The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger.-Chapter 306: A dangerous gambit...

Lyla

My heart hammered against my ribs as I stood beside Ramsey at the northern border. Behind us, a dozen elite warriors maintained defensive positions, ready to attack at the slightest signal. The former Ferals, led by Kieran, had spread out through the surrounding forest, creating an invisible perimeter that no one could cross without being detected.

Nathan approached slowly; his hands raised to show he carried no weapons. He looked different than when I'd last seen him – thinner, with dark circles under his eyes. His expression was cold and calculating as he walked towards us with confidence.

"That's close enough," Ramsey called out when Nathan was about twenty feet away.

He stood before us at the border, with a relaxed posture as if he weren't facing dozens of warriors ready to tear him apart. The confident smile on his face made my blood boil. This was the man who had killed the Southern Alphas, who had sent Ferals to slaughter innocents, who had bombed my car.

A strange smile played on his lips. "No warm welcome for an old friend, Ramsey?"

"We stopped being friends when you tried to kill my mate," Ramsey replied coldly.

Nathan's gaze shifted to me. "Lyla," he said softly. "You're looking well. The ritual with the Ferals was impressive."

I stiffened. "How did you know about that?"

"I know everything that happens in these mountains," he said with a dismissive wave.

"What do you want, Nathan?" I asked directly. "Why come alone under a flag of truce?"

"I've come to offer you a deal," he replied. "One that will spare your people unnecessary suffering."

"We don't make deals with murderers," Ramsey growled.

"I'm not asking for your approval," Nathan said coldly. "I'm telling you how things are going to be."

"What's your offer?" I asked, ignoring Ramsey's warning glance.

"Give me Neriah's sword," Nathan said bluntly. "Now. Today. In exchange, I'll leave White Mountain in peace. My forces will withdraw beyond the southern mountains. You'll never see us again."

"And if we refuse?" Ramsey asked.

"Then I burn everything to the ground. Starting with the civilians you've hidden in the western shelters. Then I will gain access to the White Moon Throne and sit my ass on it."

Fear clouded my vision for a second. The western shelters were our most secure location, their existence was only known to pack leadership. This had to be Gamma Darius's work.

From the corner of my eye, I see Caius indicating to one of the warriors standing behind us, and a few minutes later, he comes with Gamma Darius. I watched as Nathan's eyes widened with shock. He hadn't expected that.

"I don't know what you did to my father, you and your Dark One," Caius said, dragging his father by the hair and coming to stand in the middle "But this is not my father. Whatever this is, whoever this monster is that was created isn't him. So, this is us saying that your little birdie has been caught."

Nathan stared at him for a few seconds with a bored expression and then shrugged. "He was old anyway. But in any case, you're fighting a losing battle," he said, spreading his hands. "If only Ramsey had admitted and acknowledged my desire to remain Alpha Leader, I wouldn't have let things happen this way."

Ramsey's jaw tightened beside me. "You've said your piece. Now leave our territory."

"I'm giving you a second chance," Nathan continued, ignoring Ramsey's dismissal. "Surrender to me. Give me Neriah's Sword. That's all I ask."

I came forward. "What do you want with the Sword?"

Nathan scoffed, as if the answer were obvious. "What else? To kill the Dark One."

"I thought you two were buddies," Ramsey said coldly.

"No." Nathan's expression hardened. "If the Dark One could achieve even half of what I have, he would have done so already."

I studied his face, trying to determine if he was lying. Nathan had always been ambitious, but this seemed like something more—a personal vendetta against the very entity everyone believed he served.

"This is what happens when you doubt a Beta's son," Nathan continued, his eyes flashing with long-held resentment. "Surrender, grant me access to the power of the White Moon Throne, and I'll spare you all."

He looked directly at Ramsey. "If a Beta can become Alpha Leader, then a Beta can also sit on the White Moon throne."

