Alpha's Secret Bride

Rain fell steadily over Moon Estate, drumming softly against the tall windows of the feeding chamber. Dinner had long since grown cold, and the servants stood quietly along the walls, exchanging worried glances as they watched the two pups.

Bryan sat with his tablet on the table in front of him, but he had stopped tapping the screen. His arms were folded across his chest as he stared at the untouched food beside him. Charlotte sat beside him with a small tablet of her own, slowly dragging her finger across the screen without paying much attention to what she was doing. Her little feet swung beneath her chair while her plate remained untouched.

Emma looked from one face to the other. She had tried everything she could think of. She had reasoned with them, promised them dessert, and even threatened to cancel their playtime the following day. Nothing had worked. Every time she asked Bryan to eat, he simply gave her the same answer.

"I’ll eat when Father comes."

Charlotte had repeated it in her own little way, glancing toward the doors each time she spoke.

"Father come."

Emma rubbed her temples and let out a quiet breath. She had never imagined that Brandon’s daily visits would become so important to the pups in such a short time.

The silence was finally broken by the familiar sound of engines entering the estate.

Bryan’s head shot up, and his eyes immediately brightened. "He’s here!"

Charlotte clapped her hands and pushed herself away from the table. "Father!"

Before Emma could stop them, both pups hurried toward the entrance. Bryan reached the hallway first, while Charlotte hurried after him on her little legs. The servants quickly followed, keeping close enough to catch her if she slipped on the polished floor.

Emma remained where she was for a moment, her fingers resting against the edge of the table. Her heartbeat quickened as the sound of footsteps approached from the hallway.

A few moments later, hurried footsteps echoed through the villa.

Then Brandon appeared.

His dark suit was damp from the rain, and tiny droplets clung to his hair and shoulders despite the umbrella that had sheltered him from the worst of the downpour. He looked as though he had come straight from the palace without stopping to change.

Bryan ran toward him.

The moment Bryan reached him, he wrapped both arms tightly around his father’s waist.

"I knew you’d come."

He rested one hand on his prince’s head and smiled down at him. "I promised I’d come back."

Charlotte stretched both arms toward him. "Father!"

He bent down and lifted her into his arms. She immediately buried her little face against his shoulder, then pulled back when she felt the dampness on his jacket.

"You got wet."

Brandon chuckled softly. "It was raining."

She frowned with all the seriousness a three-winter-old could manage and touched his damp shoulder with one tiny finger.

"You’ll get cold."

His smile softened. "I’ll be careful."

Emma’s eyes moved over him again, stopping at the damp shoulders of his jacket. "You’re soaked."

Brandon glanced down at himself and gave a small shake of his head. "I’ll be fine."

She didn’t argue with him. She simply turned and walked back into the chamber. A few moments later, she returned carrying a dry jacket. She stopped in front of him and held it out without saying anything.

Brandon looked at the jacket, then at her face. "You don’t have to."

"I know." She kept her hand extended. "But you’re not standing around in wet clothes."

He hesitated for a moment before taking it from her. His fingers brushed hers briefly, and he immediately pulled the jacket closer to himself.

He looked down at the jacket again before glancing back at her. He didn’t say anything else. He simply slipped off his wet jacket and put on the dry one she had brought him.

The maid quickly stepped forward and took the wet jacket from him, carrying it away to be dried.

His eyes lingered on the maid for a moment before he looked back at Emma.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

She had been the one to send for him, and neither of them needed to say it aloud. He simply gave her a grateful nod.

"Thank you."

She looked away first. "The pups have been waiting."

"I know."

He didn’t ask why she had called or used the opportunity to start a conversation with her. Instead, he carried Charlotte to the dining table and took the empty seat between their chairs.

Bryan immediately climbed back into his chair, while Charlotte settled happily beside their father. The servants quickly removed the cold dishes and returned with fresh plates of food.

He picked up Bryan’s spoon and scooped up a bite.

"Open."

He opened his mouth without hesitation. After swallowing, he looked at his father with a small, satisfied smile and reached for another bite.

Emma stared at him.

Less than fifteen minutes earlier, Bryan had refused to touch his dinner. Now he was sitting beside his father and eating as though he had never been upset.

Charlotte tugged gently on his sleeve.

