Chapter 163: Once Rejected, Now Desperately Wanted
Emma woke up on Sunday moonrise feeling so feeble and exhausted, as if she had just gotten out of a coma. Soft rock music from Brandon’s bedchamber filled her chamber. She smiled and held her pillow tight.
Her feet ached seriously as a result of yesterday’s dance. She felt like soaking them in warm water. She swiveled when her device rang and pulled it closer. A glance at the screen of her device made her lips curve unconsciously. "The latest mates in the pack." She covered herself up properly before accepting the video call because she knew Ken would be there too.
"Hi, sibling-in-law!" She smiled and waved at Brooklyn who sat cross-legged in a half-lotus position on the bed, one hand resting quietly on her knee. Ken knelt at her back and rested his jaw on her shoulder. The excitement she saw on their faces can not be described. They smiled and waved back at her.
"How are you doing, moonlight?"
"Great!"
"Where is Brandon?"
"In his chamber," she responded.
"Will you guys come in the evening? We need to hang out one more time before traveling tomorrow," Ken asked.
"I’ll talk to him," she smiled.
"Alright."
"Ken, what was the sweetest thing you did last moonfall?" She asked and winked at them. Ken looked at Brooklyn and they giggled.
"Well, the sweetest and most romantic thing I did was make love to my mate. Nothing has ever felt so good, real, and fulfilling. As in, moonlight, she is mine!!!!" He said, kissed Brooklyn’s lips, and left them to gossip.
"He is so funny. I can’t believe he answered your question," Brooklyn said when he left.
"He is my sibling, Brooklyn."
"I never said he is not! Would you have told us the sweetest thing you did last moonfall if I had asked you?"
"Yes!
"What was your sweetest moment last moonfall?" Brooklyn asked her.
"Well, the sweetest thing for me is waking up in his arms. Knowing that he is my mate and we will always sleep and wake up in each other’s arms gave me a lot of joy last moonfall."
She waved at Naomi as she stepped out of the bathchamber, then pointed at her feet. Naomi caught on right away and sat beside her on the bed. She lifted her feet onto her lap and rubbed them gently with both hands.
"Brooklyn, you looked so cute in your wedding gown yesterday."
Brooklyn laughed. "Ken didn’t even want me to take it off."
Emma covered her mouth, already laughing.
"When the time finally came, he nearly ripped the gown apart."
The chamber filled with louder laughter.
Emma turned at the sound of the door opening. Brandon walked into the chamber with a slow smile on his face. His eyes stayed on her as he loosened the cuffs of his sleeves.
She raised a brow, already knowing he wanted her attention.
"Thank you, Naomi," she said softly and slid her legs off Naomi’s lap.
She rose, gave a small bow, and walked out of the chamber.
Brandon stepped into view beside her and lifted a hand at Brooklyn.
"Moonrise, Moon Prince Brandon."
"Mrs. Ashford," Brandon said. "Where’s your mate?"
"In the bathchamber."
Brandon glanced at Brooklyn with a grin.
"Can you still walk?"
Brooklyn pointed at Emma. "As long as she can, I can."
Laughter filled the chamber again.
"It’s time to bathe her," he said. "We’ll call you back later, Brooklyn."
"Bath her? What is she, a pup?" Brooklyn snorted, leaning back in her bed.
Brandon glanced at Emma, then curled an arm around her waist and pulled her against his side.
"Yeah," he said with a small grin. "She’s my pup."
Emma elbowed him lightly, trying not to smile, while Brooklyn burst out laughing.
"Alright." Brooklyn ended the call.
Brandon crossed the chamber, slipped an arm under Emma’s knees, and lifted her off the bed. She let out a small breath and rested against his chest.
When they reached the bathchamber, he set her down carefully.
Her eyes caught the mirror across the chamber. She walked toward it slowly and stopped in front of it.
Brandon came up behind her. His hands slid to the straps of her nightgown and eased them down her shoulders.
She stared at her reflection.
The she-wolf in the mirror barely looked like the one from weeks ago.
Her stomach curved outward, firm beneath her palm. Her hair fell thicker around her shoulders, and the loose strands brushed against her chest. Her breasts had grown fuller too, the fabric marks from her nightgown still faint against her skin.
