Alpha's Secret Bride

Rivena’s words hung in the air like something too heavy to fall.

"There’s a conspiracy... it’s already inside the kingdom."

For a heartbeat, everything was quiet.

Brandon didn’t move at first. His jaw tightened, then slowly eased, like he was forcing himself to stay in control.

Emma felt it before she fully understood it—the shift in the chamber. The air felt thicker, sharper.

Her gaze moved from Brandon back to Rivena.

"Inside the kingdom... who?" Brandon asked at last, his voice low and controlled, but without warmth.

Rivena flinched.

Her fingers twisted in her sleeves. "I don’t know names," she said quickly. "I swear I don’t."

Brandon took a step forward.

Rivena pulled back into the chair.

"I only heard titles... ranks," she added, voice trembling. "People who don’t move in the open. Nobles who don’t need to."

Emma’s brows drew together. "So this isn’t just Damon."

Rivena shook her head fast. "Damon is only in the middle. There’s a wolf above him."

Brandon’s expression darkened. "Say what you heard."

Rivena swallowed hard.

"...They called him ’the Hand behind the Crown,’" she whispered.

A silence dropped instantly.

Emma’s stomach tightened. "That’s not a rank," she said quietly. "That’s control."

Brandon said nothing. His eyes stayed on Rivena, steady and unreadable, like he was weighing every breath she took.

"And Nelson?" Emma asked, sharper now. "Why him?"

Rivena opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Her eyes filled again, but she didn’t cry.

"I was told to get close to him," she said at last. "Not because of him... but because of what he has access to."

Brandon’s hand curled at his side.

"What does Nelson have access to?"

Rivena shook her head slowly. "I don’t know. I tried asking him... he doesn’t even understand it himself."

Emma leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. "That’s probably why he’s still breathing. Whatever it is, they want it badly."

Brandon’s gaze stayed on Rivena a moment longer.

"Why didn’t you tell the High Luna?"

Rivena’s fingers tightened together in her lap.

"They’re monitoring me," she said quietly.

Silence settled over them.

Emma’s expression hardened, because that part made sense.

The watch. The one Brandon had once given the High Luna, and later ended up in Rivena’s possession. Brandon had taken it from her before moving her to safety.

But for now, he had cut her off and made it look like she was gone.

To everyone else, Rivena was dead.

Brandon lifted the device in his hand.

"Find Nelson," he said quietly.

Rivena’s voice wavered as she shook her head slightly. "Please don’t hurt him when you find him... he can be stubborn."

Silence settled again, heavier this time.

Then Brandon straightened.

"Enough," he said flatly. "We’re done here."

Rivena leaned forward quickly. "Wait—please—"

But he had already turned.

Emma followed him out, pausing only long enough to glance back at Rivena before the door closed behind them.

---

Moonlight spilled through the window over England as Brooklyn woke to the soft buzz of her device on the nightstand.

She reached for it slowly, still half-asleep.

A message lit up the screen.

Aurelia Model and Talent Agency.

Her eyes stayed on it for a moment as a quiet breath slipped out.

Third time.

She had already told them she didn’t know anything about modeling, but the messages kept coming.

Emma’s words came back to her in pieces, faint but persistent, asking her to consider it.

Brooklyn lowered the device slightly, gaze fixed on the glow, uncertainty lingering as she didn’t dismiss it this time.

---

"Mother, I did not cheat on him!" Arianna’s voice drifted up to her chamber. "He is a cheater! He cheated!!" she kept shouting.

"I’m not going anywhere, Mother."

Lyn slipped out of bed, brushing her teeth in a hurry before heading down the stairs, hair messy, nightgown loose against her frame. Cold air brushed through the house, but the heater held steady underfoot, keeping the space warm as she moved.

The voice led her straight to the cookhouse.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Ken stood at the counter, dressed in a chef’s outfit, working through breakfast with steady hands. Vireya was beside him, moving between the cooker and the counter, quietly helping.

Arianna sat on the table nearby, wearing Ken’s shirt. The buttons hung open the way she liked them, her voice carrying as she argued into the air, sharp and unrelenting.

Lyn’s eyes flicked over her once, then moved on.

She crossed the chamber and went straight to Ken.

Her arms slid around his waist from behind, and she rested her cheek against his back, breathing in the warm scent of food and soap.

Ken didn’t turn right away. A small smile touched his face.

"Moonrise, my heart," he said.

She smiled faintly against his back.

"Are you going to work today?" she asked.

"Yeah," he answered.

Her hold loosened a little, but she didn’t step away.

"What’s wrong with her?" she murmured.

