CHAPTER 13
840 Words
THE RIVAL ALPHA
Lyra's POV :
The convoy stopped at the edge of the clearing.
The doors opened.
Six guards stepped out.
Then came the man I had felt through the bond.
Kael Ardent.
He wasn't what I expected.
I expected someone savage.
Instead, he looked almost civilized.
Elegant black coat.
Dark hair perfectly styled.
Sharp features.
Calm gray-green eyes.
No visible weapon.
That was the first thing that frightened me.
Men who didn't need weapons were usually the most dangerous.
Kael's gaze moved across the clearing.
It stopped on me.
The bond inside my chest pulsed.
Hard.
I sucked in a breath.
Kael's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
Recognition.
He knew.
He walked toward me.
Darian immediately stepped between us.
Kael stopped.
"Enforcer."
"Alpha."
"Move."
"No."
Kael smiled.
"You're protecting her."
"Yes."
"From me?"
"From everyone."
Kael looked past him.
His eyes found mine.
"Interesting."
Riven appeared beside me.
"Don't start."
Kael's smile widened.
"I wasn't planning to."
He looked at Riven.
"Blackthorn."
"Ardent."
The two men studied each other.
There was history there.
Bad history.
I could feel it.
"You know each other," I said.
Kael's expression remained pleasant.
"We've met."
Riven laughed.
"He tried to kill me."
Kael shrugged.
"You survived."
"Disappointing you must have been."
"Very."
I stepped forward.
"Why are you here?"
Kael looked at me.
"Because you're my mate."
The words echoed through the clearing.
My stomach twisted.
Darian's expression hardened.
Riven's eyes flashed gold.
I stared at Kael.
"I don't know you."
"No."
He smiled.
"But we're connected."
I touched my chest.
"This?"
"Yes."
"Can it be broken?"
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"I don't know."
Riven interrupted.
"It can."
Kael looked at him.
"Can it?"
Riven didn't answer.
I suddenly felt trapped.
Three powerful men.
Three different energies.
And somehow, all of them were connected to me.
I stepped backward.
"I need space."
Kael nodded.
"Of course."
That surprised me.
He didn't argue.
Didn't command.
Didn't reach for me.
He simply stepped back.
"I didn't come to force you."
Darian looked skeptical.
Kael noticed.
"You don't trust me."
"No."
"Good."
He looked at me.
"Neither should she."
I frowned.
"Then why should I go with you?"
"You shouldn't."
Everyone went silent.
Kael continued.
"Not yet."
He reached inside his coat and removed a small black envelope.
He held it toward me.
"Read this when you're alone."
I didn't take it.
"What's inside?"
"The truth about your father."
My breath caught.
Kael placed it on a stone beside me.
Then turned.
"Three days."
He paused.
"If you want answers, come to the Crimson Vale."
He looked over his shoulder.
"If you don't..."
His gaze returned to me.
"...I'll come back."
The convoy disappeared into the trees.
I stared at the envelope.
Darian looked at me.
"You shouldn't open it."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"Because whatever is inside could change everything."
I picked it up.
"Everything already changed."
---
That night, I opened the envelope.
There was one sheet of paper.
Six words.
YOUR FATHER DID NOT DIE.
My breath stopped.
I read it again.
Then again.
The paper slipped from my fingers.
Darian saw my face.
"What?"
I looked at him.
"My father..."
My voice broke.
"He's alive."
---
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