Alpha's Secret Bride

"Evan resigned from the pack company a few moons ago when he heard the Prince is secretly mated to his puphood Moonmate. He went to your pack house and one of your neighboring pack-kin told him your own pack-kins sold you out to an aged he-wolf. He wept and could not forgive himself for abandoning you."

"Where is he now?"

"He traveled to the United States last week. He is regretting ever calling the engagement off. Would you like to mindlink him?"

"No."

"Emma, please, he wants you back, but doesn’t know how to reach you."

"I’m already mated."

"To a wolf old enough to be your father. Apply for bond severance to him and reconcile with Evan."

"I guess you are not a fan of Lunara Greens," Emma said, releasing a soft sigh.

"I’m not! Emma, that is not what I am talking about."

"She revealed a lot of things about me in her last broadcast."

"Well, I do not watch her broadcasts. Are you calling Evan?"

"Morgan, no. I am mated. How is your father?"

"He is serving the Prince and he is very comfortable with it. He wants to stay close to the royal bloodline," she responded, and Emma narrowed her eyes.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

A flicker of doubt crossed her face, quick but sharp. She wanted to believe it...to hold onto that certainty...but something deep inside her twisted uneasily. What if "yes" wasn’t as solid as it sounded? What if it cracked the moment reality pressed harder?

"Where is he currently?"

The question slipped out before she could stop it. Her heart tightened as she asked, afraid of the answer yet desperate for it. If she knew where he was, maybe she could understand... or maybe it would only make everything worse.

"The Prince sent one of his research packs on a new elixir study to the Middlepack, and he insisted on going with them. Do you know the funny part? He knows nothing about potions!" She said, and they both giggled softly.

"Emma!" Emily called, crooking her fingers in a beckoning gesture.

"I’m really happy to see you, Morgan," she smiled again.

"Me too! I will tell Evan that I saw you. He will be overjoyed," she whimpered as they walked into the sitting chamber.

The paperwork and its documentation took almost two hours. The mating requests, bond registration procedures, and official records consumed roughly two hours, unlike theirs. It seemed all the pack protocols were enforced because Emily is a foreign wolf, and Ashley did not want an invalid mating bond. A letter of mating registration was set aside to be signed the next day in the presence of mating registrars and state scribes.

She left the sitting chamber after everything and joined Ken and Brooklyn in the recreation hall. They were lounging on the seats, speaking in hushed tones when she walked in. Brooklyn looked both relaxed and drained. Emma glanced at the different pack games arranged in the hall and felt the urge to play. Ken stood and kissed her forehead when she moved closer to them.

"I defeated her in all the games," he grinned before walking away.

"What did he say?" Brooklyn asked, a trace of amusement in her tone.

"He knocked you out completely," Emma replied, and they both giggled.

"I think he likes you," she added as she sat beside her.

"He is amusing and free-spirited," Brooklyn murmured weakly.

"Do you like him?"

"I have a moonmate."

"Oh, my Goddess! Did you tell him that?"

"Yes."

"And what did he say?"

She hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly against her dress. For a moment, her gaze drifted away, as if the answer itself weighed too much to hold.

"He didn’t say much... just looked at me," she admitted softly. "Like he was trying to understand something that hurt him."

A spark of unease crossed her face. She swallowed, her chest tightening as the memory replayed in her mind.

"He wants more than a moonally bond, Brooklyn."

Brooklyn remained silent, saying nothing. They both turned their heads when they heard approaching voices in the corridor. Brandon and Ken walked into the hall, and she saw her alpha drawing closer to them. It felt as though she had been gone for an entire full moon cycle. She rushed forward and threw herself into his arms when he came closer, and their lips crashed together in a heated bond-kiss. They forgot there were four watching eyes fixed on them. Brooklyn had always longed to see them together, and she could not comprehend the storm of emotions rising within her as she finally witnessed what she had secretly desired.

"My moonheart, how are you?"

