Alpha's Secret Bride-Chapter 69: The Night Deceit Claimed Her Fate Under the Moon

Chapter 69: The Night Deceit Claimed Her Fate Under the Moon

The palace she-wolf maid led her to the King’s Presence Chamber and offered her one of the silver chairs. She sat down slowly and began to admire the vast, sparsely furnished chamber, which bore sixteenth-century carvings and relics. The ancient decorations and sculpted ancestors gave the chamber a haunting presence.

She looked at the pack-kins tree painted in watercolor across the walls, and her fear deepened, as though the ancestors themselves stood watch within the chamber.

She shuddered and slipped off the silver chair when one of the figures she had mistaken for a molded ancestor set down a glass cup onto a small table beside him. His attire blended seamlessly with the sculpted figures.

A faint glimmer of amusement flickered in his eyes as he extended his hand toward her. Her eyes widened in shock. She could hardly believe she stood before the High Alpha King—the supreme ruler of the Alpha Realm. A he-wolf whose black-and-white portrait adorned the backs of their learning scrolls.

She rarely left her den, so she had never seen him in the flesh. The resemblance between him and his he-wolf, Brandon, was striking. He was tall, though not as lean as Brandon. Though he was in his early fifties, he carried the youthful strength of a seasoned Alpha.

He smiled and offered his hand again. A crease formed across her forehead—she had expected a ruthless Alpha King, not one with such a warm, moonally smile. She placed her hand in his, and he helped her rise.

"M...moon...fall, Alpha King," she greeted, her voice trembling. Fear gripped her wolf, and she could not meet his gaze.

"High Alpha King," he corrected calmly.

"High... Alpha King," she repeated softly.

"Sit," he gestured. She lowered herself carefully, as though the chair might give way beneath her.

"How are you, Emma?" he asked. Their voices carried a similar tone too.

"I am well, High Alpha King," she replied, rising again when the High Luna entered the chamber. She needed no introduction—her presence was unmistakable.

"Moon...fall, High Luna," she greeted, lowering her head. The High Luna’s gaze swept over her from head to toe before she released a long, displeased sigh.

"You have not eaten yet?" the High Luna asked as she passed.

"We will dine together," the High Alpha King replied, taking a slow sip from his goblet.

"You still have matters awaiting you. Do not waste your time on what holds no value," she said coldly before leaving without sparing Emma another glance. Her disdain was unmistakable—she did not even pretend otherwise.

The High Alpha King rose and walked toward an intricately carved silver table. He seated himself and motioned for her to join him.

"High Alpha King, I... my..."

"Brandon will dine alone tonight," he said with a light grin. "This feast is prepared for us. Sit."

She approached and sat quietly, her head lowered.

"Is this how you behave before the Moon Prince?" he asked.

"No," she replied, shaking her head.

He leaned back, studying her carefully, as though reading her wolf.

Her attention shifted when she heard the rhythmic click of heels approaching across the polished floor. Lunara entered. Her eyes were no longer swollen, and her expression carried a deceptive calm. A smile lingered on her lips—one Emma did not trust.

"High Alpha King, forgive my delay," Lunara spoke smoothly, as though addressing her mate. She uncovered the meal and began serving.

"You did not air your program last night. Why?" the King asked.

"I... was unwell, High Alpha King," she replied, avoiding Emma’s gaze as she placed a plate before her.

"Thank you, but I am not hungry," Emma said, pushing it aside.

"You may leave," the King said, his gaze fixed on Lunara. Emma rose, but he gestured for her to remain. Lunara covered the dishes and exited.

The King continued eating in silence. Then he slid his plate toward Emma and drew the one Lunara had prepared closer to himself. Emma quietly followed his lead.

"Emma, Brandon tells me you are crafting a novel," he said warmly.

She nodded with a small smile.

"I look forward to reading it," he said, smiling. She returned the smile. His demeanor explained why Brandon never defied him.

"I wished to meet you," he continued, "to understand why he is so drawn to you. Do you know why?"

She shook her head, offering a shy smile.

"I invited you to thank you," he said. "Your presence changed Brandon’s path. Without you, he might have remained a mere Soulcrafter. Instead, he rose beyond expectations. He graduated at the top of his class. For that, I am grateful to you, Emma."

"Thank you, High Alpha King," she replied softly, and they shared a light laugh. She found it hard to believe Brandon had ever deceived her. The King was kind—yet the High Luna and Lunara remained her greatest obstacles.

"I would prefer you not remain in his chamber tonight," he said once they had finished eating.

"Why, Alpha?"

"We have much to discuss, but I still have duties to attend to. I will send for you once I am done. I would not have a servant interrupt... nor myself." He gave her a knowing look. "I trust you understand."

She nodded quietly.

He rose, placing his napkin aside.

"A maid will escort you to a chamber prepared for you. She will see to your needs. I will summon you when I am ready."

"Yes, Alpha."

She met the maid at the doorway. The she-wolf bowed and guided her to the chamber arranged for her stay.

