Alpha's Secret Bride

For a moment, she forgot to take the offered hand. Something about the woman felt familiar, though she was certain they had never met before. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. She quickly recovered herself and shook the woman’s hand.

"Welcome, Maelis Marchant," she said, her voice slightly unsteady.

"Thank you, Princess."

Elara continued looking at her. Up close, the woman appeared to be in her mid-forties, tall and elegant, with kind eyes and a calm confidence that drew attention without effort.

"Are you mated?" Elara suddenly asked.

Maelis nodded.

"I was."

The answer only sharpened Elara’s curiosity.

"What happened?"

"My mate died twenty winters ago."

A shadow crossed Maelis’s eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

"Did you rematch?" Elara pressed.

"No."

"Why not?"

Maelis laughed softly and shook her head.

"Honey, you should be resting instead of questioning me."

Before Elara could ask anything else, Bernard slipped an arm around her waist and lifted her off the ground.

"That’s enough interrogation for one day," he said.

"Bernard!"

She twisted in his arms, still looking over his shoulder at Maelis.

The woman simply stood there smiling as she watched them leave.

Bernard carried her into the main building and up the staircase. Even as they climbed, Elara kept glancing back until Maelis disappeared from sight.

A few moments later, Bernard pushed open a bedchamber door and carried her inside.

The chamber was beautiful. Warm moonlight spilled through the tall windows, bathing the elegant furniture in a silver glow. Fresh flowers decorated the chamber, and the large bed at the center made the entire place feel intimate and inviting. It reminded her of Emma’s chamber at the estate.

Bernard lowered her onto the mattress and immediately leaned closer.

Elara pressed her palm against his chest, holding him in place as her eyes stayed fixed on his face.

"Who is she?" she asked.

Bernard hesitated, his brows knitting slightly as if he hadn’t understood. "Who?"

"That woman," Elara said again, her voice quieter this time but steadier, not letting him off the question.

She pointed toward the door as though Maelis were still standing outside.

Understanding slowly settled across his face as the tension in his brow eased.

"Oh. Maelis," he said at last.

"Yes, Maelis," she repeated, her gaze not leaving him as the name hung between them.

He lowered himself beside her, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight as he sat close.

"She wanted to work for Brandon as one of the cooks a while ago, but there weren’t any openings. She kept calling me and asking if I knew of any position she could take. When Father gave us this estate, I remembered her and offered her the job."

Elara’s eyes narrowed as the thought settled more firmly in her mind, and her voice came out steady, almost decided.

"I’m going to have her investigated."

Bernard blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden seriousness in her tone. "For what?"

"She is up to something," Elara said, watching him closely as if waiting for him to admit what she already believed.

A short laugh slipped from him, soft and disbelieving. "Silverheart, she isn’t."

"Did you search her bags thoroughly?" Elara asked. "I hope she wasn’t carrying a revolver."

Bernard smirked. "With the security around this place? She wouldn’t dare."

"Oh, spare me the explanation." Elara folded her arms. "Emma’s house in Monaco had top-notch security too, yet Rivena still managed to sneak into the guards’ chamber and steal a gun. Come on, Bernard. I don’t want history repeating itself."

Bernard reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It won’t," he said, holding her gaze. "I promise."

He leaned toward her again, closing the small space between them as if trying to ease the tension between her thoughts and his reassurance.

She pushed against his chest before he could get any closer.

Bernard groaned.

"Again?"

"How well do you know her?" she asked.

The amusement on his face faded slightly.

"Silverheart, I’ve known her for winters. She’s a widow looking for a job, not a criminal."

"But she looked at us strangely."

"She looked at us the way everyone looks at us."

"And how is that?"

Bernard’s mouth curved into a smile.

"Like we’re a pair of lunatics."

Despite herself, Elara fought back a smile, but her thoughts drifted to Maelis once more.

The woman smiled.

She answered every question calmly.

She had given no reason to be suspicious.

Yet something deep inside Elara refused to settle.

"You employed her without telling me first," Elara said, her brow knitting as she frowned. "Bernard, come on, I should have at least done a proper investigation on her before agreeing to let her cook for us."

"I checked her background before bringing her here," he said, rolling her slightly as he eased the zipper down. "There’s nothing there that should worry you," he added, his tone calm but certain.

He guided the gown off her shoulders, then turned her again, hands steady, unhurried.

"Why do I feel like you’re hiding something?" she asked.

He didn’t answer. His attention stayed on her, fingers moving in slow, careful patterns that made her breath catch. His gaze didn’t leave her face, tracking every small shift.

"If I find out you’re hiding something from me, I’ll kill you," she said, her voice thin but firm.

"Alright," he murmured, like the words didn’t reach him.

Her breath wavered anyway.

He paused just long enough to read her—watching, waiting. Then he continued, slower now, more deliberate, like he already knew what she wouldn’t say out loud.

