Chapter 185: Forty-Eight Hours of Doom
It was noon, and the blazing midday moon hung high in the sky. Heat rippled across the road as they drove home.
Emma rested her head on Brandon’s shoulder, her fingers lightly curled against his arm. Her mating day was getting closer, and the thought of everything still waiting for her made her tired already. She just wanted it over with so she could finally rest.
Her pup needed it too.
She pulled out her device and switched it on. She hadn’t called Ashley or Emily the previous moonfall to update them, so she dialed Emily first.
The call connected to the second ring.
"Soft Fang, I called you the last moonfall, but you didn’t pick up." Emily’s voice carried worry. "You didn’t even call me back. Are you okay?"
"I’m fine, Mother. How is Father?"
"He’s fine. He called you the last moonfall too." Emily paused. "Have you bought your mating gown? And something for the bridal shower?"
"Yes, Mother."
"Good. I spoke to the best event planners this moonrise. They’ll handle all the mating preparations."
Emma lifted her head slightly. "Mother, the High Luna already has a mating planner, and I plan to use their company."
"No, Soft Fang." Emily’s tone turned firm. "This is my pup’s mating ceremony. It’s my responsibility to make sure everything is perfect. I’ve already paid them, and we’re using them."
She glanced at Brandon before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Alright."
She settled back against her mate’s shoulder again, too tired to argue.
"Soft Fang, it’s your special day. Your father and I want it to be the greatest royal mating ceremony nobles have ever seen. The kind of opulence no one has ever laid eyes on before."
Emily laughed softly, and Emma found herself smiling too.
"Mother, how is Nina?"
"She’s fine. Your father wants her to be your maid of honor." Emily paused for a second. "Emma, you’ve been avoiding Nina lately. Why?"
Emma looked out the window. "Nothing, Mother. It’s just... Lyn, Elara, and I have been close since we were teenagers. Being around them is easy."
"Nina is easy to get along with too," Emily said gently.
Emma rubbed her forehead. "Alright, Mother. I’ll call her when I get home."
Honestly, Nina was nice, even though her way of doing things was very different from theirs.
"Good. And send my regards to your mate."
"I will."
She ended the call, but another one came in immediately.
Emma glanced at the screen, then frowned.
Brandon looked down at her. "Do you want to talk to her?"
"No."
"Then switch the device off."
A message came in just as she was about to switch the device off.
Emma already knew it was from Lunara, but she didn’t open it. Even so, curiosity kept clawing at her.
After stepping out into the parking lot, they made their way straight to the lunch chamber. A server approached at once and, without asking a single question, led them into a private champagne compartment.
Emma glanced at Brandon as they walked in. They clearly knew who he was and exactly where he preferred to stay.
She sank into the sofa, but her attention stayed on the device in her hand. Her fingers tapped lightly against it.
"Moonheart," Brandon said, watching her closely. "What is it?"
"Lunara sent a message before I switched the device off. I want to know what she said."
"Let’s eat first."
He picked up a fork and fed her himself, keeping her distracted through lunch. But the moment they finished eating, she brought it up again.
Brandon stood and led her toward a three-seater sofa tucked into the corner of the chamber. She sat between his legs and leaned back against his chest while his arm rested around her waist.
"You can read it now," he said with a small smile.
Emma quickly switched the device back on and opened the message.
"Emma, I need to see you. It’s urgent. Reply as soon as you see this."
A knot tightened in her stomach.
She tilted her head and looked up at Brandon. "I feel like she’s up to something."
Brandon took the device from her and read the message himself. After a second, he deleted it.
"First, it was her mother’s ashes," he said calmly. "She knew you cared about Theresa and wouldn’t hesitate to rush over the moment her name came up. That plan failed."
Emma stayed quiet.
"Then her maternal grandmother refused to see her, so she wanted you to scatter the ashes in the garden instead." His eyes narrowed slightly at the screen before he set the device down. "Now she suddenly wants to see you urgently. Why?"
Emma shook her head slowly. "I don’t know. Maybe I should just call her and find out."
"Alright."
Brandon leaned back against the sofa and shifted his gaze to the vision hearth mounted on the wall.
