SOLD TO SIX ALPHA'S

Chapter 7: The One I Shouldn't Trust

DON'T TRUST THE ALPHAS.

The words remained on the window long after the mysterious woman disappeared.

I couldn't stop staring at them.

My mother's warning echoed inside my head.

One of the six men beside you will betray you.

I slowly turned around.

Kael stood near the doorway, his expression unreadable.

Rowan was watching the window.

Zayne had lost his usual smile.

Lucian looked thoughtful.

Darius stood with his arms crossed.

Cassian's eyes remained fixed on me.

Six men.

Six possible betrayers.

And one of them was supposed to be my mate.

I suddenly felt trapped.

"I need to leave."

Kael stepped forward.

"Lyra—"

"No."

I backed away.

"Don't come closer."

His face tightened.

"I won't hurt you."

"How do I know that?"

He had no answer.

That frightened me even more.

I turned toward the door.

Cassian moved first.

"Where are you going?"

"Somewhere I can think."

"You can't go outside."

"Why?"

"Because Malric's soldiers are still searching for you."

I laughed bitterly.

"Then maybe I should let them find me."

Kael's eyes flashed.

"Don't say that."

"Why not?"

"Because I won't let him take you."

His voice was so intense that my heart skipped.

For a second, I forgot the warning.

Then I remembered.

Don't trust the Alphas.

I looked away.

"We need to leave this castle."

Rowan nodded.

"She's right."

Kael looked at him.

"We leave before dawn."

"No," I said.

"Now."

Everyone stared at me.

I didn't know where the sudden courage came from.

Maybe I was tired of running.

Maybe I was tired of being treated like something fragile.

But I knew one thing.

I wanted answers.

And I wasn't going to wait for permission.

We left through an underground passage beneath the castle.

The tunnel was dark and cold.

Kael walked ahead.

Rowan and Lucian followed.

Zayne stayed behind me.

Darius and Cassian guarded the rear.

I could feel all six of them around me.

Protecting me.

Or watching me.

I wasn't sure which.

After nearly twenty minutes, we reached an old stone door.

Kael pushed it open.

Moonlight flooded the tunnel.

We stepped outside.

A forest surrounded us.

Tall trees stretched toward the night sky.

For the first time since I had been sold, I could breathe.

Then Luna whispered inside my mind.

We're being followed.

I stopped.

"Wait."

Everyone turned.

"What is it?" Kael asked.

"I don't know."

I closed my eyes.

There.

A heartbeat.

Then another.

Someone was moving between the trees.

Kael immediately shifted.

The others followed.

Six wolves disappeared into the darkness.

I stood alone.

A branch snapped behind me.

I turned.

Nothing.

Then a hand covered my mouth.

I struggled.

A figure dragged me backward.

I tried to scream.

But before I could fight back, silver light exploded from my wrist.

The attacker screamed and released me.

I fell to the ground.

The figure staggered backward.

A hood covered his face.

"You shouldn't have awakened," he whispered.

I stared at him.

"Who are you?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he pulled something from his coat.

A small silver blade.

Luna growled.

Run.

I scrambled backward.

The stranger raised the blade.

Suddenly, a black wolf slammed into him.

Kael.

The stranger flew through the air.

The other five Alphas surrounded him.

He looked around.

Then he laughed.

"You can't protect her forever."

Kael growled.

"Who sent you?"

The stranger smiled.

"The Queen."

Everyone froze.

My heart stopped.

"My mother?"

The stranger looked directly at me.

"Not the Queen you think."

Then he swallowed something.

His body went limp.

Kael rushed toward him.

"Poison."

The stranger was dead.

I stared at the body.

"What did he mean?"

No one answered.

I looked at Kael.

"Who is the Queen?"

He stood slowly.

"We don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"Then why does everyone keep knowing things I don't?"

My voice cracked.

Tears filled my eyes.

"I just want to know who I am."

Kael's expression softened.

He approached slowly.

This time, I didn't move away.

He stopped a few feet from me.

"You are Lyra."

I looked at him.

"Is that enough?"

"No."

His voice was quiet.

"But it's where we start."

Something inside me broke.

A tear slipped down my cheek.

Kael reached out.

His thumb brushed it away.

The moment he touched my skin, both our marks glowed.

A warm pulse passed through my body.

I looked into his eyes.

For one dangerous second, the world disappeared.

Then a voice whispered inside my head.

First bond.

I pulled away.

Kael looked equally stunned.

The mark on his palm had changed.

A silver crescent now surrounded it.

Rowan stepped closer.

"It's happening."

"What?"

"The first bond is becoming permanent."

My heart pounded.

"What does that mean?"

Kael stared at his mark.

"It means the connection between us can no longer be broken."

I looked at him.

"Why?"

He lifted his eyes to mine.

"Because you chose me."

I froze.

"I didn't choose anyone."

Kael's expression changed.

"You just did."

Before I could respond, a tremendous howl echoed through the forest.

All six Alphas turned toward the sound.

Luna suddenly screamed inside my mind.

Lyra!

"What?"

The second seal.

My wrist burned.

I looked down.

Another silver symbol was beginning to glow.

But this time, the light wasn't coming from Kael.

It was coming from behind me.

I slowly turned.

One of the five remaining Alphas stood completely still.

His eyes had turned silver.

And in his hand...

Was the same silver blade the dead assassin had carried.

He looked at me.

Then whispered:

"Run."

My heart stopped.

Because I recognized the voice.

It was the voice of the man who had warned me in the forest.

The assassin hadn't come alone.

And the second seal had awakened.