Alpha's Secret Bride

Chapter 190: Between Love and Suspicion

Sheets of paper covered part of the floor. Sketches. Paintings. Half-finished drawings leaned against the wall beside his easel. Some were rough outlines. Others were so detailed they looked alive.

None of them had been packed away.

Emma’s eyes moved slowly across the chamber.

He hadn’t slept.

The scent of chocolate coffee lingered heavily in the chamber, warm and rich. Beneath it sat the faint smell of cigar smoke, buried deep in the air like it had been there all through the moonfall.

Her throat tightened.

She walked toward the closet area slowly, guilt pressing harder with every step. She had ignored him the entire last moonfall while drowning in fear and anger, yet she still hadn’t found the courage to tell him what was happening. Not yet. Not until she uncovered who was feeding information to their enemies.

Brandon stood in front of the mirror fastening the buttons on his shirt when she entered.

Without speaking, Emma slipped her arms around his waist and rested her forehead lightly against his back.

He didn’t react.

His hands kept moving calmly from one button to the next as though she wasn’t holding him at all.

"Moonrise," she whispered against his back.

Brandon kept his eyes on the mirror.

He reached for his suit coat and tried slipping it on, but her arms were still wrapped around his waist. His hands dropped slowly to his sides.

"Emma, let me go," he said quietly. "Last moonfall was terrible for me."

She closed her eyes for a second. "I’m sorry."

He gave a dry laugh that held no amusement.

"I don’t want an apology. I want to know what’s going on."

Her grip around him loosened slightly. "I’ll tell you later."

"Why not now?"

She lifted her head and glanced toward the walls around them before lowering her voice.

"Because your walls have ears."

Brandon stared at her reflection in the mirror for a long moment before speaking again.

"Fine. Would you let me dress?"

She slowly pulled her arms away.

Without another word, he continued getting ready while she stood beside him watching quietly. When he picked up his tie, she reached for it instinctively.

"Let me."

"I can do it myself."

She held onto the tie anyway. After a brief pause, Brandon pulled it off completely and dropped it into her hands instead.

Then he picked up his briefcase and walked toward the door without wearing it at all.

"Starlit, wait."

His hand stopped on the door handle, but he didn’t turn around immediately.

She swallowed hard.

"I’ll tell you everything," she said softly. "I just need a little more time."

Brandon finally looked back at her. His eyes drifted downward to her stomach.

"Did you lose our pup?"

Emma’s breath caught.

"No."

His gaze lifted slowly to her face again.

"Are you leaving me for Evan?"

"No." She shook her head quickly and took a step toward him. "I just need time."

"How much time?"

The question came out low and steady, but the look in his eyes made her chest tighten. His brows pulled together slightly as he watched her, waiting.

Emma opened her mouth, but the words tangled in her throat.

"I..."

Brandon turned and walked out of the chamber.

Emma stayed close behind him, his tie still clenched in her hand, but he kept walking like she wasn’t there. Like her presence got under his skin.

She kept talking, words spilling after him, trying to catch his attention.

He lifted a hand, waving her off without looking back.

Emma’s steps slowed. Then stopped.

She leaned into the wall, still holding his tie, watching him get farther down the hallway.

"Alpha’s mate," Leo called carefully, "we greeted you earlier, but you didn’t answer us.

Are you upset with us?"

She looked straight past him without saying a word and turned back toward Brandon’s chamber.

Before she could reach the door, another guard spoke up, his voice faint and barely clear.

"Alpha, you forgot your tie."

He stopped.

For a second, he stood there without moving. Then he handed his briefcase to one of the guards and climbed the stairs again.

Emma had barely stepped back inside the chamber when the door slid open behind her. She turned quickly, startled by how fast he had returned.

The door shut.

Brandon closed the space between them, grabbed her shoulders, and pinned her lightly to the wall, his grip controlled but tight with restrained anger.

"Start talking."

"Em... nothing," she whispered as she tried to shift under his hold, but his hands stayed where they were.

His eyes searched her face. "Why are you avoiding me and ignoring everyone in the estate? What did we do?"

She looked away briefly before meeting his eyes again.

"Nothing." Her fingers tightened around his tie. "You trust them, don’t you?"

Something flickered across his face.

His grip loosened slowly before he finally let her go.

She stepped closer without waiting for another word. She lifted the tie around his collar and began fixing it carefully, her fingers brushing lightly against his neck.

This time, he didn’t stop her.

He stood quietly while she adjusted the knot, and she noticed the tension slowly leaving his shoulders beneath her touch. When she finished and stepped back, Brandon looked at her differently, the anger in his eyes fading into something softer.

Almost regretful.

She lowered her gaze immediately, suddenly aware of how hard he had pinned her against the wall moments earlier.

His expression changed the instant he noticed.

"Have you eaten?" he asked quietly.

She shook her head.

He reached for her waist and pulled her gently toward him before lowering his mouth to hers. The kiss came slow and careful, his lips lingering against hers like he had been holding himself back all through the moment they drifted apart.

"I missed you last moonfall," he murmured against her lips. "I kept wishing you were with me."

Emma’s fingers curled lightly against the front of his shirt.

Brandon brushed his thumb across her cheek before taking her hand into his.

