REAWAKENING THE ALPHA MOON

3. THE BLOODLINE

Eleanor stared at James.

"Your own blood?"

He didn't answer immediately.

The forest seemed to hold its breath around them.

The strange glow from Eleanor's pendant slowly faded, leaving only the pale moonlight between the trees.

"James," she said quietly. "What does that mean?"

He looked at her, but whatever answer he had seemed difficult to say.

"It means your family isn't what you think it is."

"I already know that."

"No. You don't."

He stepped closer, his voice lowering.

"The Hart family wasn't supposed to survive."

Eleanor's stomach tightened.

"Why?"

"Because your bloodline was considered dangerous."

"By whom?"

"The old packs."

She shook her head.

"This is ridiculous."

"I know how it sounds."

"It sounds like a fantasy."

James gave a tired smile.

"Believe me, I wish it were."

Eleanor looked around the forest.

"Then explain everything."

"I will."

"Now."

James hesitated.

Then he nodded.

"Your mother wasn't human."

Eleanor's breath caught.

"My mother?"

"She was born into a wolf family."

"No."

"Yes."

"My mother was a nurse."

"She was."

"She worked in London."

"I know."

"She loved books. She hated camping. She couldn't even stand dogs."

James almost smiled.

"That doesn't mean she wasn't a werewolf."

Eleanor stared at him.

"You expect me to believe my mother was secretly a werewolf?"

"I expect you to accept that there are parts of her life you were never told about."

Eleanor looked away.

She remembered her mother.

Not as a supernatural creature.

Not as a mysterious member of an ancient bloodline.

Just her mother.

The woman who used to sing quietly while making breakfast.

The woman who had stayed awake whenever Eleanor was sick.

The woman who had promised that no matter what happened, Eleanor would never be alone.

"Why didn't she tell me?"

"Because she was trying to protect you."

"From what?"

James's expression darkened.

"From the people who wanted your bloodline destroyed."

A cold breeze moved through the trees.

Eleanor folded her arms.

"Why would anyone want to hurt a family?"

"Because your family carried something rare."

"What?"

"The ability to awaken the Alpha Moon."

Eleanor almost laughed.

"What does that even mean?"

"Your ancestors could influence the power of the Alpha."

"Influence?"

"They could strengthen it. Control it. Or destroy it."

She stared at him.

"So my family was dangerous."

"Potentially."

"And you knew this before meeting me?"

"Yes."

"Did you come looking for me because of that?"

James looked uncomfortable.

"Partly."

Eleanor's expression hardened.

"What does partly mean?"

"I was ordered to find you."

"By your father."

"Yes."

"And you followed his orders."

"At first."

"And now?"

James looked at her.

"Now I don't know what to do."

The honesty in his voice surprised her.

Eleanor looked away.

For the first time, she realized something.

James wasn't simply hiding information.

He was struggling with it too.

A sudden rustling came from behind them.

James turned instantly.

"Stay here."

"Where are you going?"

"Don't move."

He disappeared between the trees.

Eleanor waited.

Five seconds.

Ten.

Then she heard footsteps.

"James?"

No answer.

She took a cautious step forward.

Another sound.

Closer.

"Eleanor."

She froze.

The voice wasn't James's.

It was an elderly woman's voice.

Her grandmother's.

"Gran?"

"Eleanor, come to me."

Relief flooded her.

She hurried toward the sound.

Then James appeared from the darkness and grabbed her arm.

"Stop."

She turned.

"What?"

His face was tense.

"That isn't your grandmother."

The voice came again.

"Eleanor..."

This time it sounded angry.

Eleanor stepped backward.

The trees moved.

A woman emerged from the shadows.

She looked almost human.

Long silver hair.

Pale skin.

A dark coat.

And eyes that reflected the moon.

Eleanor's heart raced.

"Who are you?"

The woman smiled.

"My dear."

James moved in front of Eleanor.

"Leave."

The woman laughed softly.

"You've grown."

James's expression changed.

"You know me."

"I knew your father."

"Then you know what happens if you come near her."

The woman's smile disappeared.

"Your father isn't here to protect you anymore."

James's hands clenched.

"Neither are you."

She tilted her head.

"You sound just like him."

"Who are you?"

Eleanor asked.

The woman looked past James.

At Eleanor.

"My name is Victoria."

Something about the name made Eleanor uneasy.

"Victoria what?"

"Blackwood."

James stiffened.

Eleanor looked at him.

"Your family?"

"She's my aunt."

Victoria smiled.

"His father's sister."

Eleanor studied the woman.

"Why are you here?"

"To warn you."

"About what?"

Victoria looked toward James.

"About him."

James shook his head.

"Don't listen to her."

Victoria continued.

"The Blackwoods have lied to you for generations."

Eleanor frowned.

"About what?"

"Your mother."

James stepped forward.

"Enough."

Victoria raised her hand.

The air seemed to change.

James suddenly stumbled backward.

Eleanor gasped.

"James!"

He caught himself against a tree.

Victoria looked at Eleanor.

"You see?"

"What did you do?"

"Nothing that cannot be undone."

Eleanor ran toward James.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

He wasn't.

His breathing was uneven.

Victoria watched them silently.

Then she said:

"Your mother loved James's father."

Eleanor froze.

"I know."

"No."

Victoria shook her head.

"You don't."

She took a step closer.

