The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Chapter 20 — The First Power

Eva woke to the sound of rain.

For several seconds, she didn't remember where she was.

Then she felt the warmth of a hand wrapped around hers.

She turned her head.

Adrian was sitting beside the bed.

His eyes were closed, but his fingers were still holding hers.

"Adrian?"

His eyes opened immediately.

"Eva."

He stood.

"How do you feel?"

She tried to sit up.

"Slowly."

Adrian helped her.

"My baby?"

"Safe."

She released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

"You're sure?"

"The physician checked twice."

Eva looked down at her stomach.

The baby was moving gently.

She smiled.

Then she remembered the tunnel.

The Blood Hunters.

The silver light.

The blade stopping in midair.

She looked at Adrian.

"What happened to me?"

Adrian's expression became serious.

"You protected yourself."

"I didn't do anything."

"You did."

Eva shook her head.

"I don't remember."

Adrian sat beside her.

"When that man attacked you, the blade stopped."

Eva stared at him.

"How?"

"We don't know."

"But the light..."

"It came from you."

Eva touched her palm.

The symbol was still there.

The crescent surrounded by three stars.

"Is this my power?"

Adrian nodded.

"Maybe."

Eva looked frightened.

"What if I can't control it?"

"Then I'll help you."

"What if I hurt someone?"

"You won't."

"How do you know?"

Adrian smiled faintly.

"Because you're Eva."

She looked at him.

"You have too much faith in me."

"Someone has to."

She laughed softly.

Then Adrian's expression changed.

"There is something else."

"What?"

"The Blood Hunter called your baby the heir."

Eva's smile disappeared.

"The prophecy."

Adrian nodded.

"They know about it."

"Does that mean they'll keep coming?"

"Yes."

Eva looked toward the window.

"Then we need to learn how to protect ourselves."

Adrian's eyes softened.

"That's exactly what we're going to do."

The palace was still recovering from the attack.

Several warriors had been injured.

Two guards were dead.

The eastern wing had been badly damaged.

Adrian stood in the great hall with Marcus and the council.

"We need to increase the border patrols," Marcus said.

"Already done."

"Then we need to contact the neighboring packs."

Adrian nodded.

"Send messages to all allied territories."

Elder Rowan frowned.

"That could create panic."

"There is already panic."

The elder looked at him.

"If the other kingdoms learn about Eva's bloodline—"

"They will learn eventually."

"And if they decide she is a threat?"

Adrian's eyes flashed.

"They can try."

The council fell silent.

Lyra stepped forward.

"There is another option."

Adrian looked at her.

"What?"

"The Moon Sanctuary."

Marcus frowned.

"The ancient sanctuary?"

Lyra nodded.

"It was built by the First Luna."

Adrian's expression changed.

"What does it have to do with Eva?"

"If she is truly the heir of that bloodline, the sanctuary may help awaken and control her abilities."

Eva had entered the hall unnoticed.

She heard the last sentence.

"I'll go."

Adrian turned.

"No."

Eva walked toward him.

"You said you'd help me."

"I will."

"Then let me learn."

Adrian sighed.

"The sanctuary is dangerous."

"So is staying here."

He couldn't argue with that.

Lyra looked between them.

"She is right."

Adrian looked at Eva.

"How far is it?"

"Three days."

"Three days through the northern forest?"

Lyra nodded.

"The road is dangerous."

Eva folded her arms.

"I've survived worse."

Adrian almost smiled.

"You're impossible."

"I've heard that before."

Later that afternoon, Adrian took Eva to the training grounds.

Marcus was waiting.

Eva looked around.

"I thought we were going to the sanctuary."

"Not yet."

Adrian handed her a wooden dagger.

"We need to teach you how to defend yourself first."

Eva stared at the weapon.

"I've never fought."

"Then we'll start from the beginning."

Marcus stepped forward.

"Your stance."

Eva copied him.

"Like this?"

"Lower your shoulders."

She adjusted.

Adrian watched closely.

"Good."

Eva looked at him.

"You're enjoying this."

"Maybe."

She smiled.

Marcus attacked suddenly.

Eva jumped backward.

"Hey!"

Marcus laughed.

"You need to expect the unexpected."

Eva glared at him.

"Warn me next time."

"There won't always be a next time."

She sighed.

"Fine."

They continued.

After an hour, Eva was exhausted.

She sat beneath a tree.

