The Alpha's Fated Outcast: Rise Of The Moonsinger.-Chapter 228: The calm before the storm...

Ramsey

My eyes fluttered open to the soft glow of the early morning light filtering through the curtains.

I stretched languidly, carefully moving Lyla sprawled on my chest to the other part of the bed… I was practically her mattress. After settling her, I pushed myself to the edge of the bed, reaching for the tablet resting on the nightstand to review my schedule for the day.

I skimmed through meetings, security briefings, training sessions and a few pack affairs – each task was listed neatly, but despite the workload, I didn't feel overwhelmed. Not anymore.

When I was done confirming my appointments, I turned my gaze to Lyla fast asleep beside me. Her face was relaxed in the soft morning light her dark lashes rested against her fair skin, her chest was rising and falling in a steady rhythm filling me with a sense of peace I never thought was possible.

My mate. My peace.

For so long, my life had been dictated by duty, by expectations that never aligned with my desires. But with Lyla, everything was different. She was my anchor, my mate, the one person who made all the burdens of leadership bearable.

It had been a month since we made things official, and every day since had been nothing short of bliss. With the old council of elders gone, both in White Moon and the White Mountains Council, I finally felt free. Free to lead the way I saw fit, free to make decisions without pressure and most importantly – free to love Lyla without being bound by my grandfather's antics.

Now, my vision seemed clearer, my decision-making had improved and I felt useful. I had never imagined that love could be like this – fierce yet gentle, all-consuming yet freeing.

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A soft sigh escaped my lips as I turned my gaze back to Lyla. She looked so serene, so perfect.

Gently, I reached over and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She stirred slightly, her lips parting in a soft sigh. Unable to resist, I bent down and pressed a tender kiss to her lips.

She smiled but did not wake, curling deeper into the blankets.

I chuckled, brushing my thumb over her cheek. She had a way of making me feel whole, of easing the deepest wounds in my soul without even realizing it. My fingers briefly traced over my mark on her neck – We had marked each other at the first opportunity we had.

My gaze flickered to the drawer beside the bed, where a small velvet box was hidden beneath some documents. I have been carrying an engagement ring for three weeks – it was my mother's – the same ring my father had given her when they first met.

I had been debating for weeks now.

When should I propose?

The ring had been burning a hole in his pocket for the past weeks but I was waiting for the perfect moment. It wasn't that I doubted my decision – I knew without a shred of doubt that I wanted Lyla as my mate and wife but every time I thought about doing it, something got in the way.

When we weren't lost in each other, exploring our bodies and having passionate lovemaking, we were caught up with our duties.

Lyla – especially has been busy.

She has been spending more time with the young Ferals who had grown attached to her. They adored her so much and go into a frenzy if she didn't visit them in a day. While the adult Ferals used to get agitated now and again. Lyla had tried all she could to restore calm but it wasn't working.

However, by chance, she had suggested we play the recorded clip I had taken of her singing to the Ferals whenever they grow restless and it had worked surprisingly. Though the effect was not long-lasting, it was long enough to last for a few days before another lapse.

Aside from that, Lyla has also resumed training pushing herself harder each day. It wouldn't be long before she left for the Northern Forest to retrieve Neriah's sword. I knew she had to do it, but the thought of her venturing into the unknown still unsettled me.

We've not had a Feral attack since the Harvest Moon and the year was slowly coming to an end. But that didn't stop us from being vigilant. I knew the quiet would not last and whatever the Dark One had planned would be fatal.

And we were all hoping Lyla would regain her powers soon. We still needed her.

Suddenly Lenny's voice filtered into my mind, he was sending me a mindlink.

"Ramsey, are you awake?"

Yes, what is it?"

"It's not something we can discuss over mindlink. Can you meet me in the garden in ten minutes?"

A frown creased my brows as the link ended. What could be so important that Lenny couldn't just say it outright? Even though his tone was not urgent, there was something off about it and it made me feel uneasy.

I rose from the bed carefully, trying not to disturb Lyla, and dressed quickly. When I returned from the bathroom, Lyla was awake but was still lounging in bed, the sheets barely covering her naked form. She was watching me with a lazy smile.

"Where are you sneaking off to?" She teased, straightening her hand towards me.

Lax growled with want my gaze raked over her bare form. "You'll be my death," I murmured moving immediately to her side. She grinned tilting her chin up as I bent down to capture her lips in a deep kiss. She sighed into my mouth, her fingers grazing my jawline as she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer.

Every time we kissed; it was as if the world outside our bubble ceased to exist. I forgot all about Lenny, about the day's responsibilities. Everything.

Lax rumbled with satisfaction, begging me to stay and forget everything else. But I had to force myself to pull away as I rested my forehead against hers.

"Lenny wants to see me about something. I don't think it's serious though," I said combing her hair with my fingers.

Lyla sighed, stretching like a satisfied cat beneath the sheets. "I was hoping to keep you in bed a little longer."

"Trust me. I'd rather be here," I murmured, kissing her once more before standing. "What are you doing today?"

She sat up, not bothering to cover her chest. They pointed invitingly at me and I knew it was a deliberate act.

"I'll train with Gamma Caius for a bit, then take it easy. Since I'll be heading to the Northern Forest soon, I need to conserve my energy."

I nodded in approval. "After I'm done with Lenny, I have a few meetings and then I'll take care of a few pack affairs. We're about to pass into law a lot of amendments regarding our constitution. We'll do one more review today and see if it's ready. Then…" I paused, winking at her. "Let's go out later. A proper date."

She laughed; the sound warmed my heart. "We literally went on one two days ago."

"It's not enough," I smirked. "I need to do it every minute."

She rolled her eyes playfully, reaching for me and pressing a soft kiss to my lips. "Fine. But after that, I want to go for a run. Nymeris has been teaching me some new movement."

"Perfect," I nodded. "Lax would like that too. I'll pick you up by 6. Make my blood boil, baby…"

She swatted my chest playfully and I turned to leave. A small knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," I called, expecting to see Lenny. I was already running late.

The door opened and Seth walked in.

"Alpha. Luna," he greeted, keeping his eyes lowered respectfully.

I nodded, acknowledging him. "What is it?"

He turned to Ly.a. "There's someone here to see you, Luna."

Lyla sat up, clutching the sheets to her chest. "I am not expecting anyone. Who is it?"

Seth just stared blankly before continuing. "A woman from the Moon Temple. She says her name is Terra and that she's Miriam's friend."

Lyla blinked, clearly taken aback. The smile in her eyes died and my protective instincts flared as I watched Lyla's expression change from surprise to concern.

"Terra?" Lyla managed.

Seth nodded.

I stared at Seth, trying to find out if he knew anything but his expression was always blank. What did Terra want? The mention of Miriam's name brought back memories of recent events, reminding me that our period of peace might be more fragile than I'd thought.

"Did she say why she came? Is Nanny alright?" Lyla wondered aloud.

I moved back to the bed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Do you want me to stay?"

She shook her head after a moment's consideration. "No, go meet with Lenny. This might be important but there's no reason to change all our plans." She turned to Seth. "Please tell her I'll be down in a moment."