The Alpha's Rejected Mate

Chapter 15 — The Moon Council

The palace had never felt so quiet.

Eva stood beside the tall window of her bedroom, staring at the gardens below.

The morning sun had barely risen, yet she had been awake for hours.

Her hand rested protectively over her stomach.

There was still something unreal about knowing that a life was growing inside her.

Adrian's child.

Their child.

She smiled faintly.

Then the smile disappeared.

The previous day's events returned to her mind.

Catherine's poisoned tea.

The black vial.

The strange message.

And the physician's warning that her pregnancy was unlike anything he had seen before.

Eva looked at her reflection in the glass.

"Who am I?"

She had asked herself that question countless times since arriving at the palace.

But now it felt different.

There was something about her that everyone seemed to know except her.

A knock sounded.

Eva turned.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Adrian stepped inside.

His expression was serious.

Eva immediately knew something had happened.

"What is it?"

"The Moon Council has arrived."

Eva's stomach tightened.

"The council?"

He nodded.

"They want to see you."

"Why?"

Adrian walked toward her.

"They heard about the pregnancy."

Eva swallowed.

"Are they going to take my baby?"

"No."

His answer was immediate.

"They don't have that right."

"But they're the council."

"And I'm the Alpha."

He reached for her hand.

"I won't allow anyone to hurt you."

Eva looked into his eyes.

"Then why are they here?"

Adrian hesitated.

"Because they have questions."

"About me?"

"Yes."

Eva's heart began pounding.

"What kind of questions?"

"Questions about your mark. Your pregnancy. And the Moon Stone."

Eva frowned.

"The Moon Stone?"

Adrian nodded.

"The council believes it may reveal something about you."

She instinctively touched the mark on her neck.

"Do you know what?"

"No."

Adrian's eyes darkened.

"But we're going to find out."

The great council chamber was filled with elders by the time Eva arrived.

Adrian walked beside her.

Marcus followed closely behind.

At the opposite end of the chamber sat five members of the Moon Council.

Unlike the ordinary royal council, these elders wore silver robes bearing the symbol of the crescent moon.

At the center sat the oldest woman Eva had ever seen.

Her silver hair was braided down her back.

Her eyes were pale blue.

She looked directly at Eva.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she whispered,

"So it is true."

Adrian stepped forward.

"What is true?"

The woman looked at him.

"The mark."

Her gaze returned to Eva.

"She carries it."

Eva touched her neck.

"What does it mean?"

The woman stood.

"My name is Elder Lyra."

Eva nodded respectfully.

"I am Eva."

"I know."

Something about the way Lyra said it made Eva uncomfortable.

Adrian noticed.

"What do you want?"

Lyra looked at him.

"We want to understand why the ancient mark has appeared again."

Adrian frowned.

"Ancient mark?"

Lyra nodded.

"The mark on Eva's neck is not an ordinary mate mark."

The room fell silent.

Eva's heart raced.

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

"Explain."

"Ordinary mate marks are created when two wolves accept one another. But this..."

Lyra pointed toward Eva.

"This mark existed before the bond was completed."

Adrian looked at Eva.

"How is that possible?"

"We don't know."

Lyra's expression was troubled.

"But there is something else."

"What?"

"The Moon Stone has begun responding to her presence."

Eva looked confused.

"I've never seen it."

"You haven't needed to."

Lyra stepped closer.

"The stone has been dormant for decades."

Adrian frowned.

"And now?"

"It has awakened."

A murmur moved through the room.

Adrian's expression became serious.

"Why?"

Lyra looked at Eva.

"Because it recognizes something in her."

Eva's breathing became shallow.

"What?"

Lyra didn't answer.

Instead, she asked,

"Who was your mother?"

Eva froze.

"My mother?"

"Yes."

Eva lowered her eyes.

"I don't know much about her."

"Why?"

"She died when I was young."

Lyra studied her.

"What was her name?"

Eva hesitated.

"Elena."

Lyra's expression changed.

"Elena?"

Adrian noticed.

"You know that name?"

Lyra looked at him.

"Perhaps."

Eva stepped forward.

"What do you know about my mother?"

Lyra was silent.

"Please."

The elder looked at Eva for a long moment.

Then she said,

"Your mother once came to this kingdom."

Eva's heart stopped.

"What?"

"She lived among the wolves."

Adrian looked stunned.

"Why wasn't this recorded?"

"Because she left."

"Why?"

Lyra looked toward the other elders.

"Because she was running from something."

Eva's voice trembled.

"From what?"

Before Lyra could answer, the doors opened.

Vivienne entered.

Catherine followed behind her.

Eva immediately stiffened.

Catherine's eyes went straight to Adrian.

Then to Eva.

Her expression hardened.

Vivienne bowed.

"My apologies for interrupting."

Adrian's voice was cold.

"Why are you here?"

"We heard the council was meeting."

"You weren't invited."

Vivienne smiled politely.

"I am Eva's stepmother. Surely I have a right to be concerned about her."

Eva looked at her.

For the first time, she wondered whether Vivienne knew more than she had ever admitted.

Lyra's eyes remained fixed on Vivienne.

