Sold to the Ruthless Alpha

Chapter 3

Lythia's hands were shaking as she wrote her name and signed the contract under Ethan's cold stare.

“I'm done,” she said, her head hung low, without the courage to look him in the eyes. Lythia still couldn't believe her once-peaceful life was now ruined, all thanks to Zyran. She couldn't believe she was legally married to him: the man she felt both hatred and desire for at the same time.

“Good,” Ethan said menacingly, snapping handcuffs onto her wrists that he had been holding all along.

“What happens to my parents and my pack now?” Lythia asked, her head still hanging low.

“Your parents will be spared, but your pack won't,” he answered; a menacing smirk spread across his lips.

Lythia's mind swirled with anger, fear, and regret. She wished she had never crossed paths with Zyran, even though he was her mate, or that she'd never betrayed him in the first place.

“Let's go,” Ethan announced. Lythia followed him like an obedient child, without fighting back.

When she stepped outside, a black SUV waited. Ethan opened the back door and shoved her inside, sending her sprawling across the seat. The whole scene felt like a kidnapping; passersby glanced over but did nothing, they just kepy walking and acting as if nothing had happened.

Ethan slid into the driver's seat and started the engine. Lythia still couldn't believe her dream of escaping Zyran's wrath had been shattered, yet that didn't mean she couldn't try again once she reached his packhouse.

“Are my parents going to be freed, or are they still held captive?” Lythia asked, staring at Ethan through the rearview mirror.

“They'll be held captive,” Ethan replied simply.

“Why? I thought signing the contract meant my parents would be released,” Lythia said, shocked that they wouldn't be freed.

“Zyran's orders: if you have a problem with it, take it up with him, but I advise you not to,” Ethan responded. Lythia wasn't satisfied with the answer but she didn't press further.

“What's Zyran playing at?” Lythia asked, eager to know his plans.

“When we arrive, you can ask him yourself; honestly, I don't know the details. But his aim in all this is revenge,” Ethan said, keeping his eyes on the road.

“You're his beta: you should know his plans,” Lythia pressed.

“I don't, and even if I did, what makes you think I'd tell you?” Ethan replied truthfully. He was a loyal beta, so he wouldn't expose his alpha.

Lythia fell silent for a while until her phone rang. Handcuffed, she couldn't reach it herself.

“Please, could you get my phone from my pocket and answer the call?” she asked Ethan.

“Okay,” he said, pulling over to the side of the road. He fished out the phone, answered, and put it on speaker.

“Hi, Lythia. I've sent you the location of the guy,” Vincent said.

“Vincent, I thought the pack was attacked; how are you sounding so fine, like nothing happened?” Lythia asked. Deep down, she felt uneasy knowing Ethan could hear everything.

“How did you know about the attack? I thought your parents were held captive, so you couldn't have heard it from them,” Vincent replied, shocked.

“It's a long story, but I'll cut it short_ I've been taken by Zyran, through his beta, Ethan. Right now, I'm heading to their pack,” Lythia explained.

“That means he has connections and he's damn rich to track you down so easily, even when you were being extra careful,” Vincent said. Lythia bristled at the mention of Zyran's wealth.

Ethan smirked and couldn't resist butting in: “Yeah, indeed; he's super rich. He could buy you and your entire pack without even feeling it.”

Vincent fell silent in surprise. Lythia quickly ended the conversation. “Vincent, bye. We'll speak later.” Ethan hung up.

“Do you trust your friend?” Ethan suddenly asked.

“Yes, I do. I trust him with my life; he would never betray me. He's been my best friend for years,” Lythia answered, wondering why Ethan had asked.

“If you say so,” Ethan shrugged, pulling back onto the road.

“Why did you ask?” Lythia questioned.

“Just wondering,” he replied.

Three hours later, they still hadn't arrived. Ethan pulled over again, and both stepped out of the vehicle.

“Why are we stopping?” Lythia asked.

“The ride's long, so we'll rest here for a bit,” Ethan informed her, and Lythia nodded. An escape plan flashed through her mind, which was to shift into her wolf form and run.

While Ethan scouted for a good resting spot in the woods, Lythia shifted and bolted, running with all her might, like her life depended on it, well it did.

Ethan returned to find her gone. His instincts kicked in; he knew she'd escaped. Without hesitation, he shifted into his wolf form and followed her trail. He caught up quickly, pinning her down.

Lythia gave up and shifted back to human form. Ethan did the same, then tied her hands to a tree, forcing her into a sitting position.

“You thought you could escape? That's almost funny, like we were playing a game,” Ethan mocked, a smirk lingered on his lips.

Lythia scoffed, while Ethan kept smirking like a maniac.

“Well, well, I guess I'll be reporting this to Zyran,” he announced. Lythia's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to beg him not to, yet she knew it was pointless; he was too loyal.

She stayed quiet until they returned to the SUV about forty minutes later.

Ethan started the engine and continued the journey to the pack.

**Zyran's POV**

I sat in my study, satisfied that I had finally captured Lythia, my mate. The bond grew stronger with every passing second, and I knew they were close. I stood, clutching her photo, tracing her face with my fingers and soon, I would do it for real. I couldn't wait any longer and began pacing like a ticking bomb.

Everything was in place, the only thing missing was Lythia, and I couldn't wait to punish her… in a pleasurable way.