The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Chapter 19 — The Blood Hunters

The palace went into lockdown before sunrise.

Every gate was sealed.

Every corridor was guarded.

Warriors searched the gardens, the servant quarters, and the surrounding forest.

But the intruder had vanished.

Adrian stood beside the window in Eva's room, staring at the black symbol carved into the frame.

Marcus stood behind him.

"We searched the entire eastern wing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"They knew exactly where to go."

Marcus nodded.

"Which means they had help."

Eva sat on the bed, one hand resting protectively over her stomach.

"Why are they after my baby?"

Neither man answered immediately.

Finally, Marcus said, "We don't know."

Eva looked at him.

"That's not true."

Marcus hesitated.

"You know something."

Adrian turned toward him.

"Marcus."

The Beta sighed.

"The Blood Hunters have existed for centuries."

Eva frowned.

"What are they?"

"An organization dedicated to hunting supernatural bloodlines they consider dangerous."

"Why?"

Marcus looked toward the symbol.

"They believe certain bloodlines should never exist."

Eva's heart sank.

"And mine?"

Marcus nodded.

"Apparently."

Adrian walked toward Eva.

"They won't touch you."

She looked at him.

"What if there are hundreds of them?"

"Then I'll fight hundreds."

"What if there are thousands?"

"Then I'll fight thousands."

Eva's eyes filled with tears.

"And if you can't?"

Adrian took her hand.

"Then we'll fight together."

By midday, Elder Lyra summoned the entire council.

Adrian entered the chamber with Eva beside him.

Several elders immediately began whispering.

One stood.

"Alpha, this cannot continue."

Adrian looked at him.

"What?"

"Your mate is attracting enemies."

Eva lowered her eyes.

Adrian's expression hardened.

"She didn't invite them."

"But they are here because of her."

"Then we'll deal with them."

Another elder stood.

"That isn't enough."

Adrian's eyes flashed gold.

"Choose your next words carefully."

The elder swallowed.

"We believe Eva should be moved somewhere secure."

Eva looked up.

"Where?"

"Somewhere far from the palace."

Adrian immediately shook his head.

"No."

"Alpha—"

"She stays here."

Elder Lyra raised a hand.

"Enough."

The chamber fell silent.

She looked at Eva.

"The problem isn't simply the Blood Hunters."

Eva frowned.

"What else is there?"

Lyra took a deep breath.

"The prophecy."

Adrian stiffened.

"What prophecy?"

Lyra looked toward the ancient book on the table.

"The prophecy of the First Heir."

She opened it.

An old drawing appeared.

A woman stood beneath a silver moon, holding a newborn child.

Beneath the image were ancient words.

Lyra translated them.

"When the last blood awakens, the heir of moon and wolf shall be born. Through the child, the ancient crown shall rise again."

Eva stared at the page.

"The child."

Lyra nodded.

"The Blood Hunters believe your baby is that heir."

Adrian's expression darkened.

"Do they know what the child will become?"

"No."

"Then why are they afraid?"

Lyra looked at him.

"Because the prophecy also says the heir will unite the divided wolf kingdoms."

Marcus frowned.

"And what's wrong with that?"

"Everything."

Lyra closed the book.

"Some kingdoms don't want to be united."

Adrian understood.

"They want the kingdoms divided."

"Yes."

Eva looked at her stomach.

"So they want my baby dead because they're afraid of what it might become."

Lyra nodded.

Eva's fear turned into determination.

"They won't get my child."

Adrian looked at her proudly.

"That's my mate."

That evening, Adrian ordered Eva to remain inside the palace.

She hated it.

"I can't stay locked in this room forever."

Adrian looked at her.

"It's for your protection."

"I know."

"You don't sound convinced."

"I'm not."

He smiled.

"You're stubborn."

"You already knew that."

He laughed.

Then his expression softened.

"Eva."

"What?"

"I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"If the Blood Hunters come again, you don't try to fight them alone."

Eva nodded.

"I promise."

"Say it."

"I promise."

Adrian kissed her forehead.

"Good."

Across the palace, Catherine sat alone.

She had not left her room since the previous night.

She kept thinking about the hooded man.

The child must not be born.

She placed a hand over her stomach.

She wasn't pregnant.

Yet she felt sick.

She had wanted Eva gone.

But she hadn't wanted a baby to die.

Catherine stood.

She needed to know who the Blood Hunters were.

She left her room and headed toward the old library.

The palace was quiet.

She slipped inside.

The ancient archives were rarely used.

Catherine searched through the shelves until she found a book bearing the same black symbol she had seen on the vial.

She opened it.

Her eyes widened.

THE BLOOD HUNTERS

She began reading.

