Lyla

I stared at the naked humans who moments ago had been Wolves, confusion replacing my exhaustion. This wasn't what I expected. Ferals weren't supposed to revert to human form—they were supposed to become normal wolves again.

"How is this possible?" I asked the man who seemed to be their leader. "I thought Ferals lost their humanity completely."

"We were never truly Ferals," he explained. "Not in the traditional sense. We're..."

"Aureans?" I suggested, a wild theory forming in my mind. "Neriah's people from the Northern Forests?"

The leader shook his head. "No. We come from different packs and regions. We have nothing in common except for how we were turned."

"How?" I pressed, fascinated despite my exhaustion.

"The Dark One seduces you," a woman said, stepping forward without shame in her nakedness. "He dangles your deepest desire before you, changing your mind bit by bit."

"He possesses you?" I asked, my mind immediately flitting to Nathan and Xander's constant repetition that he had nothing to do with Nathan's behavior and that it was all him.

"No!" their leader shook his head. "He's like an aid. Depending on the desire, he suggests ways you can fuel it. He doesn't have direct control of it. He comes to you in still voices, whispering and suggesting, in the end the person has to decide what they want or don't want."

"Wow, can he even do that?" I asked.

"That's the only way he can influence anyone. The Dark One doesn't have powers, he only uses mediums and channels to get done his dirty work. We're the medium for fighting. That's why we're called Ferals."

"He promises what you want most," one of them added. "For me, it was power. For others, love or revenge."

The leader nodded grimly. "Eventually, you give in to that lust for whatever he's promised. Turning Feral is the final stage—when your mind is gone but your body remains to serve him."

I was speechless. This wasn't just about madness or infection—this was calculated corruption, a perversion of free will.

"How about your wolf forms?" I asked.

"Still as it was, only different. We're not under your will, Moonsinger. We will do as you've said, and in battles, we would have to fight in our wolf forms. We're much stronger that way."

Before I could ask more questions, Ramsey arrived with a group of warriors. The transformed Ferals immediately tensed, some dropping into fighting stances.

"Stop!" I commanded, stepping between them. "Ramsey is my mate. He won't harm you."

They relaxed slightly, though their eyes remained wary.

the scene. "Why are they all naked?

rather than Ramsey. "We were never true Ferals, Alpha. The Dark One twisted our minds, made

One's seduction, how each had fallen prey to their

as he listened. "You killed our people," he

leader replied. "Not our true selves. We were prisoners in our own

"They're victims too," I

moment of tension, Ramsey nodded. "You need clothes," he said gruffly. "Go

didn't move; their eyes were fixed on me

me at the training center at dawn. Do you

They nodded in unison.

to prepare

only when I gave the command, casting concerned glances back at me as

too exhausted to stand. The ritual had drained me more

see the healers," Ramsey said,

insisted. "Just take me to our bedroom. I need rest,

his arms. "Stubborn as always," he

helped me out of the ritual gown and into a simple nightshirt. My limbs felt like lead, and my mind was foggy with fatigue. It

lay side by side on the bed. "Using people's desires

explains a lot," Ramsey finished.

think he wanted? What desire could be strong enough to make Nathan surrender

Or freedom from

what we'd learned, sleep was pulling me under. "We need to remember this," I mumbled. "It might

"Rest now. We'll figure it out

both awake. Ramsey leapt to his feet,

wild-eyed and gasping for breath. His uniform

contained panic. "Not just him—he

impossible," I said. "The scouts said he

lied. Nathan's army

have patrols

came through the old mining tunnels," Lenny explained.

told them about

Wake every warrior. I want the pack

rushed off to

ignoring the weakness in my limbs. "I need to find the former Ferals. They'll fight with

no condition to fight," Ramsey said, gripping my

choice," I replied. "If Nathan brought as many forces as Lenny says, you'll need

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