The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

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."

our way through the prison level, past cages holding the other Ferals. They watched us with intelligent eyes—not fully werewolves, but no longer mindless beasts either. My singing had brought them back

we climbed the stairs to the main level. "No one's ever rehabilitated Ferals before. I read in some history books that

reminded him. "The full moon ritual is

the underground cells. We walked hand in hand to

eat here," I suggested, pointing to a small

with potatoes and vegetables. When the food arrived, I dug in immediately, hoping to delay Ramsey's

he commented, smiling as I devoured

more slowly, his eyes occasionally scanning our surroundings—the habit of an Alpha always on

finally asked, "What were you

the ritual. Ancient texts on the process of the ritual and just so you know, there's absolutely no research on how to heal a Feral, so I would

without further questions, which was strange. Usually, he'd

when I noticed the tension in his shoulders, the tightness around his eyes. Something

hand across the table. "What's the problem? You're

sighed heavily. "Scouts spotted Nathan and

ran

should be here in three days. He's moving slower than expected, stopping at packs along the way to collect more soldiers."

If the warriors all do

hand to his

for a 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

eye—a familiar

that Cassidy?" I asked, pointing to a tall

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

the questions in his eyes, the desire to speak with her despite his

out why she's here. It

her pack, giving them an ultimatum

rolled my eyes. "Ramsey, go. Now.

then stood. "I'll be right back, I

him hurry after Cassidy, calling her name. She turned, her expression changing from surprise to something

in my pocket—a condensed version of the text I'd been studying. The page was open to a passage about

I remembered another text I'd found earlier: "When the Moonsinger steps into the fire, darkness shall

I'd found suggested the same outcome—defeating the Dark One would require my