Alpha's Secret Bride

Bernard looked down at their joined hands, his thumb brushing slowly over her knuckles. The tension in his shoulders eased, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

"You have a good heart, Silverheart." He held her gaze. "One that’s always willing to see the best in people."

He let out a quiet breath.

"I hope you’re right about her. I’d rather be the suspicious one than watch someone take advantage of your kindness."

He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"We’ll do it your way." A faint smile touched his lips. "But if my instincts tell me something is off, don’t fight me on it. Promise you’ll trust me enough to let me deal with it."

He gave her hand one last squeeze. "That’s all I’m asking."

Elara’s smile deepened. She rose onto her toes and cupped his face, her thumbs brushing lightly against his cheeks.

"I promise." Her voice was soft but certain. "If your instincts tell you something is wrong, I’ll listen."

She searched his eyes for a moment before smiling again.

"But you have to promise me something too." A playful glint flickered in her eyes. "Don’t let one bad experience make you expect the worst from everyone. Some people deserve a chance to prove themselves."

She leaned forward and kissed him gently.

"Let’s hope she’s one of them."

---

Meanwhile, Brandon and Emma were getting everything ready for the trip home.

Emma reached for a stack of clothes and started folding them, but Brandon gently took them from her hands.

"Moonheart, you don’t need to do this," he said. "Save your strength for the trip home."

She reached for another shirt, but he caught her hand and led her back to the bed.

"Brandon," she protested, laughing as she sat down. "I’m not a doll. Please stop."

"You may not be a doll," Brandon said with a smile, "but let me do my job."

She folded her arms. "Since when is packing your job? Tell me. If you keep treating me like this, I’m going to become lazy."

He chuckled. "You’re the hardest-working Queen Luna I’ve ever seen. You’re carrying our pup. That’s already more than enough."

He cupped her cheeks and kissed her softly before turning back to the suitcase.

Emma stayed on the bed, pouting as she watched him finish the packing.

---

Two days later, Alpha Brandon and Luna Emma returned from their honeymoon.

The Nightclaw Estate came alive the moment their convoy arrived. Household staff stood in two neat rows along the purple carpet that stretched from the tarmac to the mansion, waiting to welcome them home.

Maelis, who had grown close to Elara, stood beside her with a warm smile as the couple walked toward them.

The moment Emma stepped out, Elara’s eyes went straight to her. Her pup bump, no longer a secret, had rounded out a little more. She had filled out too, but she still carried herself with the same grace and elegance.

Emma hurried down the stairs.

Elara rushed to meet her, wrapped her in a tight hug, and nearly knocked them both off balance.

"Oh, my Moon Goddess!" Emma laughed, holding onto her. "I’ve missed you guys so much!"

She pulled back and looked Elara over with a grin.

Elara knelt in front of her and rested a gentle hand on her baby bump.

"How’s he doing?"

She covered Elara’s hand with hers and smiled. "He’s doing fine."

Relief softened Elara’s face. "I’m so glad you didn’t lose him after the shooting."

Emma looked down at her stomach and rubbed it lightly. "He’s a stubborn little pup. He wasn’t ready to leave." She chuckled. "The healers said the pup is protected by an amniotic sac that cushions it from shock. That’s probably what saved him."

Elara’s eyes lit up. "I can’t wait to experience that one day."

"You will." Emma reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. "And when that day comes, you’ll be an amazing mom."

Emma laughed, and Elara laughed with her as she picked up a copy of Emma’s book and held it up.

"Moonheart, your book is selling like crazy! I couldn’t believe it when your publisher announced they’d already sold seven hundred thousand copies."

Emma smiled and glanced toward the entrance. "I owe it all to him."

She pointed at Alpha Brandon as he walked in with his guards.

Elara ran to him.

He caught her with ease, kissed her forehead, then lifted her off the floor.

"Silverheart," Brandon said with a chuckle, "you’ve put on some weight."

He set her down before his eyes landed on Maelis.

"Who’s she?"

"My new Moonally," Elara said. "Her name is Maelis Marchant."

Brandon gave Maelis a brief nod.

"Welcome to Nightclaw Estate."

"Thank you, Alpha," Maelis replied.

Brandon looked at Elara. "Don’t wear her out before the mating ceremony."

Elara laughed. "No promises."

A faint smile tugged at his lips before he turned and headed upstairs. After a few steps, he looked back over his shoulder.

"Moonheart, there’s something I want to show you."

Emma smiled. "All right. I’ll be there in a few minutes."

Maelis watched him go, the corners of her mouth lifting in amusement.

Emma slipped her hand into Elara’s.

"Come with me."

Without another word, she led Elara toward her bedchamber.

"Who is she?" Emma asked.

"The new housekeeper Bernard hired," Elara replied with a smile.

Emma’s smile faded. "She has to go."

Elara looked at her. "Why?"

