Chapter 173: The Omega She Wants
He didn’t say a word. A few moments later, he lifted his head and looked at her.
"I want what’s best for my only sibling. Her happiness matters to me too, but..."
"But what?" she asked softly, reaching for his hand. "Please, let’s support them. Look at us. After everything the king, Daniel, and Lunara did, you still fought for us. You never walked away."
She shifted on the bed, turned, and lowered herself onto his stomach, steadying her hands lightly against his chest as she sat there. He ran his hands on her lower abdomen and they chuckled. With the way he screwed her a while ago, she thought he had forgotten she was pregnant. She looked at her belly and stared at him. She wanted to raise the topic again, but he quickly figured out what she wanted to say and shook his head.
"Moonheart, I just had a wonderful time now. Do not spoil my happiness," he said, taunting her cheeks.
She ran her hands freely on his belly. Knowing how much her touch melts him, she keeps smiling as she locks his gaze. He dwindled his eyes as usual with a cute smile.
"I want to ask you a question."
"Alright," he murmured.
"If I had been one of your domestic workers, would you have ignored the feelings you have for me?"
"No, I would have mated you three winters ago and pampers you every day," he grinned.
"I got very worked up about the way she-wolves are stereotyped in this kingdom."
"Moonheart, I told you that I don’t want to discuss this issue. I want to pretend I heard nothing."
"Would you rather stand there and act like your sibling’s feelings don’t matter?" she asked, staring straight at him. "Tell me something... did you happily accept the bride your father picked for you?"
She climbed down from the bed and took a few steps away. Then she stopped and turned back. Walking up to him again, she clenched her fingers tightly at her sides.
"Or are you saying you don’t care about her at all?"
Brandon stared at her for a long second, jaw tight. Then he let out a short laugh that held no humor.
"You always do this," he muttered, dragging a hand over his face. "You take one thing I care about and throw it right back at me."
He stepped closer until barely any space remained between them.
"And don’t stand there acting like you don’t know the answer," he said quietly. "If I didn’t care about Elara, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation."
"Alright," she whimpered and lowered her gaze. He lifted her head slowly and looked into her eyes.
"Bernard had told me everything already. You have nothing to explain because you didn’t know when they started getting intimate," he said and pulled her face closer. He locked her lips and engaged her in another deep long kiss. She pulled away from him after a few minutes and leaned over on the slippery bed. She picked her gown up and looked at it. She couldn’t believe her eyes. He tore it beyond restoration. She slowly turned her head in his direction. He rolled his eyes and smiled.
"Moonheart, I’m sorry. I’ll buy you a new one," he said.
She tossed the gown onto the bed and pulled his shirt closer to her body, holding it there for a moment.
He got up without another word, stepping into his trousers. His chest rose with a slow breath as he pulled the zip up, the sound cutting through the quiet.
"I’ll buy you a new expensive dress tomorrow," he leaned closer to her face and said. She wasn’t mad at him at all because she loves everything he does. She loves it more when he takes her possessively.
He yanked her suddenly, and the shirt she’d been trying to pull on slipped from her fingers, landing on the floor.
She snatched it up fast, shrugging it back on in a hurry, but didn’t bother buttoning it. The fabric hung loose as she let out a sharp scream and crossed her arms over her chest just as he turned toward the door.
"Brandon!" she snapped.
He was already hurrying toward the elevator when she rushed after him and hooked a finger through one of his belt loops, stopping him before the doors could close. He looked back at her, caught between guilt and laughter, then stepped inside with her. The elevator carried them quietly to her floor before they walked together toward her bedchamber.
"You think you can yank my shirt off and just run away?" she said, bumping her shoulder against his arm.
He rubbed the back of his neck, fighting a grin. "I was trying to escape trouble," he said. "Turns out I dragged it into the elevator with me."
She laughed first, and a second later he did too.
After a few minutes, they walked towards the bathchamber to freshen up.
The bathwater stayed warm around them as they slipped into the tub together. Emma leaned back against the smooth edge while Brandon rinsed the soap from her shoulder. Water rolled down his arms when he reached for the towel beside the tub.
