Alpha's Secret Bride

Laughter drifted through the gardens of Nightclaw Estate while music floated through the moonfall air.

Silver lanterns swayed gently from the trees, their warm light glimmering across crystal decorations that lined the walkways. Long tables were filled with food, desserts, and drinks. Pups raced across the lawn, weaving between guests as their laughter rose above the conversations.

It was Bryan Oliver Frostbane’s fifth birth moon.

Emma stood beside a giant moon-shaped cake with Brandon at her side. Bryan beamed beneath the tiny silver crown Brandon had surprised him with that moonrise. He planted his hands on his hips, lifted his chin, and puffed out his chest until the adults around him burst into laughter.

"Look at me!" Bryan shouted.

Elara laughed and folded her arms. "We’ve already looked three times."

Bryan shook his head. "You’ll look again, Aunt Elara!"

He spun around proudly, but his foot caught on the edge of the carpet. Before he could stumble, Brandon reached out and caught him by the arm.

"Easy there, Your Highness."

Bryan giggled, wrapped both arms around his father’s neck, and hugged him tightly.

"I love my crown, Father."

"I know you do."

Brandon smiled, ruffled Bryan’s hair, and set him gently back on the ground.

Emma stood beside them, watching with a smile. Brandon’s responsibilities as Alpha King seemed to grow with each passing winter, yet Bryan had never once been made to feel less important because of them. Whenever Brandon gave his pup his word, he always followed through.

"Father!"

Bryan grabbed Brandon’s hand and gave it an eager tug.

"Can I cut the cake now?"

Brandon looked over at Emma with a grin.

"What do you think, Moonheart?"

She laughed as Bryan shifted from one foot to the other, barely able to stand still.

"I think if we make him wait any longer, he might explode."

Bryan’s eyes grew wide, and he quickly shook his head.

"I won’t explode, Mother. I’m not a bomb."

Laughter spread through the garden. A few guests chuckled while others covered their mouths, trying not to laugh too loudly.

Brandon crouched until he was eye level with him.

"No? You won’t explode?"

Bryan shook his head again, his grin growing even wider.

"No. I’ll just eat the whole cake."

Another burst of laughter rolled through the crowd.

Brandon stood and slipped an arm around Emma’s waist as family and allies gathered around the giant moon-shaped cake. Cameras and devices rose into the air while everyone joined the countdown together.

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One!"

Bryan wrapped both hands around the cake knife while Brandon and Emma rested their hands over his. Together they guided the blade through the first slice.

The moment the cake was cut, cheers and applause filled the garden.

Within minutes, the celebration grew even livelier.

The music picked up again, and the lawn quickly filled with dancing pups. Laughter drifted from every corner of the garden as guests gathered around the tables with glasses of wine, sharing stories and teasing one another. Servers moved through the crowd with trays of desserts while Bryan hurried from one group to the next, proudly showing off his silver crown to anyone willing to admire it.

Emma had just finished talking with Luna Alexandra when Brandon’s device vibrated inside his pocket.

He slipped it out and glanced at the screen.

The smile faded from his face.

Emma noticed it immediately. She watched his eyes stay fixed on the caller ID for several long seconds before he looked back at her.

"I’ll be right back," he said quietly.

She nodded as he turned and walked toward the far end of the garden, where the music faded into the distance.

Brandon answered the call without another word.

Emma couldn’t hear the voice on the other end.

She could only see him standing there with the device pressed to his ear. He didn’t speak. His grip tightened around the device. His shoulders slowly tensed, and the color drained from his face.

A moment later, Brandon lowered his head and fell silent.

Emma’s smile slowly faded.

He never let work interrupt time with his family, especially not on Bryan Oliver’s birth moon. Whatever he was discussing with the caller, it was clearly important.

She started toward him, making her way through the guests. Before she could reach him, Brandon turned slightly and lowered his voice. He said something into the device, but it was too quiet for her to make out. He listened again, answered with a few short words, then fell silent once more.

Several minutes passed before the call finally ended.

Brandon lowered the device but didn’t put it away. He remained where he was, staring into the distance. The moonfall breeze stirred the branches above him and brushed across his jacket, yet he never seemed to notice.

Emma finally reached his side.

"Starlit?"

He turned at the sound of her voice.

