Chapter 198: The Special Visitors
Two guards stepped in front of the gate.
"Alpha’s mate, you’re not allowed to leave the estate. It isn’t safe," Teddy said.
Emma stopped in front of them. "Move."
Neither guard budged.
A voice spoke behind her.
"What’s going on?" Brooklyn asked, squinting as she walked forward. Her hair was slightly messy, and she blinked several times before reaching Emma. She caught both her hands and led her away from the guards. "Emma, what happened?"
"You told me to call Evan, remember?"
"Yeah, but he never showed up."
"He did." She pulled her hands free and pressed her fingers to her temple. "Brandon had him arrested. All this time, I thought he’d changed his mind. I was wrong. Evan is in the dungeon as we speak."
Brooklyn’s eyes widened.
"Emma, slow down. Maybe he gave them a reason to arrest him."
"He didn’t , Brandon is just jealous."
"Where’s Evan now?"
Brooklyn asked as she stared at Emma looking worried.
She shook her head. "I don’t even know if he’s still alive. Morgan called because if their mother doesn’t hear from him soon, she’ll know something’s wrong, and Morgan is worried. Look, I’m not interested in him. I just want to know he’s okay. That’s all."
"I know." Brooklyn squeezed her shoulder. "Everything will be fine."
Emma drew in a shaky breath.
A few minutes later, her knees buckled.
"Emma!"
Brooklyn lunged forward as the guards rushed to catch her.
When Emma opened her eyes again, the white chandeliers of the healing den came into focus.
Her mother stood beside the bed. Brooklyn and Elara were nearby, both watching her.
"Soft Fang," her mother said softly. "What happened?"
Emma turned her face away.
"Nothing, Mother. I just want to be alone."
"You can’t be alone right now."
Her mother picked up her device and made a call.
"She’s awake. You can come now."
Emma’s head snapped back toward her.
"I don’t want to see him, Mother."
"Emma." Brooklyn moved closer. "What’s gotten into you? This is exactly what Lunara wants. She wants to break the royal mate bond. Are you really going to let her win?"
Emma lowered her eyes and stared at the blanket.
The chamber fell silent.
A moment later, Healer Ben walked in carrying a scanner. He checked her again before nodding.
"Much better."
He made a few notes and stepped back.
"She can make calls now."
As he left, Emma heard Elara speaking to the High Luna.
"She’s fine, Mother."
"Give her the device."
Elara took it and walked over to the bed.
"Emma," she said gently. "What’s going on?"
"Nothing, my High Luna."
Luna Alexandra kept quiet for a few seconds.
"Something is wrong. Brandon called me a few minutes ago and asked me to postpone the mating preparations because he thinks you’re not ready."
The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable, pressing against the walls until even breathing felt louder.
"Is that true?"
"The royal matebond you couldn’t wait to be over is the same bond you’re trying to cancel now?" Luna Alexandra asked. "Emma, what’s really going on? Are you two fighting?"
No, but..."
"No excuses." Luna Alexandra’s voice cracked through the phone, sharp enough to cut her off. "Focus on the royal mating and coronation, unless you want your mate sinking into emotional distress. Whatever happened can wait. Your special day is only a few days away."
Just a few days earlier, the King had suggested combining the Royal Mating with the Alpha and Luna’s coronation. Everyone agreed without hesitation.
Silence settled again, heavier this time.
"Emma? Are you still there?"
"Yes," Emma said quietly. "I heard you."
"Good. Now give Elara the device."
Emma handed it over, then turned and buried her face against Emily’s shoulder. Her shoulders shook as the tears came. She clutched Emily’s sleeve and cried until she had nothing left.
After a while, she lifted her head and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
"It’s okay, Soft Fang. No relationship is perfect, but yours... it’s close." Emily let out a small smile, shaking her head. "I haven’t seen a couple like you and Brandon. He loves you with everything he’s got. And you love him just the same."
Emma’s fingers twisted together. She looked down. "I love Brandon so much... but he gets jealous. He doesn’t want me around my old moonallies."
Emily gave a soft laugh under her breath. "That’s what wolves in love do," she said, leaning back slightly. "Real love."
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her.
Brandon lifted her off the bed and pulled her against his chest.
"Moonheart, I’m sorry." His voice dropped low beside her ear. "I trust you. I believe you. Please forgive me."
"I’m sorry for shouting at you... I didn’t mean to disrespect—"
Brandon pressed a finger lightly to her lips.
"Don’t," he said quietly, his hand lingering a second before dropping. "It’s on me. I’m the one who messed up. Just... don’t carry it again."
The timing was so perfect it almost felt planned.
