SOLD TO SIX ALPHA'S

Chapter 10: The Betrayer

"Hello, little sister."

My blood turned cold.

I stared at the man standing beside Malric.

For a moment, I couldn't understand what I was seeing.

Then the moonlight touched his face.

Rowan.

My heart shattered.

"No..."

He looked exactly as he always had.

Calm.

Controlled.

Kind.

The Alpha who had been the first to tell me that I deserved answers.

The Alpha who had protected me.

The Alpha whose silver eyes had never once made me feel afraid.

Yet he was standing beside the man who had destroyed my mother's kingdom.

My mother's hand tightened around my shoulder.

"Stay behind me."

I couldn't move.

Kael stepped forward.

"Rowan."

Rowan smiled.

"I suppose the truth couldn't stay buried forever."

Zayne's face hardened.

"Tell me this isn't what it looks like."

Rowan looked at him.

"It is."

Zayne's jaw tightened.

"Why?"

Rowan glanced at me.

"Because she was never supposed to survive."

My heart stopped.

Elara stepped forward.

"You promised me."

Rowan's expression changed.

"I promised to protect the kingdom."

"You promised to protect my daughter!"

"And I did."

His voice echoed across the courtyard.

"For eighteen years, I made sure nobody could find her."

I stared at him.

"You?"

He nodded.

"Your adoptive family was chosen by me."

My stomach twisted.

"You chose them?"

"Yes."

"Why did they sell me?"

"I never ordered them to sell you."

"Then why did you let it happen?"

Rowan's expression became cold.

"Because I needed to know whether your power had awakened."

I couldn't believe him.

"You used me."

"I tested you."

"You destroyed my life!"

His eyes remained emotionless.

"Your life was already destroyed the night the kingdom fell."

Kael suddenly shifted.

His black wolf appeared.

"Enough."

He lunged toward Rowan.

But Malric raised his hand.

A dark barrier appeared between them.

Kael slammed into it.

"Kael!"

He fell backward.

The other Alphas immediately attacked.

Zayne's wolf charged.

Darius followed.

Lucian and Cassian moved around the barrier.

But Rowan didn't fight.

He simply watched.

I looked at him.

"Why are you doing this?"

His eyes met mine.

"Because you're dangerous."

I shook my head.

"I don't want to hurt anyone."

"That's exactly why you're dangerous."

He pointed toward my wrist.

"You still don't understand what those seals contain."

The two glowing marks burned.

Pain shot through my arm.

I cried out.

Elara immediately grabbed my hand.

"Don't listen to him."

Rowan smiled.

"Tell her the truth, Queen."

Elara froze.

"What truth?"

"Tell her what happens when all six seals open."

My mother looked at me.

I could see fear in her eyes.

"Mother?"

She swallowed.

"Lyra..."

"Tell me."

She closed her eyes.

"If all six seals open, the Moon Goddess's power will return completely."

"Is that bad?"

"It depends on who controls it."

I looked at Rowan.

He laughed softly.

"Exactly."

Kael finally broke through the barrier.

He rushed toward me.

"Lyra, run!"

I didn't move.

"Where?"

"Anywhere."

Rowan suddenly lifted his hand.

The second seal on my wrist shattered.

I screamed.

Silver light exploded from my body.

Everyone was thrown backward.

When I opened my eyes, the forest was gone.

I stood in a strange world beneath a black sky.

Six enormous silver wolves surrounded me.

Then a woman appeared.

The Moon Goddess.

I knew her immediately.

She looked at me with ancient eyes.

"You have awakened too soon."

I couldn't speak.

"Who are you?"

"The one who gave you your power."

"Why are there six seals?"

"Because your power cannot be carried by one bloodline."

I looked around.

"And the six Alphas?"

"They are your anchors."

"Anchors?"

"Without them, your power will consume you."

My heart pounded.

"Can I trust them?"

The Moon Goddess became silent.

Then she whispered:

"One of them carries the blood of the enemy."

My breath caught.

"Rowan?"

She didn't answer.

Instead, the world shattered.

I woke on the ground.

Kael was kneeling beside me.

"Lyra!"

I looked around.

Rowan was gone.

Malric was gone.

Only the six Alphas and my mother remained.

Kael helped me sit up.

"What happened?"

I stared at him.

"The Moon Goddess spoke to me."

Everyone went silent.

"What did she say?" Darius asked.

I looked at the six men.

"One of you carries the blood of the enemy."

Their expressions changed.

Then my eyes landed on Rowan.

But Rowan wasn't there.

"Where is he?"

Kael looked toward the mountains.

"He's gone."

My heart sank.

Then a howl echoed from the palace.

Not a wolf's howl.

A warning.

Elara suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"Lyra, we have to leave."

"Why?"

Her eyes filled with fear.

"Because Rowan has taken the third seal."

I stared at her.

"What?"

She looked toward the palace.

"The third seal belongs to the Alpha who betrayed the Moon Queen."

A chill ran through me.

Then my wrist began glowing again.

A third symbol appeared.

But instead of silver...

It was black.

And somewhere inside the palace, Rowan's voice echoed:

"Come and find me, little sister."

My heart pounded.

Because I suddenly understood.

Rowan hadn't betrayed us tonight.

He had been waiting eighteen years.

And now that I had awakened...

he was coming for me.