Alpha's Secret Bride

Brandon waited until Bryan had finished his lessons before asking him to come to the private study.

Bryan stepped inside and looked around before closing the door behind him. "Father?"

Brandon was standing beside the desk, the parchment Eldric had left behind resting in front of him. He looked at Bryan for a moment before pulling out the chair across from him.

"Come sit with me."

He walked over and sat down. Brandon remained beside the desk for another moment, his fingers resting against its edge. He had read the document several times since finding it, but the words had not become any easier to understand.

He finally picked up the parchment and looked at Bryan.

"You remember the box you found?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"This was inside it."

He placed the parchment on the desk between them. Bryan leaned forward slightly, his eyes moving over the old paper.

"What did Grandfather write?"

"Something about you."

Bryan’s eyebrows lifted. "Me?"

He nodded. "He wrote that you may one day inherit the crown."

Bryan stared at him for a few seconds before lowering his eyes to his hands.

"Does that mean I have to become king?"

"No."

He pulled the chair closer and sat down beside him.

"Being a Moon Prince doesn’t mean the kingdom owns your future."

Bryan remained quiet, his fingers moving slowly over the edge of his sleeve.

"But Grandfather wrote my name."

"I know."

"So what happens if everyone expects me to become king?"

Brandon rested his forearms on his knees and looked at him.

"Then they can expect whatever they want. That doesn’t mean you have to give them the life they expect from you."

Bryan rubbed his thumb against his palm before looking up.

"I like training with you."

"I know."

"And I want to learn how to fight and protect people." He paused, glancing toward the parchment on the desk. "But sometimes I think I’d rather just grow up and have a normal life."

Brandon studied him for a moment, then asked quietly, "What kind of normal life?"

Bryan shrugged. "I don’t know yet. Maybe have a family. Travel. Train because I want to, not because I have to. Spend time with you and Mother. Be with Charlotte and Elyon."

A faint smile touched Brandon’s face as he listened.

"That sounds like a good life."

Bryan studied his father’s face for a moment before asking, "You’re not disappointed?"

"No."

He reached across the desk and rested his hand over Bryan’s.

"I want you to grow into the man you want to become, Bryan. If one day you decide you want the crown, I’ll stand behind you. If you decide you don’t, I’ll still stand behind you too."

Bryan looked down at their hands, his fingers slowly curling around his father’s.

"What if the kingdom needs me?"

"Then we’ll deal with that when the time comes."

Brandon gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"You don’t have to spend your puphood worrying about a throne that isn’t yours yet."

Bryan nodded, his shoulders relaxing as he leaned back in the chair.

"Okay."

Brandon watched him for a moment before continuing.

"And there’s something else you need to understand. Being my pup doesn’t mean you owe the kingdom your entire life."

Bryan looked up at him.

"You’re allowed to choose what you want for yourself."

Bryan nodded slowly.

He leaned back in his chair. "Your grandfather wanted you to choose your own path. That’s what matters."

A quiet knock sounded against the door.

Neither of them noticed it at first.

Emma stood just outside the study, her hand resting against the doorframe. She had only come looking for Brandon, but she stopped when she heard Bryan’s voice.

She stayed where she was, listened for another moment before quietly stepping away from the doorway.

Inside the study, Bryan looked at his father.

"Can I still train tomorrow?"

A smile spread across Brandon’s face. "Of course."

"Even if I don’t want to be king?"

"Especially then."

Bryan smiled and pushed himself out of the chair.

"I’ll see you tomorrow, Father."

He stood as Bryan walked toward the door. "Get some sleep."

Bryan reached for the door, then stopped and turned back.

"Father?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

He gave him a small nod. "You’re welcome."

He smiled before opening the door and stepping into the hallway. He pulled it closed behind him and walked away.

He remained beside the desk for a moment, his eyes still on the closed door. When he finally stepped into the hallway, he noticed Emma standing a short distance away.

He walked toward her.

"How long have you been here?"

Emma gave him a small smile. "Long enough."

