Chapter 12 — The Secret Alliance
1975 Words
Catherine stared at the message in her hands.
The words were short.
Simple.
Yet they made her heart pound.
We know you want the Luna's crown.
Help us remove Eva.
And the crown will be yours.
She read it again.
Then again.
Her fingers tightened around the black paper.
Someone knew what she wanted.
Someone knew about Eva.
And, most importantly, someone believed they could give Catherine the one thing she had wanted since arriving at the palace.
The Luna's crown.
A knock sounded at the door.
Catherine quickly folded the message and slipped it beneath her pillow.
"Come in."
Her mother entered.
She immediately noticed Catherine's expression.
"What happened?"
Catherine hesitated.
"Nothing."
Her mother closed the door.
"Don't lie to me."
Catherine pulled the message from beneath the pillow and handed it to her.
Her mother read it.
Her face remained expressionless.
"Who sent this?"
"I don't know."
"Where did you find it?"
"Someone left it outside my room."
Her mother looked toward the door.
"Did anyone see?"
"I don't think so."
She returned the message.
"Burn it."
Catherine stared at her.
"What?"
"Burn it."
"But they know about Eva."
"That is exactly why you should be careful."
Catherine shook her head.
"They can help me."
"Or they can destroy you."
"I don't care."
Her mother stepped closer.
"You should."
Catherine's eyes filled with frustration.
"Mother, what am I supposed to do? Just sit here while Eva takes everything?"
"You don't know what these people want."
"They want Eva gone."
"And then?"
Catherine hesitated.
"They said I would become Luna."
Her mother sighed.
"Power is never given freely."
Catherine looked at the message.
"I'll find out what they want."
Her mother grabbed her wrist.
"Catherine."
"What?"
"Do not meet them."
Catherine slowly pulled her hand away.
"I haven't decided anything."
But the moment her mother left, Catherine looked at the message again.
She knew she had already made her decision.
Eva woke to the sound of voices outside her room.
She sat up.
For a moment, she didn't know where she was.
Then she remembered everything.
The attack.
The rogue.
The message.
Adrian.
She looked at the mark on her neck.
It was glowing faintly.
She pressed her fingers against it.
A strange warmth spread through her body.
Then she felt him.
Adrian.
He was awake.
And angry.
Very angry.
Eva got out of bed.
She opened the door.
Two guards stood outside.
"Good morning."
They bowed.
"Good morning, Luna."
Eva still wasn't used to hearing that word.
"Where is the Alpha?"
"Council chamber."
"Is he safe?"
"Yes."
Eva nodded.
"Thank you."
She started walking.
One guard immediately followed.
"Miss Eva, the Alpha instructed us not to let you walk alone."
Eva stopped.
"I'm only going to the council chamber."
"We still have orders."
She sighed.
"Fine."
As they walked through the palace, Eva noticed something strange.
People moved aside when they saw her.
Some bowed.
Others whispered.
A few looked at her with curiosity.
Eva lowered her eyes.
She didn't like it.
She missed being invisible.
Before yesterday, nobody cared where she walked.
Now everyone watched her.
A servant approached.
"Luna."
Eva stopped.
"Yes?"
"The Alpha requested that you join him for breakfast after the council meeting."
Eva smiled.
"I will."
The servant bowed and left.
One of the guards smiled.
"You've made him very happy."
Eva blushed.
"I don't know about that."
The guard chuckled.
"You should see him when you're around."
Eva looked away.
She didn't want to admit that she had noticed too.
The council chamber was tense.
Adrian stood at the head of the table.
The black envelope lay before him.
RETURN THE MATE.
Elder Rowan looked troubled.
"This is a declaration."
Adrian's expression was cold.
"It's a threat."
"Either way, we need to take it seriously."
"We are."
Rowan looked at Marcus.
"Do we know who sent it?"
"Not yet."
"Where was it found?"
"Southern gate."
One elder shook his head.
"They're testing us."
Adrian looked at him.
