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 Goddess's name?" Ramsey muttered, taking in the scene. "Why are they all naked? How

me rather than Ramsey. "We were never true

repeated the explanation about the Dark One's seduction, how each had fallen

killed our

true selves. We were prisoners in our

victims too," I said softly. "And now they're

clothes," he said gruffly. "Go with my warriors.

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

me at the training

They nodded in unison.

need to prepare for

gave the command, casting concerned glances back

were gone, I sagged against Ramsey, suddenly too exhausted to stand.

healers," Ramsey said, supporting my

take me to

into his arms. "Stubborn as always," he murmured, but there

lead, and my mind was foggy with fatigue. It was still midnight, so there were still a few hours before daybreak. Perfect; it would give me the

about the Dark One," I began as we lay side by

explains a lot," Ramsey finished.

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

freedom from responsibility. Nathan always chafed under your

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

gently. "Rest

both awake. Ramsey leapt to his feet, instantly alert. I

wild-eyed and gasping for breath. His uniform was torn and dirty, as if he'd been running through rough

barely contained panic. "Not just him—he brought the entire fucking Were-kingdom with

fatigue vanished, replaced by cold dread. "That's impossible," I

were wrong," Lenny replied grimly. "Or they lied. Nathan's army is at our southern

patrols everywhere. They

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

a blow. "Someone told them about the

growled. "Sound the alarm. Wake every warrior. I want the pack house fortified and the civilians moved to

nodded and rushed off to carry

ignoring the weakness in my limbs. "I need to find the

no condition to fight," Ramsey said, gripping my

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

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