The Alpha's Fated Outcast Rise Of The Moonsinger novel Chapter 304

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."

I frowned, wondering why Ramsey hadn't come for me himself. It wasn't like him to withdraw without ensuring I was safe first.

"We need to leave now," Caius urged, his eyes continuously scanning our surroundings.

I nodded, and together, we hurried toward the vehicles. I noticed something strange as we drove away—none of Nathan's forces pursued us.

"Isn't it strange that Nathan's warriors didn't attempt to come after us? Even while we were in the forest, they didn't fight outside their defenses."

"This attack was a trap," Caius explained, seeing my confusion. "There was no way Nathan would launch a full assault right now. He was trying to lower your defenses. The more you keep coming to him, the more men you lose while his forces conserve their energy."

The 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 sound of our vehicles.

The moment I stepped out, he rushed to me, enveloping me in a tight hug. Then he pulled back, his hands running over my arms and shoulders as he inspected me for injuries.

"Are you hurt?" he demanded, his eyes filled with concern.

"I'm fine," I assured him, touching his face gently. "What about you? Are you okay?"

Before he could answer, Caius came to stand beside me. "Alpha," he said, inclining his head in respect.

Ramsey froze, his expression transforming into pure shock. "Caius?" he whispered, disbelief evident in every line of his face.

"It's me," Caius confirmed with a slight smile.

Ramsey approached him slowly, as if afraid he might vanish. "Is it really you?"

"Yes," Caius replied.

At that moment, Lenny walked out from the cave entrance with a satisfied smirk. "Remember when I told you I'd have a surprise for you soon?" he called to Ramsey. "This is it."