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

Chapter 299 - 299: 38 hours to the war...

Lyla

"Too tight!" I murmured, already feeling the air leave my lungs.

Finally, Ramsey lets me go. While I was still trying to take deep, restorative breaths, he captured my lips again, kissing me with so much fervour that my heart stopped beating. When we pulled apart, he held me for a few minutes, staring at me before he placed another kiss on my forehead.

Then, still holding me by his side, practically tucking me to his side, he turned and faced the small crowd that had gathered around us. They all looked embarrassed on our behalf.

"Who did this?" Ramsey growled,

I stood, my resolve hardening. "The ritual can't wait. With or without White Lake's support, we must be ready when Nathan's main force arrives."

"I'm not letting you out of my sight," Ramsey said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I nodded, accepting the necessity. "Fine, but I need to meet with Nanny and the Moon Temple contingent first. They arrived earlier than expected, thank the gods."

"I'll escort you," Darius offered.

Ramsey hesitated, then nodded. "I need to coordinate our defenses at the northern gate. Stay with Lyla," he instructed Darius. "Don't let her out of your sight."

After he left, Darius and I went to the reception hall where Nanny and her group were already waiting. Guards shadowed our every step, communicating with each other as we walked.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Luna. I'm sorry about your car, too. I wish I were there to protect you," Darius said quietly. "That wasn't just a warning. They really want you dead."

"I'm the biggest threat to Nathan's plans," I replied. "The prophecy says a Moonsinger can defeat the Dark One."

"At what cost?" Darius asked shrewdly. "Most times, these prophecies may not be as true as they sound, and the only thing we owe ourselves is to tread carefully, and you know that. I wish there was a way for us to forget about everything and move on. I already lost my son; I wouldn't want to lose another person whom I know."

I glanced at him, surprised by his perception. "What do you mean?"

"I've studied the old texts too, Luna Lyla. Most prophecies about defeating great evil involve sacrifice, which I am sure you are not willing to risk. If Alpha Ramsey finds out…."

Before I could respond, we reached the reception hall. Nanny was already there, surrounded by a dozen priestesses in white robes and twenty female warriors—the Sigma fighters, legendary for their skill and ferocity.

Nanny rushed to embrace me. "I felt it," she whispered. "The attempt on your life. I warned you, Lyla. You cannot dangle yourself out there like a meal. You don't know who is foe or friend."

"I can't sit around in my room, with my knees drawn together because I want to be fine." I hugged her back, drawing strength from her presence. "I'm fine. Lenny saved me."

She pulled back, her eyes searching mine. "The time is coming. The prophecy."

"Tonight," I confirmed quietly. "The ritual with the Ferals first, then..."

"Then the true battle," she finished for me.

The Sigma fighters approached me, their leader—a tall, muscular woman named Freya—bowing respectfully. "Moonsinger, we are yours to command. The Moon Temple stands with White Mountain."

"Thank you," I said, touched by their loyalty. "We must coordinate with Ramsey's warriors and my special guard unit."

"What about the Ferals?" Nanny asked.

"If the ritual works, they'll fight alongside us," I explained. "But I need your help with the ceremony. It's complex magic, beyond simple singing."

Nanny nodded. "We brought everything you requested—rare herbs, sacred oils, and ancient texts."

"Good," I said, feeling a strange calm settle over me. "Let's go over the plans. We don't have much time."

As we gathered around a large table, spreading out maps and ritual diagrams, I caught Gamma Darius watching me with an unreadable expression.

"What is it?" I asked when we had a moment alone.

"You know something you're not sharing," he said quietly. "About the prophecy. About what defeating the Dark One will cost."

I met his gaze steadily. "Some things are better left unspoken until it's time."

"Ramsey loves you," he said. "If your plan involves what I think it does, it will destroy him."

"If it saves everyone else, it will be worth it," I replied softly.

His eyes widened slightly, my confirmation of his suspicions clear. "There must be another way."

"If you find one in the next twelve hours, let me know," I said, returning to the planning table.

The sky outside darkened as storm clouds gathered, mirroring the tension building within our walls. By nightfall, I would perform the ritual to transform the Ferals. By dawn, Nathan's main force would reach our gates.

And somewhere between those two events, I would have to find the courage to do what the prophecy demanded—step into the fire so others might live.