Alpha's Secret Bride

The nursery now filled with soft cries, while servants came and went with fresh blankets, meals, and everything the newborn needed. Bryan and Charlotte could hardly stay away from their little brother, finding one excuse after another to visit the nursery whenever they could.

One highmoon, Bryan stood on his toes beside the nursery crib and peered over the edge. "He’s smaller than I thought."

Charlotte squeezed past him and leaned closer to get a better look. "Move. I want to see."

"You already saw him."

"I want to see him again."

Bryan glanced at the sleeping pup before looking back at her. "You’ll wake him."

Charlotte lowered her voice as she leaned over the crib. "I won’t."

The pup stirred beneath the blanket, and both of them immediately froze.

Bryan slowly looked at Charlotte. "See? You woke him."

"I didn’t," Charlotte whispered, keeping her eyes on the pup.

A small cry escaped the crib, and Charlotte quickly turned toward the door. "Maybe we should get Mother."

Bryan nodded, his expression suddenly serious. "Good idea."

They hurried out of the nursery and down the corridor, only to nearly run into Mrs. Thompson, who was coming to the nursery. She stopped them with a surprised look.

"Why are you running?"

Bryan caught his breath before pointing back toward the nursery. "Our brother is crying!"

Mrs. Thompson sighed and followed them back toward the nursery.

Emma was chatting with Brandon in their chamber when Mrs. Thompson sent for her. They both headed to the nursery and stopped at the doorway when they saw Bryan and Charlotte standing beside the crib, watching their brother closely as he licked his lips and began to fuss.

Emma looked from the pup to the two of them and immediately pointed at them. "I know one of you woke him up."

"It was Bryan Oliver," Charlotte said at once.

"It was Charlotte Nadia," Bryan argued, turning toward her.

Charlotte shook her head. "It was you."

"I told you not to lean over the crib."

"You leaned over first."

Mrs. Thompson stepped between them before the argument could continue. "Both of you, out. Your brother needs some peace."

Bryan opened his mouth to protest, but one look from Mrs. Thompson made him close it again. Charlotte followed him toward the door, still looking back at the crib.

Brandon covered his mouth, but the laugh escaped anyway.

Emma glanced at him. "You find this funny?"

He shook his head, still smiling. "Not at all."

Once the pup had been fed and settled again, they left the nursery and returned to their chamber to continue reviewing the reports.

Life inside the palace became wonderfully busy.

Three winters later, Prince Bryan Oliver had grown older and more disciplined, and he now spent part of his days training with the Royal Guard. Under Brandon’s guidance, he learned how to handle a weapon, watch an opponent’s movements, and think before making a decision instead of rushing into a fight.

During one training session, Bryan swung his practice weapon too quickly and lost his balance. Brandon caught him by the shoulder before he could hit the ground.

"Slow down."

Bryan straightened and looked toward the guard standing several steps away. "I almost had him."

Brandon released his shoulder. "You almost fell."

The guard lowered his head, trying to hide a smile.

Bryan noticed and frowned before turning back to Brandon. He lowered his practice weapon and adjusted his grip. "Can I try again?"

Brandon nodded. "Again."

He raised the weapon and looked at his father. "Like this?"

"Keep your feet apart."

Bryan shifted his stance and glanced down at his feet before looking up again. "Now?"

"Better."

Brandon stepped back and watched him for a moment. "Don’t worry about winning every time, Bryan. If you rush because you want to prove you’re stronger, you’ll give your opponent an opening. Think first, protect yourself, and remember what you’re fighting for."

Young Bryan lowered his practice weapon and nodded. "I understand, Father."

Brandon held his gaze. "Then show me."

He tightened his grip, planted his feet firmly, and raised the weapon again.

Nearby, Princess Lottie had grown into a confident young Moon Princess. She had Emma’s kindness and Brandon’s determination, and she rarely passed up an opportunity to help anyone who needed her.

One moonrise, Charlotte raced through the palace gardens with a bouquet of wildflowers clutched in both hands.

"Mother!"

Emma turned just in time for Charlotte to reach her and wrap both arms around her waist. She laughed and steadied the little princess before looking down at the flowers Charlotte was holding out to her.

"Look what I picked for you."

"They’re beautiful."

"They’re your favorite."

Emma smiled and bent to kiss her forehead. "Thank you, my little Pumpkin."

Charlotte held the bouquet up proudly, then glanced toward the fountain. "Mrs. Thompson said I shouldn’t pick the ones near the fountain."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Did you pick those?"

