Alpha's Secret Bride

Over the next few days, Emma slowly adjusted to her new life.

High Luna Alexandra visited often, not as a royal figure, but as another mother who understood what Emma was experiencing. She sat with Emma during feeding times, answered her questions, and reminded her that every mother learned through experience.

Emily also stopped by regularly to help. She showed Emma small tricks she had learned while caring for Bryan at the healing den, from recognizing his different cries to making sure Emma rested whenever she could.

"You don’t have to do everything alone," Emily told her.

Emma looked down at Bryan sleeping peacefully in her arms.

"I spent my whole life preparing to become a mate to Brandon Oliver. I never realized preparing to become a mother would be the hardest part."

Emily smiled.

"That’s because being a mother is not about being perfect. It’s about learning from your pup every day."

Brandon also refused to let Emma carry the responsibility alone. He rearranged his schedule and gave himself time away from unnecessary royal duties. For two days, he stayed completely focused on his family, and afterward, he continued taking turns with Emma whenever his duties allowed.

The Alpha who commanded armies now found himself waking in the middle of the moonfall to comfort a tiny pup who only wanted his parents nearby.

And every moonfall, Brandon and Emma stood beside Bryan’s crib, watching him sleep.

They no longer looked at him as the future king of the kingdom. To them, he was simply their pup.

The first few weeks were filled with sleepless moonfalls, unexpected surprises, and moments that made them laugh. Luckily, Bryan was a calm pup. He rarely cried for long, and most of the time, he simply watched them with his rare golden little eyes.

Every moonfall, Brandon and Emma found themselves standing beside his crib, watching him sleep. Sometimes they stayed there longer than they intended, unable to pull themselves away.

Their little pup carried pieces of both of them. He had Brandon’s strong features and Emma’s gentle expression, a beautiful reminder of the bond they shared.

Before they knew it, another month slipped by. Emma grew stronger with each passing day. Her energy returned, and little by little, life settled into a comfortable routine. Her body had healed well, and after her healer’s approval, she and Brandon slowly resumed their intimate life. Brandon made sure she never missed her birth control pills.

September arrived, bringing Emma’s birth month with it. It would be her first birthday since becoming a mother and her first one in her mate’s home. She remembered the date, but the thought of planning even a small celebration felt exhausting. Brandon had barely slowed down since Bryan Oliver was born. Between his royal duties and making time for both her and their pup, he had hardly taken a break.

On the moonset of her birthday, Brandon walked into Bryan’s nursery with a smile that immediately caught Emma’s attention.

"Starlit,what are you up to?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Have you reserved enough breast milk for the pup?" Brandon asked.

"I haven’t pumped any extra milk for him yet," Emma replied. "We just got Bryan to sleep."

"Then pump some extra milk and keep it in case he wakes up hungry," Brandon said.

Emma nodded. She picked up her breast pump and a clean feeding bottle before settling down to express some milk. Once she had pumped enough, she poured the milk into a clean, sealed bottle and placed it in the refrigerator so it would stay fresh. When Bryan needed to feed, Mrs Thompson could warm the milk before giving it to him.

As soon as she finished, Brandon turned to Mrs. Thompson.

"Mrs. Thompson, could you stay with Bryan for a little while? We’ll be back soon."

"Of course, my Alpha," Mrs. Thompson replied with a warm smile.

Emma barely had time to ask another question before Brandon took her hand and led her out of the nursery.

"Starlit, where are we going?" she asked, laughing as she tried to keep up with him.

"You’ll see."

He brought her into their bedchamber, where a beautiful outfit was already laid out waiting for her.

"Are we going somewhere?" she asked as she looked at him through the mirror after getting dressed.

Brandon slipped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin lightly on her shoulder. Their eyes met in the mirror, and he smiled.

"No."

"Then why am I dressed like this?" she asked with a small laugh.

He brushed a kiss against the side of her head.

"Come with me."

His voice was soft enough to make her smile as she followed him, still wondering what surprise he had planned for her birthday.

"Bryan is going to miss you tonight," Brandon murmured as his hand rested lightly on her waist. "You’re spending the moonfall with me."

Emma looked up at him with a smile that said she wasn’t about to argue. She slipped her fingers through his, and he led her out of the bedchamber.

Instead of taking the elevator, Brandon headed for the staircase.

"Why are we taking the stairs?" she asked with a small laugh.

"You’ll find out."