For the briefest moment, something flickered across his face. His eyes looked distant, almost hollow.

Then it was gone.

A familiar smile spread across his face, warm enough that anyone else would have believed nothing had happened.

"Everything okay?" She asked quietly.

He slipped the device into his pocket and gave a small nod.

"Yeah."

She searched his face for a moment before speaking again.

"Who was it?"

"Just an employee from work."

Emma raised an eyebrow.

"On Bryan Oliver’s birth moon celebration?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Brandon’s mouth.

"It’s urgent and important enough that I need him to call."

She held his gaze, waiting for him to say who called, but he didn’t. Instead, he leaned down, kissed her forehead, and rested his hand gently against her cheek.

"I don’t want call ruining today."

Before Emma could ask another question, Bryan came running across the lawn.

"Father!"

He threw himself against Brandon’s legs and wrapped both arms around them.

"Come play!"

Brandon laughed, bent down, and scooped him into his arms.

"Where are we going, Your Highness?"

Bryan pointed excitedly toward the games waiting on the lawn, and Brandon carried him back to the others as though the call had never happened.

The celebration rolled on with birth moon music, laughter, and cheerful voices filling the gardens. Brandon joined every game Bryan wanted to play, chased him across the grass until they were both laughing, and knelt beside him to unwrap each present. Later, Bryan climbed onto Brandon’s shoulders and waved proudly at everyone like the little prince he was.

When the photographers gathered the family together, Brandon slipped one arm around Emma’s waist and held Bryan close with the other. They smiled for every picture while guests looked on with warm smiles of their own.

To everyone else, they looked like the picture of a happy family.

Emma, however, noticed the moments between the smiles. Every so often, Brandon’s eyes wandered toward the far end of the gardens. Whenever she caught him staring, he looked back at her, smiled, and turned his attention to Bryan before she had the chance to ask what was on his mind.

By late moonfall, the last of the guests said their goodbyes and made their way home. One by one, the lanterns were dimmed, the music faded, and Nightclaw Estate grew quiet once again.

Servants moved quietly through the gardens, clearing away the decorations while guards returned to their posts around the estate. The music had faded, and the laughter that had filled the grounds only a short while earlier had given way to the peaceful stillness of moonfall.

Bryan had fallen asleep halfway through Brandon’s bedtime story, his small fingers still wrapped around the silver crown he had refused to take off. Brandon smiled, gently eased the crown onto the bedside table, and pulled the blanket up to his pup’s shoulders before switching off the lamp.

Emma was waiting outside the nursery.

"He had the best day," Brandon whispered as he closed the door behind him.

"He did."

Their fingers intertwined as they walked back to their bedchamber.

Emma slipped into one of Brandon’s oversized shirts while he stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the moonlit grounds below. He didn’t seem to notice when she crossed the chamber until she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

"You’ve been somewhere else all moonfall," she said softly.

Brandon rested his hands over hers.

"I’m right here, Moonheart."

She leaned her cheek against his back and closed her eyes.

"No," she whispered. "Your body’s here, but your mind isn’t."

Silence settled between them. Outside, the trees swayed gently in the moonfall breeze.

After a long moment, Brandon turned to face her. He lifted his hands to her cheeks and held her gaze.

"I love you."

Emma’s lips curved into a smile.

"I love you too."

He leaned down and kissed her gently. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers before kissing her again, slower this time. She slipped her arms around his neck, and they held each other as the quiet of the moon wrapped around them.

Later, they shared the rest of the moonfall together, making crazy love,finding comfort in each other’s arms. He held her as though he never wanted to let her go. Even when she asked him to slow down,he kept thrusting like he lost control.

A few minutes after playing, Emma drifted into sleep with her head resting against his chest.

Long after Emma had fallen asleep, Brandon remained awake.

Moonlight filtered through the curtains, spreading a pale glow across the bedchamber. He turned his head and watched Emma sleeping peacefully beside him. Slowly, he reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. His fingertips rested against her cheek for a moment before tracing lightly along her jaw.

He lowered his head and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead.

When he pulled back, his eyes stayed on her face. His lips parted, but for a long moment, no words came.

"Forgive me, Moonheart," he whispered at last.

He closed his eyes and rested his forehead gently against hers.

"Please... I’m sorry."

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