The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

Chapter 304 304: Ghosts and Shadows

Lyla

I stumbled back, my legs giving way beneath me as shock rippled through my body. It couldn't be—it was impossible. Yet there he stood, just as I remembered him.

"Caius?" His name escaped my lips as a breathless whisper.

Ramsey's former Gamma, Gamma Darius's son, Caius, rushed to my side. He reached for my arm, his face creased with concern. "Lyla, are you okay?"

I swatted his hand away, scrambling backward. "Stay away from me! Leave now, or you won't like the result."

My mind raced with possibilities. Another fox shapeshifter? A ghost? Some trick of the Dark One's magic?

"It's me," Caius insisted, keeping his distance but holding his hands up to show he meant no harm. "I promise you don't need to worry. It's really me."

I glanced at the former Ferals surrounding us. None of them were snarling or showing signs of aggression toward Caius. They would sense it immediately if he were an imposter or under the Dark One's influence.

Taking this as a good sign, I allowed him to help me to my feet. My legs still felt wobbly from the shock.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes," I managed, my gaze drifting to where Gamma Darius lay motionless on the ground, felled by Caius's decisive blow. "That's your father. You didn't know before you hit him?"

Caius scoffed, his eyes hardening. "He wanted me dead. What father wants his son dead?" He glanced nervously toward the trees. "But we need to leave now. Can you make it to your cars?"

Before I could answer, the rest of my warriors arrived from the same direction. They paused when they all saw Caius and started approaching cautiously. Garin and Killian, with my elite warriors, were first in line, flanked by Kieran and the other Ferals in their wolf forms. All of them eyed Caius with obvious suspicion.

"It's fine," I assured them. "He's with us." I turned to Garin. "Were you able to find Ramsey and Lenny? Their troops?"

"Yes," Garin nodded. "They've retreated and are rendezvousing at the caves beneath Moon Lake."

"And Ramsey?" I asked anxiously, looking back to where I'd last seen him fighting with the fox shapeshifters."

"He's fine," Killian answered. "He's the one who gave the order to retreat."

for me himself. It wasn't like him to withdraw

need to leave now," Caius urged, his

the vehicles. I noticed something strange as we drove away—none of Nathan's

attempt to come after us? Even while we were in the forest, they didn't

trap," Caius explained, seeing my confusion. "There was no way Nathan would launch a full assault right now. He was trying

drive to Moon Lake took nearly an hour, winding through hidden mountain paths. When we finally arrived at the secret cave entrance, I spotted Ramsey pacing anxiously outside. His head snapped up at the

enveloping me in a tight hug. Then he

hurt?" he demanded, his eyes filled

I assured him, touching his face

stand beside me. "Alpha," he said, inclining his head

into pure shock. "Caius?" he whispered, disbelief evident in every line of

me," Caius confirmed with a slight

slowly, as if afraid he might

"Yes," Caius replied.

a satisfied smirk. "Remember when I told you I'd have a surprise for you soon?" he called to Ramsey. "This is

"I thought you were dead. We saw your body. Your

night Caius supposedly died, he showed up at my front door, battered." He gestured toward the

surprisingly large chamber. Lights lined the walls, illuminating a makeshift command center. Warriors moved

he was afraid I might disappear. I leaned into

stone table. "How are you alive, Caius? We all thought you were dead. I attended your

Caius corrected grimly. "A fox shapeshifter who died taking my appearance. My

from the beginning," I urged

acting strangely—disappearing for hours, having secret meetings. I followed him one night and overheard him speaking with Nathan about 'the plan'

was before Nathan's change became obvious

was involved in, he needed to stop. He seemed to agree, even apologized." His expression darkened. "That day of the explosion that rocked the entire pack, after we agreed that I was going to investigate the guards who were in charge of Nathan when he was incarcerated at

He paused.

I remember," I

later that night, my father was in a small meeting with a few warriors whom I recognized as my father's loyal guards, and he was whispering something to them. I didn't want to think too much about it, so I ignored it. When I walked into the living room, I saw a table filled

your father also helped with

nodded. "Things went ugly when I threatened to report him to you. He attacked me and tried to kill me. Luckily, I escaped and