Emma lay on her bed and kept tossing about. She would have loved to have Brandon with her, but she couldn't stop selling herself short. He has the right tone for every word, and she felt like hearing more of his encouraging words. She liked his company, but she didn't know how to build her confidence and look beyond her appearance. She couldn't have been satisfied and made him happy because she really did not know how to make a wolf happy. She had a lot of things to learn and a lot to overcome, and she did not know where and how to start.
She slept off in the early moonrise and was awoken by the smell of her morning coffee that filled the bedroom. She rolled and saw a middle-aged she-wolf trying to put the bedchamber in order. She hasn't met her since she moved into the pack mansion.
"Moonrise, alpha's mate," she greeted her with a smile when she saw her staring at her. She tried to force a smile, but she couldn't because the event that played last moon fall was still in her mind.
"Moonrise," she said and stood up from the bed. She stared at the light, alluring see-through nightgown Brandon dressed her in last moon fall and felt a bit ashamed. He didn't look like someone who could dress a she-wolf up. She was happy he did not take advantage of her low moment. Her respect for him increased.
She turned and began to walk towards the bathchamber.
"Moonrise, alpha's mate," Paige, who was disinfecting the bathchamber, greeted her. Her face changed immediately and her surprise was apparent.
"Paige, why did you put that vision hearth screen program moon-cycle ago?"
"I chose a random channel; what program are you talking about?" She asked, pulling out a drawer with a plastic liner. She gave her brush and toothpaste.
"Inside the Alpha's Keep"
Paige sighed and continued disinfecting the bathchamber. Emma turned and stared at her with curiosity.
"Why did you do that?" She asked.
"I hate the program."
"Why?"
"No reason at all."
"Even your voice did not agree with you."
"I like Lunara Greens, but her constant bragging and talking down on her sibling on territory vision hearth disturbs me. I can't remember the last moon I watched. Someone needs to call her back to order," Paige said. Emma fixed her eyes on a long mirror as she brushed her teeth. She wondered if she also knew she was Lunara's sibling.
"They are not siblings," she said after a few seconds to extract more words from her mouth.
"I'm sorry, alpha's mate; did you say that? Lunara's parents adopted the she-wolf and that makes them siblings."
"You seem to know them very well."
"I don't know her sibling, but I felt for her the day I watched Lunara Greens spew nonsense about her. I wonder why her fans never bothered to call her back to order," Paige said and sighed again.
"Paige, I prefer bathrobes to towels," she said as she walked out of the bathchamber.
"Noted, alpha's mate. Did you get a chance to speak with Bernard moon-cycle ago?"
"I'm not in the mood for gossip this moonrise."
"Alright"
"Bernard is a cunning old wily fox."
"Sure, he is," Paige affirmed.
She had her bath, dressed up in a short tight sleeveless gown that hugged her wolf in the right places and also showed a smaller amount of cleavage. She felt like looking good for her mate and mesmerizing him a bit while she maintained her poise and decorum. Paige styled her hair in a high ponytail, giving her Barbara Kingston's signature looks.
She walked down the stairs with easy grace and headed to their feeding chamber. She was surprised Brandon was there already, waiting for her. About five of his guards stood far off. She stood still and was so confused.
Brandon looked at her and his eyes, which were golden, bathed her in admiration. His pupils dilated immediately, and his gaze became tender. She could feel his gentle gaze making passionate love to her. He gave her a courteous smile, sweet and attentive, and she found it impossible not to return his disarming smile. She smiled back at him, perceiving the faint citrus scent of his after-shave.
"About the last moon fall…"
"Sit," he interrupted.
"How do you feel now?" He grabbed her left palm as though he was offering her an apology. She became more relaxed.
"Better…you are… right. No wolf can make me feel inferior without my consent," she sputtered with her head lowered. He passed the cutlery to her and they began to eat silently.
"Is she pretty?" Brandon asked suddenly. She was thrown off a bit because every wolf knows Lunara is a beautiful wolf.
"Very pretty."
"You are prettier, and your structure is an hourglass; I think she is jealous of you."
"What…did… you say?"
"You heard me," Brandon responded with his eyes on her cleavage, and she lowered her head again.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Do you want to attend her mating bond or whatever?"
"I would have loved to but…"
"I'll take you there."
"What! No! She will disgrace me. She warned me not to come."
"And she begged me to be part of it."
"She invited you?" She asked, fixing her surprised eyes on his.
"You are going with me," Brandon said, and continued eating. She fixed her eyes on him. He is full of surprises and would never cease to amaze her.
"You seem to know a lot about me. How did you know she was my sibling?" Brandon shot her a curt stare and focused on his breakfast.
"She mentioned your name," he said after a few minutes.
"I'm…not a pup," she stammered as she fixed her eyes on the breakfast before her.
"Your name she mentioned and how you reacted. Have you been to the royal kingdom?"
"Yes, a few moons after her thirteenth birth cycle. The high Luna invited her to meet the moon Prince, who gave her a mini den as a birth cycle gift. My mother insisted I should go with them. We drove behind the royal convoy. Lunara did not know I was coming along. She walked me out immediately and I got out of our father's car."
"The moon Prince gifted you or her a mini den?"
"He gave her a mini den. She is the moon Prince's fated mate.
"Oh…okay."
"What about your pack-kins?" She asked.
"They are fine; you will meet them soon."
"Do you have siblings?"
"Yes, I have two; one was adopted but not legally."
"How is your relationship with your siblings?"
"Cordial"
"And your adopted sibling?"
Brandon kept quiet and continued eating. She noticed he did not like her.
"You don't like her, I guess."
"She is treated fairly."
"Do you like her?"
"No"
She felt bad even though she hadn't met the she-wolf. She slowly picked up the cutlery and began to eat.
"Don't worry, you are going to meet her very soon and you will see why I detest her."
"Is she older than you?" She asked.
"No, I was sixteen. She was thirteen winters old when she was brought to our pack."
"Do you guys fight?"
"No"
"Why do you hate her?"
"Define evil," Brandon said, looking into her eyes.
"Wicked?"
"Good, but I like to use black-hearted," he said nonchalantly. Her eyes opened widely.
"Oh my moon goddess!..Is she...."
"That's enough Emma, you are going to meet my siblings soon," Brandon said and stood up.
"How soon?"
"You ask a lot of questions," Brandon smirked. She lowered her head immediately. She could not believe she was doing it again.
She was about to lift her head when his next words threw her off guard, and she wished the ground would open immediately and swallow her. The feeding chamber was chilling, but it couldn't stop her from sweating profusely.
"I'm waiting."
"W. Waiting for..what?" She stammered.