The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger. - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Ties that bind…

Ramsey

It was midnight by the time I arrived back at the pack house. My chest was heaving from the sprint as I changed back to the human form. I leaned against the doorframe to steady myself.

I was still trying to wrap my head around the strange encounter I just had with the Trinax and the Feral wolves. I walked past the foyer and was about to walk past the living room when I spotted my grandfather and a pack elder — his childhood friend — Elder Mira.

They were standing by the fireplace, deep in a conversation. As soon as my grandfather saw me at the door, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“You’re late!” he said with disapproval. “I asked you to come home earlier. What’s the meaning of this?”

Elder Mira standing beside my grandfather shot me a curious look but said nothing. But I barely registered the irritation in my grandfather’s tone. My body was still in a state of shock and I could feel the sweat on my skin cooling in the night air.

I glanced at Elder Mira and asked in a polite tone. “Can you excuse us?”

Elder Mira exchanged a look with my grandfather, who nodded reluctantly and then slipped out of the room without a word.

I could have shared my encounter with her present, but Elder Mira was not known for discretion. I didn’t want word about Ferals being in the Pack lands to spread.

The moment she was gone, I crossed the room to where my grandfather stood. My pulse was still racing.

“I’m sorry, I came late. How did you do with the night patrol?” I asked.

He answered me grudgingly. “I had the Chief Warrior with me, so we planned out everything. I hope you have a suitable explanation for not doing your duty?”

“I went for a run in the Packlands. In the forest just behind the White Mountains. I just wanted to clear my head and think, but something happened.” I paused, lowering my voice. “Out there… I came across a Trinax and a pack of Feral Wolves. The Feral Wolves were seven.”

I saw fear creep into my grandfather’s eyes and instantly; he reached for me, turning me around. “Are you alright? Are you hurt? Who’s there?” he shouted. “Send for a Healer, right…”

“Grandpa, I’m fine!” I told him, reaching for his hands. They didn’t attack me. They just—sniffed me out and left. No attack, nothing.”

My grandfather’s expression shifted from fear to surprise. “The Trinax was there … how did you come out unscathed?”

“Beats my imagination too!” I sighed. “All the books I’ve read about them describe Ferals as Killers and nothing more. I’m still in shock as we speak.”

“That’s impossible.” My grandfather shook his head. “Maybe they didn’t see you or you had something on you?”

“Nothing, Pop. I just sat there, and they finished sniffing and left. But that would explain all the reports we’ve been getting from the lower villages and middle towns. They say the Ferals just come and stare for a long time, then do nothing. It was so impossible to believe but after this encounter… I’ve realized that they weren’t exaggerating things.”

My grandfather nodded absent-mindedly, his eyes glazed with thoughts.

“Do you think we should inform the council? I should summon the Chief Warrior and have him send warriors to that part of the forest. There was none there.”

“No!” my grandfather shook his head. “No need for that, Ramsey. We need to understand what’s the deal with this set of Ferals. I don’t want the people to panic and you shouldn’t forget that no matter how strong they are, Ferals cannot breach the heart of the White Moon Pack territory. They can only remain on the outskirts, but the Power of the White Moon throne will keep them far.”

“Then what should I do? I can’t just keep quiet. I was lucky tonight, someone else might not be.”

“Tomorrow! We’ll make an announcement… No one should wander to the edge of the pack lands. Since you know where you were attacked, have the Warriors create a temporary barricade to prevent pack members from moving further and we need to set a curfew, for precaution.”

I nodded, agreeing with him. “Starting tomorrow, we will begin intensive training. We cannot take chances.”

He nodded. “Just make sure you tell no one of tonight’s encounter and for the love of the moon,” he turned his gaze on me. “Can you stop putting yourself in danger, Ramsey? The fate of our world lies on you and you alone. If anything should happen to you, then we are doomed. The White Moon Throne chose you…”

“I’m sorry, Pop!” I gave him a playful smile. “I’ll be more careful now.”

Before he could respond, the door opened, and Lenny entered, looking exhausted.

His eyes widened with surprise when he saw my grandfather making him hastily bow in his direction. “Elder Eldric, you’re still up by this time?”

“I’m going to bed!” my grandfather huffed and started towards the door. “Don’t keep him up for too long!” he added.

“I won’t!” Lenny chuckled.

We waited until he had left the room before Lenny started speaking.

“You look terrible,” I commented. “How did the meeting go?”

I had asked him three days ago to travel to all the packs in the region and inform them of the presence of the Feral Wolves. So, he was here to give me a report of his journey.

“It went as expected,” he began with a sigh. “Some of the Alphas took the news well, but others… mostly Alphas, to smaller packs, went into full panic mode. Alpha Pierce and Alpa Dahl practically demanded a meeting with the White Moon Council by dawn. Their packs are filled with mostly teenagers,”.

“Did you tell them about smaller packs staying with bigger packs until the threat is over?”

“I did, but the Alphas to these bigger packs complained that they would have to share resources and unless it’s given to them, they wouldn’t be able to house the smaller packs. While the Alphas of the smaller packs are worried that this might be a permanent merge and they would be forced to become slaves. Only one of the Alphas agreed to house two of the Smaller Packs within his zone.”

“Really?” I arched my brow in surprise. “What’s his name?”

“Alpha Logan Woodland—Alpha of Blue Ridge Pack and the biggest pack in the Southern Zone,” Lenny replied.

Lyla’s father.

“He is probably doing it because of his daughter,” I mumbled. “Did he say anything to you about her? Or ask? I’m surprised that their child has been away for nearly two weeks and he’s yet to reach out.”

“He sent a message!” Lenny paused and handed me a letter. “He asked me to give this to you.”

I frowned as I tore the envelope open, quickly scanning the content of the letter. In the message, Alpha Logan apologized that his daughter was a deviant and asked me to punish her as I deemed fit and for as long as I wanted. He also suggested that when I was done, I should send her back to his Pack and he would have her go back to where she was. The message was simple…

He was practically rejecting his child, casting her like she was an unwanted object. His callousness made my stomach churn.

“Are you sure this is his daughter?” I muttered in confusion.

“She is his first child, but I found out that she’s not been living with them. She only came home for the gala. I heard he’s not exactly proud of her because of her… situation.”

“Well,” I crumpled the letter in my fist, trying to reign in my anger, “She’s no longer my concern. She’s finally awakened, so do whatever you see fit. I’ll have no part in it.”

Even her family wanted nothing to do with her.

My thoughts spun, anger flaring not only at Alpha Logan but also at myself at how I had treated her. For seven days, she had lain unconscious, and the first thing I did when she came back was to reject her.

Now her own father was casting her aside. Was there no one in her life who cared for her?

But as I headed back to my room, I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about the letter and Lyla. Lenny had mentioned she lived in the human world… Was that how much of an outcast she was?

Guilt gnawed at me. Unable to bear it anymore, I gave in to the urge to go see her—to make sure she was alright at least. Before I knew it, I was standing outside her ward at the Healer’s quarters.

I didn’t go inside. I couldn’t. But I remained by the window, noting that Nathan wasn’t with her either. I watched as she cried herself to sleep.

It was dawn before I reluctantly left and headed back to the pack house.