Brandon studied her face, then glanced toward the study.

"You heard us?"

"Some of it."

She moved closer and slipped her hand into his as they walked back to the study. When they reached the door, she glanced at it briefly before turning her attention back to him.

"You know, there’s a difference between the man you were winters ago and the father you are now."

Brandon glanced toward the study door again.

"How so?"

"Winters ago, you would have worried about what the kingdom needed from your heir." She gently squeezed his hand. "Today, you worried about what your heir needs from his life."

He looked at her quietly, his fingers tightening slightly around hers.

"I don’t want our pups growing up believing they have to earn our love by becoming something for us."

Emma’s smile softened as she looked at him. "That’s exactly what I mean."

He gently squeezed her hand. "I want them to know that no matter what they choose, they’ll always have a home with us."

"Good. I remember everything you went through just to be with the woman you love, and I wouldn’t want our pups to go through anything like that."

Brandon looked down for a moment before meeting her eyes again.

"I also understand that Daniel sent you away when he found out you were in love with me."

"Exactly. Your father should have protected your happiness the moment you opened up to him. Instead, he used your feelings against you."

Brandon glanced toward the closed door.

"Maybe that’s why he wrote this for me and Bryan. Maybe he finally realized where he went wrong and didn’t want me to make the same mistake."

"You wanted to come with me to drop him off at school a few days ago, but I said no."

"Yes. I was surprised because that’s something Bryan and Charlotte have both wanted for a long time."

"Bryan opened up to me before that cultural day. He told me he was worried that once his classmates found out he was royal, they would start treating him differently or keeping their distance. That’s not what he wants. He just wants to have a normal life, the same kind of life you wanted when you were his age."

Brandon was quiet for a moment, his eyes lowering to the floor.

"I understand him more than he probably realizes. I know what it’s like to have people look at you differently because of who your family is."

He looked back at Emma and gave a small smile.

"If having a normal life is what Bryan wants, then I’ll do everything I can to give him that. I don’t want him growing up feeling like being the Moon Prince has taken that choice away from him."

They continued talking for a while, going over their pups’ future and the kind of lives they wanted for them. Emma was about to ask Brandon what he thought Bryan might choose for himself when a soft knock sounded at the study door.

A palace attendant stepped inside and bowed.

"Your Majesty, I’m sorry to interrupt. The council is waiting for your approval on the northern territory reports."

Brandon glanced at Emma.

"I’ll be back as soon as I can."

She nodded. "Go. I’ll wait for you."

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before following the attendant out of the study.

She stayed there for a few minutes, looking over the papers on the desk. When she heard another group of footsteps pass through the hallway, she decided to get some fresh air and stepped onto their balcony.

By the time Brandon finished with the reports, the palace had grown quiet. He returned to their chamber and found the balcony doors open.

Emma was standing against the railing, looking out over the lights of the capital.

He stepped outside.

She turned when she heard him and held out her hand.

"You’re finally back."

He took her hand and stepped beside her. "I’m sorry. The reports took longer than I expected."

"I figured."

He leaned against the railing beside her. "Where were we?"

She smiled and rested her head lightly against his shoulder.

"We were talking about our pups."

"And what were you saying?"

Emma lowered her eyes to their joined hands.

"You know what I want most?"

Brandon turned toward her. "What?"

"For our pups to choose their lives freely."

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. "They will."

She leaned against his shoulder, resting her head lightly against him.

"And if Bryan chooses something completely different?"

"Then we’ll support him."

She lifted her head and looked at him. "You mean that?"

Brandon met her eyes with a small smile. "I do."

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

They both turned toward the balcony doors as a royal messenger appeared in the doorway, slightly out of breath. He stopped a few steps away and bowed.

"Your Majesty."

Brandon’s expression changed as he straightened. "What happened?"

The messenger held out a sealed document.

"A message has arrived from the northern packs."

Brandon took the document but didn’t break the seal.

"The pack leaders are asking for your immediate presence."

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