The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

Chapter 319: Tears and peace...

Lyla

Ramsey stared at me for a few seconds. The news of Lenny finally waking up was certainly the last thing he was expecting to hear.

"A-Are you sure?" he asked with a whisper. "The healer said he wasn't responding to any treatment and we should prepare for the worst."

"Well," I shrugged, "Good thing you have me. I know how much Lenny means to you – sometimes I wonder if you love him more than me. Bottom line, I was able to heal him – it was a nasty poison, but I took care of it. He's fine and resting now."

He stared at me again as if his brain was still processing my words. "Lenny is… healed?"

"Yes," I confirmed again, still a tad surprised at what I'd done. "The poison is gone. He's resting now, but he'll make a full recovery."

For a moment, Ramsey didn't move or speak, and then he scoffed, lowering his head until it was almost touching my lap.

"I thought—" His voice broke. He ran a hand over his face, trying to hide the sudden wave of emotion that passed through him. "I thought I was going to lose him. The healers said there was nothing more they could do."

I reached for his hand and squeezed it gently. "He's going to be okay, Ramsey."

"You don't understand," he said, rising to his feet. "These past few days have been…"

He turned away, giving me his back. I could see his shoulders were tight with tension. I waited patiently, giving him the space to collect himself.

"I almost lost you both on the same day," he finally said, still facing away from me. "The two people I care about most in this world, and I couldn't protect either of you."

When he turned back, the controlled, powerful Lycan Leader was gone. In his place stood just Ramsey—vulnerable, exhausted, and fighting tears.

"I've been sitting beside his bed every night, when the healers go to rest, and after I leave your room too," he confessed. "I watched him getting weaker, Lyla, knowing it was my fault. That knife was meant for me. He took it; he was protecting me. I'm not such a great friend to him. We don't agree on so many things yet, but he willingly put himself in harm's way to save me."

cheek, and he made no

a whisper. "When I saw Cassidy's knife in your chest...

cry this way—not when he was wounded in battle, not when we lost warriors, not even when he spoke of

"I'm supposed to protect the people I love, and I failed. Completely. Everyone was right, my grandfather, the

I

sniffed back tears, laughing humorlessly. "I'm 28 years old, Lyla. I spent the better part of my life making the wrong decisions, fighting battles I simply could have avoided if I didn't let my damn emotions get

the werewolves submissive under the rule of the White Moon Throne. No one dared cross him; his only flaw was his weird interests,"

dispel the direction of his thoughts. "I don't

him. For a moment, he remained stiff, still fighting for control. Then he broke, pulling me against him and burying

fail," I whispered.

me. "When they told me about the poison, that there was no cure... I've never felt so powerless. I've been making war plans, giving orders, and pretending I knew what to do, but inside, I was falling apart. I couldn't save him. I couldn't save you. What kind of Lycan Leader does that make me? What kind of mate? What kind of

my hand on his tear-streaked face. "The kind who feels. The kind who cares so deeply it hurts. That's what makes you the Lycan Leader we

eyes, leaning into my touch. "I was so afraid," he admitted in a whisper. "I'm still afraid. There's so much at stake now—you, our world, our packs. I

his voice, the naked emotion on his face—this was a side of Ramsey few ever saw. The weight of leadership, the constant pressure to be strong for others, had built walls around his heart that only collapsed in

"We're stronger together, remember?

again. "What if we can't win? The war council suggested I storm into White Lake and capture Elder Thorne and his family. That would force their warriors to

deep breath, trying to centre myself in the situation. "That's

head, but I clasped his hands like a

Xander yet… this is just a piece of what's to come. You must do everything necessary to achieve what you want. That is the only way to protect me, to protect Lenny and

"I hate this… I hate

hate it more, baby, but you're better than me when it comes to decision making, and you must

drew laughter from

shuddering breath, then pressed his forehead against mine. "Thank you," he whispered. "For saving Lenny. For saving yourself.

long time, holding each other while his tears gradually subsided. I felt something change between us – a

The truth is the last thing

Ramsey returning, the man I had met at 19. The same one who would reject me every time we met. The same man whom I love