Ken kept stirring the pan. "She’s fighting with her mother."

Nobody said a word.

"I called her mother earlier this moonrise," he added. "She was lying on the sofa. Half-naked... like she didn’t care who walked in. We have male housekeepers, and she knows that."

"What did her mother say?"

"She said she’d talk to her. That’s what they’re doing."

Lyn glanced toward Arianna, then looked back at Ken.

"I wonder how you two managed to last that long," Brooklyn said, glancing between them.

Ken gave a short laugh, leaning back in his chair. "Honestly, it was hell with her. I’d been looking for a way out for a long time. When the chance came, I took it and didn’t look back."

"I did a lot of thinking last moonfall."

Ken paused his stirring. "About what?"

"Your cousins." Her fingers tightened slightly around his shirt as she leaned into the counter. "I saw Skylar and Liora at the royal mating. I passed them because I didn’t really know their faces. I only met Sebastian Junior and Audrey properly. I was thinking... Maybe I should invite them for dinner tonight. We should actually know each other. What do you think?"

Ken let out a short laugh under his breath. "Skylar can’t keep his mouth shut. If you don’t mind talking too much, invite him."

He glanced over his shoulder briefly.

"Liora, Audrey, Emma... they take after our grandmother. They’re decent."

Lyn hummed softly, eyes lowering for a moment. "I want to know her better."

Ken turned his head just enough to look at her. "And recruit her into your little circle? No way, Lyn."

A laugh slipped out of him as he shook his head, stirring again.

"You, Elara, Emma... you three are trouble. I’m honestly scared of you guys."

"We’re just moonallies that trust and watch out for each other," she said, already reaching back toward the counter.

Ken caught her hands gently and guided them away.

"Not now, my heart. Go up. Shower. Wait for breakfast."

She hesitated, then let out a small breath.

"When are you inviting them for dinner?"

"I said tonight."

"They’ll come. Liora’s academy is a short drive from here and Skylar’s office is nearby, and they’ve got chambers on the grounds too."

Lyn turned from the counter. "I’m going to our chamber. I need their numbers."

She started for the door.

"Check my device," Ken called after her.

"Thanks, my heart."

"Mm."

She left the cookhouse without another glance at Arianna.

The stairs took her two at a time.

Upstairs, she crossed into their chamber, pulled one of Ken’s devices from the drawer, and settled on the bed. The screen lit her face as she searched through contacts for Liora and Skylar.

"Moonrise, Liora."

"Moonrise to you. Lyn?"

"Yes," she responded.

"Oh wow, I’m really happy to hear from you," Liora said, excitement spilling through the line.

"How’s everything going at the academy?" Lyn asked.

"Surviving," Liora said with a laugh. "I swear the professors are trying to make us live at the library."

"Can you come over the house in the moonfall? Let’s have dinner."

"I would’ve loved to, but I have a surprise quiz tomorrow at nine. I need to read."

"Oh...okay," she sputtered, wishing Skylar wouldn’t give her the same excuse.

"How is Ken doing?"

"He is fine."

"Alright, send my regards."

"I will, dear," she said. She took a deep breath before dialing Skylar’s number.

"Ken!" he shouted as soon as he picked up the call.

"Moonrise Skylar," she greeted him.

"Brooklyn Ashford," he said and laughed.

"Skylar, how are you?"

"I’m good! And you?"

"I’m good too. Skylar, I will be hosting a dinner at home tonight and I need your presence to make it memorable."

"Time?" he asked.

"Six."

"I’ll be there before six."

"You’re sleeping over," she added.

"No problem. I’ve got a chamber there," Skylar replied, his tone carrying a light ease.

"Thank you, Skylar. You’re a good pup."

"It runs in the blood," he said with a faint smirk.

A quiet laugh slipped from Lyn, soft and unguarded.

Then a voice broke through from the background.

"Skylar, I will never forgive you!!!"

It came sharp and emotional, cutting through whatever calm had settled over the call.

A brief silence followed, then a shaky breath, a small sniff that sounded too close to the device.

Lyn’s fingers tightened slightly around the device as her attention sharpened. She leaned in, listening more closely now.

Skylar’s voice returned, lower than before. "Hello? Wait..."

There was movement on the other end, a soft rustle as though the device was being shifted or taken away.

"Give it back," the same voice snapped, closer now, strained with emotion.

Another silence followed, heavier this time.

Then, quieter, almost breaking apart as it left her—

"You said you wouldn’t... you promised..."

Static filled the line.

Lyn didn’t move.

Skylar didn’t speak again.

The call ended without warning.