Chapter 171: The Decision That Could Ruin Them All
Elara pulled out of Bernard’s arms and sank back into her chair like she didn’t want to leave him, fingers still lingering for a second before she let go.
Bernard stayed standing behind her, eyes locked on her face.
Emma turned her head slightly and gave him a small gesture with her hand.
He caught it, stepped forward, and sat across from them, his gaze not leaving Elara as if he was trying to read what she wasn’t saying.
"Bernard," Emma said, voice steady. "I know this won’t be easy for you. But you have to do it."
"Emma, no!" Elara grabbed her hand fast, stopping her mid-sentence.
Emma didn’t look away from Bernard.
"No, Silver Heart." Her tone stayed firm.
"We’re doing this. The sooner, the better."
Bernard’s jaw tightened.
"You have to talk to him," Emma continued. "Tell him the truth. That you’re in love with his sibling."
Elara shook her head slightly, still holding Emma’s hand like she could stop the words from landing.
"They trust you because you’ve always been honest," Emma added, eyes fixed on Bernard. "Don’t lose that now."
Bernard lowered his head, his fingers tightening slowly at his sides. The cookhouse went quiet except for the faint scrape of Emma’s nail against the armrest. After a long moment, he finally looked up and gave a small nod.
Elara shook her head immediately.
"Good," Emma said. "Don’t be scared of him. Tell him and leave the rest to me."
"What about the king?" Bernard asked.
"Talk to my mate first. Once he stands with us, he’ll help us speak to the king. The king listens to him."
"Exactly," Bernard said with another nod.
Emma glanced at Elara. Her fingers were already twisting together in her lap.
"Emma, he’ll deal with him and throw him out of this estate."
She turned quickly and grabbed Bernard’s hand with both of hers. "Bernard... please."
"No, Elara." He covered her hand before she could pull away. "I wanted to tell him three winters ago, but you stopped me." A weak laugh escaped him as he looked down at their hands. "Every time, you told me to wait."
He lifted his eyes back to her.
"I’m tired of hiding." His thumb brushed against her knuckles. "I want every wolf to know, no matter what it costs me." He paused. "Anything but losing you."
"He’ll throw you out," Elara muttered, rubbing both hands over her face.
"Fine." Bernard leaned back in his chair. "I already told him four moons ago I’d leave next winter."
Emma’s head snapped up. "Why?"
"I’m twenty-four, Alpha’s mate." He spread his hands. "I’m not a pup anymore. I want my own family."
The cookhouse went quiet for a second.
Elara stared at him. "When are you planning to talk to him?"
"Tonight."
"Tonight?" Elara’s voice shot up so fast Emma almost laughed.
"Yes."
She turned to Emma at once. "Please tell him to wait."
"The earlier, the better," Emma said.
She groaned and dropped back in her chair.
"Oh, goddess. I’m hiding in one of the panic chambers tonight. I don’t have the energy for another confrontation."
Bernard let out a laugh. Emma covered her mouth, trying not to join in, but Elara started laughing too.
The tightness in Emma’s chest eased a little when she saw the smile on her face again.
"Relax, Elara," Emma said softly. "Everything will be fine."
Elara looked at her over her shoulder. "You really believe that?"
She pushed herself to her feet and nodded once. "Trust me."
"Your eyes are swollen. Go sleep for a while,"
Emma said, brushing a hand over her cheek.
She followed Emma out of the cookhouse without arguing. The hallway stayed quiet except for their footsteps. Emma pushed open the chamber Elara always used whenever she wanted to be alone.
She slipped onto the bed while Emma crossed the chamber, pulling the curtains apart and cracking the windows open. Cool air drifted inside.
Emma glanced back at her. "He’s your first, right?"
She frowned. "Who?"
Emma gave her a look. "Don’t play dumb."
A small laugh escaped her, weak from crying. "We never went beyond kissing."
Emma leaned against the window frame. "Scared?"
She stared at the ceiling for a moment. "If we crossed that line, moving on would hurt even more."
Her brows lifted. "So you really plan to move on?"
