Elara appeared at the door, fingers wrapped around the handle of her The Royal Affair Planners
De Elite Events. Emma rushed over before she could leave.
The two of them leaned closer, voices low. Elara gave a small nod, tightened her grip on the bag, and walked away.
Brandon looked up. "What happened?"
Emma closed the door halfway and turned back to him. "She’s leaving already, but I told her to wait."
"Okay." He gave a short nod and went back to what he was doing.
"I wanted to speak with you last moonfall but you ignored ."
"I’m sorry, I was sad," she said with a flat tone, making a pathetic face.
"Why were you sad?" He asked, touching her cheek in a wistful gesture. Slowly, he moved his hands down to her jawline.
"Why were you sad last night, moonheart," he asked again.
"You sent your guards to keep their eyes on Elara and she doesn’t want that. She felt like a prisoner in our house during the last moonfall and it made so sad." He took in a deep breath and continued staring at her attentively.
"It is good to protect your younger sibling, but you are being overly protective and it’s affecting her!"
There was a short silence and she continued.
"Bernard might be an ordinary servant, but...."
"Moonheart, listen." He leaned forward, fingers tapping once on the table. "It’s not about Bernard being a servant or a commoner."
He huffed a short laugh, shaking his head.
"Elara is young. She’s reckless. She doesn’t think things through."
His jaw tightened.
"She’s a princess. Every male wolf in all the territories is looking at her like she’s a prize."
His gaze flicked up. "So of my own moonallies tried to get close. I stopped them."
He paused, hand curled around the edge of the table.
"Because I know exactly what they want."
He leaned back, exhaling through his nose.
"I’m a male. I know who they’re."
Emma didn’t speak.
"I don’t want my little sibling to be a victim."
Silence stretched between them.
She tilted her head slightly. "So you think Bernard isn’t best for her?"
His mouth twitched.
"I don’t know." A slow shrug. "He says he loves her."
A faint smirk pulled at his lips.
"More than twenty males have said the sa thing."
Emma’s eyes stayed on him. "And you believe none of them?"
He gave a light scoff, leaning back further in his chair.
"Every cock and bull story?" he said, amused.
She didn’t react.
"They love each other," she said simply.
That made him still.
"Elara doesn’t know what love is." His voice dropped a little. "Bernard’s just... good at talking."
He looked away for a mont.
"She never even said she loves him."
Silence settled.
Emma held his gaze. Didn’t blink.
Her fingers rested loosely on the arm of the chair, then shifted—slow, deliberate—crossing one leg over the other.
He looked away first.
"Why did you want to talk to last moonfall?" she asked.
He leaned back in his chair, fingers still resting on the table. "I spoke with the literary director at Silverbridge Publishers."
Her brows lifted. "And?"
"We’ve got an appointnt today at noon."
"Where?"
"My duty chamber." He reached for his glass, then set it down again. "Finish your manuscript. Bring it to before noon."
"I already wrapped it up this moonrise."
That made him pause. A small smile pulled at his mouth, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Don’t make it heavier than it is," he said, pushing his chair back.
He stood.
She stood right after him.
Before he could take another step, she moved in and wrapped her arms around his waist.
His hand ca up slowly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
"You are my life, you know," she said, voice low, eyes locked on his.
He didn’t answer.
He just leaned in and kissed her.
One of his guards went to the study chamber and took the briefcase he kept on the desk. She saw him off and went back to the feeding chamber. She was surprised Paige had not cleared the plate yet.
She cleared the table and took the plates to the cookhouse, wondering where Paige went. Bernard and Mr. Richard sat on the chairs in the cookhouse talking in low tones when she ca in. Bernard arose imdiately and took the plates from her. This is one habit Bernard had never stopped till today. He sees himself as a servant always and he sees every work as his responsibility.
"Moonrise, Alpha’s mate," he said as he took the used plates from her.
"Bernard, where is Paige?"
"She is in your chamber, I guess," he said, dropping the plates on the sink.
"Doing what? When she has a table to clear and a plate to wash."
Mr. Richard looked at her and grinned. Probably, he hadn’t seen her talk like Alpha’s mate. She was no longer that naive Emma he knew.
"The task was just assigned to her yesterday. Probably, she is not used to her new task yet," Bernard said and pulled an apron from its hanger. He put it on and walked towards the sink again. She turned when she heard footsteps and Paige’s voice behind her.
