The Alpha’s Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger

Chapter 364: When darkness rises...

Ramsey

The pack grounds buzzed with a vibrant energy as our warriors made their final preparations. The air crackled with tension and anticipation—everyone could feel that tonight would be different. Tonight would be the end of everything we’d known, one way or another.

I stood at the edge of the training field, watching our people prepare for what they believed would be the final battle against the Dark One. Silver weapons gleamed in the light, protective charms hung from every neck, and the scent of blessed oils filled the evening air.

Since we couldn’t fight the Dark One with modern weapons, we were going back to the days before guns and bombs.

Our warriors moved with the awareness of soldiers who knew their lives—and the lives of everyone they loved—depended on their performance tonight.

Darren was drilling the front-line fighters, his voice carrying clearly across the field as he barked out formation commands. Vega led a group of our newer recruits through defensive positions; her movements were perfect. Caius supervised the distribution of weapons, ensuring that every blade was properly blessed and every arrow tip was coated with silver.

But it was Lyla who had my attention.

She moved through the groups like a general inspecting her troops, stopping to speak with each warrior, checking their equipment, offering words of encouragement. She wore fitted black leather armour that accommodated her growing pregnancy, and the moonstone pendant I’d given her caught the light with every step she took.

Even in the middle of preparing for battle, she was as radiant as the first day I had seen her in the hall during the Gala event.

Watching her, I felt the familiar ache in my chest intensify. In a few hours, she would hate me. In a few hours, everything we’d built together would be shattered by my deception.

"She’s magnificent," Circe said quietly, appearing beside me like a shadow. "A true Luna in every sense."

I nodded, unable to trust my voice. Lyla was crouched next to one of our youngest warriors, a girl barely eighteen who looked terrified despite the brave face she had on. Whatever Lyla was saying made the girl’s shoulders relax, and when she stood, there was a smile on the young warrior’s face.

"The circle is prepared," Circe murmured, her voice so low only I could hear. "When the moons reach their peak—"

"I know," I cut her off. I didn’t need to hear the details again. They were etched into my memory, every word of the ritual that would bind my soul to the Dark One for eternity.

Circe studied my face in the flickering light. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"No." The word came out harsher than I intended. "No second thoughts."

"Good. Because the process has begun, there’s no stopping, Ramsey. The magic will take hold when it’s time, whether you’re willing or not."

A chill ran down my spine at her words, but I pushed it aside. This was the path I’d chosen. The only path that led to Lyla’s survival.

I watched as my wife finished her inspection of the warriors and began walking toward us. Her eyes found mine across the field, and the smile that lit up her face wrenched my heart. She looked so happy, so confident in our future. If only she knew.

"Excuse me," Circe murmured as Lyla approached. "I need to check on the ritual preparations."

She melted away into the crowd, leaving me alone to face the woman I was about to betray.

"The warriors look ready," Lyla said as she reached me, standing close enough that I could smell the jasmine scent of her hair. "Nervous, but ready."

"They should be nervous," I replied, slipping my arm around her waist. "Tonight won’t be like anything we’ve faced before."

"You know, I suddenly have a good feeling about this. I used to dread this day, but I’m no longer worried. Things might really change, Ramsey," she turned to face me. "We could survive it all."

I smiled slightly, patting her hair.

She leaned into my embrace, one hand resting on her stomach. "I keep thinking about the babies. About what kind of world we’re bringing them into."

"A safer one," I replied. "After tonight, they’ll never have to worry about the Dark One or creatures like him."

"Promise me something," she said, tilting her head to look at me. "Promise me that no matter what happens during the final fight, you won’t try to take my place. I know you, Ramsey. You have this need to protect everyone, but this is something I have to do."

I chuckled, wondering how she would feel when she realised I was going to do the exact thing. "Lyla—"

"Promise me," she insisted. "The prophecy is clear. The Moonsinger’s sacrifice is what will bind him. If you interfere, you could ruin everything."

I stared down at her earnest face, memorising every detail. If there was a life after this, I didn’t want to forget my wife. noveldrama

"I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you and our children safe."

It wasn’t the promise she’d asked for, but it was the only truth I could give her.

She seemed satisfied with my words, rising on her toes to press a gentle kiss to my lips. "I love you."

"I love you, too," I whispered against her mouth. "More than you’ll ever know."

A comfortable silence fell between us as we watched our warriors continue their preparations. I tried to burn every detail into my memory—the way Lyla felt pressed against my side, the sound of her steady breathing, the warmth of her hand in mine.

"I haven’t seen Lenny all day," she said suddenly. "Is he alright? I know you two had words about his... activities, but he’s still our Beta. Shouldn’t he be here for this? Also, with Xander caught, I thought that ended his spying role."

My jaw tightened at the mention of his name, remembering our argument yesterday. I had gone to see him some hours ago to get his rejection, but he wouldn’t even look at me. He had closed himself off to me.

So, I had no idea what was going through his mind.

"He’s fine."

"Are you sure? He seemed really upset the last time I saw him. Maybe I should talk to—"

"No." The word came out forcefully than I intended, making her look at me with surprise. I forced my voice to soften. "We had an argument about certain logistics, and it didn’t end well. Also, I’m sure he’s with one of his numerous lovers, having the best time of his life. Let him be."

Lyla frowned, clearly not satisfied with my answer. "Ramsey, what really happened between you two? And don’t tell me it was just about a logistics disagreement. Lenny is so protective of you. He would not leave you alone on a night like this for pleasure. It’s both scary and admirable how he is. C’mon, there’s something else, isn’t there?"

Before I could answer, a subtle change in the air made us both look up. The sky was darkening rapidly, and there—rising over the treeline like twin harbingers of fate—were the moons.

Not one moon, but two. Side by side, perfectly aligned, casting an ethereal silver light that seemed to make everything glow. The twin moons of legend, appearing for the first time in over ten thousand years.

"It’s time," Lyla breathed beside me. "Let’s get this over and done with."

The moment the moonlight touched the ground, I felt it—a surge of dark energy so powerful it made my teeth ache. The atmosphere seemed to vibrate with malevolent force, and our warriors instinctively reached for their weapons.

Then came the sound.

A roar of pure rage and triumph that seemed to shake the earth itself. It came from the direction of the pack house, from the underground holding cells where we’d thought our prisoners were safely contained.

"What was that?" Lyla gasped, her hand flying to her throat.

Before I could answer, the pack house’s alarm system began blaring. Emergency lights flooded the grounds as panicked voices filled the night air.

"He’s escaped!" someone screamed. "The Dark One has broken free!"

My pulse spiked. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The containment cells were warded, reinforced with silver and blessed steel. Nothing should have been able to break through them.

But as the twin moons reached their full power, I understood. The dark energy they generated was feeding directly into Xander’s power, amplifying his abilities beyond anything our containment could handle.

People started running from the pack house towards the field, through the chaos, I saw him.

He came out of the pack house like a nightmare made flesh. The handsome man I’d once known was gone, replaced by something twisted that radiated darkness and hunger. His eyes shone emerald, and the air around him seemed to thicken with a putrid smell.

"Oh, goddess!" I heard Lyla gasp from beside him. "He’s the one. He’s the vision of the creature I saw from the first Feral attack. This is his true form."

"Lyla," he called out, "My dear sweet Neriah. It’s time to complete the blood moon oath, restore my form, and I will spare your people.