Alpha's Secret Bride

He placed a hand lightly against her back. "Sit down."

"Your Majesty, I’m fine."

"Sit."

She gave him a look but lowered herself into the chair again. "You worry too much."

"You almost fell over."

"I didn’t fall."

"That isn’t the part I’m concerned about."

She sighed and rested her head against the back of the chair. "Maybe I haven’t been sleeping enough."

Brandon raised an eyebrow. "You slept until late moonrise yesterday."

"I was tired."

"You went to bed early before the moonfall."

"I was still tired."

He studied her for a moment before gathering the papers in front of him. "If this happens again, you’re seeing the royal healer."

Emma rolled her eyes. "You’re very demanding for someone who just became king."

"Being king has nothing to do with it."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Being your mate does."

She tried to hide her smile as she stood again, this time more slowly.

A few days later, Brandon began noticing another change.

At breakfast, Emma finished her usual meal and reached for another plate without hesitation. Brandon paused with his cup halfway to his lips and watched as she served herself again.

He watched as Emma reached for another serving, his eyebrows lifting slightly. "You’re having another one?"

She glanced at him before pulling the plate closer. "Yes."

"You just finished breakfast."

"I know." She picked up her fork again without any hesitation.

He looked at the empty plate in front of her, then at the one she had just served herself. "You’re still hungry?"

She took another bite and nodded. "Very."

He smiled and leaned back in his chair. "All right. Eat."

She paused and narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I’m not."

"You are." She pointed her fork at him before taking another bite.

He tried to hide his smile. "I’m just surprised. You’ve been eating more than usual lately."

She looked down at her plate and then back at him. "Then stop being surprised and let me eat."

He laughed softly and lifted his hands in surrender. "All right, my Queen. I’ll leave you for your breakfast."

He went back to his breakfast, although his eyes kept drifting toward her as she finished the second plate.

By the end of the week, Emma had started going to bed earlier than usual. Sometimes she would sit down after dinner intending to spend a little time with Brandon, only to find herself fighting to keep her eyes open.

One moonfall, Brandon found her curled up on the sofa with a book resting against her chest.

He glanced down at the book resting loosely against her chest. "You’re supposed to be reading."

He picked it up before it could slide to the floor.

She opened one eye and looked up at him. "I was."

He raised an eyebrow. "Were you?"

"Yes." She shifted against the sofa and tried to sit up straighter.

He looked at her for a moment. "When?"

She gave him a sleepy smile. "A few minutes ago."

He laughed softly and held out his hand. "Come on. You’re going to bed."

She looked at his hand before placing hers in it. He gently pulled her to her feet, and she reached for the book.

"I wasn’t finished."

"You can finish it tomorrow."

"I could stay awake."

He gave her an amused look. "You can barely keep your eyes open."

She tried to suppress a yawn and failed.

"That doesn’t prove anything."

He smiled as he slipped an arm around her waist. "Of course it doesn’t, Moonheart."

"But you’re already falling asleep standing up."

She leaned against him as they walked toward their chamber. "Maybe my body is asking for more rest."

"Then listen to it."

She looked up at him. "You’re not going to tease me?"

"I’ll save it for tomorrow."

She smiled and rested her head against his shoulder.

The dizziness came and went over the next several days. Sometimes she felt perfectly normal, while other times she had to pause during a walk or sit down for a few minutes before continuing. Her appetite remained stronger than usual, and no matter how much sleep she got, she still found herself wanting more.

Brandon noticed every little change, even when she tried to brush it off.

One moonrise, she stood near the window while he reviewed a report at the desk. She reached for the curtain, then stopped and placed a hand against the window frame.

He immediately looked up.

"Moonheart?"

She turned toward him and forced a small smile. "I’m okay."

He pushed his chair back. "You said that last time."

"This time I mean it."

He walked over anyway and took her hand.

"Maybe we should have the healer check you."

She looked down at their joined hands, then back at him.

"I think you’re right."

Brandon’s expression softened.

"Good."

She squeezed his fingers. "You’ll come with me?"

"Of course."

They left the chamber together, with Brandon keeping his hand around hers as they walked through the quiet palace corridor. Emma moved at her usual pace, but he kept glancing at her whenever she slowed.

"You don’t have to watch me every second," she said, catching him looking at her again.

"I’m making sure you’re okay."

"I told you I’m fine."

"And I believe you. I’m still going to check."

She smiled and shook her head. "You really are enjoying being my king."

"Not when my Queen keeps making me worry."

They reached the main staircase, where two palace guards immediately stepped aside.

"Your Majesties."

Brandon nodded. "We’re going to the healing den."

