The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Chapter 11 — The Attack

The first bell rang again.

Then another.

Then another.

The sound shook the entire Black Moon Palace.

Eva jumped to her feet.

Her heart pounded as footsteps thundered through the corridors outside her room.

"What is happening?"

She rushed toward the door.

Before she could open it, someone knocked.

"Miss Eva!"

She recognized the voice.

"Who is it?"

"Lady Selene. Open the door."

Eva unlocked it.

Selene stepped inside, breathless.

"Stay in this room."

"Why?"

"There has been an attack."

Eva's face went pale.

"An attack?"

"Rogues have crossed the southern border."

Eva's heart dropped.

"Rogues?"

Selene nodded.

"The palace guards are preparing."

Eva immediately thought of Adrian.

"Where is the Alpha?"

"With the warriors."

"Is he safe?"

Selene hesitated.

"He's the Alpha."

"That's not an answer."

Selene gave her a reassuring smile.

"He'll be fine."

Eva didn't believe her.

She could feel something through the mark.

Fear.

Anger.

Adrian.

He was afraid.

Not for himself.

For her.

Eva pressed her hand against her neck.

"He's coming."

Selene frowned.

"What?"

"I can feel him."

Before Selene could respond, another bell rang.

This one was different.

A deep warning that echoed through the entire kingdom.

Selene's expression changed.

"The outer wall."

Eva looked toward the window.

In the distance, lights moved rapidly along the palace walls.

Then came the sound of wolves howling.

Dozens of them.

No.

Hundreds.

Eva stepped closer to the window.

"What are they?"

"Rogues."

A loud crash sounded from somewhere below.

Eva jumped.

Selene immediately grabbed her arm.

"Stay away from the window."

"But—"

"Eva, listen to me. The Alpha ordered that you remain inside."

Eva's heart raced.

"He ordered it?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Selene looked at her.

"Because you're his mate."

Those words frightened Eva more than anything else.

Adrian stood on the southern wall.

His black cloak whipped in the wind.

Below, hundreds of rogue wolves moved through the darkness.

Their eyes glowed red beneath the moonlight.

Warriors lined the walls.

Bows were drawn.

Weapons were ready.

Marcus stood beside Adrian.

"There are more than we expected."

Adrian's eyes remained fixed on the forest.

"How did they get through?"

"The southern border patrol was attacked."

"How many?"

"Twenty-seven."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Dead?"

Marcus nodded.

"Most of them."

A growl escaped Adrian's throat.

The entire wall seemed to vibrate with the sound.

His wolf wanted blood.

But something else kept pulling at him.

Eva.

He could feel her fear.

It was faint, but unmistakable.

She's afraid.

Adrian closed his eyes.

Protect her.

He turned to Marcus.

"Double the guards around her room."

"They're already there."

"Triple them."

Marcus nodded.

"And the council?"

"Keep them inside."

"What about Catherine and the others?"

"Nobody leaves the palace."

Marcus hesitated.

"Adrian."

"What?"

"This attack feels organized."

Adrian looked at him.

"I know."

"Rogues don't usually move in numbers like this."

"I know."

"And they came directly toward the palace."

Adrian's eyes darkened.

"Which means someone told them where to come."

Marcus lowered his voice.

"Someone inside."

Adrian's expression became cold.

"Find them."

A howl tore through the night.

The rogue wolves charged.

"Ready!" Marcus shouted.

Warriors released their arrows.

The sky filled with them.

Several wolves fell.

But the others continued.

Adrian jumped from the wall.

He landed in the courtyard below.

His body shifted before his feet touched the ground.

Bones cracked.

Muscles expanded.

Dark fur covered his body.

Within seconds, the Alpha wolf stood before his warriors.

Massive.

Black.

With glowing golden eyes.

A roar shook the palace.

The warriors answered.

Then the battle began.

Eva heard the fighting from inside her room.

She couldn't sit still.

Every crash made her flinch.

Every howl sent a chill down her spine.

She walked toward the door.

Two guards stood outside.

"Miss Eva, you must remain inside."

"Is the Alpha safe?"

"We don't know."

Her heart tightened.

The bond suddenly pulsed.

Eva gasped.

Pain shot through her chest.

She grabbed the edge of the table.

"Miss Eva!"

"I'm fine."

But she wasn't.

She could feel Adrian.

He was angry.

Furious.

And somewhere beneath the anger was pain.

Eva closed her eyes.

"Adrian..."

The pain disappeared.

Then another sensation came.

