Emma stood by the window on Tuesday moonrise, adjusting the soft folds of her gown as she prepared to meet Luna Theresa. A small smile curved her lips when she spotted her mate through the mirror behind her. Brandon looked breathtaking in his fitted gray suit, the fabric hugging his broad frame perfectly, carrying the quiet authority and presence of the future Alpha King he was destined to become.

For a moment, Emma wished she had nowhere else to be. She would have loved to stay by his side and fly with him to the skyport to welcome the team of researchers arriving from Milan.

Her heart was still warm from the last moonfall. She had sat quietly beside him, not saying much, just watching with quiet pride as he submitted a provisional patent application online. If it was approved, the "patent pending" would turn into the fourteenth patent his company had earned since it was founded.

He didn’t brag about it. He never did. But she could feel the weight of his effort in every calm breath he took, in the steady focus he carried like it was second nature. Moments like this made her realize just how far he had come—and how much further he was still willing to go.

Seeing him succeed filled her with happiness. Brandon was thriving in the career he had once chosen because of her, and every achievement made her feel even prouder to stand beside him as his mate.

He stepped closer and gently rubbed her lower belly, his eyes locked on hers through the mirror. She smiled softly as her hand rested over her abdomen. She could hardly wait to see their little pup. Her mind wandered as she imagined tiny fingers, bright eyes, and a smile that would look just like his. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"He’s going to become a great Alchemist," Brandon murmured against her neck before placing a soft kiss there.

She laughed quietly. "And what if it’s a she?"

"I gave you the Y chromosome," he whispered confidently, like there was no room for doubt. They had been too busy lately to even pay attention to her cycle properly.

Emma raised a brow playfully. "And how sure are you about that?"

"A hundred percent," he replied with a grin. "I can’t wait to see our little pup running around this packhouse."

"He’s going to be as handsome and intelligent as his father," Emma said as she turned to admire his face again.

Brandon leaned down and kissed her lips while she adjusted the collar of his shirt carefully.

"I’m still not comfortable with you visiting the Greens," he said softly. "Please be careful, and come home early for the celebration."

"I will," Emma answered with a reassuring smile.

With the confidence of an Alpha, Brandon walked out of the chamber. Emma remained standing there for a few moments, her heart warming as memories flooded back to the moonrise he first saw her at the park. Sometimes she wondered what her life would have become if fate had never led him to her.

Brandon never truly liked the idea of her visiting Theresa, but to avoid an argument, he agreed. Still, he quietly tightened security around her just in case.

She picked up her handbag and left the chamber, with Naomi silently following behind her.

"Alpha’s mate, I spoke with Paige this moonrise," Naomi said carefully.

Emma glanced back at her. "I called her too."

"Did she tell you what happened last moonfall?" Naomi asked quietly as they walked down the hallway.

Emma frowned slightly. "No. What happened?" she asked, her brows lifting in confusion.

"Some wolf must have told the neighbors that they stole the house from you and still threw you out afterward."

Emma slowed her steps. "And then what happened?"

"The neighbors became furious," Naomi explained. "They ripped the satellite dish off the wall outside the house. Some even threw beer bottles through the windows and shattered the glass in several chambers."

Emma gasped softly. "Oh, my Moon Goddess... why would they do that? I need to talk to them."

She hurried toward the stairs, her heartbeat quickening as Naomi rushed after her.

"They also stuffed their mailbox with hate letters," Naomi continued. "Most of them were filled with cruel and hurtful words."

Emma shook her head sadly. "I’ll move her into a resting den for now. They’re angry because of what Alpha Daniel did. I know she isn’t completely innocent, but she’s still a victim of Daniel’s greed and deception too."

"I understand," she said quietly. "But protecting her doesn’t erase what she’s connected to. If you want her moved to a resting den, I’ll take care of it... I just hope we’re not ignoring the truth because of pity."

Emma’s expression softened slightly, but her voice stayed firm.

"We won’t ignore the truth," she said quietly. "But nothing will be done without her agreement. If she accepts it, then you can prepare the resting den."