She followed him without another question. As they climbed, she noticed fresh red roses lining the banisters. White jasmine was woven between them, filling the air with its sweet fragrance. The higher they went, the wider her smile grew.

When Brandon pushed open the doors to the sky lounge, Emma stopped in her tracks.

The chamber was filled with family and close allies. The moment they stepped inside, everyone rose to their feet.

"Happy Birth moon Queen Emma!" They cheered together.

She covered her mouth with both hands as her eyes wandered around the lounge.

Soft pink fabric draped elegantly across the ceiling, while strings of warm lights cast a gentle glow over the chamber. Round tables decorated with fresh flowers lined both sides of the aisle. Every arrangement had been carefully placed, making the entire lounge look like something from a fairy tale.

Her gaze settled on the beautiful birth moon cake displayed on a table in the center of the chamber. She turned slowly to Brandon, still trying to take everything in.

"When did you do all this?" she whispered.

Brandon only smiled.

"Are you surprised?" he asked, leaning closer.

Emma laughed, nodded several times, and wrapped her arms around him.

"I had no idea," she said. "Not even the smallest hint."

"This is your first birth moon here as my queen and the mother of our pup, Moonheart. You didn’t think I’d let it pass without celebrating, did you?" Brandon whispered seductively near her ear.

Emma laughed and rested her head briefly against his shoulder.

"I should have known you were up to something."

The guests took their seats as the celebration officially began. Emma welcomed everyone with a few heartfelt words and thanked them for sharing the moonset with her. When she finished, everyone applauded before gathering around as she cut the birth moon cake with a smile.

For the rest of the moonset, Brandon rarely left her side. Every now and then, his fingers found hers beneath the table, or he’d brush her hand as they talked with their guests. Emma would glance at him, trying not to smile too much, but she never pulled away.

A live band filled the lounge with music while a group of professional dancers entertained the guests. Their lively performance drew laughter and applause, and before long, several people had joined them on the dance floor.

By nine o’clock, the band switched to faster songs. The chamber came alive as more guests got to their feet.

Emma smiled, reached for Brandon’s hand, and gave it a gentle tug.

"Come on," she said.

He chuckled and let her pull him onto the dance floor.

They moved together as the music played, laughing whenever one of them missed a step. Brandon spun her gently before drawing her back into his arms.

"I’ve been looking forward to having you all to myself tonight," he murmured with a smile.

Emma looked into his eyes.

"So have I."

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Moonheart, you’re my life. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

She smiled, rested her forehead against his for a moment, and they continued dancing while their family and moonallies cheered around them.

"I’ve been waiting for your magical touch all day," Brandon whispered against her ear as he spun her gently back into his arms.

Emma laughed softly.

"You’ll have it," she said, her fingers tightening around him. "I love you so much."

"I love you more."

They stayed on the dance floor for another song, moving together while the band played. Every now and then, their eyes met, and neither of them could stop smiling.

When the song ended, Brandon leaned toward one of his moonallies.

"Take over for me for a while," he said quietly.

"Of course, Alpha."

Brandon reached for Emma’s hand.

"Come with me."

She followed him without asking where they were going. They slipped away while the guests remained caught up in the music and conversations.

The elevator doors closed behind them. Brandon smiled, cupped her face, and kissed her gently. She smiled into the kiss before wrapping her arms around him. For a few quiet moments, the celebration outside faded away, leaving only the two of them. He guided her to his chamber and whispered into her ear.

She laughed out loud. "Are you really going to do that?"

"Watch me." He scooped her into his arms, gently lowered her onto the bed and began to undress her. He began with intense kissing. He kissed her neck and whispered sweet nothing into her ear.

He nuzzled her boobs teasingly before pulling back. "Should I?"

Emma immediately understood what he meant and laughed. "Not today. Are you really going to compete with Bryan?"

"It was mine before he came along and stole it from me."

They both laughed.

He took his time, making sure Emma was ready before he continued. He gets in-between her thighs and slowly penetrates her. Then continued the kissing. He looked into her eyes, and she gave him a clear, encouraging look, silently giving him the go-ahead. He began thrusting slowly, pausing now and then to exchange soft, affectionate smiles. They snuggled close throughout the moonfall, reluctant to pull away from each other.

At dawn, Mrs. Thompson called their attention to Bryan. She pressed the intercom, and his cries echoed through the chamber.

"Mrs. Thompson, what’s going on?" Brandon asked.

"Bryan woke up hungry, but he’s already finished all the milk we prepared for him," she replied.

