The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger.

Lyla

I ran.

Harder than I ever had in my life. My legs burned, my lungs screamed, but I didn't stop. The three Ferals ran alongside me, their black eyes darting around, alert to any threat. Everything made sense for the first time since I came back from the Northern Forest. The past, my Moonsinging, Ramsey, the Ferals—they were all connected. And now, Blue Ridge was on the brink of war.

My heart pounded as I finally reached Blue Ridge Pack territory. I stumbled and froze at what I saw. The scene was nothing short of chaos.

Warriors sprinted from one place to another, their faces etched with urgency and determination. Most of them were wounded still they went about. Gammas barked orders, their voice piercing over the loud wailings, screaming and crying that seemed to be all over the place. The air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat. The usual order and discipline that defined Blue Ridge was nowhere to be found.

"What in the goddess's name?" I whispered, my hands flying to my hair in disbelief. I hadn't expected things to have deteriorated to this extent. Nanny's warning rang in my mind again, but seeing the reality of everything she told me hours ago with my eyes was something else entirely.

As I stood, unable to move, taking in the scene, a group of warriors rushed past, leading wounded women and children towards the makeshift hospital tent that they had set up on any available space. The only space left at this point was just pathways that had been narrowed down so much that more than one person could not pass at a time.

Most of the children who didn't seem unconscious and badly injured were crying loudly. Their small faces were contorted in confusion, fear and pain. Without thinking I rushed forward, grabbing the arm of one of the passing warriors.

"What happened?" I demanded, "Who are these people?"

The warrior was a young man with a nasty gash across his forehead that was hurriedly covered with a plaster. He barely spared me a glance as he adjusted the wounded boy he was carrying in his arms.

"They're from the lower villages. Ramsey's forces attacked at dawn" he said hurriedly, pulling his arm free. "Excuse me, Miss. But there are many casualties needing my attention at the moment."

I stumbled back and watched him go, my vision blurring with tears. The reality of the situation poked into me like pines. This wasn't just a territorial dispute anymore; The lower villages? That meant families—innocent people, children—had been caught in the crossfire.

My chest constricted with pain... The world around me spun as I watched another warrior carrying a woman whose arm hung limply by her side, her eyes glazed over.

No. No. No.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

My breathing began to come in short, rapid gasps as the chaos grew around me. The entire ground had suddenly been transformed into a war zone. Medics and healers rushed to and fro, their white coats stained with blood. Warriors assembled in groups, receiving orders before rushing off again. The tension and fear in the air was growing rapidly.

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. I wanted to scream. Shout. Let my powers burst from my body and burn everything to the ground. But Nanny's warning echoed in my head.

"Control your emotions, child. They feed your power, and an uncontrolled burst could be devastating."

Instead, I sank to my heels, grabbing fistfuls of my hair and pulling until the pain grounded me. I closed my eyes and forced myself to take deep, measured breaths. One, two, three, four. In and out. The world around me continued to fall apart but I remained still, centering myself.

Fifteen minutes passed before I felt calm enough to move. I finally straightened. I wiped my face and forced my body to stop thinking about the fear. No more freezing. No more confusion. I needed to act. I knew what I had to do.

I spotted a warrior rushing past and reached out, grabbing his arm and pulling him to my side simultaneously. "Take me to Alpha Nathan. Now."

The warrior was a burly man with a scar running down his jaw. He looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. "The Alpha is in a war council. I can't just…"

"I don't care. You can, and you will," I interrupted, my voice taking on a steely edge I hardly recognized. "If you don't do as you're told, I'll see to it personally that you're…" I paused tilting my head to the side to look at the badge on his shoulder. "Removed from your position and Head Guard. Is that clear enough for you?"

His eyes widened slightly, something in my eyes must have convinced him because he nodded curtly. "Follow me."

He led me through the main pack house, past rooms filled with the wounded and corridors bustling with activity. Despite growing up here and living for the better part of my life, I had no idea that the situation room was in the pack house.

Finally, we reached the situation room.

The doors opened immediately and I entered. It was a large chamber dominated majorly by a massive oak table currently covered in maps and documents.

Nathan stood at the head of the table – everyone was standing in the room by the way. The tension inside was suffocating. Gammas, elders and high-ranking warriors were bent over the maps, copying Nathan's posture and were all debating in hushed, urgent tones."

My mother – or my stepmother rather – Luna Vanessa was there too, her elegant features looked tight with concern. Clarissa stood not far from her too.

A guard cleared his throat. "Luna Lyla is here."

Immediately, every head turned toward me. But I ignored them all, my eyes were fixed on Nathan.

I didn't care that the guard was using a title I hadn't been bestowed on yet. I didn't care that Luna Vanessa and Clarissa were there, standing in the corner, glaring at me. My focus was solely on Nathan.

He paused mid-sentence, his dark gaze lifting to meet mine. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes – relief, surprise, perhaps or something softer – before it was replaced by cold indifference.

"What is it?"

"Nathan," I said. My voice was steady despite the way my heart was pounding. "I need to talk to you for a second. Alone."

He gave me a once-over, his expression remained unreadable as he dragged a hand through his hair before turning back to the maps on the table.

"Now is not the time, Lyla." He murmured dismissing me.

I took a step forward, undeterred by his attitude. "What I have to say is important. It's about Ramsey and this war."

That got his attention. At least he stared at me for nearly a minute before he slammed his hand down on the table, making everyone jump. "In case you haven't noticed, Lyla," he growled, "I'm in the middle of a war! People are dying – my people. Every second I waste listening to your nonsense, someone is dropping dead and you want to chat? If you have something to say about Ramsey, you can say it here, in front of everyone. Unless of course, our loyalties lie elsewhere."

He paused as if to let his words sink into my heart properly. The accusation stung, but I didn't flinch. He continued.

"So, unless you have something that can change the tide of battle, I suggest—"

I lifted my hand toward one of the light bulbs illuminating the room and shot out a pulse of energy toward it. The bulb exploded, sending glass shards flying before the remaining shattered on the table.

The room fell silent.

I turned to face the stunned faces around me, levelling them all a steely gaze. "That is just a fraction of what my powers can do," I said calmly. "Please leave the room now while I'm asking nicely."

No one needed to be told twice. The elders, Gammas, and even the warriors exchanged nervous glances before quickly filing out. Luna Vanessa hesitated, her eyes filled with concern, but eventually, she too left. Clarissa shot me a hesitant glare before slamming the door behind her.

The only person who remained was Nathan.

Nathan remained where he was, deliberately ignoring me as he continued to study the maps.

"Nathan!" I called out softly.

He sighed, rubbing his temple, "Whatever you have to say, make it quick."

I walked up to him, my voice firm but pleading.

"Please don't fight Ramsey."

Nathan's lips curved into a smirk. "Is that what he asked you to tell me?" His fingers curled into fists. "After what he's done? After destroying my pack and killing my people?" He straightened and turned to me, eyes cold and dark with fury. "You can tell him that he's deluded and that there's no way I will not—"

"You will die, Nathan."

The words came out in a whisper, but they cut through his words like a blade.

It hung in the air between us. Nathan's eyes narrowed, searching my face for any sign of deceit.

"Is that a threat Lyla? Did he ask you to tell me that?" he asked.

I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his. "It's a warning, Nathan. I have regained my abilities. So, this is a warning because it has happened before and it is just like back then. I took a deep breath. "From these little attacks to a full-blown war that will drag on for months and end with your death…"