SOLD TO SIX ALPHA'S

Chapter 12: The Man Behind the Seal

That is your father.

Luna's words echoed inside my head.

I couldn't breathe.

My father?

The creature standing behind the black door was enormous. Dark shadows covered his body, but beneath them I could see the outline of a man.

Two ancient silver eyes stared directly at me.

"Father?" I whispered.

The creature stepped forward.

The entire chamber shook.

Kael immediately moved in front of me.

"Stay behind me."

"No."

My voice trembled.

"If that's really my father, I need to know."

Elara suddenly cried out.

"Lyra, don't!"

I turned toward her.

"Why?"

She was crying.

"Because he's not the man you remember."

I froze.

"I don't remember him at all."

The creature stopped.

Then a deep voice filled the chamber.

"Elara."

My mother's face went pale.

"You're alive."

The creature's voice sounded human.

Broken.

Tired.

Not monstrous.

Elara stepped forward.

"I thought you were dead."

He laughed bitterly.

"That was the plan."

I looked between them.

"Who is he?"

My mother couldn't answer.

The man stepped into the light.

The shadows disappeared from his face.

He looked nothing like a monster.

He looked like an Alpha.

A powerful one.

His dark hair was streaked with silver, and his eyes were the same violet shade as mine.

My heart broke.

I knew those eyes.

They were mine.

"Lyra," he whispered.

I stepped backward.

"How do you know my name?"

He smiled sadly.

"Because I chose it."

My breathing stopped.

"You named me?"

He nodded.

"Your mother wanted to call you Luna. I wanted you to have a name that belonged only to you."

Tears filled my eyes.

"Why weren't you there?"

His expression shattered.

"I tried."

"Why didn't you find me?"

"I couldn't."

"Why?"

He looked toward the black seal.

"Because I was imprisoned here."

Silence filled the chamber.

"By whom?"

His eyes moved toward Rowan.

Everyone turned.

Rowan's expression remained calm.

My father spoke.

"By the man who wanted your mother dead."

I stared at Rowan.

He smiled.

"Don't believe everything he says."

My father growled.

The sound shook the walls.

"You haven't changed."

Rowan raised his hand.

Dark energy gathered around him.

Kael immediately shifted.

"Everyone move!"

Rowan attacked.

The chamber exploded into chaos.

Zayne grabbed me and pulled me aside as dark energy tore through the floor.

Darius attacked Rowan from behind.

Rowan blocked him effortlessly.

Lucian and Cassian joined the fight.

Kael's wolf slammed into Rowan.

But Rowan was stronger than before.

The black seal had transformed him.

I watched helplessly.

Then Luna spoke.

You can stop this.

"How?"

Use the fourth bond.

I looked at Zayne.

His silver mark was glowing.

"Zayne!"

He turned.

"What?"

"I need your power."

He understood immediately.

He grabbed my hand.

The moment our palms touched, silver light exploded between us.

A wave of energy swept across the chamber.

Rowan was thrown backward.

The black seal on my wrist cracked.

I screamed.

My father suddenly rushed toward me.

"Lyra!"

He caught me before I fell.

His arms were warm.

For one moment, I felt safe.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

"Don't trust him."

Kael.

I looked up.

Kael was staring at my father.

"He's not telling you everything."

My father frowned.

"Neither are you."

The tension between them was immediate.

I looked at my mother.

"Who should I believe?"

She closed her eyes.

"I don't know."

Her answer broke my heart.

"You don't know?"

She looked at me.

"There are things even I don't understand anymore."

Suddenly, the black door began closing.

My father looked terrified.

"No."

He pushed me toward Kael.

"Take her."

"What?"

"Take her and run."

I grabbed his arm.

"I'm not leaving you."

"You have to."

"You're my father!"

His eyes filled with tears.

"And you're my daughter."

He kissed my forehead.

"For eighteen years, I've waited to see you."

I cried.

"Then come with me."

He shook his head.

"I can't."

"Why?"

He looked at the black seal.

"Because I'm the one keeping the darkness imprisoned."

The chamber shook.

Cracks spread across the walls.

My father pushed me away.

"Go!"

Kael grabbed my hand.

I fought him.

"No!"

My father smiled.

"Lyra..."

I looked at him.

"Remember one thing."

"What?"

"Your mother never abandoned you."

He looked toward Elara.

"She was protecting you."

The black door slammed shut between us.

"Father!"

I ran toward it.

My hands struck the stone.

"Father!"

Nothing.

Then a final voice came through the door.

"Find the sixth Alpha before Malric does."

I froze.

Kael looked at me.

"What did he say?"

I turned slowly.

"The sixth Alpha."

Everyone became silent.

There were only six.

Kael.

Rowan.

Darius.

Zayne.

Lucian.

Cassian.

But Rowan had betrayed us.

So who was the sixth?

I looked at the men standing around me.

Then my eyes landed on Lucian.

His face had gone pale.

And for the first time...

He looked afraid.