Adrian joined her.

"You did well."

"I nearly fell six times."

"But you didn't."

Eva smiled.

Then she looked at her hands.

"Adrian."

"Yes?"

"What if my power is dangerous?"

He took her hand.

"Then we'll learn to control it."

She looked at him.

"And if the council rejects me?"

"They won't."

"You can't promise that."

"I can promise what I'll do."

"What?"

"I'll stand beside you."

Eva leaned against his shoulder.

For the first time since learning about her bloodline, she felt safe.

That night, Adrian received an unexpected visitor.

A messenger from the northern kingdom.

"Alpha."

Adrian looked up.

"Speak."

"The Silver River Pack sends a warning."

"What warning?"

The messenger handed him a sealed letter.

Adrian opened it.

His expression darkened as he read.

"What is it?"

Marcus asked.

Adrian handed him the letter.

Marcus read it.

His face changed.

"They know."

"Yes."

Eva looked between them.

"Who knows?"

Adrian hesitated.

"The neighboring kingdoms."

Her heart sank.

"What do they know?"

"That the First Bloodline has awakened."

Silence.

Eva looked toward the window.

"So now everyone will come after me."

Adrian moved toward her.

"Not everyone."

"How do you know?"

"Because some will come to protect you."

Eva frowned.

"And others?"

"Others will come to destroy you."

She swallowed.

"Then we'd better be ready."

Far beyond the Black Moon Kingdom, inside an abandoned fortress, the Blood Hunter leader stood before a group of masked warriors.

"The girl has awakened."

One of them stepped forward.

"How powerful is she?"

"We don't know yet."

"Then we should kill her before she learns."

The leader shook his head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because the prophecy doesn't say she will destroy us."

He turned toward the moonlit window.

"It says she will change the world."

"And?"

His eyes darkened.

"We need to know which side she will choose."

Back at the palace, Catherine sat alone.

She had heard about the attack.

She had heard that Eva had saved herself.

And she had heard the whispers spreading throughout the kingdom.

The heir has awakened.

Catherine stared at her reflection.

She felt something she had never felt before.

Fear.

Eva was no longer simply the poor girl she had bullied.

She was becoming powerful.

And Adrian was becoming more devoted to her every day.

Catherine clenched her fists.

"I won't lose."

A soft voice came from behind her.

"You already have."

Catherine spun around.

The hooded man stood in the corner.

"Get out."

"You wanted Adrian."

"I still do."

"You cannot have him while Eva lives."

Catherine stared at him.

"What do you want me to do?"

The man stepped closer.

"Come with us."

Catherine shook her head.

"No."

"Then you will watch Eva become Luna."

Her face twisted with anger.

"You don't understand."

"I understand perfectly."

He placed a small black stone on the table.

"Take this."

"What is it?"

"A shadow stone."

Catherine stared at it.

"What does it do?"

"It can suppress supernatural power."

Her eyes widened.

"For how long?"

"Long enough."

Catherine picked it up.

The stone felt cold against her palm.

"What do you want in return?"

The man smiled.

"When Eva's power is gone, bring her to us."

Catherine hesitated.

"And if I refuse?"

"You already know the answer."

He disappeared.

Catherine stared at the stone.

Then she looked toward the palace gardens.

Eva was standing there with Adrian.

They were laughing.

Catherine's heart burned.

She closed her fingers around the stone.

"Enjoy it while you can."

Three days later, the journey to the Moon Sanctuary began.

Adrian rode at the front with Marcus and several warriors.

Eva traveled in a carriage surrounded by guards.

She looked out the window as the palace disappeared behind them.

She didn't know what waited ahead.

She didn't know what her mother had hidden.

And she didn't know what the Moon Stone would reveal.

But she knew one thing.

Her life would never return to the way it had been.

As the carriage entered the northern forest, Eva suddenly felt a strange pull.

She looked toward the trees.

Something was watching her.

Her mark began to glow.

Then she heard a whisper.

Not from her mother this time.

A child's voice.

Soft.

Almost playful.

Mama.

Eva froze.

Her hand moved to her stomach.

The baby kicked.

And somewhere deep inside the forest, a wolf howled.

Adrian immediately stopped his horse.

"Did you hear that?"

Marcus looked around.

"Hear what?"

Adrian stared toward the trees.

His wolf was growling.

Something ancient had just awakened.

And it was following them.