Alpha's Secret Bride-Chapter 74: Alpha Brandon Pursues His True Mate

Moon Princess Elara and Lunara had not been speaking to each other since Lunara discovered it was Elara who revealed the howling bond to Brandon. Elara had never favored Lunara for even a single moon; she only tolerated her to honor the will of their parents. But after last night, Moon Princess Elara’s resentment toward Lunara deepened, and she could no longer pretend. No amount of persuasion from anyone could make her change her stance.

Princess Elara was in Brandon’s chamber, urging him to eat something, when Lunara entered. Since they were no longer on speaking terms, silence fell between them, and Brandon remained unaware that another she-wolf had stepped into the chamber.

He had been standing by the window since moonrise, waiting for Naomi’s call. He had attempted to sit several times, yet his wolf refused to rest. It felt as though the call would come faster if he remained standing.

Footsteps approached from behind him. Then arms wrapped around his waist. At first, he assumed it was his blood she-wolf, Elara. But the moment the touch shifted in a seductive manner, his wolf reacted instantly. He turned sharply and shoved her away. She lost her balance and fell to the ground. Princess Elara exhaled softly and turned her gaze away.

He tried to ignore her, yet he couldn’t. Ever since he was a young he-wolf, he had had a soft spot for she-wolves. It was his greatest weakness. He hated seeing them humiliated or wounded. He had tried to harden his wolf many times, but he had come to understand that a wolf cannot truly change their nature. Some she-wolves mistook his kindness for affection, but they always withdrew once they realized he had firm boundaries they could never cross.

After a few moments, he turned and walked toward Lunara, who remained on the floor in tears. He helped her up, unable to bear being the cause of a she-wolf’s pain. Lunara knew this well and never failed to exploit it. She wept even when tears were unnecessary.

"Stay away from me," he said coldly, pointing at her. "If you force me to reveal a side of me you have been provoking, you will regret it." Yet even as he spoke, he questioned what that "dark side" truly was, for nothing had ever driven him to cruelty.

Lunara only smiled and stepped closer again. He wondered how long she would continue mistaking his decency for love. Perhaps she had never seen how he truly treated others. His touch, his affection, his passion—those belonged solely to his mate, Emma. Every other gesture meant nothing beyond basic respect.

"Brandon, you love me more than her," Lunara said confidently. "Your wolf calls to me. You proved it just now—you cannot bear my tears. You are only blinded by her fabricated sorrow. She draws you in with tales of her suffering, pretending to be broken so you will pity her. She makes herself appear helpless just to bind you to her. But you and I... our connection was immediate."

"What I feel for you is respect, not love," he replied firmly. "I respect all she-wolves. Now leave this chamber."

"Fine... I will leave," she said, her voice lowering. "But know this—we will share this night together. I saw the charm she used on you hidden in her chamber, and I will use it too. You will not resist me."

"Have you ever spoken the truth in your entire life?" he snapped. "How do you rise each day knowing you deceive countless wolves who follow your vision-hearth broadcasts? You present yourself as untouched, yet you lie with every domestic he-wolf within the royal den—"

"I was untouched until you claimed it," she cut in. "And as for those accusations—only the guilty fear the truth."

"Save those words for naive younglings," he said sharply. "Leave."

"She is the one entangled with domestic wolves!" Lunara accused, pointing at Elara. "That low-born she-wolf you call your mate avoids the public eye—no one even knows her identity. When Bernard mentioned manipulating my... my sibling, I began asking questions. I discovered they spent the night together. She must have fed him lies about me this morning. Ask her why she allowed him into her sleeping chamber!"

"Leave. Now."

"I will wait," Lunara said with a bitter smile. "Soon, you will realize you have no one else but me. That worthless she-wolf is gone forever." She turned and walked slowly toward the door.

Brandon caught the look in Elara’s eyes—disappointment, tightly held behind restrained emotion. He wished, just for once, that they would allow him to think of his mate in peace. He had dismissed his guards so he could be alone, yet his siblings—Elara and Lunara—refused to grant him solitude.