The old rivalry—Ramsey, son of a Lycan and the rightful heir to the White Moon Throne and Nathan, son of a Beta, who only became an Alpha by chance and not by birthright. One was raised to lead his pack, the other was raised to rule our world. I'd never realised how deeply Nathan's jealousy ran.

Ramsey walked forward slowly, stopping just inches from Nathan. His voice was quiet but carried clearly in the tense silence.

"You're going to die, Nathan Tanner. Mark my words."

With that, he turned away and started walking back toward me. Nathan's face contorted with rage.

"That's if you don't die first," he called after Ramsey. Then he laughed, the sound was so ugly "Actually, before you die, I'll make you watch me claim Lyla as mine. Then I'll kill you."

Ramsey stopped mid-stride. For a moment, I thought he would attack Nathan then and there. Instead, he continued walking without looking back, his shoulders rigid with controlled fury.

"You have until sunset," Nathan said. "After that, I take what I want by force."

He retreated into the forest, leaving us with his ultimatum hanging in the air like poison.

"He's insane," Lenny muttered once we were back at the cave.

"No," Ramsey said. "He's desperate. And desperate men are the most dangerous."

"What did he mean about killing the Dark One?" Caius asked, looking confused. "I thought he was working with the Dark One."

"He's lying," Lenny insisted. "Trying to confuse us."

I wasn't so sure. Something in Nathan's eyes had seemed genuine when he'd spoken about the Dark One—hatred, perhaps even fear.

"It doesn't matter," Ramsey said. "We're not giving him the Sword, and we're certainly not surrendering the White Moon Throne."

"We can't even give him the sword if we wanted to. The sword doesn't magically go to anyone who doesn't have moon-singing abilities," I added.

"The most important thing now is to ready ourselves for the next attack. Nathan knows our base, he might show up anytime soon," Lenny said.

"How did he know we were here?"

"I'm guessing he followed our scents or my father," Caius said quietly. "In the meantime, what do you think I should do with him, Alpha?" Caius asked, pointing at his father.

"Let's have him locked up in the meantime," I suggested. "He might still be valuable for us."

"I agree," Ramsey nodded. "Lyla, you will go back to the White Moon as agreed. Lenny, you will mobilise our troops and let them know we're moving onto plan B."

"And me?" Caius asked.

"Monitor Nathan's movements," Ramsey ordered. "Take some of the former Ferals. They can blend in with his forces."

As everyone dispersed to their tasks, I pulled Lenny aside. "I'm still going to White Lake," I whispered.

"After what Nathan just said?" Lenny looked horrified. "It's too dangerous."

"We need allies, and I want to try to convince White Lake to fight with us. If we do not get more allies, we won't be able to stand against Nathan and his armies. I know it's dangerous, but I'll go with a few of the Ferals and my Elite warriors."

Lenny sighed. "I can't talk you out of this, can I?"

"No," I admitted. "But I need your help. Create a diversion so I can slip away from the guards taking me to the White Moon pack without them noticing."

After a moment's hesitation, he nodded. "Be careful, Ramsey will have my head on a spike if anything happens to me.

"I will."

An hour later, the transport that was moving me had arrived and was ready. Kieran and three other former Ferals waited near the junction of the road that led to both White Moon and White Lake, ready to accompany me to White Lake.

I said my goodbyes to Ramsey, who stood there, insisting he would be there to watch us leave. After we pulled away from the camp and started driving, we were almost close to the junction where Kieran was waiting for me,

I tapped desperately at the roof of the car, making loud vomiting noises. The warrior driving immediately swerved off the road and ran to me. In that instant, I caught him off guard, kicking him in his shin before knocking him out in one blow.

Before the rest of the warriors could act, Kieran and the other Ferals knocked them out.

After taking them off the road and trying to move with their car, we heard a rustle in the bush, and when I looked up, it was Caius. He had an amused smile on his face.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, already searching behind him to see if Ramsey followed.

"Don't worry, Ramsey was certain you would pull this stunt off and asked me to go with you. C'mon," he said, walking over to the driver's side of the car. "We don't have all day."