Alpha's Secret Bride

Chapter 179: The One He Already Lost

They entered the high Luna’s chamber but she was not there yet. After a few minutes, they heard the sound of water splashing on the floor of her master bathchamber. They sat down and began to wait for her.

"Emma, watch out. She’s gonna walk out here and act like nothing ever happened between them."

"Who?" she asked, tilting her head, eyes wide like she didn’t get it.

"My mother," she said, grinning.

Emma snorted, and they both broke into laughter.

She came out snuggled up in a bathrobe and a towel on her hair. Her face was quite expressionless when they greeted her. Emma couldn’t tell if she was happy or sad. Perhaps, the masking of emotions was an inherent part of her. She thought to herself, because she had no reason to be sad again. Elara was right.

"Are you two gossiping about me?" the High Luna asked, stepping closer.

Elara and Emma exchanged a quick look. Then both of them broke into laughter again.

"No, Mother," Elara said, still smiling.

The High Luna’s eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a flicker of amusement at the corner of her mouth.

"Hmm," she said, stopping right in front of them.

Her gaze moved between Elara and Emma, slow and deliberate.

"If I find out you’re lying..." she added, voice calm but sharp, "...you’ll both be scrubbing the ceremonial hall after training."

She tilted her head a little.

"But I’ll give you a chance to prove me wrong."

Elara kept her smile fixed. A warning flickered through her eyes toward Emma.

"We’re not lying, Mother," she said evenly.

Emma pressed her lips together. Her cheeks twitched. "We were just talking. That’s all."

Elara nodded once. "Nothing about you."

Silence stretched between them.

Emma coughed—too quick, too fake. It slipped into a laugh she tried to swallow.

"Yeah... nothing."

The High Luna didn’t blink. She just watched.

Elara straightened slightly. "We were discussing palace matters."

Emma nodded fast. "Serious ones."

Silence stretched.

Then Emma leaned in, voice dropping before she could stop it. "Like how you always know everything even when nobody tells you."

Stillness dropped.

Elara turned her head slowly. "Emma."

Emma blinked. "What?"

The High Luna tilted her head. "Say that again."

Emma pointed immediately. "She said it first."

Elara shot back. "I didn’t say anything."

Emma stepped back. "You literally did..."

The High Luna cut in, calm. "Said what first?"

That did it.

Emma broke—laughing, loud and helpless, bending forward as her shoulders shook.

Elara covered her face.

The High Luna stayed still, watching them both like she didn’t need another word to know exactly what happened.

It was only after their little chaos settled that the greeting finally came through.

"Moonrise, my high Luna."

"Emma, how are you?"

"I’m fine, mother."

"How is my Moon Prince?"

"He is fine."

"Is he aware that Lunara is now seeing one of his cousins?"

"No, my high Luna." She grimaced. "Our neighbor told me she has a new moonmate, but I didn’t pay attention."

"Brandon needs to be very careful. Darius is kind, but Damon is wicked. Despite everything Lunara and her father did, Damon still went after her. I know he didn’t go after her because he loves her. I feel they are up to something," the high Luna said and nodded her head. Elara and Emma exchanged glances and she grimaced again because it was obvious Lunara was up to something.

"Elara, the king and I talked about you and Bernard last moonfall as if we knew both of you would come this moonrise.

I have been asking myself a question and I’m glad you are here now to answer my question.

"How long have you been sleeping with him and when are you planning to tell me?"

"I haven’t slept with him, mother," Elara responded.

"Lunara told your father that both of you slept together in your chamber when Emma left."

"Yes, but we did not have sėx. Besides, I’m twenty-one, mother. Do not forget. I’m an adult."

"I know you are an adult, my pup. But, you should have told me that both of you are in love. I would have opposed it, yes! But I will nevertheless support you! Don’t ever try this next time. Be open always," the high Luna said, and turned her head when Bernard appeared in the doorway. She beckoned him and gestured to him.

"Moonrise, my high Luna," Bernard greeted Luna Alexandra with a bow.

"Have you seen the King?" She asked.

"Yes," he responded.

"Did he tell you what we concluded last moonfall?"

"No, he said he would after the bridal shopping."

"Alright, you guys need to go and get ready for the trip. The king will address both of you when you come back."

"Thank you, my high Luna."

They stood up and began to walk towards the door.

"Emma, do not forget the message I gave you," the high Luna added. She nodded and continued walking.

"We are expecting Brandon’s admiral outfit today and I will send it to you as soon as it arrives."

"Alright," she said and left the chamber. They drove back to the estate, feeling ecstatic.

The second the door swung open, they climbed out of the car. Elara followed Bernard toward his chamber while Emma headed for the elevator, her heels clicking against the floor.

