Alpha's Secret Bride

Samuel hesitated, his eyes still on the map.

"A Rogue Queen?"

"Search her and escort her in."

"All right, Alpha." The guard stepped aside and bowed before leaving the chamber.

Samuel returned his attention to the map, but a few minutes later, the door opened again. The guard hurried inside, his expression more serious than before. "Alpha, we’ve confirmed the visitor’s identity, but she refused to be searched or escorted."

Samuel looked up from the map. "Name?"

The guard hesitated before answering. "Queen Luna Emma."

Samuel blinked. "What?"

"She came alone."

"Alone?" Samuel asked, leaning back slightly in his chair.

"Yes, Alpha."

"No royal convoy?"

"No."

"No guards?"

The guard shook his head. "Only her private car."

Samuel’s fingers rested on the edge of the map. Emma never traveled without protection, especially at moonfall. Not after everything that had happened. He folded the map, slid it into the drawer, and closed it before looking back at the guard.

"Open the gate and let her in. No escort."

"Yes, Alpha."

Several moments later, a black sedan rolled quietly into the courtyard and came to a stop. The engine fell silent, and the driver’s door opened. Emma stepped out alone, closed the door herself, and looked up at the mansion. A breeze stirred loose strands of hair across her face, and she brushed them behind her ear before walking toward the entrance.

Gone were the elegant gowns and glittering jewels the kingdom had grown used to seeing. She wore a simple dark jacket over fitted trousers and plain boots, with none of the usual details that marked her as Queen Luna of Greendor. Even the diamond mating ring that had rarely left her finger was missing.

The guards exchanged puzzled looks as she walked past them. One of them glanced toward the other, but neither said a word. She continued up the marble steps without slowing, her handbag hanging from one hand as she entered the mansion.

By the time the butler opened the living chamber door, Samuel had already put the map away and straightened the papers on his desk. Still, when she walked in, his eyes moved over her from head to toe before settling on her face.

"Queen Luna of Greendor..."

She met his gaze, then looked around the living chamber. The butler stepped inside behind her and quietly closed the door.

"Please." She turned back to Samuel. "I don’t need that title anymore."

A faint smile touched her lips and disappeared just as quickly. She lowered her eyes for a moment before looking at him again. "I’m just... a rogue queen."

Samuel stepped away from his desk and gestured toward the chair across from him. "Please, have a seat."

She gave a small nod and sat down. She placed her handbag on the table and folded her hands in her lap, her fingers resting loosely against each other.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Samuel remained standing for a moment longer, watching her before finally taking his seat across from her.

The last time Samuel had seen her, she had carried herself with quiet confidence. Even during the kingdom’s darkest days, she had met people’s eyes without hesitation, and there had always been something bright in her expression. Now, at thirty, she looked different. Dark circles showed beneath her eyes, and although she sat with her back straight, her hands remained folded in her lap, the handbag still sitting on the table in front of her.

"I wasn’t expecting you," Samuel said at last.

"I know."

"Especially alone."

"I wanted to come alone."

"The palace allowed that?"

Emma looked at him with a small smile. "I didn’t need the palace’s permission."

Samuel’s brows rose slightly. "I see."

He got up and walked to the nearby cabinet, where he poured two cups of tea. He carried them back to the table and set one in front of Emma. "I had this prepared earlier. I hope you don’t mind."

"Thank you."

Emma wrapped both hands around the warm porcelain but left the cup untouched. Samuel took a sip from his own before setting it down and watching her over the rim of the cup.

"How’s Prince Bryan?"

"He’s doing well."

"And Princess Charlotte?"

A small smile touched Emma’s lips. "She keeps everyone busy."

"I’m glad to hear that."

The smile faded as she lowered her eyes to the tea.

Samuel leaned back in his chair and studied her for a moment before speaking again.

"I don’t believe you drove all this way for nothing. Something must be bothering you."

She lowered her eyes to the untouched tea and ran her thumb slowly along the rim of the cup. "You’re right."

She drew a slow breath before looking back at him. "I came to ask something of you."

Samuel waited.

"I want the law changed."

"What law?"

"The law that forbids bond severance."

The words hung between them.

Samuel didn’t answer right away. He reached for his cup, took a slow sip, and set it back on the table before looking at her again.

"That’s a serious request."

"I know."

"You also know that law wasn’t written by the council."

"I know."

"It has existed for generations."