Brandon glanced at the sleeping Emma.She’s exhausted.

"Bring Bryan to our chamber," he said quietly. "I’ll take care of him. His mother needs to rest."

"Of course, My Alpha," Mrs. Thompson replied. "I’ll bring him to you right away."

Brandon carefully carried Bryan to the bed and settled him beside Emma. He gently supported the pup, guiding him toward his mother’s breast until he latched. Emma remained fast asleep, completely exhausted and unaware of what was happening beside her. Brandon stayed close, keeping one hand beneath Bryan to support him while watching the pup carefully to make sure he remained safely positioned as he fed.

When Bryan was satisfied, he stopped nursing and soon drifted off to sleep. He carefully lifted him into his arms and gently rubbed his back until Bryan let out a soft burp. Once he was sure Bryan was comfortable, he laid him in the cot beside their bed. Then he slipped back beneath the covers, pulled Emma gently against him, and finally returned to sleep.

The following week, Lunara and Gregory completed their mating bond ceremony.

Emma stayed home with Bryan Oliver. He was still too young for such a crowded event, and she wasn’t ready to leave him for that long. Elara, Bernard, Lyn, and Ken attended the ceremony instead.

Later that moonfall, they sent her videos and pictures from the celebration. Emma sat with Bryan asleep in her arms and watched every one of them. A warm smile spread across her face as she saw Lunara and Gregory exchange their vows.

"I’m so happy for her," she whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of Bryan’s head before quietly slipping out of the nursery.

One quiet moonfall, Emma sat by the window with a warm cup of tea in her hands. The estate had grown peaceful after dinner, leaving only the soft sounds of the moonfall drifting in through the open balcony doors.

Her thoughts wandered back to everything they had been through.

There was a time she had almost walked away from the only man she had ever loved. There were days when every step forward seemed to come with another obstacle, especially when the search for her biological parents became the kingdom’s greatest concern. Yet somehow, every broken piece had found its place.

A small smile spread across her face.

She silently thanked the Moon Goddess for never leaving her side.

The mate bond that had started with misunderstandings and endless arguments had grown into the strongest part of her life. The dream she had once scribbled into a notebook had become reality. Her books had touched countless readers, and she had become the bestselling author she had always hoped to be.

Her thoughts drifted to Elara.

There had been a time when Elara believed she would never be allowed to mate the man she loved. Now she and Bernard were building a happy life together.

Then she thought about Lyn.

People had underestimated her for winters, but Lyn had proved them wrong. She had found her mate, mated with the man she loved, and built a successful career as one of the country’s top models.

Emma smiled again as Ashley and Emily came to mind. Their bond had only grown stronger with time. Ashley never stopped thanking Brandon for refusing to give up until he found Emily.

She was happy for the king and the High Luna as well. Life had taught her that blessings often arrived in ways no one expected. If she had turned down Mr. Richard’s old wagon because of how worn it looked, she might never have met Oliver, the man who changed her life forever.

A soft cry pulled her out of her thoughts.

She turned toward the door just as Mrs. Thompson walked in with Bryan in her arms.

"I think Moon Prince is hungry," Mrs. Thompson said with a smile.

Emma laughed softly and reached for her pup.

"I think you’re right."

Bryan settled into her arms almost immediately. She kissed his forehead before beginning to nurse him, smiling as his tiny fingers wrapped around one of hers.

The moment that amused Emma the most was the day Bryan was nursing and she tried to turn onto her other side. She had barely moved when Brandon’s voice stopped her.

"Hey, hey. No turning until Bryan is done nursing."

Emma opened her eyes and found him watching her with an amused expression. She smiled sleepily.

"You should have woken me up," she said, touched by how attentive he had been.

"There was no point waking a mother who was still asleep while her pup was crying and fussing beside her," Brandon replied dramatically.

Emma laughed softly. "He was crying that loudly?"

"You have no idea."

Still smiling, she carefully adjusted herself and settled back into a comfortable position. Brandon gently helped position Bryan so he could continue nursing safely.

Emma watched them for a moment, her heart warming at the sight. She had woken several times to find Brandon quietly helping with Bryan while she slept, and each time, she was reminded just how lucky she was to have him.

She was grateful for the kind of mate Brandon was. She remembered waking several times during the moonfall, only to find him beside her, patiently helping their pup nurse while she slept. She couldn’t imagine how she would manage without him. Having Brandon by her side made motherhood feel a little easier.

She thought everything was finally okay... until five winters later.

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