Alpha's Secret Bride-Chapter 97: Secrets Before the Mating Ceremony

It was the 19th of November already. Forty-two days remained until the sacred mating ceremony. Emma had just returned from the estate healing den, where Teddy—the loyal guard who took a silver bullet meant for her—was still undergoing treatment. The faint scent of herbs and wolf-healing elixirs clung to her skin as she walked straight into the study chamber to write.

Her mate had gone to a meeting with pack members, leaving with the great bird and several elite guards, their dominant auras trailing behind them.

"How did it go at the royal court?" Mr. Richard asked as he appeared in the doorway, holding a glass of vanilla shake. The rich, soothing aroma filled the chamber, calming yet distracting.

Emma curled her fingers slightly, beckoning him closer, and he stepped forward to hand it to her.

"I made it specially for you," he grinned. "It can enhance your creativity as you write."

She poured the drink into her writer’s mug and handed the empty glass back to him.

"So, how did it go?" he asked again.

"It was rescheduled."

"Why?"

"I need one of my parents or guardians present to witness the hearing and verdict."

"Oh, that’s not a problem... I can be your guardian," he said with a proud grin.

"Would you enter my car?"

"No! Why should I? I’ll go with mine instead," he replied seriously, as if his old vehicle carried the pride of an Alpha.

Emma shook her head, amused. She and Brandon had offered him a brand-new Ferrari, yet he refused, bound by reasons only his wolf understood.

"I’ll be traveling tomorrow to see my blood mother. Please do not tell anyone."

"Oh, my Moon Goddess! My Alpha’s mate, I’m so proud of you! How did you find her?"

"It’s a long story."

"You are a great mate, and surely you will become a powerful Luna soon."

"Thank you."

He smiled, admiration shining clearly in his eyes.

"I’ll leave you to write," he said, and she nodded.

"How is Thalia?"

"She is fine."

"I ordered two communication devices for her and Paige."

"Wow! Thank you. She will be very happy. I bought one for her two moons ago, but she rejected it," he said with a grin.

"Why?" she laughed softly.

"She said the version was outdated and the memory storage wasn’t enough for her favorite music."

"I got the latest version for her."

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome," Emma said, turning back to the book on the table.

Just then, the device beside her beeped and vibrated.

She checked it and was surprised to see two downloaded voice recordings. One was from the general feeding chamber, and the other... from Lunara’s chamber.

Her wolf stirred faintly at the name.

She tried playing the first recording, but the overlapping chatter made it impossible to understand. Frustrated, she deleted it and opened the one from Lunara’s bedchamber.

Emma felt no guilt. Not anymore. Lunara was a threat—a shadow that had already tried to break through her defenses.

She stood, secured the door, shut all the windows, and sat back down.

She pressed play and immediately lowered the volume.

"Did you get the silver?"

"Yes, my Alpha," came a trembling reply.

"When are you going?"

"After the meeting. I want to see you again."

"We are not seeing again. Prepare for the mating ceremony."

"Why?"

"The High Luna complained about your actions with her workers. I tried to defend you, but she is not a fool."

"Moon Prince Brandon..."

"No! Do not refer to him."

"He accused me first. He told the High Luna I was involved with a worker."

"My Prince does not waste time on such matters. I suspect your sibling."

"She is not my sibling, my Alpha."

"Sorry, I forgot."

"You must leave before the meeting."

"I want to leave after the meeting."

"Fine. But I will not see you again."

"And your promise?"

"Don’t worry. I will fulfill it."

"I’m afraid this strategy may fail."

"I have another one. It will work perfectly."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes... trust me, he won’t resist it."

"Give me a hint."

"I will tell you after the decree."

"Alright, thank you."

"You’re welcome."

There was a brief silence before the recording resumed again.

This time, Emma heard a different she-wolf’s voice.

Since the recorder was motion-activated, it paused during silence and resumed once voices were detected—creating a small gap between the conversations.

"Ravenna, I’m so confused right now."

"Confused about what?"

"The surgery! The king wants me to go for it. I can’t... the Prince knows I’m not a virgin!"

"Tell the king."

"I can’t."

"You’re truly confused. Take the silver, travel to the country he chose, pretend to do the surgery, and return after a week. He won’t know."