"What happened to Evan?"
"Evan’s fine," Brandon said, rubbing her back. "Nothing happened to him."
Emma looked up at him, her eyes still wet.
"I need to be sure."
Brandon immediately pulled out his device and dialed Evan’s number.
The call connected after a few rings.
"Hey, Moon Prince," Evan said.
"Evan, it’s me. Why did you keep me waiting?"
"I came to see you, but something happened at your gate, and your guards arrested me."
"What happened?"
"Some guys... Hold on, my mother’s calling. I’ll call you back," Evan said before ending the call.
The call had barely ended when Emily, Elara, and Brooklyn quietly slipped out, leaving the two of them alone.
The moment the door closed, Brandon pulled Emma into his arms. He held her against his chest, one hand running through her hair while he pressed kisses across her forehead, cheeks, and temple.
"How are you and the pup feeling today?" he asked.
"We’re fine," she murmured. "Just tired."
Brandon brushed a thumb under her eye.
"You barely ate yesterday. What do you want to eat?"
She rested her head against his shoulder.
"Chocolate syrup and mashed potatoes."
"Alright."
Without letting go of her, he sent a message to the new cook Martha who had replaced Bernard.
Fifteen minutes later, the food arrived.
Brandon sat beside her on the bed, scooping up small bites and holding them to her lips. Emma ate quietly while leaning against him.
The door opened.
Emily and Brooklyn stepped inside.
The moment they saw Emma eating, both women let out long breaths.
"Emma, don’t ever do that again unless you want to send me to my grave early," Emily said, pressing a hand to her chest.
A small smile tugged at Emma’s lips.
"I’m sorry, Mother. I won’t do it again."
Brooklyn folded her arms.
"I’ll keep my comments to myself."
Emily shook her head and sat down.
"When is she going home?" Lyn asked.
"I spoke with Healer Benjamin," Brandon replied. "He should be here soon to discharge her."
"Good."
Emily leaned back against the couch and finally relaxed.
A few hours later, Ben signed the discharge papers, and Emma finally left the healing den.
Brandon never returned to his duty chamber.
He stayed with her the entire day.
They sat together in her chamber, talking quietly while she rested against him.
That was when Emma finally learned what had really happened.
Evan had come to see her that day.
Two guys distracted the guard at the gate, grabbed his device, and took off running. A few seconds later, Evan walked up to the gate. The guard assumed he was with them, and before he could explain, the situation escalated. He arrested him.
The moment Brandon learned that Emma had been the one who invited Evan, he ordered the guards to release him.
Emma stared at him.
"Then why didn’t you tell me?"
Brandon rubbed the back of his neck.
"Because I didn’t want you seeing him."
Emma blinked.
"What?"
He looked away for a second before meeting her eyes again.
"I was jealous."
Emma opened her mouth, then closed it again.
"So all that talk about me having problems with Lunara..."
Brandon cleared his throat.
"That was an excuse."
A laugh escaped Emma before she could stop it.
"You lied to me."
"I panicked."
"You panicked?"
Brandon pulled her closer when she tried to move away.
"I didn’t know what else to do."
Emma shook her head, fighting a smile.
"You’re unbelievable."
"Maybe," Brandon said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "But at least I’m telling the truth now."
By the next day, Ashley’s chauffeur had arrived to take Emily and Brooklyn home.
Emma walked them to the car and pulled Brooklyn and Emily into one last hug. When they finally let go, she brushed a hand over Brooklyn’s shoulder and forced a smile.
"Call me when you get there."
Brooklyn laughed and promised she would.
Emma stood outside long after the car disappeared down the road. She missed them already, but every time she thought about Brooklyn, a smile found its way back to her face. Brooklyn wasn’t just her moonally anymore. She was family.
Five days after Emily and Brooklyn left, her sibling, Kenneth, returned.
---
A new week began, and the royal mating was only days away.
Preparations moved forward without a hitch. Everywhere Emma looked, workers were decorating, arranging flowers, and checking details. The event planners High Luna Alexandra had hired seemed to have thought of everything.
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Before Emma could move, the door opened and Elara stepped inside.
"Hey, lovebirds," she said.
She stopped just inside the chamber, one brow lifting as her gaze landed on Brandon’s arm around Emma’s waist and their fingers intertwined.
"You have special visitors."
Emma looked up at Brandon.
"Who are these special visitors, Starlit?"
Brandon blinked.
"I wasn’t expecting anyone today."
He gave her hand a light squeeze and stood.
"Come on. Let’s find out."
Emma rose beside him.
Still holding hands, they followed Elara out of the chamber.
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