"Me too."

He smiled and picked up her spoon. "Of course."

He fed Charlotte one bite at a time, pausing whenever she needed to chew before offering her another. A little streak of sauce appeared on her cheek, and he wiped it away with a napkin.

She giggled and turned her face away.

"Hold still, Princess."

She laughed harder and leaned against his arm.

The dining chamber slowly filled with laughter again, and the servants began moving around the table more easily as the tension disappeared.

Emma remained quiet, her hands resting around her teacup as she watched Brandon feed the pups.

Bryan eagerly told him about the new Chapter he had read that highmoon, leaning across the table as he explained the part he liked most. Charlotte proudly announced that she had learned to count to ten, holding up her little fingers as she went.

"One, two, three, four, five..."

She paused, frowned at her fingers, then continued.

"Seven, eight, nine, ten."

Bryan laughed. "You skipped six."

Charlotte looked at him as if he had accused her of something serious.

"No."

Brandon chuckled and applauded anyway. "That’s wonderful, Princess."

Charlotte beamed and held up all ten fingers again.

Emma watched them from across the table. She couldn’t remember the last time dinner had felt so complete.

When the meal was over, Bryan leaned back in his chair and rubbed his full stomach.

"I’m full."

Charlotte patted her little tummy with both hands. "Me too."

Brandon smiled. "That’s what I wanted to hear."

A few minutes later, he pushed his chair back and stood, then glanced at the time on his wristwatch.

"I should go."

Bryan’s smile faded. "So soon?"

"I still have work waiting for me."

Bryan nodded slowly. This time, he didn’t ask his father to stay. Instead, he climbed down from his chair and walked over to him. Without saying a word, he wrapped both arms around his father’s waist.

Brandon rested a hand on the back of his head and held him close.

"I’ll see you tomorrow."

"I know." Bryan pulled back and looked up at him with a small smile. "You always come back."

He paused, his hand still resting on Bryan’s shoulder.

"Always."

Charlotte reached up for one last hug, and he bent down to pull her into his arms. He kissed her forehead before setting her back on her feet.

"Sleep well, Princess."

"Sleep well, Father."

He smiled and turned toward Emma.

"I apologize for interrupting your dinner."

"You didn’t."

The words slipped out before Emma could stop them.

He looked at her, surprise briefly crossing his face.

She cleared her throat and glanced toward the pups.

"The pups needed you."

His eyes softened. "I’m glad I could be here."

He didn’t say anything else.

A moment later, he was gone.

She walked to the window and rested one hand against the glass. She watched his convoy move through the estate gates, the taillights growing smaller until they disappeared into the rainy moonfall.

Behind her, Bryan’s small voice broke the silence.

"Mother?"

She turned from the window. "Yes?"

He smiled sleepily, rubbing one eye with the back of his hand.

"I told you Father would come."

She looked toward the gates one last time. The driveway was empty now, the rain still tapping softly against the glass.

She turned back to her prince and walked over to him. Her fingers gently smoothed his hair away from his forehead.

"Yes..." she whispered, a faint smile touching her lips. "You did."

Bryan gave a sleepy nod before leaning against her.

She slipped an arm around his shoulders and held him close.

"It’s bedtime, Your Highness. Lottie is already asleep."

"I know." Bryan yawned and rubbed his eyes. "I just wish Father could sleep here tonight."

Emma paused as she pulled the blanket over him. "Maybe another day."

Bryan gave a sleepy nod. Within moments, his eyes closed, and his breathing settled into a quiet rhythm.

The maid gently lifted him from her lap and carried him to the nursery. Emma followed behind and tucked the blanket around him once he was settled beside Charlotte.

Before leaving, she glanced at his sleeping face.

Her mind returned to what he had said about wanting his father to stay for the moonfall. She stood there for a moment, then shook the thought away and quietly left the nursery.

For a moment, her eyes drifted back toward the window.

Brandon hadn’t returned because she had asked him to.

He had come because his pups were waiting for him.

Her fingers moved slowly through Bryan’s hair as she looked toward the empty gates again.

She had spent weeks telling herself that Brandon’s promises meant nothing.

But tonight, for the first time, she found herself wondering if she had been wrong.

And that thought frightened her more than she wanted to admit.

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