Alpha's Secret Bride-Chapter 87: The Hint That Shattered Everything

It was 6:07 am on 16th November. Forty-six days to Lunara’s imaginary mating ceremony under the silent gaze of the Moon Goddess. Brandon had gone to the training grounds and Emma was outside taking a walk around the pack estate with Thalia, Paige, and some guards. She needed to visit the kennel also. Brandon hadn’t really had time for his hounds and she wanted to introduce herself to them and possibly walk around with them if they permitted her. Ever since she lost Amy, she couldn’t get another because it will be a constant reminder to her lost pet.

They were walking towards the kennel when she heard a gunshot. She quickly turned and saw one of the guards on the ground. Other guards ran after the young he-wolf who fired the gun. Panic gripped Thalia and Paige and they bolted away, leaving her and the injured guard. She quickly assessed the surroundings to make sure she was safe before squatting before the injured guard. The sight of blood all over the place was quite terrific.

"Paige!" She called and she stopped and began to run back. "Give me my device!" Paige, who was trembling, could not control the spasmodic reaction of her hand as she handed the device over to her. "Run to my chamber and get the bleeding control kit immediately!"

"O....okay," she stammered and ran away. Emma quickly called the emergency unit of the pack. Her heart kept thudding madly as she stared at the blood rushing out of Teddy’s upper arm. She squatted beside him and fixed her eyes on him, wishing she could stop the bleeding with her wolf instincts alone. She lifted her gaze when she heard Paige’s voice. She took the box from her and began to control the bleeding. Before she knew it, she was surrounded by workers and guards. Wolves who had more experience helped out until the response team arrived.

"We need help here!" One of the guards who ran after the shooter shouted.

"What happened?" She stood up and asked.

"He was electrocuted when he tried to jump through the privacy fence!"

"Is he dead?"

"I think he is unconscious!"

Some of the emergency response team ran in his direction with a stretcher.

Leo and Max walked swiftly towards her and stood by her side.

"Moonrise, Alpha’s mate."

She looked at them and focused on the emergency response team that was hurrying towards them, pushing a stretcher.

"The Alpha wants you to come inside," Leo said with a calm tone. She turned around and began to walk towards the pack mansion and they walked behind her, looking around to make sure she was safe.

Ken quickly grabbed her hand and began to examine her as soon as she entered the lobby.

"We heard the gunshot! Are you okay?" He asked with fear in his eyes. She rolled her eyes, wondering what was wrong with him. If she wasn’t okay, she wouldn’t be there. She tried to free her hand from his grip, but he held it tight. Lunara walked past them and smirked.

"I’m fine! Please, let me go," she said respectfully.

"The bloodstains?" He asked, freeing her hand.

"I got it while I was administering first aid to the guard that was shot," she said and walked swiftly past him.

Brandon was standing behind the window of his chamber making a call when she entered. He opened his free hand and pulled her close to his wolf. She relaxed on his chest as he tried to find out what happened from the monitoring unit that watches all the activities on the estate live. He took a deep breath and tossed the device on the bed.

"This is why I always insist you must go out with some guards. I hope you know Teddy was not the target but you?"

"I know."

He looked at her for a few seconds as if he was wondering what he would have done if the enemy’s plan had succeeded.

"Everybody that is not working on this estate is leaving this morning - including your sibling, Lunara."

"Do you think she is behind this?"

"I don’t know," he said, leading her to the bathchamber. A call came in when they were still bathing and was automatically received.

"Brandon!" A deep male voice called.

"Moonrise, father."

"We heard about the shooting and your guard that was shot. I hope you and Lunara are safe there?" Brandon ignored him.

"Do you need more warriors?"

"No, father."

"Good! I’m reinstating your mate’s guards. She needs to be protected."

"You are free to but not in my pack house."

"Brandon, why did you hate that pretty innocent she-wolf?"

"Oh, you know I hate her, yet you want me to mate with her and live happily with her?"

"I raised you, prince, and I know you can live happily with even the dev!l."

"Something happened and it has clouded my pack-kins’s sense of judgment," Brandon said, looking at Emma.

"Something like what?" His father asked.

"I’m not talking to you father."

"Alright...your mate’s guards are already on their way there."

"They should wait for her in the royal pack mansion. She is leaving my territory during this moon-fall."

"Why? I hope you are not trying to link her with the shooting that took place there?"

"I want her and some newly employed workers out of my property immediately."

"Brandon, she grew up here and we know she is not capable of hurting anyone! Are you sure your so-called mate didn’t hire an assassin to make it look like your fated bride tried to kill her?"

"Lunara is black-hearted already. My mate doesn’t need to waste silver to make her look bad."

"Whatever! She stays with you as long as she wants to. Please, tell Emma that we heard and saw everything she did to Lunara moon-cycles ago. The beating, the humiliation, and...I want to reserve my words until she comes on Saturday."

Brandon turned and looked at her. She lowered her gaze.

"How is the high Luna?"

"She is not okay."

"What is wrong with her?"

"Why would she be okay when you have refused to listen to her? If you want her to be okay, just send that she-wolf away and focus on your upcoming mating ceremony. That she-wolf that ostentatiously portrays herself there as your real mate is your major distraction. An obstacle between you and your destiny."

