadow tumbling from my lap. I hadn't heard Ramsey approach, which was unusual—my senses were typically sharp.

"Goddess! You scared me!" I slapped his arm playfully. "Are you trying to kill me?"

Ramsey grabbed both my hands, pinning them above my head as he leaned down to kiss me deeply. His scent—pine and mountain air—enveloped me, making my heart race.

Shadow whined loudly, pawing at Ramsey's chest, clearly jealous of the attention I was giving someone else.

We broke apart, laughing. "Your new pet doesn't like to share," Ramsey observed, stroking Shadow's head cautiously.

"He's protective," I agreed, surprised that Shadow allowed Ramsey's touch. Usually, he snapped at anyone who came near me. "What brings you down to my dungeon?"

"Just checking how you're doing," Ramsey said, taking a seat beside me. "You've been down here for hours."

I closed the book quickly, sliding it under some papers. "I'm starving, actually. Haven't eaten since breakfast."

Ramsey glanced at the hidden book but didn't comment. "Let's go out, then. There's a new place in the Pack square."

I carefully placed Shadow back in his special enclosure—more comfortable than the others, with blankets and toys. "Be good," I told him. "I'll be back later."

fully werewolves, but no longer

accomplished," Ramsey said as we climbed the stairs to the main level. "No one's ever rehabilitated Ferals before. I read in some history books

fully healed yet," I reminded him. "The full moon ritual

felt wonderful after hours in the underground cells. We walked hand in hand

eat here," I suggested, pointing to a small restaurant

and vegetables. When the food arrived, I dug in immediately, hoping to delay Ramsey's inevitable questions. I could tell

he commented, smiling as I

ate more slowly, his eyes occasionally scanning

we'd finished eating, he finally asked, "What were you reading about so intently

ritual. Ancient texts on the process of the ritual and just so you know, there's

was strange. Usually, he'd probe

tension in his shoulders, the tightness around

reached for his hand across the table. "What's

spotted Nathan and his armies.

blood ran

than expected, stopping at packs along the way to collect more soldiers."

didn't entirely feel. "Everything will be fine. If the

to his lips.

while, trying to enjoy a normal evening despite the looming threat. I told him about Shadow's progress and how he'd actually allowed one of the healers

eye—a familiar figure

asked, pointing to a tall

in recognition. "It is. She's supposed to

questions in his eyes, the desire to

talk to her," I urged. "Find out

"I already sent a message to her pack, giving them an ultimatum to reach out

"Ramsey, go. Now. Before she

stood. "I'll be right

after Cassidy, calling her name. She turned, her expression changing from surprise to something I couldn't quite read from

table, I pulled out the small book I'd hidden in my pocket—a condensed version of the text I'd been studying. The page was open to a passage about ancient sacrifices used to banish dark

text I'd found earlier: "When the Moonsinger steps

suggested the same outcome—defeating the

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