The Alpha Prince's Forbidden Mate.

When The Moon Rises

Lena

The moment Evan's car passed through the Mooncrest Academy gates, I looked back.

Mia and Sophie were still standing there.

Watching me.

I pressed my lips together.

They looked ridiculous.

Mia had her arms crossed.

Sophie stood beside her with an expression far too serious for someone watching her friend leave for a drink.

I rolled down the window.

"You two look like you're watching me leave for my funeral."

Mia did not laugh.

That made me pause.

"Not funny, Lena," she called.

I smiled.

"It was a little funny."

"Come back before dark!"

I stared at her.

The smile slowly disappeared from my face.

"Why?"

Sophie stepped forward.

"Just do it."

I blinked.

"That sounds suspicious."

"Lena," Mia said, "please."

I looked between them.

For one second, something strange moved through my chest.

They were genuinely worried.

But worried about what?

It was a drink.

A completely normal drink with a completely normal boy.

Well.

Not completely normal.

Evan was definitely too attractive to be considered completely normal.

Still.

I looked toward him.

He had both hands on the steering wheel and was watching the road, but when he noticed my attention, he glanced at me.

"What?"

I smiled.

"Nothing."

Then I looked back at Mia and Sophie.

"I'll be back."

Mia narrowed her eyes.

"Before dark."

"Yes, Mom."

"I'm serious!"

I laughed.

"So am I."

Evan pulled away from the gate.

I leaned back in my seat.

The academy slowly disappeared behind us.

And somehow, the worried expressions of my two friends remained in my mind.

Evan glanced at me.

"Your friends are protective."

"You have no idea."

"They looked like they were considering following us."

I laughed.

"Mia probably still is."

"Should I be concerned?"

"Definitely."

He smiled.

"Noted."

For several minutes, we drove in comfortable silence.

I glanced around.

The road leading away from Mooncrest was quieter than the main road.

Tall trees stood on either side of us.

The academy had always seemed surrounded by forest, but I hadn't realized just how far it stretched until now.

I looked toward Evan.

"So."

"So?"

"Where are we going?"

He smiled.

"It's a surprise."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Should I be worried?"

"Only if you have terrible taste."

"I don't."

"Then you'll be fine."

"Confident."

"Usually."

I smiled.

That was something I liked about Evan.

He didn't seem nervous around me.

He didn't act like I was some new student he had to impress.

He simply talked.

And somehow, talking to him felt easy.

Very easy.

I leaned against the window.

"You know, you're much easier to be around than Adrian."

Evan's smile changed slightly.

"Oh?"

"Yes."

"That sounds like a compliment."

"It is."

"I'm honored."

"Don't get too excited."

"Too late."

I laughed.

And for the first time that day, I stopped thinking about Adrian.

---

Evan took me to a quiet café near the edge of town.

The building itself was small but beautiful, with large windows overlooking the forest.

I immediately stopped walking.

He looked at me.

"What?"

I pointed toward the trees.

"You brought me near the forest?"

He followed my gaze.

"Is that a problem?"

I remembered Sophie's warning.

Don't go into the forest.

I looked back at Evan.

"No."

"Good."

We entered the café.

It was quiet.

Almost too quiet.

There were only a few people inside.

Evan chose a table beside one of the large windows overlooking the forest.

I sat beside him.

The waiter approached.

Evan glanced at the menu.

I looked around.

Then back at him.

"This is where you bring all your victims?"

Evan looked at me.

"What?"

I gestured around the café.

"Quiet location. Middle of nowhere. Forest nearby."

I leaned closer.

"Very suspicious."

He laughed.

A genuine laugh.

"Only the pretty ones."

I froze.

For one second, my brain completely stopped working.

Then I slowly looked at him.

"That was smooth."

Evan smiled.

"I know."

My mouth fell open.

"Wow."

"What?"

"You're not even going to pretend you didn't practice that?"

"I didn't."

"Liar."

He laughed again.

I narrowed my eyes.

"You think you're very charming, don't you?"

"Sometimes."

"Arrogant."

"You're sitting beside me."

I stared at him.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Exactly."

I blinked.

"That made absolutely no sense."

"It made perfect sense."

"No, it didn't."

He smiled.

"Sure."

I pointed at him.

"Don't 'sure' me."

His smile widened.

For a moment, I simply stared at him.

Then I looked away.

Because for some reason, Evan Vale smiling at me like that was becoming dangerous.

Not dangerous in the he's-going-to-kidnap-me-and-leave-me-in-the-forest way.

Well.

Hopefully not.

The waiter cleared his throat.

I immediately grabbed the menu.

"Um."

Evan looked at me.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes."

"You look nervous."

"I'm not nervous."

"You are."

I looked up.

"I spilled coffee on Adrian Sinclair in front of half the school."