They had been formed hundreds of years ago by rogue warriors who believed ancient bloodlines threatened ordinary werewolves.

Their greatest enemy had always been the First Luna's descendants.

Catherine turned the page.

There was a name.

Elena.

Her breath caught.

Eva's mother.

She continued reading.

Elena had escaped the Blood Hunters twenty-nine years earlier.

But there was another entry.

The child survived.

Catherine closed the book.

Eva.

She was the child.

Catherine suddenly understood.

The Blood Hunters hadn't discovered Eva recently.

They had been searching for her for years.

She had been living among them all along.

A sound came from behind her.

Catherine turned.

Vivienne stood in the doorway.

"What are you doing?"

Catherine quickly closed the book.

"Nothing."

Vivienne's eyes narrowed.

"Give it to me."

Catherine hesitated.

"Mother..."

"Give it to me."

Catherine handed it over.

Vivienne read the page.

Her face changed.

"So they found her."

Catherine stared.

"You knew?"

Vivienne didn't answer.

"Mother!"

"I suspected."

"How?"

Vivienne closed the book.

"Your father once told me about Elena."

Catherine's eyes widened.

"My father knew too?"

"Everyone knew something."

"Except Eva."

Vivienne nodded.

"She was supposed to remain ignorant."

Catherine stared at her mother.

"Why?"

"Because knowledge would have made her a target."

"But now she's Adrian's mate."

Vivienne looked toward the door.

"And carrying his child."

Catherine whispered,

"What happens now?"

Vivienne's expression was grim.

"The Blood Hunters will come."

That night, Eva woke to the sound of wolves howling.

She sat up.

The palace guards were shouting outside.

Adrian rushed into the room.

"Get dressed."

Eva's heart raced.

"What happened?"

"They're here."

"Who?"

"The Blood Hunters."

A loud explosion shook the palace.

Eva screamed.

Adrian grabbed her hand.

"Stay close to me."

They ran into the corridor.

Warriors were already fighting.

Dark figures moved through the palace.

Their weapons were made of silver.

Adrian shifted.

His body transformed into a massive black wolf.

Eva stared.

She had seen him shift before, but this time something was different.

His eyes burned like fire.

He attacked the first Blood Hunter.

The warrior barely had time to react.

Adrian knocked him against the wall.

More enemies rushed forward.

Marcus appeared.

"Get Eva out!"

Adrian growled.

"Where?"

"The eastern tunnels."

Eva shook her head.

"No."

Adrian looked at her.

"Eva."

"I'm not leaving you."

"You have to."

"No."

Another explosion shook the palace.

Adrian stepped closer.

"Please."

The word stopped her.

Adrian rarely asked for anything.

Eva nodded.

"Come with me."

"I'll follow."

Marcus grabbed Eva's arm.

"This way."

They ran.

The eastern tunnel was dark.

Eva could hear fighting above them.

She held her stomach.

The baby was moving.

"It's scared."

Marcus looked at her.

"What?"

"The baby."

He frowned.

"How do you know?"

"I can feel it."

Suddenly, a silver light appeared beneath Eva's skin.

Marcus stopped.

"What is that?"

Eva looked down.

Her mark was glowing.

Then the tunnel walls began to shake.

Marcus drew his weapon.

"What is happening?"

Eva didn't know.

The baby kicked.

A pulse of silver energy exploded from her body.

The entire tunnel lit up.

Marcus stumbled backward.

Eva screamed.

Then everything went silent.

At the end of the tunnel stood three Blood Hunters.

They stared at Eva.

One of them whispered,

"The heir."

Eva stepped backward.

Marcus moved in front of her.

"You'll have to get through me."

The leader smiled.

"We don't need to."

He raised his hand.

A silver chain shot toward Eva.

But before it could reach her, a powerful growl echoed through the tunnel.

Adrian.

The black wolf charged from the darkness.

He tore through the first Blood Hunter.

Marcus attacked the second.

Eva backed away.

The third raised his weapon.

Adrian turned.

Too late.

The blade flew toward Eva.

She screamed.

But the blade stopped in midair.

Silver light surrounded Eva.

The weapon fell harmlessly to the ground.

Everyone froze.

Eva stared at her hands.

The Blood Hunter whispered,

"She's awakened."

Adrian looked at Eva in shock.

Her eyes were glowing silver.

Then the light disappeared.

Eva collapsed.

Adrian caught her before she hit the ground.

"Eva!"

She was unconscious.

But her hand remained over her stomach.

And beneath it, a faint silver glow pulsed.

The Blood Hunter leader looked at her.

Then smiled.

"The prophecy has begun."

And before Adrian could stop him, he disappeared into the darkness.