A sudden burst of warmth.

She knew he was alive.

Eva breathed out.

"He's okay."

The guards looked at each other.

Neither understood.

Then the door to the neighboring room opened.

Catherine stepped out.

"What is happening?"

One of the guards bowed.

"Princess Catherine, please return to your room."

"Are we under attack?"

"Yes."

Catherine looked toward Eva.

"And her?"

"She must remain here."

Catherine's expression hardened.

"Of course."

She turned back toward her room.

But she stopped.

She had noticed something.

Eva looked terrified.

And yet...

she had just whispered Adrian's name as though she could feel him.

Catherine's eyes narrowed.

The bond.

She had heard stories.

A true mate bond allowed two wolves to sense each other across great distances.

But Eva didn't have a wolf.

How was that possible?

Catherine's jealousy slowly turned into suspicion.

The battle raged for nearly an hour.

Adrian tore through the rogue ranks.

One after another, they fell.

But something was wrong.

They weren't trying to kill the warriors.

They were pushing toward the palace.

Toward something.

Someone.

Adrian realized it too late.

"Marcus!"

His Beta turned.

"They're trying to get inside!"

Adrian shifted back.

"How many?"

"At least twenty have broken through the eastern gate."

Adrian's eyes flashed.

"Take the warriors."

"What about you?"

"I'll handle the southern side."

Marcus nodded.

Adrian turned.

Then he felt it.

Eva.

Fear.

A sharp burst of terror.

His head snapped toward the palace.

"Eva."

A guard crashed through the door.

"Miss Eva!"

Eva screamed.

"What happened?"

"The eastern gate has been breached."

Selene rushed toward her.

"How close?"

"Inside the outer courtyard."

Eva's blood ran cold.

"Adrian?"

"The Alpha is fighting."

Eva immediately stepped toward the door.

"I need to find him."

"No."

The guard blocked her.

"You cannot leave."

"But he's—"

"The Alpha ordered us to protect you."

Eva shook her head.

"I can feel him."

The guard stared.

"What?"

"He needs help."

Selene grabbed Eva's shoulders.

"You cannot go."

A loud roar echoed through the palace.

Eva froze.

It was Adrian.

She knew it.

Her mark burned.

"He's hurt."

Selene looked frightened.

"How do you know?"

"I just do."

Eva pushed past them.

"Miss Eva!"

She ran.

Adrian had reached the eastern courtyard.

Three rogue wolves surrounded him.

He was bleeding from his shoulder.

His breathing was heavy.

But his eyes remained fierce.

One rogue lunged.

Adrian shifted.

He caught the wolf by the throat and threw it against the stone wall.

Another attacked from behind.

Adrian turned too late.

Claws ripped across his back.

He stumbled.

The rogue prepared to strike again.

Then a warrior's blade pierced its side.

It fell.

"Alpha!"

Adrian turned.

Marcus was running toward him.

"You need to fall back."

"No."

"There are too many."

Adrian looked toward the palace.

His expression changed.

"Where is Eva?"

Marcus's face went pale.

"She was in her room."

"Was?"

"I don't know."

Adrian's wolf roared.

He could no longer feel her clearly.

Panic seized him.

"Find her."

Eva ran through the palace corridors.

She had never moved so quickly.

Servants screamed as they rushed past.

Guards ran toward the eastern wing.

Eva followed the sound of fighting.

"Adrian!"

Nobody answered.

She reached the courtyard.

Then stopped.

The sight before her made her freeze.

Blood covered the ground.

Broken weapons lay scattered across the stones.

Wolves fought everywhere.

And in the center—

Adrian.

Eva's heart nearly stopped.

He was covered in blood.

He looked toward her.

Their eyes met.

His expression changed from fury to shock.

"What are you doing here?"

Eva ran toward him.

"I felt you."

Adrian caught her before she reached the fighting.

"Go back!"

"You're hurt."

"It's nothing."

Blood dripped from his shoulder.

"That's not nothing."

"Eva."

"I was scared."

Adrian stared at her.

The bond between them pulsed.

He could feel her fear.

Her heartbeat.

Her desperation.

He reached for her face.

"I'm alive."

Eva's eyes filled with tears.

"I know."

Then a low growl came from behind them.

Adrian's head snapped around.

A rogue wolf stood several meters away.

But unlike the others, this wolf didn't attack.

It stared directly at Eva.

Its eyes were fixed on her.

Adrian stepped in front of her.

"Stay behind me."

The rogue shifted.

A tall man appeared where the wolf had stood.