"Everyone knows."

My eyes widened.

"That isn't the point."

Evan smiled.

"It kind of is."

I sighed.

"My point is, I'm not easily embarrassed."

His eyes moved toward me.

"Good."

"Why?"

"Because I was going to make fun of you."

I stared at him.

"See?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"See what?"

"Mooncrest boys are all the same."

Evan laughed.

I smiled despite myself.

The waiter took our orders.

Once he left, I leaned back in my chair.

"So."

Evan copied my position.

"So?"

"Favorite food."

He stared at me.

"What?"

"I'm asking you a question."

"That's your question?"

"Yes."

"That's a terrible question."

I stared at him.

"Excuse me?"

"That's how you're getting to know me?"

"What's wrong with asking someone's favorite food?"

He thought for a moment.

"Nothing."

"Exactly."

"But it isn't interesting."

"Fine."

I leaned forward.

"What is interesting?"

He looked directly at me.

"You tell me."

I immediately regretted asking.

My face became warm.

Evan's mouth twitched.

I narrowed my eyes.

"You're enjoying this."

"Very much."

"You're annoying."

"I've been called worse."

"By who?"

"People."

"That sounds suspicious."

"Everything sounds suspicious to you."

"Because I'm always right."

Evan smiled.

"That's a very confident statement."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

I smiled.

"Still."

He laughed quietly.

And for a moment, neither of us spoke.

The silence wasn't awkward.

It was actually...

Nice.

Strangely nice.

I looked toward the window.

The forest stretched beyond the café.

Beautiful.

Quiet.

And far too dark for the time of day.

I quickly looked away.

"So," Evan said.

I turned back to him.

"So?"

"Tell me about yourself."

I blinked.

"That sounds very broad."

"Then start anywhere."

I thought about it.

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything."

I narrowed my eyes.

"That sounds suspicious."

He laughed.

"Lena."

"What?"

"Just answer the question."

I pretended to think.

"Fine."

I leaned back.

"I like pasta."

Evan blinked.

"That's what you're starting with?"

"You said anything."

He laughed.

"I did."

"I like pasta," I repeated. "I hate waking up early, and I think people who enjoy running for fun should be studied."

Evan laughed.

"I like running."

I slowly looked at him.

"Oh."

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

He smiled.

"For what?"

"I've lost respect for you."

He stared at me.

I tried not to laugh.

Failed.

Evan shook his head.

"You're impossible."

"That's what Adrian says."

His smile disappeared slightly.

I noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

I stared at him.

"Why does everyone at Mooncrest say that?"

"Say what?"

"Nothing."

He smiled again.

"I don't know."

I studied him.

Then decided not to push.

Instead, I leaned back in my chair.

"Your turn."

"My turn?"

"Yes."

"What do you want to know?"

"Favorite color."

Evan stared at me.

I waited.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

He sighed.

"Black."

I blinked.

"That is such a boring answer."

"You asked."

"Exactly."

"You're difficult."

I smiled.

"And yet, you're still here."

His eyes held mine.

"Maybe I don't mind."

For one second, I forgot what I was going to say.

Then the waiter returned with our drinks.

Once he left, Evan leaned back in his chair.

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.

And surprisingly...

It wasn't awkward.

Outside the window, the sky was slowly beginning to change. The bright afternoon sunlight had softened, turning the forest beyond the road into a darker shade of green.

Inside the café, quiet music played somewhere in the background.

Evan picked up his drink.

I picked up mine.

Then I looked at him.

"So."

"So?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"Are you always this quiet when you invite girls out?"

He smiled.

"Are you always this talkative when a guy invites you out?"

I thought about it.

"Yes."

He laughed.

"Good."

"Why is that good?"

"Because I was starting to think I had to carry this entire conversation."

I stared at him.

"Excuse me?"

He smiled innocently.

"What?"

I pointed at him.

"I don't like you anymore."

"That was fast."

"I change my mind quickly."

"I noticed."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Not yet."

"Not yet?"

He laughed again.

And I smiled before I could stop myself.

Maybe this was what normal conversations with boys were supposed to feel like.

Easy.

Simple.

I said something.

He said something back.

Neither of us looked like we were preparing for a war.

There were no arguments.

No insults.

No one telling me I was annoying.

No one giving me orders like he owned the entire world.

My mind immediately compared Evan to Adrian.

I almost dropped my drink.

No.

Absolutely not.

Why was Adrian suddenly in my head?

I was sitting in a café with Evan.

A handsome, charming boy who had actually invited me somewhere without first insulting my clothes.

There was no reason to think about Adrian.

None.

Yet somehow, my brain had immediately compared them.

Evan was calm.

Adrian was irritating.

Evan smiled easily.

Adrian looked like smiling caused him physical pain.

Evan made normal conversation.

