Alpha's Secret Bride-Chapter 56: Thorn in Emma’s Wolf

Brandon walked towards her, his stare dangerously close to her face, his presence overwhelming in a way she couldn’t quite explain. For a brief second, her wolf stiffened, caught between irritation and strange pull. Without a word, he stormed out, leaving behind a trail of tension that lingered in the air.

Emma stood frozen, her brows furrowed in confusion. She wondered why he didn’t allow another she-wolf to massage him. It wasn’t as though she was the only attendant available. The entire situation made no sense to her. A part of her feared he might report her for unprofessional behavior, especially with how she had reacted earlier. But he didn’t. Instead, he walked away without asking for a refund, without creating a scene, without saying anything at all.

That unsettled her even more.

It was another beautiful Tuesday in Silver Muscle Haven. The just-risen sun, accompanied by a lazily gentle breeze, shone softly on their street as she stood waiting for a cab. The warmth of the sunlight brushed against her skin, but it did little to calm the restlessness within her.

Her wolf was unusually alert this morning, as though anticipating something. Emma folded her arms and shifted her weight from one foot to another, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling creeping into her chest.

She sighed when another flashy car stopped right in front of her. She didn’t even need to look to know who it was. She had told the owner of the car several times that she was not interested in any relationship with him. Yet, he kept showing up, persistent as ever.

He was the wolf her father referred to as a "lazy he-wolf." Ironically, he was anything but lazy. He hated seeing her cleaning gutters or doing any form of hard labor. He believed such tasks were beneath her and would always step in to help, regardless of the difference in their social standing.

"Moonrise, Emma," he greeted her when he alighted, his voice warm and familiar.

"Moonrise, Evan," she said reluctantly, barely sparing him a glance.

"Where are you off to?" he asked with a gentle smile, clearly trying to lighten her mood.

"Work," she replied shortly.

"Wow! Are you working now?"

"Yes," she answered, her tone neutral.

"Would you mind if I dropped you off?"

"I’m waiting for a cab," she said firmly, her eyes scanning the road as if willing one to appear.

"Emma, you are very stubborn."

"I know."

"You do?"

"You have said it more than twenty times. Of course, I’m not deaf," she said, looking away, and he couldn’t help but grin.

There was something about her sharp tongue that amused him endlessly.

"I want to drop you off," he insisted, trying to separate the hands she had folded across her chest. She freed her hands immediately and walked toward the car, clearly giving in—not because she wanted to, but because she was tired of the back and forth.

He quickly opened the door for her, his face lighting up with satisfaction. She stepped in without another word. He closed the door happily and walked around to the driver’s side.

"You never told me you needed a job. I would have loved to fix you in my father’s moon enterprise," Evan said as he ignited the engine, glancing at her occasionally.

"Emma," he called again when she didn’t respond.

She turned slightly to look at him.

"I said you never told me you needed a job."

"I made the decision on Friday, and I was offered a job on Monday," she replied calmly.

"Okay," he nodded.

"Have you given thought to what I told you?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I’m not ready."

"Emma, I want to give you a good life, and if you want the same, you need to be ready. A lot of wolves have taken bold steps when they are not ready, only to realize how ready they truly were. Take a bold step and see how much we need each other."

His voice softened toward the end, sincere and hopeful.

"Thank you for the advice. I’ll look into it," she said, though her tone suggested otherwise.

She directed Evan to her work den and was surprised when she spotted the same he-wolf who had been bothering her—already there.

Her heart skipped.

No wonder he didn’t come to their pack. She had found him here instead.

She fixed her eyes on him, her thoughts racing. Why was he so desperate to be around her? What did he want from her? The questions circled endlessly in her mind.

A sudden idea crossed her mind, and a faint smirk tugged at her lips. She was glad her A-line skater skirt was short enough to mesmerize him. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Evan got down and opened the door for her like a perfect gentleman. She glanced at him briefly, making sure he was paying attention.

Then, without warning, she pulled him closer and kissed him for the first time.

It was quick, calculated... and intentional.

Evan froze for a split second before breaking into a wide grin. Joy radiated from him, his wolf clearly elated. He believed, in that moment, that she had finally accepted him.