He had long black hair and a scar running from his eyebrow to his jaw.

He smiled.

"So it's true."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"Who are you?"

The man laughed.

"You don't recognize me?"

"No."

"Of course you don't."

He looked past Adrian toward Eva.

"But I know exactly who she is."

Eva's heart raced.

Adrian's voice became dangerous.

"Take one more step toward her."

The stranger smiled.

"You still don't understand."

"Explain."

"The girl isn't just your mate."

Adrian froze.

The stranger's eyes gleamed.

"She's the reason your kingdom will fall."

Eva's face went pale.

"What?"

The stranger laughed.

Then he shifted and disappeared into the forest.

Adrian immediately started after him.

"Adrian!"

He stopped.

Marcus arrived.

"Don't."

Adrian's fists clenched.

"He knew about her."

Marcus looked toward Eva.

"What did he say?"

Adrian didn't answer.

He turned toward Eva.

"Back inside."

"But—"

"Now."

His voice was firm.

Eva nodded.

Hours later, the battle finally ended.

The surviving rogues had fled.

The palace grounds were silent.

But nobody celebrated.

Too many warriors had been injured.

Too many questions remained unanswered.

Adrian stood in the council chamber.

Marcus placed a map on the table.

"This wasn't a random attack."

The elders looked worried.

"Why?"

Marcus pointed toward the southern border.

"They bypassed three villages."

He moved his finger toward the palace.

"They came directly here."

Rowan frowned.

"How would they know?"

Marcus looked at Adrian.

"Someone told them."

Silence.

Adrian's voice was cold.

"Find out who."

"We will."

Adrian looked toward the palace doors.

His thoughts were on Eva.

The stranger's words wouldn't leave his mind.

She's the reason your kingdom will fall.

He didn't believe him.

He couldn't.

But he couldn't ignore the warning either.

Eva sat alone in her room.

She stared at her hands.

The stranger's words replayed in her mind.

She's the reason your kingdom will fall.

Why would he say that?

What did he know about her?

She had never met him.

She was nobody.

Just Eva.

A girl from a small village.

A girl who had spent her life being ignored.

How could she possibly bring down an entire kingdom?

A knock sounded.

She looked up.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Adrian stepped inside.

He had changed his clothes, but a bandage covered his shoulder.

Eva immediately stood.

"You're hurt."

"I'm fine."

"You always say that."

He smiled faintly.

"I'll survive."

Eva walked toward him.

"Let me see."

"It's not necessary."

"Adrian."

He sighed.

She carefully touched the edge of the bandage.

He watched her.

"You shouldn't have come outside."

"I know."

"You could have been killed."

"I know."

His expression softened.

"But I couldn't stay inside while you were fighting."

"You are my mate."

Eva looked up.

"Exactly."

Adrian's heart tightened.

She had said it without hesitation.

He gently touched her cheek.

"I don't want to lose you."

Eva's eyes filled with tears.

"You won't."

"I can't promise that."

"Why?"

"Because there are people who want to use you against me."

Eva stepped closer.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"The man in the courtyard."

Adrian nodded.

"He knew something."

"What?"

"He said you were the reason my kingdom would fall."

Eva's face fell.

"I don't understand."

"Neither do I."

Adrian pulled her into his arms.

For a moment, Eva simply rested against his chest.

His heartbeat calmed her.

"I don't want to be the reason anything happens to you."

"You aren't."

"But—"

"Listen to me."

He lifted her face.

"Whatever happens, I will protect you."

Eva stared into his eyes.

"And who protects you?"

Adrian smiled sadly.

"Maybe you."

Eva's heart fluttered.

She wrapped her arms around him.

"I will."

Neither of them noticed the shadow moving outside the window.

A small figure watched them.

Then disappeared into the darkness.

The next morning, the palace received a message.

A sealed black envelope had been left at the southern gate.

No name.

No crest.

Only three words written across the front.

RETURN THE MATE.

Adrian read the message once.

Then again.

His expression became murderous.

Marcus stood beside him.

"What are you going to do?"

Adrian crushed the paper in his fist.

"They want my mate."

He looked toward the palace.

"They can come and take her themselves."

Marcus stared at him.

"And if they do?"

Adrian's eyes turned gold.

"Then I'll give them a war."

But neither man knew that the greatest threat wasn't waiting outside the kingdom.

It was already inside the palace.

And Catherine had just received a secret message of her own.

We know you want the Luna's crown.

Help us remove Eva.

And the crown will be yours.