Alpha's Secret Bride

Emma led her father to the small sitting chamber overlooking the eastern gardens. It was one of the quietest chambers in Moon Estate, and the laughter of Bryan and Charlotte drifted faintly through the open windows with the day’s breeze.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

She poured two glasses of wine, though her hands trembled slightly as she set them on the table. She slid one toward Ashley and took the seat across from him. He gave her a quiet nod but didn’t reach for the glass. His eyes remained fixed on the untouched glass of wine.

Ashley had just stepped away from Emma when his device began to ring. He glanced at the screen and immediately recognized Emily’s name. He answered as he walked a little farther from the living chamber.

"Honey?"

"My Lord, I’m so sorry." Her voice sounded strained, and there was noticeable movement in the background. "I know I promised Emma I’d come to Moon Estate today, but there’s something else, and I don’t think I’ll be able to make it."

Ashley stopped walking. "What happened? Is everything all right?"

"My father is in Belarus. He’s critically ill, and the healers said he’s been calling my name." She took a shaky breath before continuing. "They told me I need to stay until he wakes up. I’ve already arranged a flight as soon as he wakes, but I have to stay tonight."

Ashley’s expression changed. "I’m sorry, Emily. You should stay with him. Don’t worry about coming to see our daughter."

"I know, but I promised Emma." Her voice softened. "I was really looking forward to seeing her, especially after everything that’s been happening between her and Brandon. I don’t want her to think I forgot about her or that I didn’t want to come."

Ashley glanced toward Emma, who was standing a short distance away. "She won’t think that. I’ll explain everything to her."

"Please do. And apologize to her for me. I really wanted to be there."

"I’ll tell her," he assured her. "Your father needs you right now. She will understand."

Emily was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "I also talked to Nina. She said she’ll go to Moon Estate for me but later told me she was already planning to spend time with Evan’s family, and since Emma was the one who encouraged the two of them to give relationship a chance, I thought she would be happy for them."

Ashley smiled faintly. "I’m sure she will. You mean Nina is going to spend time with his family today?"

"Yes. They’re almost there now, and Evan’s mother want her to come right away. Besides, I think she’ll enjoy the moment with the family."

"That sounds like a good plan," Ashley said. "I can keep our daughter company, and you can focus on your father without worrying about what you promised us."

Emily let out a quiet breath. "Thank you. I just feel terrible about missing it."

"Don’t," he said firmly but gently. "You aren’t choosing to miss it. You’re going to see your father because he needs you. There’s nothing to apologize for."

Emily was silent for a moment before her voice softened. "Thank you, Sweetheart. Please tell Emma I’m sorry."

"I will. And call me when your father wakes so we can speak with him."

"I will."

Ashley ended the call and slipped his device into his pocket. He stood there for a moment before walking back toward Emma.

Emma looked at him as he approached. "Was that Emily?"

Ashley nodded. "Yes. She asked me to apologize to you. Her father is critically ill in Belarus, and the healers told her he wants her to stay. She has to leave immediately."

Emma’s expression softened immediately. "Oh, no. She shouldn’t even be worrying about coming here."

"She was worried you’d be disappointed because she promised she’d come."

Emma shook her head. "How could I be disappointed? She needs to be with her father. Tell her I understand, and tell her to call me when she gets there."

"I have." He paused before adding, "She said Nina would have come instead, but Evan is taking her to meet his family."

Emma’s lips curved into a small smile. "Then I’m glad they’re going together. You can keep us company while Emily takes care of her father."

Ashley nodded. "That’s what I told her."

Emma glanced toward the garden, where the pups were still playing. "Just make sure Emily knows she doesn’t need to apologize for this. Family comes first."

The silence stretched between them until Emma finally broke it.

"You’ve been carrying something."

Ashley slowly lifted his eyes to hers.

"Yes."

She studied his face, her fingers curling around the handle of her cup. "I’ve never seen you like this."

A tired smile touched his lips but disappeared almost immediately. He lowered his gaze to the glass of wine before taking a slow breath.

"I was hoping this day would never come."

Emma’s brows drew together. "What do you mean?"

He leaned back slightly and rubbed his hand over his jaw before looking at her again.

"When King Eldric was alive, he entrusted me with a secret."

