SOLD TO SIX ALPHA'S

Chapter 15: The Queen's Choice

The blade touched Rowan's throat.

I couldn't breathe.

Malric smiled from across the courtyard.

"Choose, little princess."

His soldiers tightened their grip around Rowan.

"Your kingdom..."

He pressed the blade closer.

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

Rowan's eyes met mine.

There was no fear in them.

Only regret.

"Don't choose me," he whispered.

My heart twisted.

Malric laughed.

"How noble."

Kael stepped forward.

"Release him."

Malric's eyes flashed.

"Stay where you are, Alpha."

Kael stopped.

Darius growled.

Zayne's hands curled into fists.

Lucian and Cassian stood ready to attack.

My mother touched my arm.

"Lyra, don't let him control you."

I looked at her.

"What should I do?"

"You already know."

"No."

My voice cracked.

"I don't."

I looked at Rowan.

For everything he had done, I couldn't forget the moments when he had protected me.

He had lied to me.

Used me.

Betrayed me.

But he had also saved me.

And now Malric wanted me to decide whether he lived or died.

I looked at the six symbols glowing above the palace.

Then I understood.

The Moon Goddess hadn't given me six bonds so I could become a prisoner of them.

She had given me power to choose.

I stepped forward.

"I choose neither."

Malric's smile disappeared.

"What?"

"I won't choose between my kingdom and a person's life."

His eyes narrowed.

"You don't understand the rules."

"I don't care about your rules."

The silver crown on my head began glowing.

"I am done letting everyone else decide what I should lose."

The ground trembled.

Malric raised his hand.

"Kill him."

The blade moved.

"NO!"

I raised my hand.

A silver wave exploded across the courtyard.

Every soldier was thrown backward.

The blade flew from Malric's hand.

Rowan collapsed to his knees.

The entire kingdom fell silent.

I stared at my palm.

The power inside me felt enormous.

But it wasn't wild anymore.

It listened to me.

Malric looked terrified.

"What are you?"

I walked toward him.

"You know exactly what I am."

The six Alphas moved behind me.

For the first time, we stood together.

Not as six rulers.

Not as six captors.

But as one united force.

Malric took a step backward.

"This isn't over."

I smiled.

"No."

I looked at the silver palace behind me.

"It's just beginning."

Malric suddenly disappeared into a cloud of black smoke.

Kael immediately ran toward Rowan.

I followed.

Rowan was bleeding badly.

Darius knelt beside him.

"He's alive."

I looked at Rowan.

His eyes opened.

"Why?"

I frowned.

"Why what?"

"Why did you save me?"

I stared at him.

"I haven't forgiven you."

"I know."

"But I won't let Malric decide who lives or dies."

Rowan gave a weak smile.

"That's exactly what your mother would have done."

Elara approached.

"Rowan."

He looked at her.

"I'm sorry."

She didn't answer.

Instead, she knelt beside him.

"Tell her the truth."

Rowan looked at me.

"What truth?"

My heart tightened.

"You know something."

He sighed.

"There is one thing your mother never told you."

I looked at Elara.

She lowered her eyes.

"What?"

Rowan swallowed.

"The night your kingdom fell..."

He paused.

"Malric wasn't the one who betrayed your mother."

My stomach dropped.

"Then who was?"

Rowan looked directly at Kael.

The courtyard became completely silent.

Kael's face hardened.

"Don't."

Rowan continued.

"Kael opened the palace gates."

My heart stopped.

I turned toward Kael.

He didn't deny it.

"Is that true?"

His eyes met mine.

"Yes."

Everything inside me went cold.

"Why?"

Kael stepped closer.

"Because your mother ordered me to."

I stared at him.

"My mother?"

Elara closed her eyes.

Kael's voice was quiet.

"We opened the gates because there was no other way to save you."

I shook my head.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because your mother made me promise."

"Why?"

Kael looked toward the mountains.

"Because the person we were trying to escape from..."

He looked back at me.

"...wasn't Malric."

My heart pounded.

"Who was it?"

Kael's expression turned grim.

"The Moon Goddess."

Silence.

I felt the blood drain from my face.

"The Moon Goddess wanted me dead?"

"No."

Kael stepped closer.

"She wanted your power."

A cold wind swept through the courtyard.

Then the crown on my head began to crack.

Everyone looked up.

A voice echoed across the kingdom.

"My daughter..."

I froze.

The voice wasn't my mother's.

It was ancient.

Powerful.

And coming from the sky.

"You were never meant to wear that crown."

The silver crown shattered.

I looked upward.

A massive silver moon appeared above the palace.

And inside it...

A woman's eyes opened.

The Moon Goddess had come for me.