"I’m also aware

Samuel studied her across the table. "Yet you still came."

Emma finally picked up her cup, but didn’t take a sip. The tea had already begun to cool, and she quietly set the cup back on the table.

"I’ve spent months talking myself out of coming." She rested both hands around the cup for a moment before letting them fall into her lap. "But every time I went home..."

Her voice trailed off.

Samuel said nothing.

She clasped her hands together and stared down at them. "I was reminded that nothing had changed."

"Bryan still runs to the front gate whenever he hears a car," she said. "He tells everyone his father might have come home."

A faint smile touched her lips, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. She lowered her eyes to her hands. "Charlotte has started asking why every other pup has a father at school events. I never know what to tell her."

He said nothing.

She rubbed her thumb over her knuckles before continuing. "When Brandon first disappeared, I believed he would come back. I waited for him. I defended him whenever somebody questioned what happened, and I ignored every rumor that reached the palace." She drew a slow breath and looked down at the tea between them. "But hope can only carry somebody so far."

He gave a slow nod, keeping his face still as he watched her.

"And now?" he asked.

She turned toward the window. Her reflection stared back at her from the dark glass. "Now I have two pups who deserve a mother who can live her life instead of spending it waiting for a man who may never come home."

She turned back to him and held his gaze. "I can’t keep telling them tomorrow."

He rested his elbows on the desk and folded his hands. "So you believe severing the bond is the answer?"

"I believe it’s the beginning."

"You still love him."

Emma’s fingers tightened together, but she didn’t look away. "I probably always will."

"Then why let go?"

"Because love and waiting aren’t the same thing."

He lowered his gaze for a moment, then looked back at her. "You’ve thought about this carefully."

"For longer than anyone knows."

He nodded slowly. "I understand."

She searched his face. "Do you?"

"I do." He folded his hands on the desk and leaned back slightly. "But changing an ancient law isn’t as simple as signing a document."

"I expected that."

"The council will oppose it."

"They always do."

"The elders will call it an insult to tradition."

"They’re free to."

He watched her for a moment. There was no anger in her voice, and she didn’t seem surprised by anything he had said. She sat there as though she had already considered every objection he could raise.

"I’ll need something to convince them if I’m going to stand before the council and support this."

Emma’s brows drew together. "What more do they need to see?"

He let out a slow breath. "They’ll ask whether you’re acting out of grief or reason."

She pushed her chair back and stood. She walked to the window and rested one hand lightly against the frame. Outside, a few guards crossed the courtyard while servants were gathering their tools along the garden path, preparing to head inside for the moonfall. She watched them for a while without saying anything."

"When Brandon disappeared..." she spoke without turning around. "Everyone mourned him. We built a memorial, held ceremonies, and prayed for him. Then, eventually, they went back to their lives." Her fingers tightened around the window frame as she looked out at the courtyard. "I couldn’t. Every moonrise, I woke up still bonded to a man who never came home. I’ve carried that silence for almost three winters, and I’m done carrying it."

He slowly rose from his chair. "I believe you."

For the first time since she arrived, Emma’s shoulders relaxed, and a small breath left her. The relief lasted only a moment before Samuel continued.

"But I’ll need your help."

She turned fully toward him, her expression tightening. "My help?"

"Yes." He walked around the desk until only a few steps separated them. "If I’m going to persuade the council, I’ll need something they can’t ignore."

Emma watched him carefully. "What is your price?"

Samuel held her gaze. "The throne."

Emma’s brows drew together. "Why the throne?"

"Because the council won’t approve the bond severance simply because I ask them to. I need enough influence to make them listen."

Emma’s expression tightened. "And you think becoming king will give you that?"

"It will give me the authority to push the matter through."

She stared at him for a moment. "You’re asking me to support your claim to the throne in exchange for approving the severance?"

"I’m giving you a way to get what you came here for."

Emma’s fingers curled at her sides. She had come to this chamber prepared to discuss the severance of her bond, never expecting Samuel to turn it into a bargain for the crown.

"And if I refuse?"

Samuel’s expression remained calm. "Then the council will continue debating your request. You could wait months, perhaps longer, while they decide whether your circumstances justify severing the bond."

Emma’s face hardened.

Samuel took another step toward her. "But if you support me, I can make sure your request is approved."

The chamber fell silent.

Emma had come seeking freedom from a bond she no longer wanted.

Now Samuel was telling her that the price of that freedom was putting the crown on his head.