Nobody moved.
"If you truly love her, then this isn’t so childish attraction."
Bernard finally lifted his face fully.
"I do love her."
Elara turned sharply toward him, her breath catching softly.
Brandon held his stare for a long second before speaking again.
"Then understand this clearly, Bernard." His voice dropped lower. "Loving a princess is one thing."
The lounge fell still.
"But surviving what cos after is another."
Bernard’s expression faded slightly.
Emma looked between both wolves, her heartbeat quickening.
She glanced at Brandon, her expression asking the question before she could.
He just shrugged.
Then he slowly leaned forward.
"And by tomorrow..." he said quietly, holding Bernard’s stare, "the King will know everything."
The chamber fell silent.
Then his eyes hardened slightly.
"I hope you’re ready for him," Brandon said quietly. "The King may be rciful..."
His eyes stayed on Bernard.
"But the laws aren’t."
Bernard held his gaze and gave a small nod. "I know."
The chamber went still.
Brandon’s jaw tightened. His gaze dropped for a mont before he looked up again, eyes fixed on Mr. Richard.
"She told you, right?" Brandon asked.
"She ca to four winters ago," Mr. Richard said, shifting in his seat.
Brandon blinked once. "Four winters ago?"
Elara stepped forward a little. "I tried to tell you," she said, fingers curling at her side. "You didn’t let finish."
His head snapped slightly toward her. "You said it was a joke."
"Because you were already angry," she shot back, voice steady.
Silence settled again.
Brandon exhaled slowly, looking away. His shoulders eased, but his eyes didn’t.
"I’m sorry," he said, low.
Elara gave a small nod.
Brandon’s gaze shifted past her, landing on Bernard and staying there.
"Bernard, what are your plans? How do you intend to go about the crisis?" He asked again. "You know the king might not go along with this."
"I’ll go and see him tomorrow."
"You need to et him as early as possible because we are travelling tomorrow at moonfall," Emma said, flickering her ear for an objection, but neither Elara nor her mate objected.
"We will talk further when we get to Milan," Brandon said, stood up, and left the lounge. Emma looked at him and smiled. She couldn’t believe he said that.
"I’ll go with you guys to the palace tomorrow," she said.
"How about his job?" Mr. Richard asked.
"I plan to stop next winter. It’s the end of the winter already," Bernard shrugged.
"I’m going to miss you, Bernard," Mr. Richard said and Emma could tell he was missing him already from the sound of his voice. Bernard stood up and looked at Elara. She understood the gesture he made and followed him. She looked at them and was happy the hide-and-seek had ended. She was proud of Bernard for being himself.
She stepped back into Brandon’s chamber and stopped in her tracks.
He was already there, sketching.
Her face stared back at her from the page—crooked lines, uneven eyes, a mouth slightly off.
She walked over, tilting her head. "Why do I look like that?"
Brandon didn’t look up. "You always look like that when you’re accusing of having feelings for your sibling."
She snatched the paper from him and dropped onto the edge of the bed.
"I’m sorry," she said, softer now. Her fingers tapped his chest lightly. "I won’t do it again.
And don’t delete her number."
His mouth curved a little. "Mm-hmm."
He leaned in, adjusting her where she sat. "Apology accepted. Now smile at ."
She did.
His pencil moved faster this ti, steady and sure. The chamber filled with the soft scratch of graphite.
A few minutes later, he set it aside.
She glanced at it, then at him.
"Wow... this is really good. I love it," she said, eyes still on the drawing.
Brandon leaned back, watching her reaction.
"Yeah," he said, smirking. "Just don’t be surprised when I make you look ugly every ti you stress out."
Before either of them spoke, a pillow hit his shoulder.
He caught it instantly.
Another flew back.
Emma gasped as it hit her square in the face.
"Brandon!"
He was already laughing.
She grabbed the nearest pillow and launched it at him again. This ti he didn’t catch it fast enough, and it knocked against his chest.
"See?" she said, pointing at him. "That one was deserved."