"Moonheart, you need to eat."

He led her out of the chamber, and together they walked toward the feeding chamber.

"Moonrise," Mr. Richard said as he set the breakfast down on their feeding table.

"Moonrise," Emma greeted.

"Moonrise, Mr. Richard," Brandon replied.

He grinned. "Same to you, my Prince."

His gaze shifted. "Alpha’s mate... are you feeling better now?"

"I am," she said with a small nod.

"Good. We were worried all through last moonfall."

"We?"

"Thalia and I." He gave a light smile, then turned away.

Brandon’s hand paused over his cup. "Have you seen Elara this moonrise?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"In my chamber."

His brows pulled slightly. "Brooklyn called this moonrise."

Emma’s eyes lifted. "What did she say?"

"She’s flying in tomorrow."

Her spoon stopped halfway to her plate. "I told her not to."

"She already booked the flight."

Silence settled between them for a moment.

"I called her several times last moonfall,"

She said quietly. "She didn’t pick up. I left a message."

He watched her for a second. "Did you tell her why you were upset?"

She lowered her gaze.

"No."

"Well, she’s coming, and I really want her to. You know how she is—she gets things out of people. You could make it easier on yourself and just tell me what I need to know."

She set her fork down. "And what would it cost me to replace the guards?"

"Nothing," he said, leaning back in his chair. "But it’ll take me five winters to get to know them well enough to trust them."

His eyes lifted. "Why do you ask?"

"I’m just curious."

"That’s not curiosity." He picked his fork back up, slower this time. "I won’t push you. But when the time comes, I’ll figure it out. I’ll handle it properly."

His gaze stayed on her a moment longer before he went back to his meal.

Elara stepped into the chamber, crossed the space, and pressed a device into Emma’s hand.

She gave a quick wave to her sibling, then looked back at Emma.

"Who’s on the line?"

"The High Luna wants to speak with you."

Emma straightened slightly.

"Moonrise, my High Luna."

"Emma, where is your device? I’ve called you more than three times."

"In my chamber."

"It’s called a handset. Not a bedchamber set. Understood?"

"Yes, my High Luna."

"Good. I was surprised when Elara told me you all returned last moonfall. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, my High Luna."

The silence stretched.

"Are you sure, Emma?"

"Yes."

"Alright. The Royal Affair Planners will visit tomorrow. They want to see your bridal shower setup and the mating gown so they can confirm everything fits perfectly. They..."

"My High Luna," Emma cut in, fingers tightening around the device, "if the gown doesn’t meet their standards... what happens?"

"You will return to Nicole Spose’s Bridal Boutique and choose another one. The best one."

Emma’s gaze dropped. "Emily already hired an event planner. She finalized the payment."

"Emma, listen to me. This is our occasion. Our responsibility. Tell her to request a refund. We are going with The Royal Affair Planners."

"...Alright."

The call ended.

She lowered the device slowly.

Brandon leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead before straightening. Elara gave him a small wave as he turned and left the chamber.

The door clicked shut behind him. freeweɓnøvel.com

Elara slid into the space he’d just left.

Behind Elara, Bernard shifted closer, tilting his head slightly as if trying to catch her expression.

He clearly was not the spy they were looking for. He looked so innocent and flawless.

"Elara... what is it?" Bernard asked.

"Nothing," she said, shoulders lifting as she looked away.

Emma kept speaking into the device, but her attention split—half on the call, half on the chamber.

"You’ve been avoiding me," Bernard said again.

"I was tired last moonfall. I didn’t feel like seeing anyone."

A faint smirk pulled at his mouth. "Alright."

He leaned in a little. "Have you eaten?"

"No."

"I’ll make you something."

"I need to make a call. Can I use your device?"

"Sure."

He slid it across the table with an easy smile, then turned and walked away.

Emma watched him go for a second before looking back down, the call still running in her hand.

"Your Majesty, please—I’ll call you back,"

Emma said, and the line went dead.

She lowered the device slowly.

"Elara... I think he’s innocent. Him being at the palace, and watching us through the window at the beach... it could’ve just been a coincidence."

Elara didn’t look up. "I know what I saw."

Her thumb kept moving over the screen. "He may not be the one pulling the strings, but he knows something. And he’s hiding it from me."

"Elara..."

"I’ve known him since he was nine," she cut in, still scrolling. "He’s the smartest person I know. Brandon is smart too, but you can read him. Bernard... you can stand right in front of him and still not know what’s going on in his head."

Emma watched her hands. "And you’re sure he loves you?"

Elara gave a short laugh under her breath. "Of course."

She didn’t look up. "His eyes say everything when he looks at me."

Her fingers moved faster now, opening another tab, another log.

Emma leaned in slightly. "He lets you go through his device like that?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure about that?"

Elara finally lifted her head.

"You check Brandon’s device too, don’t you?"

Emma hesitated.

"It’s basically mine," she said quietly. "What’s his is mine,

remember?"

"Same," Elara said, already back on the screen.

The chamber settled into silence, broken only by the soft tap of fingers on screens and the faint hum of life drifting through the mansion beyond the walls.

The door opened.

Bernard stepped in with a tray balanced in both hands. Steam curled up from the plate as he crossed the chamber