One of the guards fell into step a few paces behind them while the other remained at his post.

She glanced over her shoulder. "We don’t need an escort."

Brandon looked at her. "We’re not sneaking out of the palace. The guards are doing their job."

"I know. It just feels strange having people follow us everywhere."

"You’ll get used to it."

"I don’t think I want to."

He laughed softly as they continued down the corridor.

When they reached the healing wing, the healer’s assistant looked up from the desk and immediately stood.

"Your Majesties."

Brandon nodded toward the closed door behind her. "Is the royal healer available?"

"Yes. I’ll let her know you’re here."

She squeezed Brandon’s hand as they waited.

"See?" she whispered. "I’m already regretting bringing you."

He looked down at her with a smile. "Too late."

A moment later, the assistant opened the door.

"The healer is ready for you."

Brandon held the door for her, and they stepped inside together.

The royal healer finished examining her and set the small testing kit on the table. She looked at the result, then checked it again before turning toward them.

Brandon noticed the change in her expression.

"What is it?"

The healer looked at Emma first.

"How long have you been feeling dizzy?"

She thought for a moment. "A few weeks. It doesn’t happen all the time."

"And you’ve been sleeping more than usual?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Your appetite has also increased?"

She glanced at Brandon. "A lot."

Brandon’s eyebrows lifted. "You noticed that too?"

She gave him a look. "You weren’t supposed to keep count."

The healer smiled briefly before looking back at the test.

"Those changes make sense now."

Emma’s smile faded slightly. "What do you mean?"

The healer picked up the test and held it carefully between her fingers.

"You’re pregnant, Your Majesty."

Emma stared at her.

"Pregnant?"

The healer nodded. "Yes. The result is clear."

Brandon looked from the healer to Emma, as if he needed a moment to understand what she had just heard.

"Are you sure?"

"I’m sure, Your Majesty. I would like to perform one more examination to confirm how far along she is, but there is no doubt about the pregnancy."

She slowly lowered her gaze to her stomach.

"We’re going to have another pup?"

The healer smiled. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Brandon’s face changed immediately.

"Another pup."

She looked up at him, her eyes already filled with tears.

"Another pup."

He reached for her hand and held it tightly.

"I thought you weren’t ready yet."

She laughed through the tears. "I was."

She had already stopped taking her birth control pills because she was genuinely ready to have another pup.

He looked at her for a moment before a wide smile spread across his face. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as laughter escaped between them.

Emma wrapped her arms around him and laughed against his chest.

Above them, the moon shone over a kingdom finally at peace.

The darkness had passed.

A new reign had begun.

And for the House of Eldric, a new generation was on its way.

Then something strange happened.

The crimson glow surrounding the moon began to fade.

Emma lifted her head.

"Starlit."

He followed her gaze, and his expression slowly changed.

The red light disappeared completely. In its place, the moon began to shine with a brilliant silver glow that spread across the palace grounds and reached far beyond the capital.

Brandon stared at it.

"Has the moon ever done that before?"

Emma shook her head. "Never."

Across the palace grounds, guards stopped what they were doing and looked toward the sky. Servants stepped out of the palace, and members of the Royal Council gathered on the steps as more people noticed the sudden change.

Within minutes, the silver moon had become the only thing anyone was talking about.

The Moon Priest slowly walked toward them, his eyes fixed on the sky.

Brandon turned to him.

"Moon Priest, what does this mean?"

The old priest remained silent for a moment before tightening his grip on his staff.

"The Blood Moon has changed."

"We can see that," Brandon said. "But why?"

The priest finally looked at him.

"Because the Moon Goddess has chosen this moment to announce something."

Emma stepped closer. "Announce what?"

A faint smile touched the priest’s face.

"A gift."

Whispers spread through the people gathered around the palace.

Brandon looked back at the silver moon. "What kind of gift?"

"That," the priest replied, "is something none of us will know until the Moon Goddess is ready to reveal it."

A servant nearby whispered, "Could it be a blessing for the kingdom?"

Another person said, "Maybe peace will finally last."

A third voice came from the crowd. "Perhaps the Goddess has chosen a new protector for Santorini."

Emma looked at Brandon, curiosity filling her eyes.

"What do you think it is?"

Brandon shook his head slowly.

"I have no idea."

The Moon Priest looked up again as the silver light grew brighter.

"Whatever the gift is, it will come when the kingdom needs it most."

No one spoke after that.

For the first time in generations, the people of Santorini stood beneath a silver moon.

They had survived a tyrant. They had welcomed their king home. They had watched their kingdom begin to heal.

Now the Moon Goddess had given them another mystery.

And somewhere beyond their understanding, a new gift was already on its way.

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