"All garments within the wardrobe have been prepared to your size," the maid said, bowing once more.

"Help me, please," Emma said, turning her back. The maid carefully loosened the fastenings of her gown.

"Thank you," she murmured before stepping toward the bathing chamber. She longed to shed the weight of the gown.

A soft sigh escaped her as she finally slipped free of it.

She wrapped her wolf and her hair up in a white towel as soon as she heard Brandon’s voice outside. He liked seeing her in towels and she felt like feeding his eyes.

She waited but he did not come into the chamber. She became curious and tiptoed to the chamber door. She found out he was speaking with Lunara in a low tone. She could not hear what they were saying, but it did not sound like they were fighting. She frowned and tiptoed back to the bed. She waited for him, but he did not come in.

After a few hours, the maid she-wolf came into the chamber again and told her that the High Luna wanted to speak with her. She shuddered and followed her to the Luna’s chamber.

A disturbing moaning sound welcomed her wolf as soon as she stepped into the chamber. The Luna, who was holding diamond rings, noticed her discomfort. She picked up a remote and switched off the intercom. She became slightly relaxed and wondered who they were. Probably, a maid she-wolf and a guard he-wolf tangled in desire.

"Moon-fall, Luna."

"As far as this royal den is concerned, there is no privacy. Everything you say is being monitored," she said after a few moments, ignoring her greeting. She remained silent because she did not know what to say.

"These rings cost me a million silver," she said without looking at her. "Take a look." She took the ring from her and returned it after staring at it.

"Come with me," she rose from the chair and led her to a grand wardrobe chamber. She wondered why the Luna was still holding the intercom device. Perhaps she intended for her to witness something.

However, her eyes dimmed when she saw Lunara’s mating gown sealed behind glass so no one could touch it. The custom-crafted, luxurious, and royal-worthy mating gown carried hundreds of embellishments. The trumpet silhouette was unmistakable.

"This gown cost me a staggering sum of 1.5 million silver as well."

She stared at the royal attire, and goosebumps covered her wolf. Hope began to slip away from her, because the Queen would never accept her—not after investing so much into her sibling’s mating preparation.

"This is not just a feast," she said, pointing at the magnificent ceremonial display placed on a stand. She glanced at the device in her paw, pressed something, listened for a few seconds, and tossed it aside.

"Perhaps they are preparing for another round. The King built Greendor Castle for them. They will have endless privacy there after their mating celebration, yet they could not wait. He understands how the royal den operates! He knows voices are monitored, yet he lies with her every time he visits."

The device slipped from her paw and shattered against the floor. She felt herself drifting—shifting from wolf into something weightless. Her wolf became light instantly.

"I laughed the last time I overheard Brandon accusing Lunara of lying with servants. He forgot so quickly that such behavior is forbidden here; that is why we have intercoms and surveillance. I monitor everyone, even my servants. Still, I do not blame Lunara for accepting him. This is her destiny. She was born for him, and he cannot stay away from her no matter how hard he tries."

Hot, suffocating tears streamed down Emma’s cheeks. It felt as though she had drowned, her lifeless wolf floating in a river, waiting to be found and laid to rest. She was crying for help, yet her voice would not move, and the Luna could not hear her.

"I did not ignore you earlier. I am simply angered by him for complicating the life of a promising young she-wolf. Come with me," she beckoned to her. How could she follow when she already felt lifeless? She wondered how she could still see anything at all. She turned like a wandering spirit and moved toward the chamber door while the Luna continued speaking to herself. She passed a maid she-wolf, but the maid did not acknowledge her. She could see the maid, but the maid could not see her. She kept searching for an exit, lost within the vast and confusing royal den.

She suddenly found herself standing within the King’s Presence Chamber. The King grinned when he saw her. She wondered how he could see her. Perhaps because supreme authority rested in him, granting him command over both the physical and the unseen.

"I sent a maid to summon you an hour ago, but she said you were nowhere to be found," he said with a smile, and she kept staring at him. His expression slowly hardened.

"What is it?"

"Can you hear me?"

"Of course, I can hear you," he replied, now visibly concerned.

"I want to leave this place!"

"Why?"

"I want to leave this place!!!" she cried out.

"Hey... calm yourself and speak to me."

"I want to go." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Very well, I will summon someone to take you away, but first, I must speak with Brandon."

Her eyes shut, and she collapsed the moment he mentioned Brandon. Darkness consumed her vision, yet she could still sense Elara and several guards trying to lift her onto her feet.

"Fetch Brandon immediately," a voice commanded. She had lost all awareness and could not tell who had spoken.

"Father, what happened?"

"I believe she has lost her senses."

"What happened?"

"I sent someone to summon her, but she could not be found. Then she appeared and began acting strangely."

"What happened?" another familiar voice asked, lifting her effortlessly. His wolf carried the scent of betrayal, but she no longer cared. She had already surrendered everything for him, and ready to leave his world.