She stepped out of the elevator and headed straight for her chamber. Her handbag slipped from her hand onto the hanger by the wardrobe door while she pulled out her communication device and called her mate.

Busy.

She stared at the screen for a second, then turned and walked to his chamber instead.

The moment she entered, his eyes lifted from the call. A smile tugged at his lips. He opened one arm toward her without a word.

She crossed the chamber, and the second she reached him, he pulled her onto his lap like they’d been apart for days instead of hours.

"I’ll call you back," he muttered into the device before hanging up.

His hand settled on her waist. "Moonheart, how did it go?"

"It went well." She leaned against his chest. "Honestly, we thought they’d be angry, but they just kept teasing us."

A low chuckle left him. "That sounds like them."

She tilted her head back to look at him. "Starlite, the King’s acting too calm. It feels suspicious."

"Nothing’s wrong." His thumb brushed slowly against her side. "I visited them few days ago. I told them about Elara... how bad things got. They felt terrible that she carried all that alone."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Then why did you make it sound like the King would be a problem?"

The corner of his mouth lifted. "I wanted to see Bernard’s reaction. I needed to know if he really loved my little sibling."

"You are..."

Her words disappeared against his mouth.

He kissed her slowly, smiling when he pulled back.

"That’s payback."

She blinked at him. "Payback?"

"I was once in Elara’s position too." His fingers slid through her hair. "The day you kissed Evan, she told me not to give up on you. Said you still didn’t know I was the Oliver you used to love."

She groaned and buried her face against his shoulder. "Please stop bringing up that kiss. I still feel terrible about it."

His laugh rumbled softly in his chest.

"It’s fine." He tipped her chin up. "I survived. Barely." He pressed another kiss against her lips. "But the emotional damage was severe."

"Walk with me," he said a few minutes later, holding out his hand.

She slipped her fingers into his, and they headed toward the rose garden. The moonrise breeze brushed past them as they settled on the stone bench between the flower beds.

Emma ran her fingers over a blooming rose, bringing it close to her nose.

"I planted these three winters ago," Brandon said. "I had a feeling you’d love them."

She turned to him. "How did you know?"

"The day I tucked that wildflower in your hair for the photos." A grin tugged at his mouth. "You closed your eyes and breathed it in like it was a rose."

A soft laugh escaped her. "You notice too much."

She rested her head against his shoulder while his fingers played with hers.

A few minutes later, Elara stepped into the garden and folded her arms.

"Brandon, the flight crew needs your attention. And you two are out here staring at each other like you just fell in love yesterday."

Brandon let out a quiet laugh. "Maybe your happiness is contagious."

He glanced at his watch and pushed to his feet.

Emma stood right after him.

Before either of them could take a step, a staff member hurried into the garden.

"Alpha’s mate," he said, slightly out of breath. "You have a visitor."

Emma turned slowly.

Brandon stopped beside her.

"Who?" she asked.

The staff hesitated. "He didn’t give a name. Said you’d recognize him."

Emma’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Describe him."

"Tall. Slim..."

"Evan," she said softly, almost to herself.

Brandon looked at her.

"So you do know him," Elara murmured.

Emma ignored the comment. "Let him in."

Brandon and Elara exchanged a glance before heading back inside.

"I’ll join you soon," she said.

Neither of them answered.

A few minutes later, a guard led Evan into the visitor’s lounge.

Emma stopped near the doorway.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"You promised to see me," Evan said finally. "Now I hear you’re leaving."

"I told you I’d see you when I came back." Emma folded her arms loosely. "I’m not relocating. It’s shopping."

Evan frowned. "Shopping for what?"

"The royal mating."

The words hit harder than she expected.

Evan looked away and dragged a hand through his hair.

"It’s happening already?"

Emma stayed quiet.

A dry laugh slipped from him. "I’m happy for you. Really." He swallowed once. "Just feels like I’m losing something."

"Evan..." Her voice softened. "None of this was my fault. I tried to reach you, but you made it clear you didn’t want to see me."

"I know."

He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down for a second.

"I just wish things didn’t change this fast."

A knock broke the silence.

"Alpha’s mate," the guard said respectfully, "Princess Elara is asking for you."

Emma nodded once. "I’m coming."

She looked back at Evan.

"You should go. I’ll see you when I return."

"Are you sure you’re coming back?"

She held his gaze for a second, then gave a small nod. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

"Yeah."

She turned and walked toward the elevator.

The doors slid open.

She stepped inside. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

This time, she didn’t look back again.

The elevator doors closed between them.

Evan stayed where he was, staring at the empty space she left behind like he finally understood he had already lost her.