"Long enough."
The words ca out calm, almost careless, but they hung in the air a little too heavy to an nothing.
He didn’t look up right away. His fingers stayed still where they rested, like even the smallest movent might give sothing away.
His eyes shifted to Lunara.
She looked between both of them, then quietly pushed back her chair and walked out of the chamber.
Silence settled after the door shut.
Brandon stayed where he was, staring at the High Luna.
"Mother..." His voice dropped. "Why?"
She looked away first.
"I’m angry," she whispered. "I want to hurt him so badly."
Brandon walked over slowly and sat beside her.
He looked at her for a mont, then shook his head slowly.
"Mother..." His voice ca low. "Will that even make you happy?"
He leaned forward a little.
"Will it erase what he did? Will it fix anything... or just tear everything apart again?"
"You were the first she-wolf in his life and he is your first. Rember the assurances both of you gave each other the first ti you slept together," he said. She dropped her head on his shoulder and cried bitterly. It was as if she was transferring her pains to Brandon. He beca emotional too and was unable to talk.
"It’s okay," he said quietly when her crying finally started to slow.
Before she could steady herself, a strong arm slipped under her and pulled her up like she weighed nothing. She tensed at first, pushing against him, but it didn’t last. Her strength faded, and she broke again, sinking into his shoulder as her sobs ca out in rough, uneven breaths.
"I’m sorry," the king muttered under his breath.
He guided her gently to the three-seater sofa and sat her down.
Brandon pushed to his feet.
"I’ll leave you two," he said, already turning away.
He stepped out into the hallway, the door clicking shut behind him.
For a mont, he just stood there.
Glad the king ca when he did.
Then he saw Lunara down the narrow hall, walking fast, wiping her face as she went.
His jaw tightened.
He still hadn’t forgiven her—what she did to Emma, the assassin, all of it.
He turned away, choosing the other direction.
Footsteps rushed behind him.
A hand grabbed his wrist.
"Brandon... I’m sorry," Lunara whispered.
He didn’t look at her. "Sorry for what?"
"For everything."
His eyes dropped to her hand.
"Let go."
"I’m sorry," she said again, softer this ti, and slowly released his hand.
"What about your mother’s remains?" Brandon asked.
"It was cremated yesterday," she said.
He gave a small nod.
"Accept my sympathy," he said quietly.
His gaze shifted away for a mont before settling again.
"Theresa would still be alive if Lunara hadn’t run," he thought, jaw tightening briefly. But he let it go just as quickly.
Not the ti to put bla on her.
She lowered her eyes and nodded back.
"Please," she said quickly, stepping closer. "I need you to talk to Emma. I need the key to the house. When I went there after my mother died, I found out she had a wolf lock it up. I have nowhere to go right now."
Brandon’s gaze held on her for a mont. "Where have you been staying?"
"With one of my moonallies," she said. Her fingers tightened at her sides. "She wants out now."
A beat of silence hung between them.
"I’ll talk to my mate when I get ho," he said, already turning away.
"Thank you," she called after him.
He kept walking. Didn’t look back.
He sat in the lounge, waiting for the king. The silence pressed in, heavy and stretched thin.
Soft footsteps broke it.
Elara appeared at the entrance, already dressed for the bridal shower. She slowed when she saw him. Surprise flashed across her face before she could hide it.
"You’re here?" she said.
Brandon didn’t answer right away.
Her gaze slipped past him.
"She’s talking to him."
Her hand lifted, pointing down the corridor toward the High Luna’s chamber.
Brandon followed the direction, then leaned back into the seat, face unreadable.
"What happened?"
Elara stepped closer. Her voice dropped.
"She threw him out of her chamber," she said.
"Two moonfalls ago."
Her fingers tightened slightly at her side.
"She said she’d disgrace him in front of the pack."
Her fingers tightened briefly at her sides before loosening again.
"I tried to speak for him... she didn’t even let into her chamber after that."
Brandon exhaled under his breath, eyes still fixed down the hall.