"He might confirm with me... or the healer."

"Then give the healer some silver."

"Hei... Lunara... why not just do the damn surgery?"

"You don’t understand, do you?"

"Brandon knows I’m not a virgin. There is no point deceiving him! He won’t buy it; rather, he would get mad at me!"

"Listen, the best thing is to open up to the king and tell him the truth. Come on! He will help you! He likes you a lot, remember?"

"He loves his Luna and pups more... especially his Prince."

"Whatever, just open up to him."

She let out a slow breath and deleted the audio. It wasn’t what she expected to hear. She lit her writer’s candle, its flame flickering like a restless wolf spirit, then lifted her pen and began to write.

She never realized how disorganized and stubborn her wolf had been until she started writing her story—every reckless choice, every act of defiance laid bare before her. Tears slipped down her cheeks as the weight of her past pressed against her chest. Though she had changed, the stubbornness still lingered deep within her.

She recalled how Theresa had pleaded with her, over and over, to bow to her she-wolf, Lunara whenever they met—to let peace reign between them. But that same pride, that same wild defiance, had stopped her every time. She would have chosen death over submission.

A knock echoed against the door, pulling her from her thoughts.

She stood, walked over, and opened it slowly before stepping aside. Brooklyn entered the chamber and shut the door behind her. Her eyes immediately caught the tear-streaked face before her, and she paused in the middle of the chamber.

"What is it?"

"Sometimes... we need to sit down and write about ourselves. You’ll be shocked by the foolish, dramatic things you did in the past."

"It is not your fault."

"It is, Brooklyn."

"When a pup is raised with love and respect, they grow into it. Affection and unconditional love make a wolf emotionally whole. Emma... no one except Brandon has ever given you that. That’s why you began to act like a true wolf when you moved in with him. His love slowly washed away the bitterness and confusion your father planted in you when you were just a pup. I only hope it melts your stubbornness too."

"Trust me, Brooklyn... I’m going to change."

"Are you sure?"

Emma nodded.

"When?"

"When I’m done correcting my mistakes."

"What mistakes exactly?"

"When I was growing up, I was a difficult pup. Brandon didn’t want anything to come between us because he knew how hard it would be to win me back once I shut him out. He was careful... very careful with me."

"When I told him not to tell anyone about Springfield, I bound him to that decision. The only choice he had was to invite Lunara and her pack-kins to dinner and speak to them directly—just to follow my will. He was still young... he didn’t know he had invited the wrong wolves into our lives."

"I am the architect of my own pain... and I won’t rest until I drive her and her pack-kins out of my life forever!"

Brooklyn moved closer, her steps soft but firm. She sat beside Emma and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Now I understand you... and I will support you in any way I can."

"Brandon is not the only one who has shown me unconditional love. You have shown me a rare kind of love too, Brooklyn... and I will always be grateful."

"We are moonallies, you know," she said softly, resting her head against Emma’s.

A long silence settled in the study chamber, heavy but comforting.

"I need a favor from you."

"What is it?"

"I will be traveling to Belarus in the moonrise to meet my blood mother. Would you move in here and look after the house for me?"

"I would have loved to... but I’m working."

"Quit the job. Brooklyn, you deserve a better life. I’ll make sure you and your pack-kins never lack anything."

Brooklyn fell silent for a few moments, her thoughts clearly battling within her.

"Thank you," she finally said with a soft grin.

"Would you move in here and assist Bernard?"

"Why not?" she whimpered lightly.

"Thank you very much. I’ll show you your chamber."

"Alright," she smiled. "What did she do when she heard your voice?"

"She was out of territory when I called. I spoke to her she-wolf."

"Oh my Moon Goddess! You have a sibling?" Brooklyn asked, her excitement rising instantly.

"Yes."

"I can’t wait to meet your true kin," Brooklyn said as she stood up. "I’ll go home, inform my parents I’ll be staying here for a few days, and get some of my things."

"Alright," Emma replied.

"I’ll be right back!"

She hurried out, her excitement filling the air she left behind.

Emma turned back to her book, her grip tightening slightly on the pen, and continued writing every truth—every wound, every mistake, every memory that shaped the wolf she was becoming. Her heart skipped the moment she raised her head.