The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Chapter 16 — The Awakening

Eva barely slept after the strange voice in her room.

She remained awake until dawn, sitting beside the window with her knees drawn toward her chest.

Find the Moon Stone.

Those words wouldn't leave her mind.

And neither would the voice.

It had sounded like her mother's.

But how could that be?

Her mother had been dead for years.

Eva touched the mark on her neck.

It was no longer glowing, but she could still feel warmth beneath her skin.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Eva?"

Adrian.

She stood immediately.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Adrian entered.

He looked exhausted.

"You didn't sleep."

Eva shook her head.

"Neither did you."

"I had guards searching the palace."

"Did they find anything?"

"Nothing."

Eva's heart sank.

"Then someone got away."

"Yes."

Adrian walked toward her.

"That's what concerns me."

Eva looked at him.

"You said someone inside the palace helped them."

"I believe so."

"Who?"

"I don't know yet."

Adrian reached for her hand.

"We'll find out."

Eva nodded.

Then she hesitated.

"Adrian?"

"Yes?"

"I want to see the Moon Stone."

His expression immediately changed.

"No."

Eva frowned.

"Why?"

"Because the council hasn't determined whether it's safe."

"But my mother told me to find it."

"That's exactly why I'm saying no."

Eva stared at him.

"You don't believe me?"

"I believe you."

"Then why won't you let me go?"

"Because I don't know what will happen when you get near it."

Eva lowered her eyes.

"Neither do I."

Adrian gently lifted her chin.

"And that's what scares me."

She looked into his eyes.

"You are afraid of me."

"No."

He shook his head.

"I'm afraid of what others might do because of you."

Eva's expression softened.

Adrian pulled her into his arms.

"For years, I thought power was the only thing I needed to protect my kingdom."

He paused.

"Then you came into my life."

Eva rested her head against his chest.

"Now?"

"Now I understand that power isn't enough."

The council met again that morning.

Elder Lyra stood before the Alpha.

"The Moon Stone is awake."

Adrian's face remained expressionless.

"I know."

"It has not awakened in nearly a century."

"Why is it reacting to Eva?"

Lyra looked at him.

"Because she is connected to it."

"How?"

"We don't know."

Adrian's patience was wearing thin.

"Then find out."

Lyra nodded.

"We need to perform the ancient test."

Marcus frowned.

"What test?"

"The blood test."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"What does that involve?"

"The subject places a drop of blood on the Moon Stone."

Eva wasn't in the room, but Adrian immediately shook his head.

"No."

Lyra sighed.

"Alpha—"

"I won't allow anyone to use her as an experiment."

"This isn't an experiment."

"She is carrying my child."

"And that is precisely why we need answers."

Adrian stood.

"Enough."

Lyra looked at him calmly.

"If you refuse, you may be putting her in greater danger."

Adrian stopped.

"What do you mean?"

"The enemies who entered the palace last night were not looking for you."

The room became silent.

"They were looking for her."

Adrian's fists tightened.

Lyra continued.

"Someone knows what Eva is."

"And you don't?"

"We know fragments."

"What fragments?"

Lyra lowered her voice.

"Her mother was connected to the First Bloodline."

Adrian stared at her.

"The First Bloodline?"

Marcus looked confused.

"That's a legend."

"No," Lyra said. "It isn't."

Adrian's expression darkened.

"What does it mean?"

Lyra looked toward the ancient symbols carved into the chamber wall.

"The First Bloodline existed before the kingdoms were divided."

She paused.

"They were believed to carry powers beyond ordinary werewolves."

Adrian looked at Marcus.

"And Eva?"

Lyra's gaze hardened.

"Eva may be one of them."

Eva was walking through the palace gardens when Mary approached.

"Eva."

Eva turned.

"Mary."

Mary smiled.

"I've been looking for you."

"Why?"

"I wanted to check on you."

Eva smiled.

"I'm fine."

Mary looked at her carefully.

"Are you sure?"

Eva hesitated.

"Something happened last night."

Mary's expression changed.

"What?"

Eva told her about the glowing mark and the voice.

Mary listened without interrupting.

When Eva finished, Mary whispered,

"That sounds like your mother."

"That's what I thought."

"But she's dead."

"I know."

Mary glanced around.

"Does Adrian know?"

"Yes."

"What does he think?"

"He doesn't know what to think."

Mary looked troubled.

"Neither do I."

Eva touched her stomach.

"I just want answers."

Mary took her hand.

"You'll get them."

Neither woman noticed Catherine standing behind the garden wall.

She had heard everything.

The Moon Stone.

Eva's mother.

The First Bloodline.

Catherine's heart raced.

She immediately turned and walked away.

She knew where she needed to go.

That evening, Catherine entered the old chapel.

The mysterious man was waiting.

"You know."

He looked at her.

