The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Chapter 18 — The Enemy Within

The words echoed through Eva's mind long after she left the council chamber.

You are the rightful heir of the First Luna's bloodline.

She had spent her entire life believing she was ordinary.

A girl from a small village.

A girl who had never been important enough for anyone to notice.

Now she was being told that her blood carried an ancient power.

It was too much.

As Adrian walked beside her, Eva remained silent.

He glanced at her.

"You're thinking too loudly."

She looked at him.

"How?"

"I can feel it."

Eva gave him a tired smile.

"I don't know who I am anymore."

Adrian stopped walking.

She stopped too.

He turned toward her.

"You're Eva."

She frowned.

"It's not that simple."

"It is to me."

"But everyone keeps telling me that I'm something else."

Adrian stepped closer.

"Whatever your bloodline is, it doesn't change the woman I met in the forest."

Eva looked down.

"The woman you met was scared."

"But she stayed."

"She almost let you die."

"But she didn't."

He gently touched her cheek.

"You saved my life."

Eva's eyes filled with tears.

"And you saved mine."

Adrian smiled faintly.

"Then perhaps we're even."

She laughed softly.

For a moment, the weight on her shoulders disappeared.

Then a sharp pain struck her stomach.

Eva gasped.

Adrian immediately caught her.

"Eva?"

She pressed a hand against her abdomen.

"It's the baby."

His expression changed.

"Is something wrong?"

"I don't know."

Another wave passed through her.

Then—

A heartbeat echoed through the room.

Loud.

Powerful.

Not one heartbeat.

Two.

Adrian froze.

Eva looked at him.

"Did you hear that?"

He nodded slowly.

The sound disappeared.

Adrian placed his hand over her stomach.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then the baby kicked.

His eyes widened.

A smile slowly appeared.

"Our child."

Eva smiled through her tears.

"Our child."

They returned to their chambers.

Adrian refused to leave Eva alone.

He ordered additional guards outside her room.

Marcus arrived shortly afterward.

"The council wants another meeting tomorrow."

Adrian frowned.

"Why?"

"They want to discuss Eva's position."

Eva looked at him.

"My position?"

Marcus nodded.

"Some elders believe the kingdom needs to know exactly what your bloodline means."

Adrian's expression darkened.

"They can wait."

Marcus sighed.

"Adrian, you know they won't."

"I don't care."

Marcus looked at Eva.

"You should rest."

Eva nodded.

After Marcus left, Adrian sat beside her.

"Are you afraid?"

Eva considered the question.

"Yes."

"Of the council?"

"Of everything."

Adrian took her hand.

"I won't let them take you."

Eva looked at him.

"What if they decide I'm dangerous?"

"Then they'll have to go through me."

She smiled faintly.

"You always make everything sound simple."

"Because it is."

He leaned closer.

"You are my mate."

Eva's heart fluttered.

"And you're mine."

Adrian smiled.

"Exactly."

Across the palace, Catherine was not sleeping.

She stood before the mirror.

Her eyes were red from crying.

Vivienne sat behind her.

"We have to think carefully."

Catherine shook her head.

"I don't want to think."

"We need a plan."

"I want Eva gone."

Vivienne sighed.

"You cannot simply kill her."

"Why not?"

"Because Adrian will hunt down everyone responsible."

Catherine stared at her.

"Then what do we do?"

Vivienne lowered her voice.

"We make the kingdom fear her."

Catherine frowned.

"How?"

"People fear what they don't understand."

She stepped closer.

"We tell them Eva's bloodline is dangerous."

Catherine's eyes slowly brightened.

"And if they believe us?"

"Then they will demand that Adrian remove her."

Catherine smiled.

For the first time that night, hope returned.

The next morning, whispers spread throughout the palace.

Eva had dangerous blood.

Eva was connected to the First Luna.

Eva's child might inherit forbidden powers.

By breakfast, half the servants were talking.

Eva heard the whispers as she walked through the hallway.

She tried to ignore them.

But one servant stepped aside when she approached.

Another crossed herself.

A third whispered,

"Monster."

Eva stopped.

Adrian immediately turned.

"Who said that?"

The servant froze.

Adrian's eyes flashed gold.

"Answer me."

Eva touched his arm.

"Adrian."

He looked at her.

"Let it go."

"They shouldn't speak to you like that."

"I don't want you fighting everyone because of me."

Adrian's expression softened.

He lowered his voice.

"I'll protect you."

"I know."

Eva continued walking.

But the word stayed in her mind.

Monster.

For the first time, she wondered if the kingdom would ever accept her.

Later that morning, Elder Lyra summoned Eva privately.

Adrian wanted to accompany her.