Emma had planned to visit her parents earlier, but Theresa ended up drawing her attention instead. She even had a serious argument with Brandon because she wanted to visit Theresa so badly. In the end, though, she managed to convince her mate.

Without wasting another second, Emma hurried out of the packhouse and informed the drivers about the change of plans. Thankfully, they already knew where the Greens lived.

After giving the address again, Emma entered one of the cars while Naomi climbed into another. Moments later, the vehicles sped out of the compound under tight security.

Emma slowly stepped out of the car when the convoy stopped by the side of the roadway leading to the Dark Moon Pack. The moment she pushed open the transparent gate, her entire wolf froze.

Tears instantly filled her eyes.

Broken beer bottles and scattered bricks covered the whole compound like the aftermath of a battle.

Daniel and Lunara’s cars, which were parked outside, had their windows completely shattered with bricks. The damage was far worse than she had imagined.

Emma slowly turned toward the neighboring houses.

"Please! It’s okay now!" she cried out desperately. "Please stop!"

"They’re murderers!" a tiny voice shouted from somewhere nearby.

Emma guessed it was some angry young wolves who hated what Daniel had done to some wolf as young as Jason.

"They’re thieves too!" another young voice yelled angrily.

Emma pressed her trembling hands together.

"Please... forgive them."

A quiet voice cut through the crowd.

"Forgive them?" it said coldly. "You’re begging mercy for wolves who never gave you any."

"You keep protecting wolves who would never do the same for you," another voice said quietly. "That’s not kindness... that’s foolishness."

"They didn’t even hesitate to destroy your name," another voice added coldly, cutting through the silence.

Emma could no longer hold back her tears. She stood in the middle of the ruined compound and wept openly.

Naomi tried to guide her away gently, but Emma refused to move.

Suddenly, a warm hand wrapped around her wrist.

"It’s okay, Emma," Faith said softly. "I’ll speak to the neighbors’ pups. They’re the ones behind this mess."

She sighed heavily before continuing, "But what Daniel did was truly despicable. I’m glad he’ll spend the rest of his winters behind bars."

Emma lowered her gaze sadly as they walked toward the house together.

"Lunara brought this on herself the moment she invited reporters to that meeting," Faith added. "If she hadn’t done that, no wolf would have known the full story. She practically shot herself in the leg."

"I warned her too," Emma replied quietly. "But she was too obsessed with humiliating me to listen."

The moment Emma stepped into the house, her heart clenched painfully.

Theresa sat motionless on one of the sofas, staring blankly into space like her soul had left her wolf. Two large traveling bags rested beside her.

Emma slowly walked closer.

At the sound of footsteps, Theresa finally lifted her face.

A long silence stretched between them.

Then Theresa stood up.

She walked past Emma without emotion, moving into the hallway where the light cut across her face.

She stopped there—standing in the dim glow like Emma wasn’t even there.

No emotion. No warmth. Just finality.

Emma didn’t speak right away. The silence between them said more than words could.The narrow hallway carried the tension between them, tight and suffocating. Her fingers curled slightly at her side, voice low and sharp.

"I told the she-wolf you sent to me to call you after you refused to answer my calls. I’m glad she did."

Emma stayed still, watching her closely, her chest rising slower than the anxiety building inside her. Her lips parted, but she didn’t interrupt.

"I’m leaving your house."

Theresa turned her head slightly, and Emma met nothing but a cold, final resolve in her eyes.

"Where are you going to stay?" Emma asked softly, careful not to push too hard.

Theresa let out a short breath, almost a laugh without humor.

"Anywhere I want."

She swallowed, her gaze dropping for a second before returning to Theresa’s face. She was trying to understand her, but the distance between them felt wider than the hallway itself.

"Can you stay in a resting den until all this is over?" she asked gently.

Theresa froze.

For a moment, she did not move or speak. The air between them seemed to tighten, as if even the silence had weight.

Slowly, she turned to face Emma. Their eyes met.

Emma waited for an answer, but none came. Only a long, steady silence stretched between them, unbroken and final.

Then she reached for her bag—but before her fingers could close around the strap, the sharp tightening of Emma’s jaw made her pause.