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.

in the scene. "Why are they all naked? How

were never true Ferals, Alpha. The Dark One

the explanation about the Dark One's seduction, how each had fallen prey to their

expression darkened as he listened. "You killed

our true selves. We were

touched Ramsey's arm. "They're victims too," I

clothes," he said

Ferals didn't move; their eyes were fixed on me as if waiting

nod. "Meet me at the training center at

They nodded in unison.

We'll need to

the warriors only when I gave the command, casting concerned glances

I sagged against Ramsey, suddenly too exhausted to stand. The ritual had drained

need to see the healers," Ramsey

take me to our bedroom.

his arms. "Stubborn as

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 was still

they said about the Dark One," I began as we lay side by side on the bed. "Using people's desires against

explains a lot," Ramsey

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

Or freedom from responsibility. Nathan always chafed under your father's

Despite the magnitude of what we'd learned, sleep was pulling me under. "We

hair gently. "Rest now. We'll figure it

on the door jolted us both awake. Ramsey leapt to his feet, instantly alert. I struggled to sit up, my body protesting

open. Lenny stood there, wild-eyed and gasping for breath. His

is here," he panted, looking between us with barely contained panic. "Not

I said. "The

grimly. "Or they lied. Nathan's army is at our southern

patrols everywhere. They

came through the old mining tunnels," Lenny explained. "The ones we thought were

them about the

Wake every warrior. I want the pack house fortified

and rushed off

my limbs. "I need to find the former Ferals. They'll fight

fight," Ramsey said, gripping my shoulders. "The ritual drained

I replied. "If Nathan brought as many

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