The Alpha's Fated Outcast Rise Of The Moonsinger novel Chapter 301

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.

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

The leader approached cautiously, keeping his eyes on me rather than Ramsey. "We were never true Ferals, Alpha. The Dark One twisted our minds, made us his weapons. Your mate freed us."

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

Ramsey's expression darkened as he listened. "You killed our people," he said, his voice dangerously low.

"Not us," the leader replied. "Not our true selves. We were prisoners in our own bodies."

I touched Ramsey's arm. "They're victims too," I said softly. "And now they're our allies."

After a moment of tension, Ramsey nodded. "You need clothes," he said gruffly. "Go with my warriors. They'll find you what you need."

The former Ferals didn't move; their eyes were fixed on me as if waiting for permission.

"Go," I said with a nod. "Meet me at the training center at dawn. Do you know where that is?"

They nodded in unison.

"Good. We'll need to prepare for what's coming."

They followed the warriors only when I gave the command, casting concerned glances back at me as they went.

Once they were gone, I sagged against Ramsey, suddenly too exhausted to stand. The ritual had drained me more completely than I'd anticipated.

"You need to see the healers," Ramsey said, supporting my weight easily.

"No," I insisted. "Just take me to our bedroom. I need rest, not healing."

He hesitated, then scooped me into his arms. "Stubborn as always," he murmured, but there was fondness in his voice.

In our room, Ramsey 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 midnight, so there were still a few hours before daybreak. Perfect; it would give me the time to rest properly.

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

"It explains a lot," Ramsey finished. "Including Nathan."