Charlotte quickly shook her head. "No."

A familiar voice came from behind them.

"She tried."

Emma turned and found Mrs. Thompson standing a few steps away with a basket in her hands.

Charlotte giggled. "Only one."

Mrs. Thompson looked at Emma. "Three."

Charlotte’s smile faded as she looked down at the flowers. "Three small ones."

Emma laughed and brushed a loose strand of hair away from Charlotte’s face. "Then tomorrow, you can help the gardener plant some new flowers."

Charlotte’s eyes brightened. "Really?"

"Really."

She threw her arms around Emma again, holding the bouquet carefully between them.

As the winters passed, the Frostbane family became a symbol of hope throughout Santorini. They had faced loss, betrayal, and winters of uncertainty, but they carried those memories with them as they built a different future for their family and their kingdom.

They were not perfect, and they never pretended to be. The scars left by those difficult winters remained part of their lives, even as new memories slowly took their place.

Every winter, Brandon and Emma returned to the memorial for King Eldric and everyone who had given their lives for the kingdom. They always came before moonfall, just as they had every winter.

Brandon would place a wreath beneath Eldric’s name while Emma set a small lantern beside it. Sometimes they spoke about the people whose names were carved into the stone. Other times, they simply stood together, their eyes moving slowly over the long rows of names.

They never left without looking at every one of them.

Winters passed, and the kingdom slowly changed.

One quiet moonfall, Brandon and Emma stood together on the palace balcony, looking out over the capital.

Streetlights stretched along the streets below, bathing the capital in a warm golden glow. Decorative lanterns hung outside shops and cafés, adding soft light to the busy streets. The markets were still open, vendors called to late customers, and families sat outside their homes, enjoying the cool night air as the city carried on around them.

The pups ran down the corridor, their laughter rising all the way to the palace. Emma watched them disappear around the corner, then turned to Brandon with a small smile.

"They’re getting faster."

Brandon rested his arms against the railing and followed her gaze. "Bryan wasn’t that fast last winter."

"Charlotte is faster than him."

"Because she cheats."

Emma looked at him. "You can’t prove that."

"I’ve watched her."

"She is only seven."

"And already breaking rules," Brandon said, a smile tugging at his mouth.

She laughed softly. "She gets that from you."

He looked at her. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"I don’t break rules."

She gave him a knowing look. "You used to."

He shook his head, trying not to smile. "That’s a very long time ago."

"Not long enough for me to forget."

Brandon shook his head as he looked back toward the street. "Elyon will probably be worse when he gets older."

Emma sighed. "Don’t remind me. One troublemaker is enough."

"Two, you mean."

She turned toward him. "Are you calling Charlotte a troublemaker?"

"I’m saying she has her moments."

She gave him a knowing look. "So does her father."

He looked at her. "I don’t remember being that bad."

Emma laughed softly. "You want me to remind you?"

He shook his head, already smiling. "Not tonight."

"Good. Because I have plenty of examples."

For a moment, they watched the city together, the sound of music and laughter drifting up from the square below.

Then Brandon glanced at her. "You know, you’re enjoying this."

"Enjoying what?"

"Having pups who are finally giving you someone else to blame for the trouble around here."

She laughed. "Maybe I am."

Behind them, the balcony doors opened, and Mrs. Thompson stepped outside carrying two cups of warm tea. She handed one to Emma and then passed the other to Brandon before pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

"You’re both going to catch a chill standing out here."

Emma wrapped both hands around the warm cup. "We’re fine."

Mrs. Thompson gave her a knowing look. "You said that nine winters ago."

Brandon took a sip of his tea and glanced at Mrs. Thompson with a smile. "You still remember that?"

"I remember plenty," Mrs. Thompson said.

Emma laughed softly. "That’s what worries me."

She started toward the open doors, then stopped and looked back at them when Brandon asked about the pups. "Bryan is supposed to be finishing his reading, Charlotte is helping Luna Alexandra sort the donation lists, and Elyon has been asking where you are for the past twenty minutes."

Brandon lowered his cup. "Twenty minutes?"

Mrs. Thompson nodded. "He says he has something he wants to show you."

Emma smiled. "That usually means he’s been up to something."

"That’s what I was thinking," Mrs. Thompson said.

Before Emma could answer, hurried footsteps came from inside the palace.

"Father!"

Brandon turned toward the doorway.

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