"Didn’t you see the way she kept looking at my Alpha?"

Elara waved the concern aside and walked over to the bed before sitting down.

"Elara," she said, her voice rising a little. "That woman is obviously up to something."

A laugh slipped from Elara’s lips. "My Queen Luna, you’re worrying over nothing. Maelis isn’t plotting anything. She’s kind, she’s hardworking, and I already like her."

She rubbed a hand across her forehead and sighed. "Oh, Moon Goddess, Elara."

She was quiet for a moment before asking, "Does she live there?"

"Yes."

"And you don’t?"

Elara shook her head. "After the royal mating, I’ll move in there. Besides, my toy is always with me."

Emma burst out laughing. "I used to hate carrying mine. I complained to Brandon all the time, but he never listened, so I came up with a plan." A grin spread across her face as the memory came back.

"What plan?" Elara asked, leaning forward.

"When he came home last week, I greeted him with the gun pointed at his head."

Elara’s eyes widened.

Emma laughed. "You know what surprised me? He didn’t panic. He just walked straight up to me, took it out of my hand, and said, ’This isn’t actually a toy. It’s for self-defense.’"

"So where’s the toy now?" Elara asked with a smile.

Emma gave a small shrug. "He took the gun and wouldn’t give it back, so my plan worked."

The two of them dissolved into laughter.

Actually, there’s no point in giving Emma a gun. Even if her life depended on it, she wouldn’t pull the trigger. Kindness was her greatest weakness, Elara thought.

She walked over to the sofa and sat down, her eyes never leaving Elara’s face.

"Now spill it. What’s really going on between you and that woman?"

"She’s a widow," Elara said. "She lost her mate, and she needs work."

She slowly shook her head. "Help her if you want. Give her money if she needs it, or find her another job. But don’t let her work there. You don’t even know her."

Elara leaned back against the headboard and smiled. "Do you know Mrs. Thompson or every maid working in your estate?"

She hesitated before answering. "No, but Bernard knows them."

"And Bernard knows Maelis too."

"For how long?"

"Two winters."

Emma pressed her lips together and looked away for a second before meeting Elara’s eyes again.

"Two winters is enough to know a person," she admitted. "But I still don’t like the way she looks at people. Didn’t you notice the way she kept watching Brandon? It was written all over her face. Something about her doesn’t feel right to me."

"What did you see on her face?"

"I saw a desperate she-wolf," Emma said. "The kind who’d do anything to make sure you and Bernard never get your happily ever after."

Elara’s fingers tapped the arm of her chair. "Then we’ll keep an eye on her."

"I’ll send Naomi to your estate. I trust her. If that woman is hiding something, Naomi will find it within two days."

Emma reached for the intercom on the table, pressed the white button, and spoke into it.

"Naomi, come to my chamber."

Less than two minutes later, Naomi stepped inside. She curtsied before both women.

Elara returned the greeting with a small wave.

Emma pointed to the chair across from her. "Sit."

Naomi sat quietly.

She reached for the two designer shopping bags on the bed and handed them to Naomi.

"Here. I got these for you and Paige."

Inside were expensive clothes, shoes, and matching accessories.

Naomi gasped, then dropped dramatically onto the floor.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Elara burst into laughter, and Emma couldn’t help laughing with her.

"Naomi, please get up. We need to talk," Emma said, shaking her head with a smile.

Naomi pushed herself up to her knees but kept bowing over and over. "Thank you, Queen Luna. Thank you."

"I need your help." Emma leaned forward. "Did you see the woman in the antechamber?"

Naomi shook her head. "No, but I saw a pretty lady in the living chamber."

"Do you know her?"

"No, Luna."

"She’s Elara’s new housekeeper."

Naomi thought for a moment. "She didn’t look comfortable. She kept looking around like she was on edge."

"Exactly." Emma smiled. "That’s why I picked you."

Naomi straightened in her seat.

"You’ll go with Elara and keep an eye on that woman. Get close to her. Be her best moonally and earn her trust. Sooner or later, she’ll let something slip."

"How long should I stay?" Naomi asked.

"As long as it takes. The moment you hear or see anything useful, come back and report to me."

"Yes, my Queen Luna." Naomi rose to her feet.

Elara smiled. "Go pack a few changes of clothes. You’re coming with me."

"At your service, my Moon Princess." Naomi dipped into another curtsy, then turned and slipped out of the chamber.

Emma watched the door close behind her.

Elara smiled as she walked toward the door. "We’ll see what Naomi finds."

Emma caught up with her, slipping her hand into Elara’s as they stepped out together.

"Naomi knows almost everyone around here," Emma said. "She has friends who hear everything before anyone else. If Maelis is hiding something, it won’t stay hidden for long."

Elara gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I guess we’ll find out soon enough."

"Yeah," she murmured, "let’s see who Maelis really is.