"Oh, now you’re keeping score?"
He lunged for another pillow, and Emma scrambled off the bed with a laugh, nearly tripping over the rug as he ca after her.
*************
The next day, they drove down to the palace to et the king. Emma wasn’t scared at all because she had faced a lot of challenges and nothing scares her furthermore. She believed in what her mate said in the moonrise. What is ant to be will always find a way, no matter how hard they try to stop it.
They arrived at the palace at eight in the moonrise. Bernard headed in another direction while Elara and Emma proceeded to the high Luna’s chamber, but she was not there. She slept in the king’s chamber and none of them had woken up. They left the chamber and waited patiently for the king in the lounge.
"King’s heart," he grinned as soon as he appeared in the doorway.
"Moonrise, father."
"My princesses, how are you doing?" the king asked, his voice warm as he looked at them.
They exchanged a quick look.
"We’re fine, My high Alpha king," Elara said first, smoothing her dress as she stepped slightly forward.
Emma nodded beside her. "Yes... we’re okay." Her voice was softer, but steady.
The king’s gaze lingered on them for a mont, like he was reading more than their words.
"Father, are you guys planning to have another pup?" Elara asked, mischief lighting her eyes. "I can’t believe you and Mother were still asleep till nine at moonrise."
The king let out a short laugh and leaned back in his chair.
"Well... I’m counting on you and Emma for another pup. I need so grandpups running around this palace."
Emma burst out laughing, shaking her head as Elara covered her face, still smiling.
"Emma," he called and capped his eyes as if he caught a glimpse of why they were there.
"My high alpha king," she answered him.
"How’s your mate?"
"He’s fine," she responded.
"Elara, since your sibling and Bernard moved out of this palace, Bernard has visited just twice. When I saw him at the palace a few minutes ago through my window, I knew sothing was wrong," he smiled.
"Did he tell you anything?" Elara asked
"No, I haven’t talked to him yet, but I know what it is," he grinned again.
"What is it father?" She asked
"He got you pregnant," the king said, and they burst into laughter. Emma was surprised he was quite jovial.
"No, father. Why do you think so?"
"I know you have been seeing him secretly. Lunara told and I monitored both of you. Are you sure you are not pregnant for him?"
"No father."
"What happened then?"
"We ca to tell you that we have been seeing each other discreetly."
"I know already," he said, leaning in a little. "So... are you two going to get mated in the future?"
"Yes, we are, Father," she said.
The king pushed to his feet so fast the chair scraped back.
"Go see your mother. Then return to the Nightclaw estate."
Elara blinked. "What about what I just told you?"
He turned away, then stopped halfway, shoulders easing as a quiet smile tugged at his mouth.
"I’ve made my choice," he said without looking back. "My pups co first... and the ones they choose."
He gave a small shrug. "Let the wolves talk. Let the laws say what they want."
His words hung in the air.
"If you love each other, then be happy. That’s all that matters."
His grin widened slightly. "So my little pup, you deserve that."
Elara’s gaze dropped to the floor, her lips pressing together as if the words had co too late—and cost them too much hiding.
He moved closer, touched Elara’s jawline and Emma’s simultaneously, and smiled.
"Go and see the high Luna and return to the estate. I’ll talk to you and Bernard when you co back from Milan."
Elara nodded and he left the sitting chamber. They couldn’t stand or talk. They were overwheld by the change they saw in him. He is more of a father and a caring mate now than before.
"Let’s go," Emma stood up, holding Elara’s hand. However, she was weakened by the change she saw in her father.
"What if he’s being blackmailed?" she said quietly, glancing at Emma. "Or maybe so wolf’s forcing him to do this."
Emma didn’t answer right away. Her fingers stilled around the bag in her hand.
"You think he’s under duress too?" she asked, looking up at her.
"Yeah." Elara leaned back, eyes narrowing.
"The king I know would’ve slamd his hand on the table by now..."
Her fingers tapped the armrest once. "Sothing’s off."
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