"I need to buy more sketch papers," he said, and they giggled. She leaned on his shoulder as they drove out of Ashley’s private road, their wolves calm together.
Brandon fixed his wireless receiver in his ear when he got a call.
"Moon-fall, mother."
Brandon looked at Emma and spoke through their telepathic connection. She understood him clearly and quickly picked up one of his wireless receivers and fixed it in her ear.
"What did you say, Mother?" he asked, his voice low but alert.
"Lunara’s father... What’s his na again?" she murmured, thinking aloud.
"Daniel Greens."
"Yes," she continued. "Daniel and so wolves visited your father two moons ago. Did he tell you?"
He paused. Inside, his thoughts shifted quickly, trying to place the mory.
"Yes he said there is a new developnt, but he didn’t tell what had developed. What was the purpose of their visit?"
"Please, tell Emma to boycott the gathering with the council," high Luna said, her voice low but urgent.
"Why?" Brandon asked, his brows tightening as a flicker of suspicion crossed his eyes. Sothing about this feels too planned... too deliberate.
"They planned to humiliate her... to bring her down in front of the pack elders," high Luna replied.
"How?" he asked softly, though his voice was steady, his chest tightening slightly. So it has already started... they’re preparing sothing against her.
"One of the she-wolves said her na is Mrs. Nazar. The other wolf introduced herself as Mrs. Yoone."
Brandon and Emma exchanged glances. Brandon’s jaw tightened as anger sparkled through him. They’re already moving pieces against her... before she even steps in. Emma, on the other hand, felt a cold awareness settle in her chest. So this is what it ans to stand in their way... every step watched, every breath judged.
She saw how far Daniel was willing to go just to ensure the King never accepted her into the royal bloodline. A quiet ache pressed inside her, but she refused to let it show.
If she steps back now, it ans they’ve won.
"What did they say?"
"They have evidence that Emma slept with he-wolves in the territory when she was sent to assist on her rice farm. The two he-wolves who ca with Daniel also confessed that they all lay with her. They claid she was a prostitute."
"Oh....," Emma quickly covered her mouth.
"They are going to testify against her before the council next Saturday. You know what that ans, my Prince?"
"I know."
"What do you have to say?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Emma is about to be humiliated, Brandon! Speak to her! Tell her to back off. They won’t be allowed to testify against her in her absence. These wolves are dangerous!"
Brandon couldn’t say anything when the High Luna finished speaking.
"Brandon!"
"Mother!"
"Please, say sothing."
"They are false witnesses."
"They have evidence to buttress their testimony!"
"She didn’t sleep with anyone," Brandon said weakly. He looked very tired, his wolf restless beneath his calm.
"Which could have been confird by one of the royal healers if you hadn’t marked her. She must boycott the gathering. This is the only way to stop them!"
"I’ll speak to Emma."
"Please, speak to her. She needs to write to the council and give them reasons why she won’t be present."
"Alright, I will," Brandon said and dropped the receiver.
"The king knows the truth, right?"
"He knows, but he would like to use them against you. What do you intend to do?"
"I’m not backing out. I want the council to hear their false testimony."
"Why?"
"By the ti I’m done disgracing them too, the truth will co out of their mouths and no one will ever take them seriously again!"
"What do you intend to do?"
"I have their secrets too. I have watermarked and ti-stamped evidence!"
"Please, be careful," Brandon whimpered, locking his gaze with hers. Tears glazed her eyes. Brandon pulled her closer to his chest and gently stroked her hair.
"Tell Ashley everything tomorrow, but do not count on him. He doesn’t trust my father. I’m sure he would advise you to back off too."
"Do you know why he hates the King?" Emma asked, her voice softer now, though curiosity and unease sparkled in her eyes. There’s more to this... she can feel it.
"He doesn’t hate him; he just doesn’t trust him," Brandon replied calmly, though his gaze darkened slightly. Trust is fragile... once broken, it never returns the sa.
"Do you know why?" Emma pressed again, her fingers tightening slightly at her sides. Why does this feel like a wound that still hasn’t healed?