"Where were you?"
"I was in the Princess’s chamber massaging her feet," she responded with a slight bow.
"Where is Naomi?"
"She is in your chamber," she responded as she walked towards Bernard to take over from him.
Emma moved closer to Mr. Richard and sat beside him.
"Bernard, I think we need more maids in this house," she said as she settled into the chair.
Bernard turned from the sink, drying his hands with a cloth. "How many more?"
"Maybe two. Paige and Naomi can’t keep up with everything alone."
He nodded once. "Alright. I’ll add it to the list for Alpha and follow it up."
"Good."
Mr. Richard let out a quiet chuckle from his seat. "Alpha’s mate... are you sure you even want maids now?"
Emma looked over at him instantly, already knowing where he was going.
"That was then," she said, shaking her head with a small laugh. "Not anymore."
Mr. Richard laughed louder this ti, and even Bernard’s shoulders shook a little as he faced the sink again.
"How was the breakfast?" He asked.
"We love it."
He looked at Bernard, who was dropping back the apron he used on the hanger and returned to face her.
"He’s been sacked. You know that, right?" Mr. Richard said, his voice dropping.
Emma glanced at Bernard.
Bernard kept his attention on the plates in the sink, saying nothing.
So he hadn’t told him why.
She looked back at Mr. Richard, then curled two fingers toward herself.
"Co sit with us."
He pushed his chair back and joined them at the table.
"Elara told you’re leaving this moonrise."
Bernard gave a small nod. "Yeah."
"My mate wants you to stay."
That finally made him look up. "Why?"
"We’re discussing the matter you brought to him tonight." Emma glanced at Mr. Richard.
"And I want you there too."
Mr. Richard frowned and turned to Bernard. "What happened?"
Bernard’s jaw tightened.
He looked away and fixed his eyes on the wall beside the sink.
"Bernard?" Mr. Richard pushed, leaning forward a little. "I’m your father here. Since when do you keep things from ?"
Bernard stayed quiet.
Emma left the cookhouse while Mr. Richard’s voice followed after Bernard.
"What is it you couldn’t tell first?"
Bernard didn’t answer.
Emma glanced at him once before walking ahead, the tension between father and son lingering quietly behind her.
By eleven forty-five, she stood in front of the mirror, getting ready for the conference with the literary director. She smoothed down the fitted skirt hugging her curves, then adjusted the neckline of her top until it sat just right. The necklace resting against her chest caught the light as she fastened her chandelier earrings.
She tucked in the last corner of her top and gave herself one final look. The outfit shaped her waist neatly, accentuating her figure without trying too hard. Satisfied, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
She stepped out, ready to et the literary director of Silverbridge Publishers.
She saw Bernard, taking Elara’s healer to her chamber. She was happy her mate allowed him to take the healer to her.
She walked into the study chamber, picked up her manuscript, and left. So of her mate’s guards followed her imdiately she stepped out. She waved at them and they returned to their positions. She began to walk down to the packing slot. The drivers were already waiting. They drove down to the tower. She stepped out the mont Maxwell opened the car door for her.
Each step toward the skyscraper felt lighter than the last. She kept her eyes on the glass doors ahead, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth she couldn’t quite hide. Her na—printed on a paperback—flashed through her mind, and her chest gave a small, unsteady jump at the thought.
The elevator doors slid open before she even reached them.
Her pace picked up on instinct.
She slipped inside just before the doors closed, a soft breath leaving her lips as they sealed shut.
The elevator began to rise.
One floor.
Then another.
The glowing numbers changed steadily above her head while her fingers stayed curled around the strap of her bag.
Higher.
Higher.
She rested against the wall, eyes fixed on the panel as the elevator climbed.
Then the final number lit up.
A small smile touched her lips again just as the elevator slowed and ca to a stop.
The doors began to slide open.
PUBLISHED
Chapter 174: Bound by Love, Torn by Law
Elara sat curled up on the bed, staring blankly at nothing.
Emma sighed and walked back. She climbed onto the bed beside her and started talking about random things—old school mories, silly pack gossip, the ti Leo fell into the fountain during training.
Little by little, Elara’s shoulders loosened. A tired laugh slipped out of her.
Not long after, her words began to slur.
Emma pulled the blanket over her and brushed the hair from her face. She stayed in the chair beside the bed, watching until Elara’s breathing turned soft and steady.
