The Alpha's Fated Outcast Rise Of The Moonsinger novel Chapter 300

Lyla

"False alarm," Ramsey announced as he strode into the war room. "There was no breach at the northern gate."

I looked up from the ritual preparations I was reviewing with Nanny. "What about the dead sentries?"

"That part was real," he said grimly. "Three warriors, throats slit. But there's no evidence of an invading force. No tracks, no scents, nothing."

Something cold settled in my stomach. "An inside job."

Ramsey nodded. "Someone wanted to draw our attention away from something else."

"Or someone," Gamma Darius added, his eyes meeting mine. "Like the bomb in your car."

We all fell silent, the implications hanging heavy in the air. White Moon had a traitor—perhaps more than one—working for Nathan.

"The ritual must continue", I said finally. "We need those Ferals fighting for us, not against us."

"I'll increase security around the ritual grounds," Ramsey decided. "No one gets within a hundred yards except those directly involved."

I shook my head. "No, Ramsey. The ritual requires solitude. Just me and the Ferals."

"Absolutely not." His tone was firm. "Not with a traitor in our midst."

"The ritual won't work otherwise," Nanny interjected. "Ancient magic has requirements that can't be ignored. Interference from others will disrupt the energy flow."

Ramsey looked torn, his desire to protect me warring with our desperate need for the Ferals' strength.

"I'll be fine," I assured him, touching his arm. "The Ferals won't hurt me. They respond to my voice."

After much argument, we reached a compromise: guards would maintain a perimeter around the ritual grounds, far enough away not to interfere with the magic but close enough to respond if anything went wrong.

As sunset approached, I retreated to prepare myself. In my room, I bathed in water infused with sacred herbs, cleansing my body and spirit. Nanny helped me dress in the traditional ritual garb—a flowing white gown with golden embroidery that caught the light like liquid moonbeams.

"Are you certain about this?" she asked as she wove moonflowers into my hair. "Converting so many Ferals at once has never been attempted."

"What choice do we have?" I replied. "Nathan arrives by morning. We need every fighter we can get."

She nodded, her eyes sad. "I've been rereading the prophecy. The part about stepping into fire—"

"Let's focus on tonight first," I interrupted. "One impossible task at a time."

When I emerged from my room, Ramsey was waiting. His breath caught visibly when he saw me.

"You look like the Moon Goddess herself," he murmured.

I smiled, touched by the awe in his voice. "Let's hope I can channel some of her power tonight."

He walked me to the edge of the ritual grounds—a natural clearing in the heart of White Mountain territory. The full moon would pass directly overhead at midnight, bathing the space in its white light.

"I'll be right here," Ramsey promised, stopping at the perimeter line. "If anything feels wrong, call out. I'll come for you."

I nodded, though we both knew that interrupting the ritual once it began could have disastrous consequences. With a final kiss, I stepped away from him and into the clearing alone.

The Ferals were already there, three hundred and fifty of them, held in special restraints by handlers who would release them when I gave the signal. These weren't ordinary Ferals—they were the elite fighters the Dark One had been sending all along to White Mountains, and Ramsey had been wise enough to capture them. These were the ones who had killed dozens of warriors before being captured.

Through Caius's research, we discovered that only elite Ferals had a Trinax, and each Trinax could only control seven Ferals simultaneously.

I took my position in the center of the clearing, feeling the place's energy intensify as moonlight began to spill through the trees. The Ferals sensed it, too, growing restless in their restraints.

"Release them," I commanded, my voice carrying across the clearing.

The handlers hesitated, exchanging nervous glances.

"Now," I insisted.

They unlocked the restraints one by one and quickly retreated to the perimeter. The Ferals watched them go but made no move to attack. Instead, their attention focused entirely on me.

I began to hum softly, establishing a connection with them. The familiar melody calmed their restless movements. They settled into sitting positions, forming a circle around me.