"What is it, Lunara?" Emma asked the moment the call connected.
Silence answered her.
Only faint movement came through the device... footsteps, soft and uneven, like some wolf walking while holding it.
Emma’s grip tightened. "Lunara?"
A shaky breath finally slipped through. "Emma... you’re right."
"Right about what?"
"I’m being blackmailed," Lunara said faintly. "Some wolf is blackmailing me. He’s the one who wants to see you... not me."
Emma straightened slightly. "Then tell him I’m not seeing anyone. I don’t care who he is. I have no business with anyone."
She tapped the screen and switched on the speaker.
Brandon’s gaze lifted immediately.
"Emma," Lunara’s voice broke in again, faster now, "he said he’ll stop your mating ceremony if you don’t come. He can actually do it."
Emma’s jaw tightened. "Tell him I’m not coming."
She reached to end the call...
A new voice cut in.
"Emma. Listen."
The baritone was calm. Controlled. Too calm.
"You have forty-eight hours to appear before me. If you fail, the royal matebond will be doomed. And if you involve your mate, your father, or the king... it will end in disaster."
Emma froze.
Brandon slowly tilted his head, brows lifting.
"Who are you?" Emma asked.
"You’ll find out when you come," the guy said.
The line went quiet for half a second.
Then Brandon’s expression darkened.
"Who are you," he said sharply, "and why are you calling my mate?"
"Moon Prince Brandon Oliver Frostbane."
The voice on the device turned smoother, almost amused.
"So you decided to eavesdrop on our little conversation."
Emma stiffened.
"Since you’re listening now, I’ll tell you what I want from her."
Brandon’s jaw tightened. "Who the hell are you?"
A low chuckle came through.
"I have a special mating gift for all your guests. Right now, more than twenty he-wolves are inside the house wrapping it."
Emma’s breath caught.
"And I’m going to make sure every single guest receives a copy of it."
"What..." Brandon started to speak...
"Calm down, Prince Brandon," the voice cut in sharply. "It’s a wonderful gift. I’m sure it will cause you emotional damage."
"And your mate won’t be able to recover from the shock it will give her."
Silence stretched between them.
Emma’s fingers curled around Brandon’s arm.
"I want her to have it," the voice continued. "Then she can decide what she wants to do with it."
Brandon’s eyes darkened.
"I have two options for her," the voice went on. "Give me permission to distribute my gift peacefully... or she calls off the mating herself."
A faint, mocking tone slipped in.
"The ball is in her court. I’d love to see her score the goal."
Brandon didn’t respond this time. He ended the call and tossed the device aside.
Silence hit the chamber.
Emma sat still, staring at the floor.
She couldn’t remember doing anything to anyone. Nothing that could bring something like this.
But fear settled in anyway.
She turned slowly toward Brandon. "Do you know him?"
His expression was unreadable. "His voice sounds like Damon’s."
"Your cousin?"
"Yes... but I’m not sure."
Emma’s throat tightened.
"The High Luna was right," she said quietly. "She warned me. She said something is going on between Lunara and Damon. That she’s worried because Damon is evil, and that we should be careful."
Brandon reached for his device. "I’m calling the king."
"No." Emma grabbed his wrist. "He said not to tell the king... or my father."
Brandon’s gaze snapped to hers.
Then his voice dropped, sharp and final.
"Listen. He can do his worst. I don’t care."
"If you don’t want me to tell the king, then forget everything and pretend you heard nothing," he said firmly. "There will be enough security in the hall that day. No unwanted guests will get close. Don’t be afraid of anyone."
Emma stayed silent for a moment.
His words settled over her, but they didn’t fully calm the storm in her mind. For the first time since the mating preparations began, she found herself wishing everything could just stay simple—like a normal civil matebond, without all the weight pressing down on them.
But she knew the truth.
Without the royal mating certificate, she would never be recognized by the pack or the territory as the Moon Prince’s legal mate.
Her thoughts were still tangled when her device vibrated again.
A new message.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she unlocked it.
"Lunara knows where we are. When you’re ready to visit me, you know what to do."
Emma’s breath stopped.
Her hand went cold around the device.
She didn’t move. She couldn’t.