"They already attacked us."
"And now they're demanding the mate."
Another elder spoke.
"Perhaps we should consider sending her away."
Adrian's eyes flashed gold.
"No."
"It would protect the kingdom."
"No."
"Alpha—"
"I said no."
The room fell silent.
Adrian placed both hands on the table.
"Eva stays here."
Rowan studied him.
"You understand the danger."
"Yes."
"And yet you refuse."
"Because she isn't a bargaining piece."
Nobody answered.
Adrian continued.
"She is my mate."
His voice hardened.
"And she is under my protection."
Marcus nodded.
"Then we need to increase security."
"Already done."
Rowan looked toward the door.
"And what of the Luna ceremony?"
Adrian frowned.
"Not now."
"Adrian—"
"There is an enemy at our borders."
"The kingdom needs certainty."
"The kingdom needs protection."
Rowan sighed.
"Very well."
The doors opened.
Eva stepped inside.
Adrian immediately looked at her.
His expression softened.
"You're here."
"You asked me to come."
He nodded.
She took the seat beside him.
The elders looked at her.
Eva felt uncomfortable.
"What's happening?"
Adrian hesitated.
"We received a message."
Eva looked at him.
"What message?"
He slid the black paper toward her.
She read it.
Her face went pale.
"Return the mate."
Adrian nodded.
"Who would send this?"
"We don't know."
Eva looked around the room.
"Because of me?"
"No."
"But—"
"This isn't your fault."
She looked at him.
"You don't know that."
Adrian's voice softened.
"I do."
Elder Rowan cleared his throat.
"The council believes you should begin formal Luna training immediately."
Eva looked at him.
"Now?"
"Yes."
Adrian frowned.
"Rowan."
"The kingdom needs its future Luna prepared."
Eva glanced at Adrian.
He nodded.
"We'll do it."
Rowan smiled faintly.
"Good."
Eva's first lesson began that afternoon.
Lady Selene took her to the royal library.
Eva stared in awe.
The room was enormous.
Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling.
Thousands of books filled them.
"What am I supposed to learn?"
Selene smiled.
"Everything."
Eva laughed nervously.
"That's not very encouraging."
"Let's start with the history of the packs."
Eva sat at the long wooden table.
Selene placed a thick book in front of her.
"The Luna isn't simply the Alpha's wife."
Eva opened the book.
"Then what is she?"
"She is the bridge between the Alpha and the people."
Eva listened carefully.
"She settles disputes."
"Sometimes."
"Protects the vulnerable."
"Yes."
"Represents the kingdom."
"Exactly."
Eva looked at the book.
"I've never done any of those things."
"You've survived difficult things."
"That's different."
"Not entirely."
Selene smiled.
"Leadership isn't about knowing everything. It's about knowing when to listen."
Eva nodded.
For the next two hours, Selene taught her.
Eva was surprised by how much she enjoyed it.
She asked questions.
She took notes.
She even began offering her own ideas.
When Selene asked how she would handle a disagreement between two packs, Eva suggested hearing both sides before deciding.
Selene smiled.
"You might be better at this than you think."
Eva smiled.
For the first time, she began wondering whether she could actually become Luna.
Across the palace, Catherine was having a very different afternoon.
She walked through a deserted corridor toward the old western wing.
She had received another message.
Tonight. Midnight. Old chapel. Come alone.
She knew she shouldn't go.
But curiosity won.
She needed answers.
She needed to know who these people were.
And what they wanted.
That evening, Adrian found Eva in the library.
She was surrounded by books.
He smiled.
"You've been here all day."
Eva looked up.
"I have."
"How is it going?"
"Better than I expected."
He picked up one of her notes.
"You've written a lot."
"I want to learn."
He looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because if I'm going to be Luna, I want to be good at it."
Adrian's expression softened.
"You already are."
Eva shook her head.
"I haven't even started."
"You're trying."
She smiled.
"That's not enough."
"It is to me."
Eva looked down.
