The Last Female Alpha

The Awakening

The crash echoed through the chamber.

Evelyn stared at the entrance.

Kael stood between her and the passage, his weapon drawn.

“They're here,” he said.

Evelyn tightened her fingers.

“How many?”

“Enough.”

Footsteps thundered through the stone corridor.

Then silence.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

“They've stopped.”

“Why?”

He looked at the throne.

“Because they're waiting for you to come out.”

Evelyn frowned.

“They know we're inside?”

“They've known for a while.”

A voice suddenly echoed from the passage.

“Evelyn of Blackthorn.”

Her blood ran cold.

The voice continued.

“You have nowhere left to run.”

Kael moved closer to her.

“Don't answer.”

Another voice followed.

“Your mother ran too.”

Evelyn's expression changed.

Kael noticed.

“Don't listen to them.”

“They knew my mother.”

“They're trying to provoke you.”

Evelyn looked at the throne.

“They know something about her.”

“And we'll find out what.”

The hunters began moving again.

Kael glanced around the chamber.

“There must be another exit.”

Evelyn looked at the walls.

“There isn't.”

“Your mother brought you here for a reason.”

“She never brought me here.”

Kael's gaze shifted toward the throne.

“Not physically.”

Evelyn understood.

“The vision.”

He nodded.

“Maybe she left something behind.”

Evelyn approached the throne.

The golden mark on her wrist began glowing again.

Kael watched carefully.

“What are you doing?”

“I don't know.”

She placed her palm against the arm of the throne.

The chamber went silent.

Then the stone beneath her hand warmed.

A golden line appeared across the floor.

It moved slowly from the throne toward the far wall.

Evelyn followed it.

A section of the wall opened.

Behind it was a small chamber.

Inside sat an old wooden box.

Kael approached cautiously.

“Don't touch it.”

Evelyn ignored him.

She opened the box.

Inside was a folded piece of dark blue fabric and a letter sealed with the same symbol as her pendant.

Her hands trembled.

“My mother's.”

Kael looked at the seal.

“She wanted you to find that.”

Evelyn broke the seal.

The letter was short.

Her eyes moved across the page.

Then she stopped.

“What does it say?”

Evelyn looked up.

“She knew they would come for me.”

Kael's expression tightened.

“What else?”

“She said the person who betrayed our family is still alive.”

The words hung between them.

Kael's face became unreadable.

“Who?”

“She didn't say.”

Evelyn continued reading.

Then her expression changed.

“She said I shouldn't trust the council.”

Kael looked toward the entrance.

“That includes the King's council.”

Evelyn nodded.

“But there's something else.”

“What?”

“She said the royal throne isn't just a throne.”

Kael went still.

“What did she mean?”

Evelyn looked at the ancient seat.

“She said it chooses the Alpha who can unite the wolves.”

A loud strike hit the chamber door.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Kael turned.

“We're out of time.”

Evelyn folded the letter and placed it inside her coat.

“Then let's go.”

“Where?”

She looked at the throne.

“I don't know.”

The golden mark on her wrist suddenly flared.

The throne responded.

A wave of energy moved through the chamber.

The hunters outside were thrown backward.

Silence followed.

Kael stared at Evelyn.

She stared at her own hands.

“I didn't do that.”

“I know.”

“Then what did?”

Kael looked at the throne.

“You did.”

Evelyn shook her head.

“I don't know how.”

“You didn't control it.”

“What happened?”

Kael stepped closer.

“The throne defended you.”

Evelyn's eyes widened.

“The throne can defend people?”

“Only its chosen heir.”

A second impact shook the chamber.

This time, cracks appeared along the entrance.

Kael grabbed Evelyn's hand.

“We have to leave.”

“Where?”

“There's another passage behind the throne.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“You knew about it?”

“No.”

“Then how—”

“The throne just opened it.”

Behind them, a hidden doorway slowly appeared.

Evelyn looked back one last time.

The ancient crown was glowing.

Then she heard the voice again.

Rise.

Evelyn's heart raced.

Kael pulled her toward the passage.

They disappeared into the darkness just as the throne chamber doors shattered.

A group of hunters stormed inside.

Their leader looked around.

“Where is she?”

One of the hunters pointed toward the glowing throne.

“She awakened it.”

The leader's face went pale.

“Then we're already too late.”

He turned toward the others.

“Tell the King.”

“What do we tell him?”

The leader looked at the empty throne.

“The last female Alpha has awakened.”