"Father, is Lunara’s pack-kins blackmailing you?" Brandon asked. His father sighed and hung up.

Emma got out of the bathtub and slowly wrapped a towel around her chest. Brandon kept staring at her. None of them said anything.

"Are you still meeting him on Saturday?" His brows raised inquiringly.

"Yes," she replied and lowered her gaze. She was really scared of meeting the Alpha King again after hearing what he told his prince, but her mind was so made up. He smirked, got out of the bathtub too, and began to wipe his wolf.

"Your time started last moon-fall and you have just twenty-nine days."

"Thank you."

"Mrs. Thompson will teach you everything you need to know, especially the proper way to dress and address the council of elders."

"Alright," she murmured. He lifted her unexpectedly and they giggled.

They left the chamber and walked towards the feeding chamber to have their breakfast. His guards followed them.

Lunara sat comfortably on one of the chairs in the feeding chamber waiting for Brandon. She quickly stood up and curtsied for Emma’s mate when she saw him walking towards the table. Emma slowed down and her face tightened in anger. Brandon quickly grabbed her right wrist to stop her from releasing a careless slap. Lunara looked menacingly at her and focused on Brandon.

"Moon Prince Brandon," she called and grinned. The news of the shooting that took place this moonrise has gone viral across the pack territories and the Alpha King thinks I’m not safe here. He has decided to reinstate my guards with or without your consent. They are already on their way here," she grinned again.

"It’s none of my business. I just don’t want to see them here!"

"Exactly what I expected to hear from you, but the Alpha King has spoken and his words are final; you know that already," she shrugged and grinned.

"Till then," Brandon said and gestured to Emma.

"Em...I caught her and your best moonally not long ago in the lobby kissing and hugging themselves. I think she is sleeping with him; that is why she barred you from entering her chamber. If she denies it, I’m sure Ken won’t deny it."

"Do you think my pack-kin is blackmailing the Alpha King?" Emma asked, ignoring Lunara who was walking happily away as if she had succeeded in tearing them apart.

"Yes"

"Why do you think so?"

"My pack-kin’s insistence is beyond the so-called prophecy. Something is seriously going on. Please, give me the hint," he grabbed Emma’s palm. "My moonblessed one, I need to know what is going on."

"You know Lunara is obsessed with you, right?"

"I know," he affirmed and narrowed his eyes, trying to catch the hint.

"She can do anything to be with you."

"I’m also aware."

She kept quiet when Bernard began to set the breakfast on the table. Brandon turned and fixed his eyes on her again when Bernard left.

"Let’s eat," she gestured.

"The hint, starlit."

"Are you sure you don’t want to eat first?"

"I’ll eat later."

"Alright"

"My ears are still open."

"You know we grew up together and I know her very well."

"I know"

"She likes good things!"

"We all do," Brandon said and tilted one of his brows.

"She looks down on wolves that are below her class," she said and narrowed her eyes.

"I noticed that."

"Lunara Greens goes for the best!"

"I’m also aware."

"You once told me that she is messing around with a domestic staff; do you remember?"

"Of course, and I’m sure of what I’m saying."

"You are not sure. She is not messing around with any domestic staff."

"My moonblessed one, I’m not her first and she doesn’t have a moonmate."

"Lunara can never condescend as low as sleeping with a domestic staff! She won’t even think of it!! She went for the...."

"Hold it right there! Oh my Moon Goddess! This is wickedness!" He shouted, lowered, and supported his head with his palms.

Lunara and some of Brandon’s guards who heard his voice rushed to the feeding chamber.

He grabbed a glass cup when he saw Lunara and Emma’s heart began to thud noisily. He threw it violently at the wall. The glass shattered into tiny shreds on the floor.

Emma regretted ever giving him the hint. It was supposed to be just a hint. She didn’t know he would decipher it immediately. She forgot he was more intelligent than her. Brandon abandoned the food that was on the feeding table and climbed the stairs hurriedly, with anger on his face. She covered the food and ran after him.

"Starlit, I might be wrong."

"You are not!" He shouted at her as though she was Lunara.

"Please, calm down."

"Starlit, go; I want to be alone," he said before entering his chamber. She walked coldly down the stairs. Lunara saw her and burst into laughter. Apparently, she thought the lie she told Brandon about Ken and her was the reason why they were fighting.

"They are fighting!" Lunara’s voice rang with a note of mockery. "This is just the beginning of your misery! I know exactly how his mind works," she said and continued laughing and following Emma.

"You never asked me why I hung on. He always comes back to me after messing up the life of low lives like you! I know he will dump you soon, but I didn’t know it would be sooner than I expected.

I am more reserved and he knows. There is no way he would choose a public yard over a private villa. He knows where his heart lies and he will come back to me at the right time.

Do you know why the royal pack kingdom is doting on me? They love me because I’m a very patient mate with a forgiving heart. He always comes back to me after cheating and rubbing it on my face and I always welcome him back with open arms. We are destined to be together. I am his one and only mate."

"Go and tell the royal pack kingdom that their liberator has come. I’m going to deliver them from the evil claws of you and your father!" Emma said and walked away. Lunara frowned, stood still, and was trying so hard to understand the meaning of what Emma had just said.