SOLD TO SIX ALPHA'S

Chapter 18: The Secret of My Father

Malric's words echoed across the battlefield.

"You still don't know what your father really is."

I stared at my father.

His arms were still around me, but his expression had changed.

The warmth in his eyes was gone.

Fear had replaced it.

"Father?"

He looked away.

"What does he mean?"

"Lyra, you need to leave."

I stepped back.

"No."

"Please."

"You've kept secrets from me for eighteen years. I'm not running again."

My father's eyes filled with pain.

"I wanted to protect you."

"Everyone says that."

My voice cracked.

"And every secret has only made things worse."

Behind us, Malric laughed.

"Tell her."

My father turned toward him.

"Be silent."

Malric's smile widened.

"Tell your daughter what you became the night the Moon Kingdom fell."

I looked at my father.

"What happened?"

He closed his eyes.

Then he whispered,

"I was cursed."

The battlefield seemed to disappear.

"A curse?"

He nodded.

"Malric's first attack wasn't against the kingdom."

He looked at my mother.

"It was against me."

Elara stepped forward.

"Your father was captured eighteen years ago."

I stared at her.

"But I saw him in the palace."

"You did."

My father's voice was quiet.

"I escaped."

"Then why were you imprisoned beneath the palace?"

"Because I wasn't myself anymore."

A cold shiver ran through me.

"What does that mean?"

He looked at his hands.

"Malric used forbidden magic to awaken something inside my blood."

His eyes briefly flashed silver.

"Something ancient."

Luna suddenly growled inside me.

Shadow blood.

I swallowed.

"You're a Shadow Wolf."

My father nodded.

"The first."

Cassian stepped forward.

"My father was one of the Shadow Wolves."

My father looked at him.

"Your father was my brother."

Cassian froze.

"What?"

Everyone stared at them.

I looked between my father and Cassian.

"You two are related?"

He nodded.

"Arcturus was my younger brother."

Cassian's face went pale.

"Then why did you let everyone believe he was dead?"

"Because Malric wanted his bloodline."

Cassian clenched his fists.

"You knew?"

"Yes."

"All these years?"

My father lowered his head.

"I had no choice."

Cassian looked away.

I touched his shoulder.

He didn't respond.

Then Malric laughed again.

"Family reunions are beautiful."

Kael stepped forward.

"Enough."

Malric raised his sword.

"Do you really think you won?"

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"You lost your army."

Malric looked around.

Thousands of his warriors were fleeing.

The battlefield belonged to us.

Yet Malric wasn't afraid.

Instead, he smiled.

"Look at the sky."

Everyone looked upward.

The silver moon had turned black.

My blood ran cold.

My mother whispered,

"No."

"What is it?"

"The Eclipse."

The Moon Goddess's voice suddenly echoed across the battlefield.

"The final hour has arrived."

Every mark on my body ignited.

I screamed.

Kael caught me.

"Lyra!"

My vision blurred.

The six bonds connected at once.

Kael.

Darius.

Zayne.

Lucian.

Cassian.

Even Rowan.

Their emotions rushed through me.

Their fear.

Their strength.

Their love.

Their pain.

I could feel every heartbeat.

Then I felt something else.

A seventh presence.

Cold.

Ancient.

Hungry.

I gasped.

"There's someone else."

Kael looked at me.

"Who?"

I turned toward Malric.

He was smiling.

Behind him stood a shadow.

A woman.

Tall.

Beautiful.

Terrifying.

The Moon Goddess.

But she wasn't in the sky anymore.

She was standing on the battlefield.

In human form.

Malric bowed.

"My Queen."

My heart stopped.

The Goddess looked at me.

"Come to me, daughter."

I stepped backward.

"No."

Her expression darkened.

"You belong to me."

"I belong to myself."

The six Alphas moved around me.

My father stood beside my mother.

The Goddess smiled.

"Then I will take you by force."

The ground split open.

Darkness poured from beneath the battlefield.

Wolves screamed.

Warriors scattered.

Kael grabbed my hand.

"We have to move."

"Where?"

"Anywhere away from her."

But the Goddess raised her hand.

The entire army froze.

Everyone except me.

And the six Alphas.

She stared at me.

"Your bonds protect you."

She smiled.

"But they can also destroy you."

Her fingers moved.

Kael suddenly dropped to his knees.

"Kael!"

He clutched his chest.

The other Alphas cried out.

I felt their pain.

The Goddess was attacking the bonds.

"Stop!"

She ignored me.

"Choose."

Her voice echoed.

"Give yourself to me..."

She pointed toward the six Alphas.

"...or watch them die."

I stared at the men I had come to trust.

My father.

My mother.

My kingdom.

Everything was slipping away again.

Then Luna whispered:

There is another choice.

"What?"

Break the bonds.

My heart stopped.

"All of them?"

Yes.

"If I do that..."

You may lose them forever.

I looked at Kael.

His eyes met mine.

Even through the pain, he shook his head.

"Don't."

The Goddess smiled.

"Choose, little Moonborn."

I closed my eyes.

Then I made my decision.

I reached for all six bonds.

And began to tear them apart.