He had no idea he was being used.

He hopped into his car happily and drove away. Emma stood still, waving at him until he was completely out of sight.

Only then did her expression change.

Her smile faded.

"Emma,"

She quickly turned when she heard a voice.

"You are late today! The head beta asked of you."

"Why?"

"Your client has been here since 7:00 am, waiting to be attended by you," one of her colleagues said before walking away immediately.

Emma’s gaze shifted toward the waiting area, and there he was.

Waiting.

Watching.

Her lips curved into a slow grin as she walked toward the counter.

"Hei... Emma, have you asked him what he wants?"

"I need a thorough sensory and muscle massage with the finest alchemist lithos oil," she smirked.

"Is that what he said?"

"Brooklyn!"

"You will have it now."

After some minutes, Brooklyn handed her order to her. Emma picked up the vial containing the special alchemist lithos oil and began to walk toward him with deliberate elegance, every step controlled, every movement intentional.

She slowly dropped the vial beside him as though she was the best attendant at Silver Muscle Haven.

"Relax yourself, Oliv..."

She paused. Waiting. Watching.

He slowly removed his glasses.

His golden eyes were no longer warm—they were red and dull, filled with something darker.

"Oliver, your moonmate. You..."

She didn’t let him finish.

Her hand moved before her mind could catch up.

The sound of the slap echoed sharply across the chamber.

"Oh... you are here to ridicule me, right? Well, I don’t care who you are! Get out of here and don’t ever come back!"

Her voice trembled with anger, pain, and something deeper she refused to name.

She picked the vial up and returned the ointment to Brooklyn. He stood up after some minutes and dashed off angrily, his control snapping. He drove away recklessly.

Brooklyn and Emma watched until he disappeared from sight.

"What did you do to him, Emma!"

"He’s such an id!ot!"

"What did he say to you?" Brooklyn frowned. "I think he has a problem. Emma, you need to be very careful. You shouldn’t have slapped him."

"Don’t worry, he won’t come around me again. I have taught him a great lesson now."

"It’s okay, but you overreacted, you know?"

"Yes, I do."

"And the head beta won’t be happy with you."

"I’m also aware."

"I saw Evan, I guess he’s the ’lazy he-wolf,’ right?" Brooklyn grinned.

"Yes."

"Are you dating him now?" she asked excitedly.

"No, he just gave me a lift."

"Give that he-wolf a chance, Emma, and put an end to all these dramas."

"I...."

"Move on; Oliver is not coming back to you. He has left you for good."

"He was just a gentle and perfect soul, Brooklyn. He is just... Will I ever meet a wolf like him?" she asked, her voice breaking as tears filled her eyes.

"Emma, please stop; the head beta is watching us," Brooklyn said, wiping her tears gently.

"It’s okay. Please, give the he-wolf a chance; he looks like a cool wolf."

"Emma Greens!" a she-wolf called.

She turned slowly.

"The head beta wants to see you," she announced and left.

"Oh my moon goddess!" Brooklyn whispered.

Emma ignored her and walked toward the head beta’s strategy chamber, her steps steady despite the storm inside her.

"Moonrise, beta," she greeted.

"Sit," he said.

She obeyed.

"Emma Greens, are you alright?"

"Yes, beta."

"Okay."

"Do you need a face towel?"

She shook her head.

"Alright, Emma. Do you know we all have personal problems?"

"Yes."

"We just keep them at our den to avoid compromising the core value of the organization where we work. Here, we treat everyone with the highest level of dignity and respect.

The longer disruptive behavior is allowed to continue in a workden, the more we lose our clients. Emma Greens, we have zero tolerance for poor behaviors.

To keep having a harmonious and productive work environment, bad conduct is called out immediately. It cannot be allowed to persist! You must apologize to that client you humiliated a while ago."

"I’m sorry, Beta."

"I didn’t say you should apologize to me."

"Alright," she said and stood up to leave. However, his call halted her wolf.

"This is your last warning."

"Thank you, beta."

"Make sure you leave smiles on his face when he comes next. I’ll be here watching both of you."

"Alright, beta."