Emma’s fingers tightened around the glass. "A secret?"

He nodded.

"A secret so dangerous that only four people knew about it."

She leaned forward. "Who?"

"The King, myself, Brandon, and Nelson."

Her fingers tightened further around the glass of wine.

"What kind of secret?"

He remained quiet for several moments before finally looking at Emma.

"Tell me honestly. When Brandon disappeared... what did you believe?"

She lowered her eyes to the glass sitting untouched in front of her. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table.

"I believed..." She swallowed and struggled to get the words out. "I believed he had abandoned us."

Ashley slowly shook his head.

"He didn’t."

Emma’s eyes lifted to his.

He continued before she could speak. "Everything you believed about Brandon’s disappearance was a lie."

The color drained from Emma’s face. She stared at him, her lips parting slightly.

"What... Did you say?"

"Brandon never abandoned you." He held her gaze. "He never stopped loving you, and he never intended to leave you."

Emma’s hands began to tremble.

"No."

She shook her head and pushed herself back from the table. "That’s impossible. I woke up and saw him leave. I cried for two winters. I buried him in my heart."

"I know."

Ashley’s voice cracked.

"I watched you do all of those things."

A tear slipped down Emma’s cheek.

"You knew?"

Ashley closed his eyes for a moment before answering.

"Yes."

The word was enough to break what little control Emma had left.

She slowly rose from her chair and stared at him. "You knew?"

Her voice rose as the tears continued to fall.

"You watched me suffer, and you said nothing?"

He remained seated, his hands resting heavily on his knees.

"I deserved your anger."

She took a step back.

"You let me hate my mate. You let Bryan believe his father had abandoned him. You let Charlotte grow up wondering why her father wasn’t there."

Ashley lowered his gaze.

"I know."

"No!" Emma’s voice broke as she wiped at her cheeks. "You don’t know."

She pressed a hand against her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.

"My pups cried themselves to sleep. I cried myself to sleep. There were days when I begged the Moon Goddess to tell me what I had done wrong."

Her voice trembled as she looked directly at him.

"And all this time... you knew?"

Ashley slowly nodded.

"I did."

She covered her mouth with both hands, but the sob that escaped her still reached him. She turned away and wrapped her arms around herself, her shoulders shaking as she tried to regain control.

After several moments, Ashley spoke again.

"I wanted to tell you. So many times."

She didn’t turn around.

"I stood outside your chamber many days than I can remember. I almost knocked. I almost told you everything."

He paused, his gaze dropping to the floor.

"But every time, I remembered why Brandon chose this path."

She slowly turned back toward him. Her eyes were swollen from crying.

"What path?"

Ashley looked at his daughter, the weight of the secret finally visible in his tired expression.

"The path that required him to lose everything... so he could save all of us, the kingdom."

Emma stared at him.

Her breathing quickened as the questions she had buried for several winters came rushing back.

If Brandon hadn’t abandoned her, then why had he disappeared without a word? Why had he allowed her to believe the worst? Why had he let their pups grow up without him?

Ashley reached for the leather satchel beside his chair and slowly opened it. He pulled out a thick, sealed envelope and held it for a moment before placing it on the table between them.

The royal seal of late King Eldric was pressed into the crimson wax.

Emma’s eyes fixed on it.

She didn’t reach for the envelope.

She simply stared.

"What is that?"

Ashley rested his trembling hand on the envelope and looked at the royal seal for a moment before meeting her eyes again.

"The truth."

His voice was quiet.

"The entire truth."

Emma’s gaze remained fixed on the envelope. Her fingers tightened against the edge of the table as she stared at the royal seal pressed into the crimson wax.

"And after you hear it..." Ashley paused, swallowing hard. "I’ll understand if you never forgive Brandon."

Emma didn’t answer.

Slowly, she reached toward the envelope. Her trembling fingers hovered over the seal, but she couldn’t bring herself to break it.

She looked up at Ashley, her eyes filled with fear and confusion.

"If Brandon never abandoned us..." Her voice barely came out. "Then why did he leave?"

Ashley said nothing.

Emma’s fingers finally closed around the envelope.

She drew in a shaky breath and looked down at the royal seal one last time.

Then she broke the seal.