Alpha's Secret Bride

"It’s... 10:19 already, soft fang," Emily said as she pulled her gently away from Brandon.

She let go of him and bid him farewell. Brandon also waved at Emily, but she just smiled and did not wave back at him. Emma wondered why.

It was Moon-day, the twenty-seventh of the Frost Moon already. Thirty-three days to the Prince’s supposed mating bond with Lunara Greens and two moonfalls of Emma cuddling her pillow like a lonely mate.

She was awoken by a loud clacking sound of approaching footsteps echoing through the stone corridor of the pack house. Her wolf curled beneath her bed sheet as she clutched her pillow tightly. She heard the creak of her chamber door, but she didn’t bother to look. A hand pulled her duvet slowly and she sighed and rolled over.

Emily walked towards the window and opened the blind to reveal how high the moon had climbed in the sky. She stared at the blinding golden rays and quickly shut her eyes. The moonlight chased away the last traces of sleep from her mind.

"Moonrise, mother," she whimpered in the lowest tone she could manage, her voice barely escaping her lips.

She stood there, fingers tightening around the edge of her dress. Why is it so late? I didn’t even realize time had slipped away... What if I’ve already upset her? A quiet unease settled in her chest as she avoided her mother’s eyes.

"It’s past ten, Emma."

Her mother’s voice was calm, but it carried weight.

"What?" she asked, eyes widening in surprise as her heart skipped. Ten already? That can’t be... I was sure it was still early in the moonrise...

"Are you okay? You look tired," Emily said, trying to feel her body temperature like a concerned mother would do to her pup.

"I’m fine," she said and slowly sat down on the bed. "I went to bed late last moonfall."

"We all did," she said, waiting for another excuse so she could strike it out like she did the first.

"I...I... made a video call with my mate."

"I called Brandon as early as seven. Emma, he was already in his Alpha duty chamber when I called him," she said and removed her duvet completely. She stood up and adjusted her nightgown.

"Are you going out?"

"Yes."

She answered too quickly, almost as if the word had been waiting behind her teeth. Why does it feel like I’m being questioned instead of asked? It’s just a visit... isn’t it? A faint tension tightened in her chest.

"Where are you going this moonrise?"

"I told you three moons ago that we are visiting Allison today; didn’t I?"

Her tone carried a soft edge of impatience, though she tried to keep it steady.

"You did but I thought it’s gonna be in the highmoon."

"It’s past ten, Emma. Use the bathchamber immediately."

"I didn’t know Ashley would allow you to wake up so early."

Emily dropped the duvet she was holding, stood still, and fixed her expressionless eyes on her like a dominant she-wolf asserting authority. She rolled her eyes.

"I’m sorry, mother. His name is Ashley...Ashford..."

"Add some respect, Emma! He is your father," she said dramatically, and she laughed. She knew she would get accustomed to her new pack life soon. She recalled an incident that happened last moonfall and decided to find out if Brandon disrespected her in any way.

"You did not wave back at Brandon last moonfall and I wondered why? Did he disrespect you?"

"No, but my territory forbids a wolf to wave at another with the left hand or offer gifts with the left hand. I’ll correct him when he comes today."

Emma fell back onto the bed and broke into a peal of laughter, her wolf practically howling within. She tried to control her laughter and she couldn’t. Emily stood still staring at her with a faint humor in her eyes.

"What is it?" She asked innocently.

"Brandon is left-handed. There is nothing wrong with a wolf using his or her goddess-given hands here. It represents wisdom in our own territory. Please, do not correct him; he didn’t do anything wrong."

"Fine! Use the bathchamber at once."

"Do you know the exact dungeon where she is kept?"

"Yes, I searched the moon-net last moonfall and found her number and location on the Department of Corrections scroll site. My name is already on her visiting list. I sent a raven-mail to the department declaring my intention to visit her and also attached my mating certificate to prove that the name on her visiting list and my new name are the same. My visit was approved within thirty minutes. Probably because of your father’s VIP status. I’m going to fill out the last form that was sent to me on our way to the Central She-wolves’s Correctional Dungeon."

