SOLD TO SIX ALPHA'S

Chapter 17: The War Begins

The war drums began before sunrise.

Their deep thunder rolled across the Moon Kingdom, shaking the palace walls and waking every warrior who had gathered beneath the silver banners.

I stood on the highest balcony, staring at the army waiting below.

Thousands of wolves.

Thousands of warriors.

All waiting for one command.

Mine.

I still couldn't believe it.

Yesterday, I had been a girl who didn't even know where she belonged.

Now an entire kingdom was waiting for me to lead them into battle.

My fingers tightened around the balcony railing.

"You're afraid."

Luna's voice echoed inside my mind.

"Yes."

"Good."

I frowned.

"Good?"

"Fear reminds you that every life matters."

I looked toward the horizon.

Black clouds covered the mountains.

Somewhere beyond them, Malric had my father.

And he was waiting for me.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

I turned.

Kael stood there.

His wound had been bandaged, but a thin line of blood still marked his forehead.

"You shouldn't be standing."

He gave me a faint smile.

"Neither should you."

"I have an army to lead."

"And I have a Queen to protect."

I looked away.

"You don't have to protect me."

"I know."

He stepped closer.

"I choose to."

My heart skipped.

Before I could answer, the other Alphas entered.

Darius.

Zayne.

Lucian.

Cassian.

They stood behind Kael.

For the first time, all five were united.

Then Rowan appeared at the doorway.

Everyone became silent.

He looked pale and exhausted.

Darius immediately moved toward him.

"You shouldn't be walking."

Rowan smiled weakly.

"I've survived worse."

I stared at him.

He looked at me.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me."

"Good."

His smile disappeared.

"I'm only asking you to let me fight."

I hesitated.

"You betrayed us."

"I know."

"You lied to me."

"I know."

"You almost got me killed."

His eyes lowered.

"I know."

I walked toward him.

"Then why should I trust you?"

He looked directly into my eyes.

"Because Malric is the reason I betrayed you."

I frowned.

"What?"

Rowan lowered his voice.

"He threatened my family."

I froze.

"Your family?"

"My younger sister."

My expression softened despite myself.

"She's alive?"

He nodded.

"Malric has her."

"So you were working for him because he threatened her."

"Yes."

I looked at my mother.

She nodded slowly.

"He's telling the truth."

I turned back to Rowan.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Malric would have killed her."

I didn't know what to say.

Rowan stepped closer.

"Everything I did was meant to keep her alive."

He paused.

"But I never expected to care about you."

My heart tightened.

"Care about me?"

He nodded.

"You became someone I couldn't betray."

Silence filled the balcony.

Then a horn sounded from outside.

Everyone turned.

A warrior came running toward us.

"Your Majesty!"

"What happened?"

"Malric's army has crossed the eastern border."

My heart began pounding.

"How far?"

"Less than an hour away."

Kael looked at me.

"Then we move now."

I nodded.

"Open the gates."

The palace gates began to rise.

The army roared.

Thousands of wolves shifted.

The sound shook the mountains.

I walked down the palace steps.

Every warrior bowed as I passed.

For the first time, I understood what it meant to be a queen.

Not a crown.

Not power.

Responsibility.

I climbed onto the white horse waiting for me.

My mother approached.

She touched my cheek.

"Come back to me."

I nodded.

"I will."

She kissed my forehead.

Then she whispered:

"Your father is waiting."

I looked toward the horizon.

"I'll bring him home."

The army began moving.

We crossed the valley beneath a darkening sky.

Then the enemy appeared.

Thousands of black-armored warriors filled the mountains.

At their center stood Malric.

And beside him...

My father.

He was chained to a stone platform.

My heart broke.

"Father!"

His head lifted.

His eyes found mine.

"Lyra!"

Malric smiled.

"You came."

I dismounted.

Kael immediately stood beside me.

Malric laughed.

"You really believe you can defeat me?"

I looked behind me.

Six Alpha bloodlines.

The Moon Kingdom.

My mother.

My father.

And Luna inside me.

"No."

Malric frowned.

"I don't believe it."

I raised my hand.

"I know it."

The army behind me roared.

Malric lifted his sword.

"Kill them!"

The battlefield exploded.

Wolves charged from both sides.

Claws met steel.

Magic filled the air.

Kael shifted and disappeared into the enemy ranks.

Darius followed.

Zayne and Lucian attacked from opposite sides.

Cassian led the Shadow Wolves through the center.

Rowan remained beside me.

"Where are you going?"

I looked toward my father.

"To him."

Rowan nodded.

"I'll get you there."

We ran.

Dark warriors rushed toward us.

I raised my hand.

Silver energy blasted them backward.

Rowan stared at me.

"You're getting stronger."

"I don't feel stronger."

"What do you feel?"

I looked toward my father.

"Angry."

Rowan smiled.

"Good."

We reached the execution platform.

Malric stood waiting.

He held a sword against my father's throat.

"One more step and he dies."

I stopped.

My father shook his head.

"Don't surrender."

Malric pressed the blade closer.

"Choose, Moon Queen."

I stared at him.

Then I smiled.

"You still don't understand."

His eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"I didn't come here to negotiate."

The six seals on my body ignited.

The battlefield went silent.

Even the enemy wolves stopped fighting.

Silver light rose from beneath my feet.

The sky darkened.

Luna emerged behind me.

Malric stepped backward.

"No..."

I looked at him.

"You took my childhood."

I raised my hand.

"You took my father."

The silver light grew brighter.

"You took my kingdom."

My eyes flashed silver.

"But you won't take anything else."

I released the power.

A massive shockwave swept across the battlefield.

Malric was thrown from the platform.

The chains around my father shattered.

I ran toward him.

"Father!"

He caught me in his arms.

For the first time in eighteen years, I felt my father's embrace.

I cried against his chest.

He held me tightly.

"My little moon."

"I found you."

"No."

He pulled back and touched my face.

"You found your way home."

Behind us, Malric slowly stood.

Blood covered his face.

But he was smiling.

I turned.

"Why are you smiling?"

He looked past me.

Toward my mother.

Then he whispered:

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

My father's face suddenly changed.

And for the first time since I found him...

He looked terrified.