"You went there now?"
"I heard the king’s voice," Elara said, a small smile breaking through despite herself. "I... I stayed. Just listened."
A pause settled between them.
Her shoulders eased as she looked at him again.
"They weren’t fighting," she added quietly. "They were talking. Properly."
Another silence settled between them.
Then, softer—like she was saying what
she’d kept buried for too long—
"Brandon... I just want us to be a family again."
" too," he said.
His device buzzed in his palm.
He glanced down, thumb already sliding across the screen.
"Hi, Father."
He didn’t move, just stared at the hallway.
"Where are you?"
"Executive lounge."
A longer silence this ti.
"Is Elara with you?"
He lifted his eyes to her for a mont.
"Yes."
"Please, co with her, your mother wants to see both of you."
He stood up excitedly and grabbed Elara’s hand. They walked hurriedly down the hall. His heart was filled with joy as he anticipated good news.
He opened the door slowly and stared at them. The high Luna leaned on the king’s chest. Her tears had dried up, leaving an ill effect on her face. She also had puffy red eyes.
The father waved at them and they began to walk towards them. Elara quickly sat beside the high Luna and relaxed her head on her shoulder. Brandon relaxed at his father’s. His heart was full of appreciation and solemn joy.
He wished Emma had been with them to see the royal family eventually united.
They held themselves and none of them was ready to break the silence. Elara kept soaking her mother’s shoulder with her tears. After about an hour, a figure appeared at the entrance. His face lit up. She never told him
she would co and he was overwheld. Their hearts always have ways of communicating with one another.
The King beckoned to her. She smiled and began to walk towards them. Brandon fixed his eyes on her as if he was seeing her for the first ti. He had never really seen how beautiful Emma was until that day. Emma Ashford is the perfect definition of beauty. He was grateful he didn’t give up on her and happy she didn’t give up on him either.
He wanted her to sit beside him. However, she joined Elara and the high Luna and that gave the high Luna a lot of joy.
"Emma, when are you traveling to Paris? "The high Luna broke the silence.
"I would’ve loved to travel next week, but Emily and Ashley are still on their honeymoon," Emma said, and all of them burst into giggles.
"I think you should let her enjoy her honeymoon," the High Luna said.
She shifted slightly, gaze steady as it settled on the King.
"Elara and Brandon will go with you to Paris for your shopping."
"Yeah, but I’m not doing my shopping in Paris," she said with a small shrug, a playful smile curling at the corners of her lips.
"Where do you want to go?" the High Luna asked.
"I would’ve loved to shop in Monaco," she said, shifting slightly, "but I changed my mind. I’m going to Milan for my mating gown, then straight to New York for my bridal shower shopping."
"Milan is perfect," the High Luna replied, her eyes lighting up. She lifted her hands slightly as if recalling sothing. "My moonally shopped there during her pup’s mating ceremony. The gown..." she exhaled softly, shaking her head with a small smile. "It was the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen."
Brandon stood and crossed the space between him and Emma.
"Moonheart."
"Hmmm."
A teasing curve tugged at his lips. "So you’re calling it shopping now... when it’s really you trying to explore the whole territory."
He stopped right in front of her. Before she could answer, his hand slid to her waist and pulled her in.
He kissed her—slow, unbothered, right there in front of every wolf watching.
Emma’s eyes narrowed a little, then she smiled like she wasn’t fully impressed.
"Explore the territory?" she echoed, stepping closer. "Starlit, please. If I wanted to explore sothing, I wouldn’t need shopping as an excuse."
Her fingers brushed lightly past his sleeve as she walked by him.
"I just like nice things," she added over her shoulder. "You’re the one turning it into a map expedition."
Soft laughter rippled through the chamber, tension
dissolving into sothing warm and careless as they watched without sha.
"Mother, can you co with us?" Elara asked.
No one spoke.
"No." Her smile barely held. "I have a mate to take care of."
She didn’t look away when she said it.
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