The images of his mate that adorned the walls of his sleeping chamber only deepened his longing. Seeking quiet, he had moved into this chamber without heavy security. He had only desired a moment of peace...

...but even that was denied.

"Brandon, why did you help her up? You should have left her there!" Elara said after a few moments of silence.

"She is a she-wolf," he replied, his voice flat.

"Is this how you intend to get rid of her? She will never retreat as long as you keep favoring her!"

"She is not leaving anytime soon."

"Why, Brandon?"

"I want to see what the Alpha King and Luna saw in her. I want to know why they wish for me to claim her as my mate. Something happened, and I intend to uncover it. I do not believe the tale of her being my fated mate."

"Has your mate given you any clue at all?"

"No."

"Then we wait until she returns."

"Elara, if you are bound to Bernard, tell me. You have been moonallies since your pup winters. I will not judge your wolf if you feel for him, but I will not allow him to continue serving under me."

Elara remained silent, her gaze lowered, stirring his curiosity.

"Are you two bound?"

"No, we are not bound."

"Alright."

"Will you take your morning meal now?"

"I have lost my appetite entirely," he said, his gaze shifting to Naomi and Bernard standing at the entryway. Naomi’s eyes brimmed with tears. He knew instantly—the awaited call had come. Paige had reached out.

"What did she say?" he asked, turning away as he braced his wolf for what was to come. He could not survive without her.

"The call ended before she could explain everything."

"Where are they?"

"She did not say, but my device traced her location."

"Where?"

"Estonia Territory."

"What did she tell you?"

"She said she is in custody, about to be taken to the dungeon."

"My mate?"

"No. Paige."

"What happened?" He turned sharply toward Naomi. She lowered her gaze, trembling as though seized by fear.

"Someone tried to frame your mate," Bernard said.

"Sit and tell me everything," Brandon said, leaning against the window, arms folded across his chest.

"The connection dropped before she could explain further."

Naomi’s device rang again. Seeing the unknown number, she rushed toward him. He took it at once.

"Paige!"

"High Moon, Alpha," she greeted weakly.

"Paige, who has you in custody?"

"I have been undergoing harsh interrogations at Tallinn Skyport with the narcotics ward since morning."

"Did they find forbidden substances on you?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"Someone handed your mate a small bag filled with pictures. I was in the bath chamber preparing water for her when the wolf arrived, so I did not see him, but I heard his voice.

When we arrived at the skyport, we passed clearance. I carried the bag for her, unaware of its contents. As we walked past a scent-hound, it rushed to me and stopped at my feet beside the bag, staring intensely. The handler approached and demanded to inspect it. He asked if I packed it. Your mate realized instantly something unlawful was inside and tried to claim the bag to protect me. She said it was hers, but I insisted it belonged to me. Before I understood what was happening, they separated us. They have taken my statements and images. Alpha... I am afraid."

"Give her the device. I must speak with her," he said, already preparing to leave.

"I... I... do not know where she is... she was sitting in the corridor."

"I will be there within two hours! Elara, take charge of the den. Bernard, you come with me," he commanded, already moving.

He strode down the stairs swiftly toward his chamber to prepare for the urgent journey.

"Bernard, summon the flight crew!"

"Alpha," Naomi called.

"I will speak with you later."

"I believe your fated mate set them up," she said, halting him in place. He was not surprised—but he needed reasons to despise her.

"She is not my fated mate. Did she say anything?"

"She told the domestic wolves she had sent the gold-digger to her rightful place—the dungeon."

He exhaled sharply and moved again.

Bernard gathered what was needed while Brandon finished preparing, and soon they entered the lift. He realized then he had not eaten.

The guards he had dismissed earlier now waited atop the rooftop. Ken, his puphood ally, stood among them.

"I am sorry, I go alone," Brandon said.

"Brandon, what happened? You have grown so lean!" Ken exclaimed.

"I will explain when I return. There is an emergency."

"I am coming with you."

"No, Ken."

Ignoring him, Ken moved toward the flying beast. In the end, he allowed him aboard. All that mattered now was reaching his mate—explaining everything—and saving the she-wolf who had taken the fall for her. He could not wait to bring them both back to their pack estate.