Later, after he dried her off and helped her into fresh clothes, he pulled the blanket over her and tucked it beneath her chin.
"Sleep well, my moonblessed one," he murmured.
Then he turned for the door.
Emma’s eyes followed him. Her brows pulled together the second the door slid shut behind him. The chamber suddenly felt too quiet. She lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, then turned onto her side where his spot on the bed sat empty.
The communication device hanging on the wall beeped sharply.
She looked up.
A soft mechanical voice filled the chamber as the message reader switched on automatically.
Emma pushed herself upright slowly, her fingers tightening around the blanket as she listened. By the time the message ended, she was already climbing out of bed.
She walked to the wall and opened the message fully.
"I’m sorry, Emma. I don’t think I can continue with the shopping arrangements. I’ll be returning to the palace tomorrow at moonrise. I need some time alone. I want to see my healer too. I’m sorry for disappointing you at the last minute."
Emma stared at the screen for a long second. Then she grabbed the remote and sent an intercom request.
The line rang once.
Twice.
Nothing.
Her thumb pressed the button again, harder this time, but the notification blinked unanswered.
Emma hurried out of her chamber and headed straight for Elara’s chamber.
The moment she turned the corner, her steps slowed.
Teddy and Leo stood outside the door, shoulders straight, faces hard.
Emma blinked at them. Brandon had posted two of his most trusted guards here. Her stomach twisted a little. Those two used to answer Bernard before Brandon took over most of the security decisions.
For a second, she wondered if Bernard had been pushed aside completely.
"Alpha’s mate," Leo greeted with a bow.
Teddy stayed quiet beside him, arms folded behind his back. Emma only gave them a small wave before slipping past them into the chamber.
"I’ll call you back," Elara said quickly. She pulled the device from her ear and tossed it onto the bed.
Then she pointed sharply toward the door.
"Emma, did you see what Brandon is doing?"
She let out a short laugh and paced across the chamber.
"He has guards outside my door like I’m some prisoner." She threw both hands into the air. "I already have royal guards. They don’t trail after me every second of the day."
She stopped near the window and crossed her arms tightly.
"This is why I never wanted him to know."
Emma stayed where she was, staring at her.
"I’m going back to the palace tomorrow."
Elara shook her head and looked away.
"To Brandon, I’m still little pup Elara." Her lips pressed into a thin line. "The kingdom’s first female pup who can’t tell left from right."
"Elara, please, calm down," Emma said softly as she crossed the chamber and sat on the edge of the bed. "He didn’t want me involved, but I’ll talk to him again tomorrow . Trust me."
Elara shook her head. "It’s too late, Emma. Bernard is getting paid off tomorrow."
Emma’s head snapped up. "What?"
"I was talking to him before you came in." Elara pressed her lips together. "He’s packing already."
"Oh, Goddess..." Emma whispered.
She turned toward the door, then stopped halfway. Her fingers curled against her dress. Brandon had always given in to her, and she hated using that against him.
"Come stay in my chamber," she said quietly.
Elara didn’t move.
Emma looked back at her. She stood there with her arms wrapped around herself, staring at the floor.
"Elara, please. Come with me."
"No, Emma." She forced a small smile. "I’ll be fine."
Emma watched her for a second, then reached for the intercom.
"Call Bernard for me," she said.
She unlocked her device and called Bernard. The line barely rang once before he answered, like he’d been staring at the screen waiting for her name to appear.
"Bernard."
"Alpha’s mate," he said at once.
"Please, both of you need to calm down." She rubbed her forehead and paced slowly across the chamber. "I’m going to fight this peacefully. The law says she has to mate a king to stay a royal bride, but it never said she can’t be with the one she wants."
She stopped by the window.
"So please... stay with her tonight. Don’t let her break down. I promise this won’t end badly."
There was a short silence.
"Alright, Alpha’s mate," he said quietly.
She lowered the device after the call ended and glanced toward Elara.
Her hand touched the door handle, but she couldn’t leave.
Elara suddenly looked up at Emma.
"If Bernard leaves tomorrow... I won’t survive the palace."
She let out a small laugh—broken, almost careless—like she didn’t believe herself.
