SOLD TO SIX ALPHA'S

Chapter 14: The Last Alpha

The howl came again.

Deep.

Ancient.

So powerful that the palace trembled beneath our feet.

I held my mother's hand while Kael helped her stand.

The black mark around her throat had disappeared, but she was still pale.

"Mother, are you all right?"

She nodded weakly.

"I'm fine."

"You're lying."

She gave me a tired smile.

"You're becoming more like me every day."

Before I could answer, another howl echoed through the mountains.

Luna stirred inside me.

He's close.

I swallowed.

"Who?"

The last Alpha.

My eyes moved across the room.

Kael.

Darius.

Zayne.

Lucian.

Cassian.

And somewhere in the darkness...

Rowan.

Five bonds had awakened.

The sixth remained.

Cassian suddenly stepped backward.

His face had gone pale.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Everyone keeps saying that."

He looked at me.

Then his eyes flashed silver.

My breath caught.

"Cassian."

He shook his head.

"Don't come closer."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know what will happen."

The sixth symbol on the ancient door suddenly began glowing.

Cassian stared at it.

"No."

The symbol brightened.

A silver line appeared across his palm.

He fell to his knees.

"Cassian!"

I rushed toward him.

Kael grabbed my shoulder.

"Wait."

"He needs help!"

The silver light around Cassian became brighter.

He cried out.

Then his wolf emerged.

It wasn't like the others.

His wolf was enormous, with silver-black fur and glowing blue eyes.

The moment it looked at me, I felt something inside my chest pull toward him.

The sixth bond.

My knees weakened.

"Cassian..."

He looked at me.

His wolf lowered its head.

Then he shifted back into human form.

His breathing was heavy.

The mark on his palm glowed.

"I've spent my entire life trying to hide this."

"Why?"

"Because my bloodline isn't like theirs."

Kael frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Cassian looked toward the dark corridor.

"My father wasn't an Alpha."

Silence.

"Then what was he?"

Cassian's eyes met mine.

"King of the Shadow Wolves."

The room went cold.

Darius reached for his weapon.

"You knew?"

Cassian nodded.

"My father served the old Moon Queen."

Elara stared at him.

"His name was Arcturus."

Cassian nodded.

"My father died protecting the kingdom."

My mother closed her eyes.

"I remember him."

Cassian looked at her.

"He died because of you."

Everyone froze.

I looked at my mother.

"What does he mean?"

Elara's face became filled with pain.

"Arcturus sacrificed himself so you could escape."

Cassian looked at me.

"Your mother asked him to protect you."

I swallowed.

"Then why did you hide your identity?"

"Because Malric believed my family was extinct."

He looked toward the broken windows.

"If he discovers that I'm alive, he'll come for me."

A smile suddenly appeared on Zayne's face.

"He's already here."

We all turned.

Outside the palace, hundreds of torches appeared.

Malric's army had surrounded the kingdom.

Kael's expression hardened.

"How did they find us?"

Lucian looked at the glowing seals.

"The sixth bond."

I stared at Cassian.

"Your awakening revealed our location."

Cassian looked devastated.

"I'm sorry."

I stepped toward him.

"This isn't your fault."

His eyes met mine.

"You don't hate me?"

"No."

"Even after what my bloodline represents?"

I shook my head.

"I've spent my entire life being judged for something I didn't choose."

I placed my hand over his.

"I won't do that to you."

The sixth seal exploded with silver light.

Every symbol on the door ignited.

Six bonds.

Six Alphas.

One Moonborn.

The palace shook violently.

Then the ancient door opened.

Beyond it was a vast chamber filled with silver light.

At its center stood a throne.

My throne.

I stared at it.

Elara whispered:

"Your coronation chamber."

I slowly walked forward.

Every step made the silver symbols beneath my feet glow.

Then a crown appeared above the throne.

It floated in the air.

Beautiful.

Ancient.

Waiting for me.

Kael came beside me.

"You don't have to do this."

I looked at him.

"Do what?"

"Become their queen."

I stared at the crown.

For eighteen years, everyone had told me what I was.

An omega.

An adopted daughter.

A burden.

An unwanted girl.

Now the world was telling me I was a queen.

But I didn't want a crown.

I wanted answers.

I wanted freedom.

I wanted to choose my own destiny.

"I won't become queen because someone says I should."

Kael smiled faintly.

"Then why?"

I reached toward the crown.

"Because if I don't take control of my destiny..."

My fingers touched the silver metal.

"...someone else will."

The moment the crown touched my head, the entire Moon Kingdom awakened.

Silver light erupted across the mountains.

The army outside dropped to their knees.

Even Malric's soldiers looked terrified.

Then the sky split open.

A woman's voice echoed across the kingdom.

"THE MOON QUEEN HAS RISEN."

Everyone bowed.

Everyone except Malric.

He stood at the edge of the kingdom, staring at me.

Then he smiled.

"You finally woke up."

I stared at him.

"Come and take your throne, little princess."

His smile widened.

"Because I've brought you something."

He raised his hand.

A group of soldiers dragged someone forward.

My heart stopped.

It was Rowan.

Blood covered his clothes.

But he was alive.

Malric placed a blade against his throat.

"Your betrayer."

Rowan looked at me.

His eyes were filled with regret.

"Lyra..."

Malric laughed.

"Choose."

He raised the blade.

"Your kingdom..."

Then he pressed the blade against Rowan's neck.

"...or the Alpha who betrayed you."

My heart shattered.

Because I knew Malric wasn't asking me to choose between a kingdom and a man.

He was testing the power of the Moon Queen.

And whatever choice I made...

Someone would pay the price.