Alpha's Secret Bride

"You will find out when we get there," Emily replied absentmindedly.

They reached the Corrections dungeon at high moon and were granted swift passage due to her father’s authority within the territory.

They presented their identification tokens and were registered into the system. After passing several layers of security checks, they were directed through a metal detector. Once the protocols were completed, they were led into a visiting chamber.

Ten minutes later, a she-wolf was escorted in by a correctional warden. Emma studied her expression and immediately sensed the tension...she was not pleased to see Emily.

"How are you, Allison?"

"Emily, tell me why you are here. There is no time for pleasantries," she said, her voice laced with sorrow.

"I’m sorry I failed to keep my promise. You know I was banned indefinitely."

"I know. What do you want?"

"I want to help you," Emily said quietly, and the warden briefly glanced at her before looking away.

"Your moonpup, right?" Allison asked, her eyes shifting to Emma.

"Yes... the one Daniel took from me." Allison’s face tightened immediately.

"Please, do not speak that name here."

"I’m sorry. How is your moonpup?"

"I last saw her eight winters ago."

"What? Eight winters??"

"I suppose they told her I killed her sibling... and she stopped coming."

"I’m going to speak with her. What about your mother?"

"She visited me last winter. I expect her again next full moon."

"Good. I am here to keep my promise. Tell me everything I need to know."

"Emily, I spoke to some lawyers. They said my trial ended in conviction and reopening it is impossible... so I gave up."

"You still have the evidence, don’t you?"

"Yes, but the case is closed," Allison said, shaking her head, and Emma finally stepped forward.

"Reopening a concluded case is nearly impossible...that part is true. If you attempt to revive the same trial, it will be denied because it would cause double jeopardy. But... you can file for a new trial."

"I don’t understand," Allison said.

"Do you still have the evidence?"

"Yes?"

"If that evidence directly supports your innocence and could change the outcome, a lawyer can file a motion for a new trial."

"I see... but I pleaded guilty."

"In the previous trial. This would be a new one entirely."

"Are you certain this can be done?"

"Yes. With newly discovered evidence that couldn’t be presented before, the court can grant a new hearing. The real question is...how strong is your proof?"

"It’s a recording... from that moonfall in my chamber. I hid it inside my box."

Her chest tightened at the memory, a faint unease crawling in even though she tried to sound steady.

"Where is this box?"

"My mother has it."

She hesitated, worried, sparking through her mind...what if it was already gone, what if she was too late?

"Are you sure no one has opened it or removed the evidence?"

"No one has opened it since last winter."

Relief should have come, but instead doubt lingered stubbornly at the back of her thoughts.

"Why not?"

"They don’t know the unlock code... and I’ve forgotten it too."

Frustration pricked at her...how could something so important slip her mind so easily?

"How many digits?"

"Five... or six."

She frowned slightly, trying to piece it together, but her mind felt frustratingly blank.

"Do you remember any of them?"

"Two... one... seven... that’s all I can recall."

That wasn’t enough. Not even close. A quiet anxiety settled in her chest.

"Where does your mother live?" she asked.

"Emily knows."

"Good. Tomorrow, we will visit her, retrieve the box, and hire a lawyer to begin the process once the evidence is secured."

"I will be forever grateful if you do this for me. Please... one more thing. The last time my mother visited, she said Penny has become a seductive dancer. I want her to stop."

"Who is Penny?"

"Her moonpup," Emily answered.

"If that idiot had fulfilled his promise, she would not have ended up in a howlclub. Will you help me speak to her?"

"Yes, I will," Emily said firmly.

"Which howlclub?" Emma asked.

"Emily knows the place," Allison replied, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Do not worry. We will do everything we can."

"Congratulations, Emily. I saw the news of the last moonfall, but I didn’t believe it was truly you until I received your visit request. I’m glad you finally found him."

"Thank you."

"What happened?"

"I will tell you everything when you are free."