Eva refused.

"I need to learn how to face this myself."

Adrian looked reluctant.

"If anything feels wrong—"

"I'll call you."

He kissed her forehead.

"Promise."

"I promise."

Eva entered the council chamber alone.

Lyra was waiting.

"Sit."

Eva sat.

The elder placed an ancient silver bowl on the table.

"What is that?"

"A memory vessel."

Eva frowned.

"It contains memories from the First Luna's descendants."

"Why are you showing me?"

"Because one of those memories belongs to your mother."

Eva's heart stopped.

"My mother?"

Lyra nodded.

"She left something behind."

Eva stared at the bowl.

"Can I see it?"

"Yes."

Lyra placed her hand over the vessel.

Silver light filled the room.

A vision appeared.

Eva saw a young woman running through a forest.

Her mother.

Elena.

She was carrying a baby.

Eva.

Behind her were several werewolves.

Elena looked terrified.

She ran until she reached a small house.

A man opened the door.

Eva recognized him immediately.

Her father.

Elena handed him the baby.

"Take care of her."

He looked confused.

"What happened?"

"They found me."

"Who?"

"The Blood Hunters."

Her father's face went pale.

"You can't leave her."

"I have to."

Elena kissed the baby's forehead.

"If they discover what she is, they'll kill her."

Eva covered her mouth.

The vision continued.

Her mother turned away.

Her father held baby Eva.

"Where are you going?"

Elena looked back.

"To protect her."

Then the vision disappeared.

Eva began crying.

"My father knew."

Lyra nodded.

"Yes."

"He knew what I was."

"Yes."

"All these years..."

Eva's voice broke.

"He knew."

Eva returned to her room hours later.

Adrian was waiting.

He immediately noticed her tears.

"What happened?"

She looked at him.

"My father knew."

"About your bloodline?"

She nodded.

"He knew my mother was being hunted."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Why didn't he tell you?"

"I don't know."

Eva sat down.

"My whole life has been a lie."

Adrian knelt before her.

"Not everything."

She looked at him.

"You were real."

Eva's tears fell.

"So were my feelings for you."

Adrian took her hands.

"Then hold on to those."

That evening, Adrian called Marcus.

"I want every record concerning Elena."

Marcus nodded.

"We'll search the royal archives."

"And the village records."

"Understood."

Adrian looked toward the window.

"Someone hunted Eva's mother."

Marcus frowned.

"And now they're hunting Eva."

"Exactly."

"Do you think they're connected to the rogues?"

"I think they're much closer than we realize."

Marcus's expression darkened.

"Someone inside the palace?"

Adrian nodded.

"Find them."

Meanwhile, Catherine stood in a hidden corridor.

A hooded man waited for her.

"You failed."

Catherine's face tightened.

"Adrian discovered the vial."

The man stepped closer.

"And yet you're still alive."

"Because he hasn't discovered everything."

"What do you know?"

"Eva's mother was hiding her from the Blood Hunters."

The man's expression changed.

"She knows?"

"She knows her bloodline."

He smiled.

"Then we're running out of time."

Catherine looked at him.

"What do you want?"

"The child."

Catherine froze.

"What?"

"The child must not be born."

Her eyes widened.

"No."

The man stepped closer.

"You want Adrian."

"Yes."

"Then understand this—the child is the only thing standing between us and the power we need."

Catherine shook her head.

"I won't hurt an innocent baby."

The man smiled coldly.

"Then you'll lose Adrian forever."

He disappeared.

Catherine remained in the corridor, trembling.

For the first time, she realized she had become trapped.

That night, Eva woke suddenly.

Her room was dark.

She heard breathing.

Someone was inside.

Eva sat up.

"Who's there?"

No answer.

She reached for the lamp.

A shadow moved.

Eva screamed.

Before the intruder could reach her, the door burst open.

Adrian rushed inside.

His wolf roared.

The intruder attacked.

Adrian shifted halfway, his eyes glowing gold.

He struck the attacker against the wall.

The figure escaped through the window.

Adrian ran after him.

But he was gone.

He returned moments later.

Eva was trembling.

Adrian immediately went to her.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"No."

He pulled her into his arms.

Then he looked toward the window.

A small black symbol had been carved into the frame.

Adrian's face hardened.

Marcus arrived seconds later.

"What happened?"

Adrian pointed toward the symbol.

Marcus stared.

"The Blood Hunters."

Adrian's eyes darkened.

"They're here."

Eva held her stomach.

"Why are they after my baby?"

Neither man answered.

Because they were beginning to understand something terrifying.

The Blood Hunters weren't trying to destroy Eva.

They were waiting for her child.

And they would do anything to get it.