"Adrian."
"Yes?"
"About the message."
His expression changed.
"What about it?"
"I'm scared."
He moved closer.
"You don't have to be."
"What if they come back?"
"They will."
Eva looked at him.
"You're certain?"
"Yes."
"And what if they hurt someone?"
"I won't let them."
"What if they hurt you?"
Adrian was silent.
Eva reached for his hand.
"I don't want to lose you."
His fingers closed around hers.
"You won't."
"Promise?"
He looked into her eyes.
"I promise I'll do everything I can."
She smiled faintly.
"That's not exactly a promise."
"It's the only honest one I can give."
Eva nodded.
"I'll take it."
He squeezed her hand.
Then he noticed the book beside her.
"You've been studying pack law."
"Yes."
"Already?"
"Lady Selene says I need to learn."
Adrian smiled.
"She's right."
Eva narrowed her eyes.
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
"Why?"
"I didn't think you'd enjoy it."
"I didn't think I would either."
He leaned against the table.
"Tell me something."
"What?"
"If you were Luna today, what would you change?"
Eva thought.
"I'd make sure people like me weren't treated as though they were worthless."
Adrian's expression changed.
"Why?"
"Because I know what it feels like."
He studied her.
"And what else?"
"I'd make sure servants were treated fairly."
"Anything else?"
Eva smiled.
"I'd make you smile more."
Adrian laughed.
"That's your royal decree?"
"Yes."
"Then I suppose I have no choice."
They smiled at each other.
Neither noticed Catherine passing the library doors.
She stopped when she saw them.
Again.
Together.
Always together.
Her anger returned.
She continued walking.
Tonight, she would meet the people who promised to change everything.
At midnight, Catherine reached the old chapel.
The building had been abandoned for years.
Moonlight poured through broken windows.
She stepped inside.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then footsteps.
A man emerged from the shadows.
He wore a dark cloak.
His face was hidden.
"You came."
Catherine swallowed.
"Who are you?"
"That doesn't matter."
"It matters to me."
"You want the Luna's crown."
Catherine's eyes narrowed.
"Yes."
"And we can help you get it."
"How?"
The man stepped closer.
"You need to make the kingdom reject Eva."
"How?"
"Give them a reason."
Catherine frowned.
"What reason?"
"Show them she's dangerous."
"She's human."
"Exactly."
Catherine shook her head.
"That's not enough."
"It will be."
The man handed her a small black vial.
Catherine stared at it.
"What is this?"
"Something that will make your problem disappear."
Her eyes widened.
"What does it do?"
"You don't need to know."
Catherine hesitated.
"I won't hurt her."
The man laughed.
"You don't have to."
He stepped backward.
"Just make sure she drinks it."
Catherine stared at the vial.
"What happens then?"
"Eva will reveal what she truly is."
Catherine's heart pounded.
"What is she?"
The man smiled.
"Ask your Alpha."
Then he disappeared into the darkness.
Catherine stood alone.
The vial felt heavy in her hand.
She looked at it.
Then at the empty doorway.
She should have thrown it away.
She should have gone straight to Adrian.
Instead, she slipped it into her dress.
The following morning, Eva woke feeling sick.
She sat up slowly.
Her stomach twisted.
She covered her mouth.
A wave of nausea passed.
"What is happening?"
She waited.
The feeling disappeared.
Eva frowned.
She had never felt like this before.
She stood and walked toward the mirror.
Her reflection looked pale.
She touched her stomach.
Another wave of nausea came.
She closed her eyes.
Then the mark on her neck pulsed.
A strange warmth spread through her body.
And somewhere else in the palace, Adrian suddenly stopped walking.
He felt it.
Eva.
Something was wrong.
He turned toward her room.
"Eva."
His wolf growled.
Protect her.
Adrian immediately changed direction.
He didn't know it yet.
But something had already begun changing inside Eva.
Something that would soon alter both their lives forever.
And Catherine was holding the key to the secret.
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