"Alright."

"We should go now," Emma said, rising to her feet. She met Allison’s gaze...there was a silent longing there, as though she wished to embrace them...but such contact was forbidden within the chamber. Tears gathered in Emma’s eyes as she turned and walked away.

"Mother, what is our next move?"

"Do we go and see Penny at once?" Emma asked as soon as their car took off.

"No," Emily shook her head. "I will invite her to my house instead. My pictures have been trending since yesterday and I need to be cautious of the places I go nowadays," she added, her tone steady though a hint of unease lingered in her eyes.

"You are right," she said, though she wondered if waiting might cost them time.

"I’ll give one of the drivers her name and the address of the howlclub where she dances," Emily continued, trying to sound confident despite the slight tension in her voice.

"When are you inviting her?" she asked, her curiosity edged with urgency.

"This moonfall, Soft fang; we have no time," she replied, her firmness masking the pressure she felt inside.

"Do you think she will come?" she asked, a trace of doubt slipping through.

"Emma, I’m not the Emily Hale you knew. I am the High Fang Regent’s mate," she said with a grin, though deep down she questioned if her title alone would be enough. "Of course, she will and we are going to talk to her."

"How do we convince her to stop dancing?" she asked, her voice softer now, uncertainty creeping in.

"By offering her a better job," she said, looking slightly worried, doubting if Penny would accept her offer.

"Do you think we are going to prevail upon her mother?"

Emma’s voice held a quiet uncertainty, unsure if kindness alone would be enough.

"Yes! All we need to do is be kind to her. We will bring her around," Emily said confidently, though a small doubt flickered in her mind.

"Alright, I’ll see her before I leave at moonfall," Emma replied, trying to sound certain despite the pressure she felt.

"Are you going back to your estate at moonfall?"

"Yes, I miss my mate and I know he misses me too," she said softly, her chest tightening at the thought of him.

"Talk to your father before you leave."

"Sure, I will," she answered, though she wasn’t entirely sure how that conversation would go.

There was silence in the car for about ten minutes. Emma kept thinking about Brandon and how he was getting on with her absence. She knew it was not easy for him either.

The thought lingered heavily, making her wonder if she had stayed away longer than she should have.

"Jason... was such a cute pup and his father loved him so...much," Emily said, her tone turning gentle, touched with sadness.

"Who is Jason?" she asked, a slight curiosity rising in her, mixed with concern.

"Allison’s late pup."

Emma’s heart dipped at the word "late," already sensing the weight behind it.

"What happened to him?"

"I was not there when the incident happened, but Allison wrote a letter to me and narrated everything. She said Daniel accused her of seeing Jason’s father and stopped taking care of Penny. She went to his house one day to tell his mate everything, but she couldn’t. When Daniel heard she had visited Theresa, he threatened he would kill Jason if she ever tried that.

"Oh, my Moon Goddess! Is Penny Daniel’s pup?"

"Yes, and he was supposed to take care of her, but he neglected her."

"Oh no!" Emma shook her head. "How old is she?"

"Twenty, probably...Allison was a few moons pregnant when I was deported."

"And Jason?"

"He was just three winters when I left and six when he died."

"But Mother, I think Allison was wrong. How could she be comfortable dating some wolf else’s mate...and even having a child for two different wolves?"

"It wasn’t Allison’s fault. Daniel lied to her. She only found out later that he was already mated...and even had a pup."

Emma kept quiet and continued looking through the window, wondering if she could continue. She hates Daniel and anything that is associated with him. She hated him more each time she remembered what he had done to her.

"Mother, I’m sorry, I....can’t talk to her! I don’t want to be involved in anything that is correlated with Daniel."

"Why, Emma?" she asked, looking lost.

"I don’t want to invite another crisis into my life. The challenge I’m currently confronting started with an invitation for dinner. Let’s find the evidence and leave her pup. She is gonna talk to her by herself when she is out."