She glanced down again and noticed the tight peaks of her nîpples. Her cheeks warmed a little.
Behind her, Brandon rested his chin on her shoulder, his smile still there as he watched her through the mirror. His hands slid slowly to her hips, giving them a light squeeze.
"There too," he murmured.
She looked down at herself again, then suddenly let out a sharp scream.
"Oh, my Moon Goddess!"
Brandon chuckled softly behind her.
"Nothing changed there, Moonheart. Just here."
His hands slid up and gently cupped her breasts. Even with both hands, he still couldn’t hold them fully.
She stared at herself in the mirror, then sighed. "Maybe I should start jogging."
One brow lifted. "Oh? Is that so?"
She nodded with little confidence. "A little exercise wouldn’t hurt."
"Maybe this will help."
Brandon stepped back and dropped into a few quick squat drills.
She burst out laughing immediately and rolled her eyes at him. "You know very well I can’t do that."
His grin widened.
A few minutes later, he guided her to the bathtub. Steam curled around them as he stepped out of his thong and climbed in beside her.
"Starlit," Emma murmured.
"Hm?" Brandon glanced at her from behind.
Warm water poured over her shoulders while his hands moved slowly across her back, working the soap into her skin.
Emma let out a soft laugh and rested against his chest. "You know I can bathe myself, right?"
Brandon’s hand slowed.
Steam curled around them. Water slid down his arms and across her waist.
He bent his head closer, his lips near her ear.
"I know."
His thumb brushed her shoulder before his arms settled around her again.
"But I like taking care of you."
He pressed a kiss against the side of her wet hair.
"You’re my mate."
A small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.
"And having you here with me like this..." His fingers traced slowly along her arm. "It settles something in me."
Emma grew quiet.
She stood there in his arms while the water streamed over them, her fingers lightly resting over his wrist.
Then she turned her head just enough to look at him over her shoulder.
Her eyes met his.
A quiet breath left her lips.
"You always say things like that," she murmured.
Her fingers slid over his hand where it rested on her shoulder, holding it there instead of moving it away.
Brandon stayed still behind her, water running between them.
She gave a small shake of her head.
"You talk like I walked into your life to save you."
Her thumb brushed slowly across his skin.
"I didn’t."
Her voice softened.
"I came because I wanted you."
She looked at him again, calmer this time.
"Not because you needed me."
The corner of her mouth lifted faintly.
"I chose you too."
For a moment, only the sound of the shower filled the space between them.
Then her fingers curled lightly around his hand.
"And if I matter that much to you..." she said quietly, "then you matter that much to me too."
By the time Brandon finished rinsing the soap from her skin, Emma leaned back against him with a quiet sigh.
"I feel like a new pup," she said with a small laugh.
Brandon smiled under his breath but didn’t answer right away.
His hand stayed on her arm while the water poured over them both.
For a few seconds, he only looked at her.
Then his thumb moved slowly against her skin again.
"You always say things like that," he murmured.
His hand slid lower along her arm, holding her close without pulling.
"I don’t need you to fix me."
A faint shake of his head.
"I wasn’t broken before you."
Emma stayed quiet, listening.
Brandon’s eyes held hers over her shoulder.
Water streamed down his face, dripping from his jaw.
"I was just alone."
The words came out softer this time.
His forehead brushed lightly against her temple.
"And now I’m not."
He shifted first, water sliding off his shoulders as he stood. A hand reached down toward her, steady.
"Come on," he said, voice light. "Before you decide this tub is your new home."
Emma laughed under her breath and took his hand.
They stepped out together. Water dripped onto the tiles as he grabbed towels, wrapping one around her shoulders first, then another through her hair.
He paused a second, watching her shake out a small breath.
"Ronan called me this moonrise."
Emma tilted her head slightly, towel still over her hair. "Who’s Ronan?"
He glanced at her while adjusting the towel around her.
"Your Finnish mate."
She froze just for a beat—then a grin broke through like she’d just remembered something far away.
"Oh... him."
Her fingers pressed lightly to the towel at her chest.