When she finally returned to her own chamber, the silence pressed hard against her chest.
She lay down, but sleep never ca.
The intercom light blinked once.
She stared at it.
Brandon.
The light blinked again.
Emma turned her face away and pulled the blanket higher. After a while, the light stopped flashing.
The next moonrise—Friday, a day before the three-day vacation and bridal shopping—Emma woke early and took the dogs around the estate. By the ti she returned, sweat clung to the back of her shirt.
After a quick shower, she tied her damp hair up and headed straight for the study chamber, a stack of unfinished files tucked under her arm.
She switched on one of the computers on the table and opened the reservation Bernard had made earlier.
The soft tap of boots echoed down the hallway.
Her fingers slowed on the keyboard.
"Moonrise, Alpha," Bernard greeted.
No answer ca back.
Emma’s mouth twitched faintly. Either Brandon ignored him again or gave one of those silent nods he liked doing.
A second later, the study door opened.
His scent drifted into the room before he even reached her.
Cold fingers brushed the back of her neck.
She tilted her head up and smiled. "Moonrise."
"Moonheart." His thumb rubbed slowly against her skin. "I tried talking to you last night, but you ignored ." He leaned closer. "And don’t tell you were asleep. I knew exactly when you left Elara’s chamber."
Emma lowered her eyes to the screen again. "I’m sorry."
He studied her face for a mont, then let it go with a quiet sigh.
"Alright." His gaze moved to the computer. "What are you working on?"
"Just confirming the reservations," she murmured, eyes still on the screen.
Brandon leaned closer.
"He’s not going with us," he said flatly. "Make sure his na is removed."
Emma clicked through the list. "I already removed them."
His eyes narrowed. "Them?"
"Elara too." Her fingers paused over the keyboard. "She’s leaving for the palace this moonrise. She wants to see her healer."
Brandon straightened slowly. "Is she sick?"
Emma swallowed. "She’s been struggling with depression for winters."
"That’s not true!" His voice cracked through the chamber.
She flinched but stayed quiet.
"Where is she?" he asked sharply.
"In her chamber."
He dropped his briefcase onto the reading table with a dull thud and stared at her like he was trying to make sense of what she’d just said. His hands settled on his waist for a second before he dragged one down his face.
"Co on," he muttered, reaching for her hand. "Let’s go see her."
Emma hesitated.
His fingers tightened gently around hers.
She pushed back her chair and stood.
They walked out together, his hand still wrapped around hers. Halfway down the hallway, Brandon glanced at her.
She wasn’t talking much. Not teasing him. Not leaning into him the way she usually did.
Even the way her hand rested in his felt different.
They walked straight into Elara’s chamber without knocking.
Elara glanced up from her device when the door opened. Her eyes moved over both of them before dropping back to the screen.
"Hi, Princess," Brandon said with an easy smile, like nothing had happened.
"Moonrise," she replied flatly.
Brandon pushed her legs gently aside and sat on the edge of the bed. Emma stayed near the door, arms folded loosely across her chest.
He placed the back of his hand against Elara’s neck.
"I still don’t believe you’ve been dealing with depression all this ti and never told ."
Elara slowly lowered the device into her lap.
"You don’t stay close enough to know what goes on with anymore," she said quietly.
Brandon’s smile faded.
"You drifted away from ." She looked at him then, eyes shining faintly. "And now you’re surprised I didn’t tell you?"
The chamber fell silent.
"You weren’t here, Brandon."
Her fingers twisted tightly around the sleeve of her shirt.
"I can’t even bla you," she whispered, staring down at her hands. "You found your mate. You got the life you wanted."
Her voice cracked at the end.
"And ?" She let out a small laugh that sounded nothing like laughter. "It’s like I disappeared."
Brandon didn’t say a word.
He just sat there staring at her, his hand slowly falling from her neck to his lap.
Brandon’s jaw flexed. He opened his mouth, closed it again, then dragged a hand through his hair.
"That’s not fair," he muttered.
His eyes lifted back to hers, the anger gone from them now.
"I didn’t pull away because I stopped caring." His voice dropped lower. "I pulled away because every ti I looked at you, I knew sothing was wrong, and I had no idea how to fix it."
He took a step toward her before stopping himself.
"But don’t sit there acting like you an nothing to because I handled things badly."
Elara said nothing.
