Emma’s breath snapped back into her lungs.

She jerked against Brandon’s hold, a sharp gasp tearing out of her as the vision shattered. Her fingers were still locked in his shirt, trembling now, like her wolf hadn’t realized it was over.

"It wouldn’t come off," she whispered, more to herself than to him, her voice thin, strained. "The mask... it wouldn’t come off."

Her eyes lifted slowly, unfocused at first, then sharpening with something deeper.

Frustration.

"I was close," she said, swallowing hard. "I know I was close."

Brandon’s grip tightened around her, steady and grounding, but his gaze had already darkened.

"Then next time," he said quietly, "we will make sure you go further."

She shook her head immediately.

"No." Her fingers curled again, tighter this time, as if she could still feel it slipping away.

"Something was holding me back."

Silence slipped between them, tight and listening.

When she spoke again, her voice dropped, quieter, steadier, edged with certainty.

"Or some wolf."

His eyes sharpened, darkening not with fear, but with intent, his mind already calculating the next move.

"Then we don’t let it control you," he said, low and decisive. "We take control of it."

Silence stretched between them, thick and unyielding, filling the car until even the low hum of the engine seemed distant.

Then Brandon spoke, his voice low and edged with cold resolve.

"And we find out who sent him... because some wolf out there knows exactly what you are."

His eyes held hers—steady, unreadable at first glance. But beneath that calm, something edged through, sharp and dangerous.

"And they’re already trying to stop you."

Emma’s breath hitched, her fingers curling tighter in her lap.

"Stop me from what?" she asked, her voice softer now, uncertainty slipping through despite her effort to hold it back.

Brandon didn’t answer right away.

He watched her, as if weighing something she couldn’t see, then reached for his device without breaking that quiet tension between them.

"That," he said finally, "is what I intend to find out."

The call connected quickly.

"Alpha," Leo’s voice came through, alert and steady.

Brandon’s tone shifted, all warmth stripped away. "Did he say anything?"

A brief pause crackled over the line.

"No. He’s holding back. Whoever sent him... he’s protecting them."

Brandon’s jaw hardened, his gaze fixed on the dark stretch of road ahead.

"Is he talking?"

"Yes, Alpha... but he’s not breaking."

A faint stillness settled over Brandon’s features, the kind that came just before something decisive.

"He will," he said.

Beside him, Emma shifted slightly, her unease sharpening at the edge in his voice.

"Don’t take your eyes off him," Brandon said. "Whatever he lets slip, it comes straight to me."

"Yes, Alpha."

The line went dead.

For a moment, Brandon didn’t move, the device still in his hand as the weight of the conversation lingered.

Emma studied him, her brows drawing together.

"You think he knows more than he’s saying."

Brandon exhaled slowly, lowering the device.

"Yes." He turned to her fully. "And you’re going to make him talk."

It wasn’t a question.

His gaze shifted back to her—softer now, but no less certain.

"Yes, you can."

Emma swallowed, her fingers tightening faintly against her palm.

"And when he does..." She hesitated, then forced the words out. "What if it’s some wolf inside the pack?"

That made him go still.

Not startled—just still, as if the possibility had already crossed his mind.

"Then we deal with it," he said.

Her chest tightened. "That easily?"

His eyes darkened, something colder surfacing beneath the calm.

"There’s nothing easy about betrayal."

A brief silence followed, heavier this time.

"But I won’t hesitate."

Emma turned toward the window, the passing lights blurring into streaks against the glass. Her reflection stared back at her—familiar, yet somehow not.

"I don’t even know what I am right now," she whispered.

Something in Brandon’s expression shifted.

The edge in him eased as he reached for her, his hand closing over hers, warm, steady, real.

"You’re mine," he said quietly. "And you’re Luna."

Her fingers tightened around his, grounding herself in the contact.

But this... this thing inside me..."

She shook her head faintly.

"It doesn’t feel like mine."

A small pause.

"It feels like it’s taking over."

Brandon shifted closer, his voice lowering, steady and deliberate.

"Then we teach you how to take control back."

Her gaze lifted to his, searching.

"How?"

He studied her for a moment, then said quietly, "When it comes... don’t push it away."

Emma exhaled sharply, frustration tightening her features. "Then what am I supposed to do—just let it take over?"

Brandon leaned closer, his voice steady.

"When it comes, don’t fight it. Stay anchored. With me."

Emma opened her mouth—

A sudden sharp pulse hit her chest.

Her breath snapped, her grip tightening hard in his sleeve.