A faint smile touched her lips.

He caught it immediately.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked under his breath.

The question barely left him before the space between them tightened. Her breath broke into something unsteady, and his focus sharpened, every small reaction pulling him deeper into the moment as he closed the distance again.

"You’re a fast learner," she whispered, her breath still unsteady.

He gave a small smile and took her hand, guiding it slowly as he watched her reaction closely.

Her breath caught and she froze for a moment, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment. Then her voice broke into pleading words, asking him to close the distance between them.

But he didn’t rush. His attention stayed on her, measured, controlled, as the tension built between them.

When she finally stopped resisting, he pulled her closer.

The rest happened in a blur of heat and closeness, the world narrowing down to just the two of them.

After a while, they lay side by side, the silence soft and heavy, their breathing slowly evening out as the moment settled.

A few minutes later, Bernard carried her toward the bathchamber. Warm steam drifted through the chamber as they slipped inside, laughter echoing off the tiled walls. Water splashed between them in careless bursts, playful and unguarded, until the tension of the day melted into something lighter.

When Elara finally stepped out, droplets still clung to her skin and hair, and she reached for a towel with slow, relaxed movements. Her device lit up on the counter—three missed calls from Emma.

Bernard lingered a moment longer, then stepped out and closed the door behind him, leaving her the quiet.

Elara sat on the edge of the seat and started a video call.

Emma’s face appeared on the screen almost at once.

"Hey, honeymoon Luna," Elara said with a small smile. "What’s up?"

"I’m good." Emma smiled back. "I called you three times. Where have you been?"

Elara turned the device so Emma could see the chamber. She glanced toward the door Bernard had just walked through, then smiled.

"Guess what? Father finally showed us our new house. We’re here right now."

A teasing laugh slipped through the device. "I guess you and Bernard are making out in every chamber in that place."

Elara chuckled under her breath. "We’re just getting started... We have only used one chamber so far."

"Alright, alright," Emma said, still laughing. "Just make sure you’re ready to host me when I come back."

"When are you two coming back?" Elara asked, her voice softening. "I’ve missed you."

There was a brief pause before Emma answered. "I don’t know. Brandon said we’re going to make up for all those winters we were apart before he even thinks of leaving."

Elara let out a short laugh, almost coughing with it. "I know how badly he wanted you back then. Now that he has you... only the Moon Goddess can save you."

Emma snorted. "He doesn’t let me do anything. Just eat, bathe, watch movies, play games, and sleep. Sometimes we go out—beach, theaters, clubs... he keeps me busy."

"You forgot to tell me how he..."

Before she could finish, a familiar voice interrupted from the other end.

"How exactly does he do what, Elara?"

"Brandon’s tone slid into the video call like he had been listening all along.

Emma burst into laughter, and Elara froze for half a second before smiling despite herself.

"Moonfall, Alpha Brandon," she greeted him.

"Moonfall, Silverheart. How are you?"

"I’m fine," she replied.

Brandon’s tone turned teasing. "I see you’ve started enjoying senior jokes now."

Elara let out a small scoff, rolling her eyes. "And what exactly do you expect me to enjoy? Junior jokes? Or should I still act like your tiny little sibling who doesn’t know her left from her right?"

A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Careful. I might have to deal with you properly when I get back."

"Be my guest," she said with a laugh.

Emma laughed with her, the sound drifting through the quiet space as if distance had never once stood between them, unbothered as the video call ended in amusement.

"Food is ready," Bernard said the moment she ended the call.

Elara turned and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

"Brandon and Emma were asking about you," she said.

"I would have loved to speak with her. The last time I talked with Alpha Brandon, she was already asleep."

"Yeah," Elara replied with a small smirk. "He’s spoiling her with love. All those wasted winters apart... now he just wants to make up for it."

"That’s what wolves do when they fall in love," Bernard chuckled. "I’m sure she’ll be pregnant by the time they come back."

Elara laughed, nudging him lightly. "Both of us are mischievous for even thinking in that direction."

Her tone turned lightly teasing, and they both laughed.

They ate in silence. When they finished, Elara was the first to break it, her question hanging in the air.

"Where are the rest of the gifts?" she asked, turning slightly toward him.

"Easy, Silverheart. One thing at a time."

"Just tell me already," Elara said, impatience flashing in her eyes.

Bernard picked up his device, unlocked it, and opened the photo gallery.

"Here." He turned the screen toward her. The image showed a towering building rising high into the sky.

Elara leaned closer, her brows drawing together.

"What is this place?" she asked, lifting her eyes to his. "Please don’t tell me it’s what I think it is."

Bernard didn’t answer right away. The corner of his mouth lifted into a knowing smile.

"You’re looking at your next problem," he said.

Elara’s breath caught.

Before she could ask another question, Bernard slipped an arm around her and drew her closer, his eyes never leaving hers.

Then he looked back at the towering building.

"Everything starts there."