"They weren't simply friends."

James looked furious.

"Stop."

"They were mates."

Eleanor stared at her.

"What?"

James looked away.

Victoria smiled.

"Your mother was promised to another wolf, but she chose James's father."

Eleanor's thoughts raced.

Her mother had never mentioned any of this.

"Who was she promised to?"

Victoria looked directly at James.

"His uncle."

James went still.

Eleanor looked at him.

"Your uncle?"

"Yes."

"And your father?"

"Yes."

"They fought over her?"

"Not exactly."

Victoria answered for him.

"Your mother rejected the old laws."

Eleanor swallowed.

"What happened?"

"She ran."

"With James's father?"

Victoria nodded.

"And they disappeared."

Eleanor's voice became quiet.

"Then how did my mother die?"

Victoria's expression changed.

For the first time, she looked almost sad.

"She didn't."

Silence.

Eleanor stopped breathing.

"What?"

"Your mother isn't dead."

James turned sharply.

"Victoria."

"She is alive."

Eleanor stared at her.

"No."

"I saw her."

"Where?"

Victoria's eyes moved toward the northern hills.

"Beyond the old border."

Eleanor's heart hammered.

"Why hasn't she come back?"

"Because she can't."

"Why?"

"Because she is imprisoned."

James stepped forward.

"By whom?"

Victoria looked at him.

"Your father's enemies."

James's face hardened.

"Who?"

"The Hollow Pack."

The name seemed to carry an invisible weight.

James's expression changed.

Eleanor noticed.

"You know them."

"Yes."

"Who are they?"

James looked at her.

"A group of wolves who rejected the old rules and decided the only way to control the supernatural world was through fear."

"Why would they want my mother?"

"Because she knows where the Alpha Moon is."

Eleanor stared at him.

"And you?"

James hesitated.

"I've been trying to find her."

"How long?"

"Years."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't know if Victoria was telling the truth."

Victoria smiled.

"Then perhaps you should ask your grandmother."

Eleanor suddenly remembered.

"My grandmother!"

She turned.

"Where is she?"

Victoria's expression became serious.

"She is with your mother."

Eleanor's blood ran cold.

"What?"

"Your grandmother crossed the border tonight."

"Why?"

"To bring her home."

Eleanor looked at James.

"We have to go."

James nodded.

Victoria stepped aside.

"There's something else."

"What?"

"The Hollow Pack knows you're awake."

Eleanor felt a chill.

"How?"

"The Alpha Moon announced you."

James looked toward the sky.

"So that's what the howl was."

Victoria nodded.

"Every wolf within a hundred miles heard it."

Eleanor looked down at her hands.

"What am I supposed to do?"

Victoria approached her.

"Learn."

"Learn what?"

"To control what is waking inside you."

Eleanor looked at James.

"Can he teach me?"

Victoria's expression became unreadable.

"He can try."

James frowned.

"Why do you say it like that?"

"Because James is not the Alpha yet."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Victoria looked between them.

"The Alpha Moon chooses its Alpha through a bond."

James stiffened.

Eleanor felt her cheeks grow warm.

"What kind of bond?"

Victoria smiled faintly.

"The kind neither of you can escape."

James immediately interrupted.

"Don't."

Victoria ignored him.

"The moon has already recognized Eleanor."

Eleanor looked at her pendant.

"And if it recognizes James?"

Victoria's eyes moved toward him.

"Then the old prophecy begins."

"What prophecy?"

Victoria's voice dropped.

"When the Alpha finds the Moon-blooded girl, the old kingdom will rise again."

James looked at Eleanor.

"And if we refuse?"

Victoria's expression became grim.

"Then the kingdom will choose someone else."

A howl echoed through the forest.

This one was different.

Deeper.

Closer.

Victoria turned toward the trees.

"They're here."

James moved immediately.

"Eleanor, stay behind me."

Several shadows appeared between the trees.

One.

Two.

Then five.

Eleanor could hear their footsteps.

James's eyes changed.

The grey disappeared.

Golden light filled them.

He stepped forward.

"Run."

Eleanor shook her head.

"I'm not leaving."

"You need to."

"No."

"Eleanor."

She reached for his hand.

"Whatever happens, we're finding my mother."

James stared at her.

For a moment, he seemed unable to speak.

Then he nodded.

"Together."

The shadows moved closer.

Victoria stepped forward.

"James."

He looked at her.

"Protect her."

Then Victoria disappeared into the darkness.

A roar shook the forest.

James's body tensed.

Eleanor stepped backward.

"What is happening?"

James looked at her.

His eyes were completely golden now.

"Stay close to me."

The first creature stepped from the trees.

It wasn't fully human.

It wasn't fully wolf.

It was something in between.

Eleanor's fear returned.

James stood between them.

Then another creature appeared.

And another.

The Hollow Pack had arrived.

James took one final breath.

Then he changed.

Eleanor watched in shock as the man she had met only hours earlier disappeared beneath the shadow of something far older.

A massive black wolf stood where James had been.

His golden eyes met hers.

For one second, Eleanor wasn't afraid.

She knew those eyes.

She had seen them before.

At the edge of the forest.

On the night everything changed.

The Alpha had been watching her all along.

And now the entire pack was watching him.

Then the largest wolf stepped forward.

A deep growl rolled across the forest.

James answered.

The battle for Blackwood had begun.