"I am fine, but I missed you my starlit alpha."

"I missed you too. There is something Ken told me," he whispered in her ear.

"What did he tell you?"

"Ken is asking that we help him convince...,"

"Brooklyn," she interrupted softly.

"Well, you know my sibling is a playpup. But ...if he is serious, I may consider talking to Brooklyn."

"I think he’s serious this time."

"Let’s... find out."

It was Sunday already. The conclusive signing and documentation of legal mating forms took place yesterday in the presence of some mating registration officials, counsel, and moonallies. This gave Emily a new title. ’The High Fang Regent’s mate.

Emma was also given a new birth certificate with her parents’ names on it. Her joy knew no bounds. She and Brooklyn kept staring at the new birth certificate as if it was their first time seeing a birth certificate. She never knew a day like this would come. One day everything will be the way it was meant to be.

"I can’t believe the awkward pup steps we took towards finding my blood mother have become a monumental success."

"You call what you took an awkward pup step? Emma, it was a bold step!"

"You took the bold step and I took the pup step," she said to Brooklyn. I couldn’t have achieved anything without you. "You are the main character here, Brooklyn. If you hadn’t told Brandon about my breast, I would have remained in the far north territory up till now."

"Emma, you were very headstrong. You would have run away and eventually still meet Brandon because it has been destined that both of you must meet."

"You think so?"

"Yes," she responded, refusing to take credit. Emma moved closer and embraced her warmly.

"Would you give Ken a chance?" Emma asked softly.

Brooklyn held on for a second longer than she intended. The reassurance felt good... too good. It scared her more than she wanted to admit. What if Emma is wrong? What if she walks into Ken’s arms and they look at her like she doesn’t belong there?

"I like him, but Emma, I’m nervous."

Emma pulled back slightly, studying her face. Brooklyn forced a small smile, but inside her chest tightened. If she says yes, she risks everything. If she says no, she loses something she hasn’t even fully understood yet... but at least she stays safe.

"Why?" Emma pressed gently.

"I don’t want to be rejected by any member of your pack-kin because we are from different social classes."

The words came out steady, but her wolf shifted uneasily beneath her skin. They’ll see her as an outcast... a mistake... some wolf not worthy of standing beside him. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides as if bracing for invisible judgment already.

"You won’t be rejected."

"His mother’s sibling mailed him yesterday while we were in the garden talking. She sent him pictures of about ten sophisticated she-wolves and asked him to choose one. Brooklyn, when I say sophisticated, I mean highly sophisticated!" Brooklyn shook her head. "We are not of the same social class and it makes me feel like I’m not good enough for him."

"I felt the same when I moved in with Brandon. Later, I discovered that a wolf who loves you does not really care about your physical appearance or social class."

"He needs some wolf of the same social class, Emma."

"I won’t allow you to blow him off. I’m gonna elevate your social status and take this excuse off your lips!" She said loudly and they laughed.

"His ex-moonmate’s father governs the South Aegean region of Greece. She was pampered a lot. Ken kept trying to keep Arianna in the lifestyle she was accustomed to and that sucked up all his energy. The stress couldn’t let love blossom in the relationship. He tried several times to break up with her but my father refused. Two moons ago, a wolf took her out of his hands and he was very grateful that he did. Ken said when he was told she was spotted in a restaurant with a he-wolf, he wished it was really true.

He gave her his sincere blessings when she admitted that the wolf was her new moonmate. "Our father is still mad at him for breaking up with her," Emma smirked, though the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Emma’s chest tightened faintly as she spoke—her bloodline’s anger never truly stayed in the past; it lingered like a warning.

"Didn’t he tell your father what happened?"

"He did not; he took the responsibility."

"Why?"

"Because that’s Ken for you." Emma exhaled slowly, as if weighing him in her mind. "He confided in me last moonfall... because he heard I was asking questions. I wanted to know if he’s going to cheat on you."

"What was his response?"

"You’ll find out on Sunday."