For a split second, her eyes went distant—

like something tried to pull her under again.

"Moonheart?" Brandon’s voice sharpened instantly.

"It’s still there," she whispered.

Brandon’s jaw tightened slightly.

"Then we don’t wait for it to grow," he said. "We take control before it takes you."

Emma looked down at their joined hands, her voice dropping to almost a whisper.

"That wolf,he was afraid."

Brandon’s eyes sharpened. "What do you mean?"

Her gaze drifted for a moment, unfocused, as though the memory had pulled her back into it.

"When I saw him... he knew exactly where he was going." Her fingers pressed a little harder around his. "But he acted like it was never supposed to happen—like being caught wasn’t even part of the plan."

Brandon stilled.

Emma turned to him fully now, something clearer settling in her expression despite the lingering uncertainty.

"He wasn’t trying to hide... he was bold," she said.

Her voice lowered, quieter but firm.

"He came to confirm something before he carried out the task."

"Like what?" Brandon asked.

"I’m not sure," she admitted.

"Then we find out," he said.

Silence stretched between them and suddenly she faced the driver...

"Driver, please increase the speed. I need to get home and rest," she said at last, her voice low and lacking its usual warmth.

Her gaze remained fixed outside, distant and unfocused, as though her thoughts were somewhere far beyond the passing streets.

Before the driver could respond, Brandon reached for her hand, his fingers closing around hers with quiet certainty.

"My moonblessed one," he murmured near her ear, his tone gentle but firm, "We’re home ."

The estate gates came into view ahead, slowly beginning to open.

"Oh my moon goddess. I thought we’re still far away."

"You’re closer than you think," he said as his lips brushed her skin, soft and lingering, before he lowered himself and pressed a tender kiss to her belly, his touch instinctively protective, as though reaffirming a bond that went beyond words.

The cars rolled into the parking slot, engines quieting as the night settled around them. Doors opened in quick succession, and before Emma could gather herself, Brandon was already at her side, guiding her out. His hand lingered at her waist, firm and steady as he led her toward their chamber.

"I need to see the wolf," he said, his tone leaving no room for delay.

Emma kept pace with him, her fingers brushing his sleeve before closing around it. The guard assigned to lead her toward her chamber lingered a step behind, but she didn’t spare him a glance.

"I want to come with you," she said.

Brandon slowed, just slightly, enough to glance down at her. His gaze searched her face, weighing more than her words.

"Tonight?" he asked quietly. "Are you sure about that?"

She nodded, but a trace of uncertainty lingered in her eyes. "Yes... my instincts are telling me he won’t..."

The words stalled on her tongue, slipping away before she could hold onto them.

A sharp tone cut through the moment.

Brandon’s device vibrated in his hand. He glanced at the screen, then lifted it to his ear.

"Alpha," Leo’s voice came through the line, low and tight with strain. "Are you still coming?"

Brandon’s stride did not slow at first, but his gaze shifted forward, sharpening as something in Leo’s tone registered. His jaw set.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice steady, controlled. "I’m on my way."

There was a pause on the other end, just long enough to feel wrong.

"We’ve got a situation here."

Brandon stopped.

The sudden halt pulled Emma with him, his hand tightening around hers just enough to steady her at his side. His focus narrowed, every trace of ease gone from his expression.

"What exactly?" he asked, his voice dropping, quieter now but edged with command.

For a second, there was nothing but silence.

Then Leo exhaled.

"He... took his own life."

Silence fell instantly.

Emma’s breath hitched.

Brandon didn’t move.

"I’m sorry..."

"Leo," Brandon cut in sharply, his voice low and controlled, "this is not the time for blame."

Emma felt the shift in him again—not anger or panic, but something colder. More precise.

"There was a reason he did it," Brandon continued, his voice low and deliberate. "I need you to focus. Lock everything down and meet me here."

A brief pause followed, then Leo’s voice came back, steadier this time.

"...Alright."

Brandon did not step away from Emma until her breathing eased and the tremor in her hands began to fade. Even then, he stayed close, a steady presence grounding her while the last echoes of the vision slowly loosened their grip.

At last, he reached for his device and made the call, his voice calm but firm.

"Mrs. Thompson, I need you in the lounge. Now."

He lowered the device and looked at Emma.

"Why did you call her?" she asked.

A long silence followed.

Then his voice dropped, colder than before.

"Because some wolf is out there..." his voice dropped, colder now,

"...and they just proved they can reach you."