Alpha's Secret Bride

Alexandra had carried the anger for twenty -five winters, but somewhere along the way, she had grown tired of carrying it. She had spent winters remembering what Madison had done, remembering the lies and the way Madison had disappeared the moment she realized Alexandra knew the truth. Now, as the car carried her toward her residence, Alexandra found herself wondering what good another twenty -five winters of anger would do.

Then there was Darius.

Her son had never hidden his anger toward Madison, but he had never stopped loving her either. Alexandra had seen it in the way his expression changed whenever his mother’s name came up and in the questions he asked about her even when he pretended he didn’t care.

She knew Darius well enough to understand one thing.

He would not come home without Madison.

If Alexandra wanted Darius back in the kingdom, she had to be willing to open the door for his mother too.

That was why she had come to Egypt.

She wasn’t going there to punish Madison. She wasn’t even going there to demand an apology.

She was going to bring their family back together.

—

The driver had confirmed the address before taking her through the city. Alexandra sat quietly in the back seat, watching the streets pass through the window until they reached a quiet residential area.

The car stopped in front of a modest house.

Alexandra picked up her bag, thanked the driver, and stepped out. She stood beside the car for a moment, looking at the house ahead of her before walking toward the front door.

Twenty-five winters had passed since she learned the truth.

Twenty-five winters since Madison had disappeared from her life.

Alexandra stopped at the door and slowly raised her hand. Her finger hovered over the bell for a moment before she finally pressed it.

Footsteps approached from inside.

The door opened.

Madison stood on the other side.

She looked older than Alexandra remembered. A few silver strands had appeared in her hair, and the confident expression she once carried had disappeared the moment their eyes met.

Madison’s fingers tightened around the edge of the door.

"Alexandra."

Alexandra held her gaze without saying a word.

Madison swallowed and glanced behind her before looking back.

"You shouldn’t have come."

"I know."

"Then why are you here?"

Alexandra held Madison’s gaze for a long moment before speaking.

"To forgive you."

Madison’s lips parted, but no words came. She stared at Alexandra as though she had expected anything but that answer.

"You came all the way from the kingdom to tell me that?"

Alexandra stepped inside when Madison moved aside, then placed her bag near the door. "I came because I’m tired of carrying what happened between us."

Madison lowered her head, her fingers twisting together in front of her.

"I don’t deserve your forgiveness."

"No," Alexandra said quietly. "You don’t but Darius do."

Madison’s eyes filled with tears.

Alexandra watched a tear slip down Madison’s cheek before continuing. "What you did hurt me, Madison. You deceived me. You encouraged me to take that vacation, knowing Eldric would be at the palace while I was gone. You knew exactly what you were doing."

Madison closed her eyes and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

"I was wrong."

"You were."

"I regretted it."

Alexandra’s gaze hardened. "But you ran."

Madison’s hand dropped to her side. "I was afraid."

"Of me?"

She nodded.

"I thought you would destroy me when you found out. You were High Luna. I thought there was nowhere I could hide from you, and I was terrified of what you might do."

Alexandra slowly folded her arms.

"So you disappeared instead of facing me."

Madison looked down at the floor. "Yes."

For a while, neither woman spoke.

Alexandra walked toward the window and looked out at the quiet street. When she finally turned back, the anger that had once filled her face was gone, replaced by something quieter.

"Eldric was already grieving Brielle when it happened," she said. "They had been separated by death for three winters. Whatever people in the kingdom believed about their relationship, you didn’t cheat Brielle while he was alive."

Madison’s lips trembled.

"But that doesn’t make what happened between you and Eldric right."

"I know."

"And it doesn’t excuse the way you deceived me."

"I know."

Madison wiped another tear from her cheek and took a shaky breath.

"I never expected Eldric to choose me. I didn’t even think it would become anything more than one mistake. But after it happened, everything became complicated. I was ashamed of what I’d done, and when I realized you knew, I panicked."

Alexandra was quiet for a moment.

Then she reached for the chair beside her and sat down.

"I believe you."

Madison looked up, confusion crossing her face.

"But I still don’t understand why you’re here."

Alexandra took another step toward her and held her gaze.

"Darius."

Madison went still.

Alexandra’s voice softened. "He loves you."

Madison looked away, her eyes dropping to the floor.

"He hates what I did."

"He does," Alexandra admitted.

"I don’t blame him."

Alexandra reached for her hand. "He blamed himself for still loving you. He thought loving his mother meant turning his back on his father."

Madison’s eyes filled again as her fingers curled around Alexandra’s.

"He shouldn’t have had to carry that."

"No, he shouldn’t have."

Madison wiped beneath one eye. "Then why now?"

"Because Darius won’t come home without you."

Madison’s head lifted sharply. "You spoke to him?"

