HIS CAPTIVE, HIS MATE

CHAPTER 5

As Alpha Jack was busy entertaining the Lycan King, I went on with my duty. But then, I saw the group of elite warriors. They were the trusted warriors of Alpha Jack, and they were considered the best!

They looked so serious while discussing something so I got curious what they were talking about. Stealthily, I followed them, and then, I crouched low behind the crates. I was barely breathing as I kept myself hidden.

“I’ve secured everything for the auction,” one voice said.

I recognized it immediately as Beta Cole’s. He was one of the more ruthless members of the pack, and his loyalty to Alpha Jack was absolute.

“The buyers will arrive in three days. We’ll transport the omegas to the old barn by the river,” he continued but the word auction hit me like a brow.

My blood ran cold as ice when I tried to process what they were saying. Auction… of omegas? My stomach twisted in disgust that Alpha Jack was into something like that!

“You’re sure the location is secure? We can’t afford any mistakes, not this time. If word gets out, the Lycan King will be all over us!”

Lycan King? Kaden Wolfhart had been with the Alpha. I bit my bottom lip as I tried to think about what to do. Should I ask for his help? Would it even be feasible? Even if he appeared friendly to me earlier, there’s no assurance he would help us! Why would he trouble himself into helping omegas like me and Zara?

“Relax! No one’s going to find out. It’s all been arranged. The buyers are discreet, and we’ve handpicked the omegas. No one will miss them!” The beta announced confidently.

While listening to them, I felt sick because they were talking about us like we were livestocks or things to be sold, used and discarded. Rage bubbled up inside me but I fought to keep it down because if they found me, I wouldn’t live to see the morning.

“What about the girls?”

“Which one?” Cole asked.

“The Alpha’s daughter and her omega,” someone replied and my heart nearly stopped.

I held my breath as the reality of what they were planning hit me full force. They were going to sell me and Zara. Perhaps, all of us! s**t, I had to get out of here! I couldn’t listen to another word or risk getting caught.

Slowly, I inched backward and moved silently as I could. I needed to warn Zara! But as I crept toward the door, a floorboard creaked under my foot. As if they heard me, the conversation on the other side of the wall stopped abruptly!

I panicked at the thought of being caught and when a pair of hands covered my mouth as he dragged me away, I knew what awaited me; death! There’s no escaping death now. I just knew it!

“Shhhh…”

I turned around and my eyes widened when I recognized the Lycan King. “Your Majesty!” I exclaimed.

“That was dangerous, dear,” he remarked.

“I need to speak with Zara,” I mumbled incoherently while looking around if someone had been following us. “They’re going to sell us!”

“To sell you? Where?”

“I…I don’t know, Your Majesty. I just heard about the auction for omegas, and they’re going to sell us!” I panicked.

“Calm down, Lyra. It’s not going to help if you’re going to panic,” he said, but then I furrowed my brows.

“What are you doing, Your Majesty? Aren’t you supposed to be with the Alpha?”

“Mmmm, I excused myself, but I have to go back now. Hurry and find Zara. If you want to leave this place, you have to stay near my servants. The Alpha wouldn’t notice it,” he suggested we should leave with them.

When he offered to help, I didn’t expect it but I knew he could. However, I didn’t dare to believe it would happen. But would it really be possible? Could Zara and I escape from the clutches of Alpha Jack?

“I have to leave now. See you later, Lyra,” he said before turning his back away from me.

When he was gone, I took a deep breath. There’s no other time to do it. Tonight was the night Zara and I would escape and it’s our only chance to leave the pack of our tormentor. I hurried up to return to our quarter and Zara was shocked to see me out of breath.

“I’ve been looking for you, Lyra! Where have you been?” she asked.

“We are leaving this place tonight, Zara,” I informed her and her eyes became enlarged at the news.

“What are you talking about, Lyra?”

“We have to move now! They’re going to sell us tomorrow, Zara,” I dropped the bomb and she was smart enough to understand what I was talking about, and she knew what would happen to us once we were sold.

“Are you sure about this, Lyra?”

I nodded.

A few moments later, we were outside the Alpha’s residence. With one simple instruction from him, his servants lent us their extra clothes, and because of it, we were able to pass the routine inspection upon leaving. Outside the border, Kaden Wolfhart got out of his service to talk to me.

“I’m sorry if I can’t take you back to Emerald Valley. Hopefully, we will meet again soon, Lyra,” he said and for a moment, I felt sad.

Despite the limited time of being with him, Kaden proved to be worthy of our respect!

“I will be forever grateful to you, Your Majesty,” Zara expressed her gratitude to the Lycan King for helping us.

Then, we moved quickly through the territory. Zara held onto my arm until we reached the edge of the territory. After catching our breaths, Zara and I started running. My legs screamed in protest but I didn’t stop.

Suddenly, there was a howl from a distance. I turned to Zara in panic and she immediately stood up. We couldn’t afford to hesitate. If Alpha Jack had found out we were gone, we wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Come on!” I urged and pulled Zara along the riverbank.

The night was dark and the trees were thick as Zara and I ran through the woods. My heart pounded in my chest and my legs felt like they might give out, but I shouldn’t stop. We were so close. Just a little farther and we would be free!

“We;re almost there,” Zara whispered and I nodded even though my throat was tight with fear.

Every breath I took felt heavy but I forced my legs to keep moving. Alpha Jack’s territory was behind us, but his patrols were still out there and probably searching for us. If they would find us, they would just drag us back to the pack and the chance to be free would be lost forever.

But then, out of nowhere, I heard a voice that froze me in place.

“Lyra…”

The sound of my name made my blood run cold. I knew that voice. It was one I thought I’d left behind forever. I turned slowly and there he was standing just a few feet away from me. My father. He smirked while staring at me.

He was supposed to protect me but no, he didn’t do that. Instead, he wanted to earn more out of me. He treated me like nothing more than a way to make money!

“Father!” I exclaimed and Zara tugged on my arm.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said. “Running off again, I see. You should know by now, Lyra, you can’t escape from me,” he warned me and I felt sick.

My legs trembled and fear wrapped itself around my throat. My father had sold me once and he was here to do it again. I barely escaped from Alpha Jack, and now, he’s here!

“I’m not going back with you,” I told him and arched his brows.

“Oh, but you are. Zara’s Dad paid well, but there are others who’ll pay more. You’ve grown up, Lyra. You’ll be worth a lot now, do you know that?”

My stomach twisted in disgust, but I couldn’t let him see my fear. Zara was still beside me, gripping my hand, but I couldn’t let her get caught up in this. She didn’t deserve to be dragged down with me.

“We have to go,” she whispered urgently.

I nodded but as we started to move, my father stepped forward!

“Zara, run!” I urged, pushing her back toward the trees. “Go!”

“Lyra, no!” she yelled, refusing to leave me behind.

But my father lunged, his hand grabbing my arm in a painful grip. I cried out, trying to pull away, but he held on tight, his fingers digging into my skin.

“You’re mine, Lyra,” he growled, his breath hot on my face. “You’ve always been mine.”

“Let me go!” I shouted, kicking and struggling to free myself. I glanced back to see Zara hesitate, torn between helping me and running for safety. “Go, Zara! I’ll find you later, just go!”