Adrian—

I stopped.

No.

I refused.

I took a large sip of my drink.

Evan watched me.

"You okay?"

"Perfect."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You look like you're arguing with yourself."

"I'm not."

"Sure."

I pointed at him.

"Don't start."

His mouth curved into a smile.

"Start what?"

I narrowed my eyes.

"You're becoming suspicious."

"Suspicious?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"You're too nice."

Evan stared at me.

"That's suspicious?"

"At Mooncrest? Very."

He laughed quietly.

"You're going to hurt my feelings."

"You'll survive."

"I don't know. I'm fragile."

I looked him up and down.

He smiled.

I immediately looked away.

"You're definitely not fragile."

"How would you know?"

I blinked.

Then looked back at him.

"I can see you."

His smile widened.

I suddenly became interested in my drink.

Why did I keep saying things without thinking first?

Talking to Evan was easy.

That was probably the problem.

There was no argument.

No insult.

No ridiculous battle over who had the better comeback.

There was no need to stay alert every second because I was waiting for the next annoying thing to come out of someone's mouth.

I could just...

Talk.

And apparently, Evan was good at making that dangerous.

"So," he said, resting one arm against the table. "Tell me something about yourself."

I looked at him.

"Something about myself?"

"Yes."

"What do you want to know?"

He pretended to think.

"Your favorite food."

"That's easy."

"What?"

"Anything that doesn't belong to the Mooncrest cafeteria."

He laughed.

"Fair."

I smiled.

"My favorite color is blue."

"Like your eyes."

I paused.

My heart did something stupid.

Then I cleared my throat.

"Yes. Like my eyes."

"Your favorite movie?"

I thought about it.

"Depends."

"On?"

"Whether you're judging me."

"I am."

I stared at him.

"Then I'm not telling you."

He laughed.

"Okay. Your turn."

I leaned back.

"What's your favorite color?"

He looked toward the window.

"Black."

"That's boring."

He looked back at me.

"I know."

"Favorite food?"

"Anything I don't have to cook."

I nodded seriously.

"That's actually reasonable."

"Favorite movie?"

He smiled.

"I'm not telling you."

I gasped.

"That's cheating."

"You started it."

"I regret telling you anything."

"No, you don't."

I opened my mouth.

Then paused.

Because annoyingly...

He was right.

I smiled.

"You're becoming confident."

"I was always confident."

"That sounds arrogant."

"Coming from someone who started the date by calling me a murderer?"

I almost choked on my drink.

I quickly covered my mouth.

Evan laughed.

"See?"

"You're supposed to forget that."

"I don't think I can."

"Why?"

"Because you were serious."

"I was not."

"You absolutely were."

"I was joking."

"You looked very suspicious."

I pointed at him.

"You're the one who said you only bring pretty victims here."

He smiled slowly.

"Did I say something wrong?"

My face became warm.

"No."

"Good."

I looked down at my drink again.

This was becoming a problem.

I needed to change the subject.

Immediately.

"So..."

Evan leaned forward slightly.

"Yes?"

I looked at him.

"What?"

"You're the one who said 'so.' I was waiting for the question."

"Oh."

Very smooth, Lena.

"Do you always flirt with people this easily?"

He blinked.

Then smiled.

"Do I flirt with you?"

I froze.

"That's not what I asked."

"Interesting."

"What?"

"You didn't answer."

I stared at him.

He stared back.

For one second, the café felt strangely quiet.

My heart began beating a little faster.

Then I quickly looked away.

"You are definitely flirting."

Evan laughed.

"And?"

I looked back at him.

"And nothing."

"Good."

I frowned.

"Why?"

He tilted his head.

"Because I didn't want you to tell me to stop."

My brain immediately stopped working.

Again.

I took another sip of my drink.

I really needed to stop doing that.

Across the table, Evan smiled.

And for the first time since I had arrived at Mooncrest Academy...

I forgot about the strange whispers.

The secret students leaving class.

The warnings from Mia and Sophie.

The strange tension between Evan and Adrian.

For a few minutes, I was just Lena.

A girl sitting in a quiet café.

Talking to a handsome boy.

Pretending she wasn't enjoying herself far more than she should.

Then Evan's expression changed.

Only slightly.

His eyes moved toward the window.

Toward the darkening sky.

I followed his gaze.

The sun was lower now.

The forest beyond the road looked darker than before.

I looked back at him.

"Are you okay?"

Evan immediately smiled.

"Yeah."

"You look nervous."

"I'm not."

I narrowed my eyes.

"That's suspicious."

He laughed softly.

"Everything is suspicious to you."

"Because everything at Mooncrest is suspicious."

That made him pause.

Only for a second.

But I noticed.

Of course, I did.

Evan glanced down at his phone.

Then quickly placed it back on the table.

I looked at him.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

"No."