"Come closer."

Vivienne hesitated.

"Me?"

"Yes."

Vivienne approached.

Lyra studied her face.

Then asked,

"How long have you known Eva?"

Vivienne smiled.

"Since she was a child."

"Did her mother ever tell you about her origins?"

Vivienne's smile disappeared.

"No."

Lyra's eyes narrowed.

"You are lying."

The room went silent.

Vivienne's face paled.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Eva stared at her.

"Mother?"

Vivienne looked at Eva.

"Don't listen to them."

"Why?"

"Because they're trying to confuse you."

Adrian stepped between them.

"Enough."

Vivienne lowered her head.

"Of course, Alpha."

But Eva couldn't stop staring at her.

Something was wrong.

She could feel it.

That evening, Catherine found Vivienne in her room.

"You know something."

Vivienne turned.

"What?"

"About Eva."

Her mother said nothing.

Catherine stepped closer.

"The council asked about her mother."

Vivienne's face tightened.

"What did they say?"

"They said Elena lived among werewolves."

Vivienne looked toward the window.

"Lower your voice."

Catherine's eyes widened.

"So it's true."

"Not here."

"Mother, what is Eva?"

Vivienne turned toward her.

"You don't want to know."

"Yes, I do."

"You've already made enough mistakes."

Catherine's voice became desperate.

"She is taking everything from me!"

"Because Adrian chose her."

"He shouldn't have!"

Vivienne slapped her.

Catherine froze.

"Don't say that again."

Tears filled Catherine's eyes.

"Why are you defending her?"

"I'm not."

"Then tell me the truth."

Vivienne looked at her daughter.

After a long silence, she whispered,

"Eva's mother was not human."

Catherine's mouth fell open.

"What?"

Vivienne continued.

"Elena belonged to an ancient bloodline."

"What bloodline?"

"I don't know."

"You do know."

Vivienne looked away.

"I know enough to be afraid."

Catherine stepped backward.

"What does that mean for Eva?"

Vivienne's voice dropped.

"It means she may be more powerful than the Alpha himself."

Later that night, Eva couldn't sleep.

She sat beside the window, staring at the moon.

Her mother's name echoed in her mind.

Elena.

She had spent years believing her mother was simply a woman who died too young.

Now she was discovering that her mother had secrets.

Secrets that apparently involved werewolves.

Eva touched her stomach.

"Who are you, Mama?"

A sudden warmth spread through her body.

The mark on her neck glowed.

Eva gasped.

The room filled with silver light.

She stood.

"What is happening?"

The light became brighter.

Then she heard a voice.

A woman's voice.

Soft.

Familiar.

"Eva..."

She froze.

"Mama?"

The voice came again.

"Find the Moon Stone."

Eva's heart pounded.

"Where?"

Silence.

Then—

"Before they find you."

The light disappeared.

Eva stood frozen.

A moment later, the door burst open.

Adrian rushed inside.

"Eva!"

She turned toward him.

"Adrian..."

He immediately came to her.

"What happened?"

"I heard her."

"Who?"

"My mother."

Adrian stared at her.

"Your mother?"

Eva nodded.

"She spoke to me."

He looked around the room.

"What did she say?"

Eva swallowed.

"She told me to find the Moon Stone."

Adrian's expression became serious.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

He took her hand.

The mark was still faintly glowing.

Adrian stared at it.

Then his wolf stirred violently.

A deep growl escaped his chest.

Eva looked at him.

"What?"

He looked toward the door.

"We aren't alone."

The guards outside suddenly shouted.

Adrian stepped in front of Eva.

A shadow moved across the hallway.

Then a voice whispered from the darkness.

"You should have listened."

Adrian's eyes turned gold.

"Who are you?"

No answer.

The shadow disappeared.

Adrian immediately drew his weapon.

"Stay here."

Eva grabbed his arm.

"No."

"Eva."

"I'm coming with you."

"It's dangerous."

"I don't care."

Adrian stared at her.

Then he sighed.

"Stay behind me."

They stepped into the corridor.

The guards were unconscious.

Eva covered her mouth.

"What happened?"

Adrian crouched beside one of them.

"They're alive."

A black feather lay beside the guard.

Adrian picked it up.

His expression changed.

"What?"

He stared at the feather.

"Rogues."

Eva frowned.

"But how did they get inside?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Someone helped them."

His eyes moved toward the palace.

Someone inside the palace had betrayed them.

Again.

And this time, the enemy wasn't searching for Adrian.

They were searching for Eva.

Across the palace, Catherine stood before the mirror.

The black vial was still hidden in her room.

She had failed once.

But she wasn't finished.

A folded note lay on her table.

She opened it.

The Moon Council knows about Eva.

Find the Moon Stone before they do.

Catherine's eyes widened.

Then another line appeared beneath it.

If Eva discovers who she really is, Adrian will never belong to you.

Catherine crushed the note.

"No."

She looked at her reflection.

"I won't let that happen."

Outside, the moon disappeared behind dark clouds.

And deep beneath the Black Moon Palace, something ancient awakened.

Something that had been waiting for Eva for generations.

The Moon Stone was calling her name.