"You heard."

"The council says Eva belongs to the First Bloodline."

The man smiled.

"So they finally understand."

"What is she?"

"Not what you think."

"Tell me."

The man stepped closer.

"She is the last living descendant."

Catherine's breath caught.

"The last?"

"Yes."

"What powers does she have?"

"She hasn't awakened yet."

Catherine frowned.

"But the mark."

"The mark is only the beginning."

"What happens when she awakens?"

The man's expression became serious.

"Then even Adrian won't be able to control what happens next."

Catherine's eyes widened.

"Can she be stopped?"

"Yes."

"How?"

The man smiled.

"You already have the answer."

Catherine touched the vial hidden beneath her dress.

"This?"

"That."

"What will it do?"

"It will weaken the bloodline."

Catherine stared at him.

"And the baby?"

The man said nothing.

Catherine's face changed.

"You said it wouldn't hurt the baby."

"I said it would weaken Eva."

"That's not what I asked."

He stepped closer.

"The child is part of the bloodline too."

Catherine's hands began shaking.

She suddenly realized what she had become involved in.

"Then I'm not doing it."

The man's expression darkened.

"You don't have a choice."

Catherine stepped back.

"I said no."

His eyes flashed.

"If you betray us, your family will pay."

Catherine froze.

"Don't threaten my family."

"Then do as you're told."

He disappeared into the shadows.

Catherine remained alone.

For the first time, she was afraid of the people she had trusted.

The following morning, Adrian took Eva to the underground chamber beneath the palace.

Two guards followed them.

Eva looked around.

"How old is this place?"

"Older than the kingdom."

She stared at the stone walls.

Ancient symbols covered every surface.

"What do they mean?"

"Some have been forgotten."

They continued deeper.

Finally, they reached an enormous circular chamber.

At the center stood a large stone platform.

And above it floated a crystal-like object.

The Moon Stone.

Eva stopped breathing.

It was beautiful.

Silver light moved beneath its surface like liquid moonlight.

Her heart began beating faster.

Adrian noticed.

"Eva?"

She didn't answer.

The stone was calling to her.

Not with words.

With something deeper.

Something inside her recognized it.

She took a step forward.

Adrian caught her hand.

"Wait."

Eva looked at him.

"I can feel it."

"So can I."

The Moon Stone suddenly brightened.

The chamber shook.

The guards stepped backward.

Adrian's wolf roared.

Eva's mark began glowing.

"Adrian..."

He pulled her behind him.

But the Moon Stone continued shining.

Then a voice echoed through the chamber.

Blood remembers.

Eva's eyes widened.

"What was that?"

Adrian stared at the stone.

"I don't know."

The voice came again.

The daughter returns.

Eva gasped.

"Daughter?"

Then the stone released a burst of silver light.

Eva's mark burned.

She cried out.

Adrian immediately pulled her into his arms.

"Eva!"

The light vanished.

Silence returned.

Eva trembled.

Adrian looked at her.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

He searched her face.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

Then she looked down.

A strange symbol had appeared on her palm.

A crescent surrounded by three stars.

Adrian stared at it.

"What is that?"

Eva shook her head.

"I don't know."

Footsteps echoed from the entrance.

Elder Lyra entered.

The moment she saw Eva's hand, she stopped.

Her face went pale.

"The symbol..."

Adrian looked at her.

"You recognize it."

Lyra whispered,

"The First Luna."

Eva's heart stopped.

"Who?"

Lyra looked at her.

"The woman who founded the first werewolf kingdom."

Adrian stared at the symbol.

"You're saying Eva is related to her?"

Lyra shook her head.

"No."

She looked at Eva with something close to fear.

"I'm saying Eva may be her direct descendant."

That night, the palace was placed under heavy guard.

No one was allowed to enter or leave without Adrian's permission.

But while everyone focused on protecting Eva, Catherine slipped through a hidden passage.

She carried the black vial.

She reached the underground chamber.

The Moon Stone was still glowing faintly.

Catherine stared at it.

She had never seen anything so beautiful.

Then she remembered Eva.

Adrian's love.

The pregnancy.

The throne.

Everything she wanted.

Her hand tightened around the vial.

"Just one drop."

She whispered.

"That's all."

She stepped toward the stone.

But before she could touch it, a voice came from behind her.

"Catherine."

She froze.

Adrian stood in the doorway.

His eyes were glowing gold.

Catherine slowly turned.

The vial slipped from her fingers.

It shattered against the stone floor.

Adrian stared at the broken glass.

Then at Catherine.

"What have you done?"

Catherine's face went white.

"I can explain."

Adrian's voice was terrifyingly calm.

"Then start talking."

Catherine opened her mouth.

But before she could speak, the Moon Stone suddenly erupted with silver light.

And somewhere above them, Eva screamed.