Her thumb kept moving across her communication device.
Brandon watched her for a mont. "When did this start?"
"Five winters ago."
His head jerked up. "What? Elara—"
She shrugged lightly without looking at him. "I already told my healer I’d see him this moonrise. I want to go back to the palace."
Brandon stared at her like the answer hit harder than he expected.
"What triggers it?" he asked quietly. "Do you know?"
Elara leaned back against the headboard and gave another small shrug.
"No."
"Alright," Brandon said quietly as he stood. "I’ll co see you at the palace tonight."
Elara gave a small nod and looked back at her device.
Emma stayed still.
That was it?
No ntion of Bernard. No ntion of the mating law hanging over every wolf’s head.
Her chest tightened.
As they stepped out of the chamber, Brandon reached for her hand again. Emma let him hold it until they got to the door, then slowly pulled her hand free.
He stopped walking. "What is it?"
"I want to talk to her."
Brandon looked at her for a second. "We need to talk first."
Emma pressed her lips together.
Finally.
They walked the rest of the way in silence and entered the feeding chamber. Brandon pulled out a chair and sat across from her.
"What do you want to tell ?" she asked.
He leaned back slowly, eyes fixed on her. "What’s wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
Her gaze slid past him toward the far wall.
Silence stretched between them.
Brandon didn’t move right away. He just kept looking at her, calm and steady, like he could see straight through the answer she’d given.
Then his eyes returned to her face again, waiting.
"You need to eat before you go back to her," Brandon said, sliding the plate closer. "You’re pregnant, Moonheart."
Emma barely looked at the food. "I’m not hungry."
"You’re carrying another life inside you."
"We’re not hungry," she repeated.
Brandon leaned back in his chair and licked slowly across his lower lip. His eyes drifted to the table for a mont before returning to her face.
"You know you and our pup are the two most important wolves in my life." His voice ca out tired. "Why are you both doing this to ?"
Emma said nothing.
He scooped up another spoonful and held it toward her.
She didn’t open her mouth.
Her eyes stayed locked on him, hard and steady.
"Elara isn’t important to you too?" she asked quietly. "Tell ."
Brandon lowered the spoon.
"Moonheart, I don’t want Bernard’s issue becoming another problem between us."
Emma gave a short laugh under her breath.
"You’re treating him this way because he’s a commoner." She sat back slowly. "Funny how quickly you forgot your mate is a commoner too."
"Don’t do that."
"No." She shook her head. "I’m serious. Commoners deserve to love and be loved too."
Brandon rubbed both hands over his face.
"Moonheart, why are you pushing this?" He dropped his hands and looked at her again. "The king will never allow it. Asking him to give Elara to Bernard is like asking him to leave the High Luna. It’s impossible."
He pushed the untouched plate aside.
"We’ve barely had peace since we got mated." His voice softened. "For once, I just want to enjoy my mate. I want quiet. No fights. No scandals. Just you and our pup."
Emma folded her arms.
"The royal house is already all over social dia and every newspaper in the kingdom," he continued. "We’ve trended enough."
"Then let it trend one more ti," she said lightly.
Brandon stared at her.
The silence stretched so long the ticking clock on the wall beca loud.
Finally, he exhaled.
"What do you want to do?"
"Support Elara," she said, voice steady now. "She stood by you when you were mated to a commoner. Stand with her. Not because I’m telling you to... but because she’s in love. Because she deserves that chance too."
Brandon held her gaze. His chest rose and fell once, slow.
He reached for her plate again, then stopped.
"Eat your breakfast," he said quietly. "We’ll talk tonight. Properly."
Emma didn’t move.
"Bernard is leaving this moonrise, and Elara is going back to the palace."
Brandon’s eyes dropped to the table. "Tell them to wait."
He reached for the spoon without looking up.
"I’ll call Ela
ra’s healer here. Just eat."
The spoon hovered in front of her.
Emma kept her hands folded in her lap.
"I’ll starve," she said under her breath, eyes on the plate, "if Elara isn’t okay."
The spoon stopped midair.
Brandon slowly lowered it back into the bowl.
His voice ca quieter now. "Has it really gotten that far?"
He pushed the plate aside.
"We’re talking tonight," he said.
"About what?" Emma finally looked at him.
Brandon didn’t blink.
"About Elara and Bernard."
Silence held the chamber.
Then a soft knock ca at the door.
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