"He found a text ssage on his mate’s communication device after her demise. One of the ssages ca from my father," Brandon said. His voice dropped a little, as if the mory itself carried weight. Even now, it doesn’t sit right with him... but he has learned to live with it.
"Oh my Moon Goddess! Emma gasped, her chest tightening as her heart skipped. After her death... how could sothing like that surface too late?"
"It is not sothing serious," Brandon added after a brief pause, though his expression didn’t fully agree with his words. "But it breached the trust he had in him." And once trust breaks in a pack like theirs... even small cracks feel like betrayal.
"Do you know what it is?"
"No, the High Luna didn’t give the details."
"Is Ken aware?"
"No."
"Are you sure the king didn’t sleep with my father’s late mate?"
"No, he did not."
She kept quiet for a few minutes as she tried to piece everything together, her wolf stirring with unease. However, she couldn’t think of anything.
"I must find out what it is," she said and relaxed back on his shoulder.
They arrived at the Nightclaw pack estate at 11:27 PM. Everywhere was as silent as a graveyard, the moon thick with stillness. She ran to her chamber as she wondered why Daniel was so determined to ruin her life. Brandon had paid him everything he spent on her. She wondered why he and his kin wouldn’t let her be. She was comforted knowing Brandon was the first to deflower her, and they had their proof bound by fate.
She had her bath and quickly climbed into bed. Brandon joined her after a few minutes and nibbled her ear. She felt tickled and laughed softly.
"What is wrong with Emily?"
"She doesn’t want to mate with Ashley."
"Why?"
"She has a fear of commitnt and thinks she is not sexually active. But that shouldn’t be a problem, since Ashley has a moonmate."
"No, she needs a mind healer. I wouldn’t advise her to run away from her mating bond responsibilities."
"She doesn’t want to see a mind healer."
"Moonheart, I’m going to strongly oppose the idea of sharing her mate’s attention with another she-wolf! She still loves him and this will only make her condition worse. We are going to encourage her to speak to a mind healer."
"His moonmate looks like a nice person."
"Wait until you see his Italian moonmate. She cos every moonend," Brandon smirked. Emma quickly turned around and faced him.
"What?"
"You heard . Don’t worry, I know Ashley... he’s going to end whatever agreent he has with them before the mating—I guess."
"He will keep seeing them until Emily takes up her responsibility as his mate."
"I believe Emily will accept her responsibility imdiately."
"Do you really think so?"
"She loves Ashley... that much is undeniable."
A quiet tension settled between them. Doubt lingered in the air, unspoken but heavy—like neither of them fully believed the future would unfold that easily.
"I’m going to miss you, Moonheart," he whispered into her ear after a few minutes of silence.
Her chest tightened at his words. Part of her wanted to hold on, to refuse the distance she knew was coming... but another part reminded her that so paths couldn’t be avoided.
"I will stay with you," she whimpered, even as uncertainty sparkled deep within her.
"No, you must go and stay with your pack-kins until the legitimization is over. I will always co around—I have my personal chamber there," he said, and parted her lips slowly. The slow and thoughtful kiss made her feel euphoric. The heaviness she had felt in her heart since she heard Daniel’s plan began to fade gradually, giving way to warmth and pleasure. Her body lted, and the only thing she could sense at that mont was Brandon—his presence, his scent, his wolf. It was as though no one else existed. A deep sense of peace settled within her. After a few minutes of slow, tender lovemaking, her eyes grew heavy and dry, and she didn’t know when she finally drifted into sleep.
It was moonrise already and the just risen moon shone softly on the estate, bringing with it a flurry of early moonrise activity. She looked through the window and saw her mate and his guards driving out. She quickly turned and stared at the wall clock that was in the bedchamber, it was 7:09 am already. She understood why he needed to go to his duty chamber so early. He had really missed a lot.
She smiled when the rich aroma of his brewed coffee filled her bedchamber. She couldn’t believe he prepared it for her before leaving for his Alpha duties.
"Moonrise, Alpha’s mate," a voice said behind her. She rolled her eyes before looking at her.
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