"Then why do you keep checking the time?"

His eyes returned to mine.

For a moment, he didn't answer.

Then he smiled.

"Maybe I have somewhere to be."

I frowned.

"Should I leave?"

"No."

He answered too quickly.

I blinked.

Evan leaned back in his chair.

"I just don't like being late."

"Late for what?"

He looked toward the window again.

"Nothing important."

My curiosity immediately woke up.

"That's not an answer."

"I've noticed you don't like those."

"Correct."

He smiled.

"Then let's change the subject."

I crossed my arms.

"You're terrible at hiding things."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

"I thought I was doing well."

"You're checking the time every five minutes."

He laughed.

"That obvious?"

"Extremely."

He looked down at his phone again.

And this time...

Something in his expression made me pause.

The easy smile disappeared.

His jaw tightened slightly.

For the first time since we'd entered the café...

Evan didn't look relaxed.

He looked tense.

Like he was waiting for something.

I looked toward the window.

The sky had darkened again.

A strange uneasiness settled inside me.

Maybe it was nothing.

Maybe I was imagining things.

But suddenly...

I remembered Mia's warning.

If he does anything strange, scream.

I looked back at Evan.

He was smiling again.

But somehow...

The smile didn't make me feel better.

Because beneath the table, his fingers had curled into a fist.

And I couldn't stop wondering—

What exactly was Evan Vale waiting for?

And why did he keep checking the time as the sun slowly disappeared?

---

Adrian

"Where did Evan take her?"

Ethan stared at me.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because you're standing here."

"That's not an answer."

I clenched my jaw.

"Do you know?"

Ethan folded his arms.

"Why?"

I glared at him.

He smiled.

"Jealous?"

"Ethan."

"Possessive?"

"Do you want to lose your ability to speak?"

He smiled wider.

"Definitely jealous."

I turned away.

I wasn't jealous.

I didn't care where Lena was.

I didn't care what Evan was saying to her.

I didn't care if she was laughing.

Or smiling.

Or looking at him like—

My wolf growled.

I clenched my fists.

Ethan noticed.

His expression changed slightly.

"What's wrong?"

My phone vibrated.

I froze.

Ethan looked at me.

"What?"

Slowly, I pulled my phone from my pocket.

Another message.

Unknown number.

I opened it.

She has one hour before the moon rises.

My body went cold.

Ethan's smile disappeared.

"What is it?"

I didn't answer.

The phone vibrated again.

A second message appeared.

Find her before then.

My wolf suddenly moved beneath my skin.

Find her.

I stared at the screen.

"Adrian?"

Ethan stepped closer.

I turned the phone toward him.

He read the messages.

His expression changed.

Completely.

"What the hell?"

"I don't know."

"Who sent that?"

"I don't know."

"Do they know about her?"

I looked at him.

"Yes."

My wolf growled.

Ethan became silent.

We both understood what that meant.

Someone knew about Lena.

Someone knew something about her.

And whoever it was...

They knew where she was going.

I looked toward the academy gates.

The sky was already changing.

Sunset was coming.

My heart began beating harder.

"We need to find her."

Ethan looked at me.

"Where would Evan take her?"

I clenched my jaw.

"I don't know."

"You've known Evan longer than I have."

"And I don't follow him around."

Ethan stared at me.

I looked away.

My wolf moved restlessly beneath my skin.

Find her.

"Do you have Lena's number?" Ethan asked.

I turned slowly toward him.

"No."

Ethan blinked.

"You don't have her number?"

"She's been living in my house for three days."

"And?"

I glared at him.

He raised his hands.

"Fine. Not the time."

My phone vibrated again.

I looked down.

Another message.

Fifty minutes.

My body went cold.

Ethan looked over my shoulder.

"That's not much time."

"I know."

"Adrian."

"I know!"

Silence.

I took a breath.

Then looked toward the road leading away from Mooncrest.

Evan had a car.

He could have taken Lena anywhere.

But Evan had habits.

Places he preferred.

Places he went when he wanted privacy.

And one of them was close to the forest.

My stomach dropped.

"No."

Ethan looked at me.

"What?"

I turned toward him.

"Get in the car."

His expression hardened.

"You know where he is?"

"Maybe."

"That isn't good enough."

"It's all we have."

We ran toward my car.

My wolf was becoming increasingly restless.

Lena was somewhere out there.

With Evan.

And someone else knew exactly where she was.

The thought made something cold settle in my chest.

I started the engine.

Ethan got into the passenger seat.

"Where are we going?"

I drove away from the academy.

"Evan likes quiet places."

Ethan turned toward me.

"You've been spying on him?"

"No."

"Then how do you know that?"

"I know things."

"That sounds exactly like something someone who spies would say."

"Shut up."

Ethan leaned back.

"Touchy."