"Is he aware we are going to the Central She-wolves’s Correctional Dungeon?"

"You mean Brandon?"

"No, Ash... um... I mean my father."

"Yes"

Her throat tightened slightly, unsure why the question suddenly felt heavier than it should.

"Is he okay with it?"

"Yes."

She hesitated for a moment, searching her face for doubt, but finding none only unsettled her more. A small doubt crept in...was he truly okay with it, or was she just choosing to believe he was?

"Alright."

"Soft fang, you need to be fast. I must put Daniel where he belongs before Saturday. Let’s see how grateful the Alpha King would be to have a murderer as in-law," she said. Emma stood up and began to walk towards the bathchamber. She stopped and turned when an offensive smell filled the chamber.

"What’s that?" She frowned at a she-wolf servant who was setting her breakfast on a carved wooden tray in her chamber.

"Your breakfast, young Luna. I’m sorry I brought it up late. I checked on you several times but you were still sleeping."

"Why does it smell so bad?" She frowned more when she felt like throwing up already, her wolf recoiling at the scent.

"I...I...don’t know," the she-wolf that served the food responded as she tried to perceive the smell of the meal on the table. Emma walked towards the tray to perceive more, as though the scent flooding the entire chamber was not enough to decide if the food was spoiled.

"Take the food away," she commanded the young she-wolf that brought the meal. She bent over and lifted the sturdy tray.

"What would you like to take this moonrise," the she-wolf asked, looking at her.

"Don’t worry, I’m coming to the cookhouse to make breakfast for her." Emily waved at the she-wolf. She turned and left the bedchamber.

"Soft fang, are you okay?" Emily asked as soon as the she-wolf left.

"I’m fine, mother."

"There is nothing wrong with the food," she said and narrowed her eyes.

"I don’t like spices in my breakfast."

"Since when?"

"I....I..."

"Just bathe and dress up. I’ll be right back," she interrupted.

She came out of the closet, fully dressed in simple pack-wear. Since they were visiting an inmate in the she-wolves’ correctional dungeon, she knew certain dressings were frowned upon within the territory, so she chose modest attire to avoid being denied entry. She was surprised Emily had already prepared another meal, this time free of heavy spices. She watched her Soft fang quietly as she ate in silence.

"Thank you, mother."

"You are not okay, Soft fang. You need to see a healer."

"I’m fine," she said and picked up her small purse that rested on the bed.

"I’m ready; shall we go?" Emily shrugged and followed her.

"I want to see my father."

"Alright, meet me in the basement."

She walked straight to her father’s private alpha lounge, as they had not seen each other since the moonrise. He pulled her into a warm embrace as soon as she stepped close, holding her like a treasured pup. She wondered, not for the first time, if he ever grew tired of watching the silver-scaled fish glide through the great aquarium that lined the chamber walls.

"Your mother has told me everything about the troublesome wolf who has sworn to make your life miserable. I hope you are not afraid of him."

"I was... but not anymore," she replied, her gaze falling on the bold headline of the Monday scroll he held. A soft smile curved her lips as she stared at the image of her parents gracing the front page like true rulers of the territory.

"Good! What does he want from you?"

"He doesn’t want the king to accept me," she said, and he let out a low chuckle.

"If only he knew what his selfishness has brought upon his own blood-pup..."

"Oh, my Moon Goddess! Father, what..."

"You are far too inquisitive!" he grinned. "Your mother is waiting for you."

"Alright, father," she said, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss against his forehead.

She stepped into the elevator and soon descended to the lowest level of the pack mansion. Her father’s sleek limousine awaited them, along with the driver assigned to escort them to the she-wolves’ correctional dungeon. They entered the vehicle and departed.

"Who did he kill?" she asked Emily, who was absorbed in a document delivered to her earlier.