The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger.-Chapter 302: Fatal Mistake I

Lyla

We all stood outside the command center with our warriors lined up behind us.

Ramsey had managed to divide the warriors into seven equal factions. I was controlling one, which was filled mostly with the Ferals and the 20 elite guards. Lenny had over a thousand warriors with him, and Ramsey had about 500 Lycans who were battle-trained and from Alpha or Gamma lineage.

The other factions were made up of Warrior trainers and leaders, who led a minimum of 200 warriors and a maximum of 500. Their job was to ensure the safety of pack members and hold down the pack while we were gone.

Nanny and the Sigma wolves had also taken up position. They were trying to reinforce spells that would keep Nathan and his armies away, anything to help hold the fort. No one knew how terrible the battle would be or how fast things would escalate.

Also, we still had a reserve percentage of warriors who would take turns fighting in case the fight went on for longer than expected. Everything has been put into place.

The healers, the cooks…every hand was on deck.

I stood at the edge of the forest, twenty elite guards and three hundred fifty former Ferals surrounding me. The morning air was thick with tension as we prepared to execute our part of the battle plan.

"I still think I should send some of the Ferals with you," I told Ramsey as he finalized details with his lieutenants. "At least fifty would reinforce your flank."

Ramsey shook his head firmly. "You need them more than I do. Without your wolf, you're vulnerable."

"I have my abilities," I countered.

"Which is why you're still in the fight at all," he said, his expression softening. "But I need to know you're well protected."

I couldn't argue with his logic, though I hated the thought of him facing danger with fewer fighters.

The command center buzzed with last-minute preparations. Lenny stood surrounded by his faction, going over attack formations. Warrior trainers were reviewing their assignments to protect civilians and hold key positions throughout the pack. But one face was conspicuously absent.

I wanted to tell Ramsey what I had seen, but I didn't want to be wrong, nor did I want to introduce paranoia. We had enough problems already; I didn't want to add to them.

"Where's Gamma Darius?" Ramsey asked suddenly, scanning the crowd.

Lenny shook his head. "I haven't seen him since the alarm sounded."

Ramsey frowned, closing his eyes briefly as he attempted to mindlink him/ After a moment, he shook his head. "No response."

"That's unlike him," I said, I could feel unease stirring in my gut.

Lenny approached us, armed to the teeth and ready for fighting.. "We don't have time to look for him. Nathan's forces are pushing against our eastern barrier now. We need to move."

"I don't like it," Ramsey muttered. "Darius wouldn't disappear during an attack unless something was wrong."

I touched his arm. "We have to trust he's handling something important. Lenny is right; the longer we delay, the more Nathan gains an advantage on us."

Ramsey reluctantly nodded. "Prepare to deploy," he commanded, and for the next few minutes, the warriors prepared to leave.

Ramsey pulled me aside, cupping my face in his hands. "I don't like leaving you."

"I'll be fine," I assured him, fighting my own fear to project confidence. "I have my abilities, my elite guards, and the Ferals. We'll attack from behind, just as planned."

"And I'll keep Nathan's forces occupied at the front," he said. "If all goes well, we'll trap them between us."

"It will work," I said firmly.

His eyes searched mine. "If something goes wrong—"

"It won't," I interrupted.

"If it does," he insisted, "remember the fallback position. The caves beneath Moon Lake."

I nodded. "I remember."

Ramsey leaned forward, pressing his forehead against mine. "I love you, Lyla", he whispered. "You cannot let anything happen to you today. Please!"

"I love you too," I replied, my throat tight with emotion. "Now go lead your warriors, Alpha."

He captured my lips, kissing me fiercely. It was a promise, a prayer for survival and a reminder of how much I would miss him if I died today. With one final squeeze of my hand, he turned and strode away to join his warriors.

I turned to my own forces. The former Ferals had already shifted into wolf form, their eyes clear and intelligent as they waited for my command. My elite guards stood at attention, moonstone daggers at their sides.

"Move out," I ordered. "Stay silent until we're in position."

We loaded into armored vehicles and drove through the back roads of White Mountain territory, avoiding the main conflict zones. After fifteen minutes, we reached our destination—a forested hill overlooking Nathan's main encampment.

"Spread out," I instructed as we disembarked. "Remember the plan. We wait for Ramsey's signal, then attack from behind while they're focused on the frontal assault."

My fighters moved with practiced stealth, taking positions among the trees. I crouched behind a large boulder, observing the enemy camp below. Hundreds of fires dotted the darkness, illuminating a force that made my heart sink. Nathan had indeed brought an army larger than anything we'd anticipated.

I was about to signal the first group to move closer when Kieran—the former Feral leader—suddenly shifted back to his human form and sprinted toward me. He looked frantic.

"Wait!" he hissed urgently, dropping to a crouch beside me. I smell great fox magic. We can't attack them now, at least, or enter the perimeter of their camp."

"Fox magic?" I repeated, confused. "What do you mean?"

"The were-foxes," Kieran explained breathlessly. "Werefoxes can take the appearance of anyone. They're shapeshifters more skilled than any werewolf. They can take the exact appearance of anyone—down to their scent. With this magic, they'll mimic you, your warriors, Ramsey, Lenny—creating chaos and confusion."

Cold dread washed over me. "And in that confusion..."

"Nathan's real armies will strike," he finished grimly.

"What should we do?" I asked, my mind racing. If Ramsey walked into a trap—

"Since Nathan's armies are so large, and he controls many Ferals, we should go in first," Kieran suggested. "Using our Feral appearance, we can disarm the camp and—"

His words were cut short by shouts erupting from the far side of Nathan's camp. Guards began rushing toward the northern edge, weapons drawn.

"Invaders! Invaders from White Mountain!" voices called.

My blood ran cold. Ramsey's forces weren't supposed to attack yet. Something had gone wrong.

"No, no," Kieran whispered with a horrified expression. "They cannot go into the perimeter!"

I frantically attempted to mindlink Ramsey, throwing all my focus into our shared connection. Nothing. No response. Not even the sensation of trying to reach a closed mind—just emptiness, as if something was blocking the connection entirely.

"I can't reach him," I told Kieran, already panicking.

I reached for my radio, but it only produced static. "I can't reach Ramsey," I repeated. "What should we do?"

He shook his head grimly. "It's too late."