"I didn’t have to."

Alexandra gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"I know my son."

Madison’s composure finally broke. Her shoulders shook as she covered her face with one hand.

"I’ve wanted to go home so many times," she whispered. "I just didn’t know if I still had a home to return to."

Alexandra stepped closer.

"Then come home."

Madison lowered her hand and looked at her through tear-filled eyes.

"Can you really forgive me?"

Alexandra drew in a slow breath before answering.

"I can’t change what happened, and I’m not going to pretend it didn’t hurt. But forgiveness doesn’t mean I approve of what you did. It means I’m choosing not to spend the rest of my life carrying the anger."

Madison pressed her lips together, trying to hold back another sob, but the tears continued to fall.

Alexandra opened her arms.

Madison hesitated only for a moment before stepping into them.

She buried her face against Alexandra’s shoulder and cried, gripping the back of her coat as though she had been holding those tears inside for twenty-five winters.

Alexandra held her tightly and rested a hand against the back of her head.

For the first time in twenty-five winters, Madison was no longer running from the woman she had once feared would never forgive her.

Two days later, Alexandra stood outside the residence with Madison beside her. A vehicle parked at the curb, its engine running quietly as Darius stood beside the open rear door.

The moment he looked up and saw his mother, he stopped.

"Mother?"

Madison’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Darius."

For several seconds, neither of them moved. Darius kept his hands at his sides, staring at the woman he had spent so many winters missing and resenting at the same time. Madison looked as though she wanted to reach for him but was afraid he would step away.

Then Darius slowly crossed the distance between them.

Madison opened her arms.

He stepped into them.

She wrapped him tightly against her, burying her face against his shoulder as her tears finally fell.

"I’m sorry," she whispered.

Darius closed his eyes and held her.

"I know."

Madison pulled back just enough to look at him. "You don’t have to forgive me today."

Darius studied her tear-streaked face before gently wiping one tear from her cheek.

"I already started forgiving you."

Madison covered her mouth as another sob escaped, and Darius pulled her back into his arms.

A few steps away, Alexandra watched them without interrupting. She let Darius have the moment he had waited so many winters for, her gaze resting on him as he held his mother tightly. Madison would have to face the past she had spent twenty-five winters running from, but Darius had nothing to answer for. He was simply a son finally getting his mother back.

Alexandra glanced toward the waiting aircraft.

It was time to bring them both home.

But neither of them would have to face it alone.

After a while, Alexandra glanced toward the waiting aircraft.

"It’s time to go home."

Darius loosened his arms around his mother and looked at Alexandra.

"You really forgave my mother? What about my twin brother?"

Alexandra gave him a gentle look. "We’ll talk about him when we get home."

"What about Brandon and Emma? Are you sure they’re ready to forgive Damon?"

Alexandra walked over and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"They may not forget everything that happened," she said. "But Damon is still your brother, and Madison is still your mother. That’s enough reason for me to bring you both home."

Darius lowered his gaze for a moment before nodding.

Madison looked toward the house, then turned back to the aircraft. She took a slow breath and reached for Darius’s hand.

He took hers.

Together, they walked toward the waiting aircraft.

At the bottom of the stairs, Madison stopped and looked back at Egypt one last time. She had spent twenty-five winters believing she had lost the right to return home.

Now, with Darius’s hand wrapped around hers and Alexandra waiting ahead of them, she finally took the first step toward the life she thought she had left behind.

Several days later, Emma and Brandon were in the family garden when the sound of an approaching aircraft drew their attention. Brandon looked up and watched it descend toward the palace grounds.

"Mother said she’d call when she was ready to return," he said.

Emma raised a hand to shield her eyes from the light. "Maybe she decided to surprise us."

The aircraft touched down, and Brandon smiled as he watched the door open.

Alexandra stepped onto the tarmac first.

Brandon’s smile remained for only a second before his eyes shifted past her.

Someone else was coming down the stairs.

Madison.

Emma’s hand slowly dropped from her face. She looked at Brandon, but he was already staring at the aircraft.

Then another figure appeared in the doorway.

Darius.

Brandon straightened, his eyes fixed on the man walking down the steps beside Alexandra. He took a step forward without realizing it.

Emma reached for his hand.

"Starlit..."

Brandon didn’t answer.

Darius reached the ground and lifted his eyes.

The two cousins stared at each other across the courtyard.

Twenty-five winters had passed since Darius had left the kingdom, but Brandon still remembered the role he had played in bringing Samuel down. Darius had stood beside him when the truth about Samuel’s network was finally uncovered, risking everything to help expose the man who had nearly destroyed the kingdom.

Now, seeing him step off the aircraft, Brandon felt a smile spread across his face.

Darius had come back.

And this time, Brandon had no intention of letting him disappear again.