"I tried." Her fingers twisted into the blanket. "I wanted him to forget me. Find another moonmate. We were never going to be accepted together." She swallowed. "But he refused."
Emma stayed quiet for a second. "What do you want?"
"Him." She turned onto her side and pulled the pillow closer. "Or no one."
Emma exhaled slowly. "But you said he spent the moonfall with you the last time you visited."
"He did."
She waited.
"I couldn’t do it." Her voice softened. "I kept thinking about what my family would do to him if they found out." A faint smile touched her lips. "He tried to change my mind."
"And?"
"We just stayed up talking." She tucked part of the blanket under her chin. "He held me until moonrise."
Emma nodded once and quietly walked out.
*****
She woke up sometime in the moonfall and stretched lazily before slipping out of bed. The smell of herbs and roasted meat greeted her the moment she stepped into the cookhouse.
She tied her apron around her waist and moved from table to table with a smile tugging at her lips. The sound of chopping, sizzling oil, and clanking pots filled the cookhouse again. It felt good being back there.
Naomi and Paige were busy nearby too. Naomi couldn’t stop humming under her breath as she arranged plates on a tray. Every few minutes, she caught herself smiling at nothing.
Emma shook her head with a grin. Two more days and Naomi would be traveling with them.
By 6:20 p.m., Brandon was already seated in the feeding chamber, fingers tapping lightly against the arm of his chair.
Emma had no idea he enjoyed her cooking that much until earlier that high moon when she texted him to say she was making dinner again tonight.
His reply had come almost immediately.
The last meal was incredible.
A few minutes later, a low buzz came through the intercom.
"Moonheart, I’m waiting."
Emma laughed under her breath while scooping the food onto the plates. "The food is ready."
Paige picked up the heavy tray and carried it out carefully.
The second Brandon lifted the lid, the smell hit him. He grabbed his fork without wasting another second.
She barely sat down before he started eating.
"You cook too well, Moonheart," he said between bites. "This chicken dish is insane."
He reached for another piece immediately, completely focused on the food.
Emma stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing. "You forgot to feed me."
Brandon froze with the fork halfway to his mouth.
"Sorry," he said around another bite, lifting the spoon before anyone could stop him. "The food’s too good. My pups are already demanding their share."
Laughter broke around the table.
"From today on, dinner is mine."
His brows shot up. "Wow. Moonheart, are you sure you can handle that for us?"
She gave a small shrug. "Why not?"
He kept looking at her across the table.
She tilted her head. "What?"
"Bernard came by earlier. Said he wants to talk to me tonight." He leaned back in his chair. "Are you sure he’s fine with your decision?"
"He’s fine with it."
"Then what does he want to discuss with me?"
"We’ll know when he gets here." She reached for her cup like the question meant nothing to her.
He studied her for another second, then shrugged and went back to eating.
A few minutes later, he pushed his plate aside, wiped his mouth, and tossed the napkin onto the table. His eyes slid back to her with that lazy romantic look he always gave her.
Heat curled low in her stomach.
The corner of his mouth twitched like he knew exactly what he was doing.
"Come soak with me in warm water," she murmured, holding his gaze.
His grin spread slowly.
"Have your maid prepare it first." He rose to his feet and held out his hand to her. "I should hear what Bernard wants. He’s been waiting in the lounge."
She slipped her hand into his, and together they walked out of the feeding chamber.
"Alright." She changed direction and walked to the elevator instead. The doors slid open with a soft hum. She stepped inside slowly, and the doors closed between them. He watched them shut, then turned and headed for his private lounge.
"Your bathing water is ready," Paige said the moment she stepped into the chamber.
Emma didn’t respond. Her gaze slipped past Paige and locked onto the blinking light of the intercom.
She crossed the chamber, picked up the remote from the table, and pressed the green button.
A faint crackle filled the air.
"Emma, did he drive him away?" Elara’s voice came through—tight, breathless, barely holding itself together.
Emma didn’t answer right away. Her grip tightened around the remote.
Silence pressed through the line, heavy and suffocating.
Because the truth was simple.
He was going to be furious with him.
"...He didn’t drive him away," she said quietly.
Her thumb lifted from the button.
"I did."
