Chapter 208 The Happiest Day Turned Into a Nightmare

Emma’s fingers hovered over the device, but her eyes stayed locked on Rivena.

The silence stretched until Rivena finally moved.

Rivena’s movements turned unnaturally rigid. She started to kneel, one knee bending almost mechanically before her body locked in place. Her head tilted forward but stopped halfway, as though someone had interrupted the command. For a long moment, she remained frozen between standing and kneeling, her fingers twitching at her sides while her vacant eyes stared ahead, silently struggling against a voice only she could hear.

“My Queen Luna…” Rivena said softly. “There’s something you should…”

Her voice faltered. She stopped mid-sentence, her throat working as though she were struggling to breathe.

Brandon’s expression hardened at once. “Rivena…”

She didn’t acknowledge him.

Her eyes remained fixed on Emma, unblinking.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s happening to me,” she said in an eerily calm voice, each word measured with unnatural precision. “I think… I should return to my chamber.”

She turned stiffly, every movement rigid and mechanical, as though someone else was controlling her body from a distance.

Emma’s fingers tightened around the bedsheet. “She’s acting like someone who’s under the influence of alcohol.”

Brandon frowned. The observation made him hesitate for a brief moment.

Then he forced a reassuring smile and looked at Emma. “Rivena doesn’t drink,” he said gently. “She’s never been the drinking type.”

Emma didn’t respond.

Instead, she shifted closer to the edge of the bed, her eyes lingering on the doorway through which Rivena had disappeared.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” she said quietly. “If you don’t mind.”

Silence settled over the chamber.

Brandon lowered his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just… hoped you’d let me handle this.”

“I don’t know why my wolf keeps rejecting her.”

Brandon sat beside her, opening one of the bags, slower now.

“Maybe it’s because you’re not familiar with her.”

Emma frowned. “What? Can you really vouch for her?”

“We grew up together. She serves the High Luna directly. I know her well enough not to question her character.” His voice remained calm, but there was quiet certainty in it.

“That doesn’t change how I feel about her,” she said quietly. “Then maybe she should keep serving the High Luna instead of hovering around me.”

Brandon’s jaw tightened for a brief moment before easing.

“She’ll keep her distance for the remaining two days of her stay.” His voice remained calm, but there was quiet certainty in it. “You won’t have to feel like she’s constantly hovering around you.”

A small silence settled between them.

Then Brandon’s mouth curved.

“Anyway… guess who’s two months old today?” he said, his tone light as he tried to pull her attention away from Rivena.

Emma blinked. “Two months?”

His eyes dropped to her stomach.

She reacted instantly, pulling the sheet higher over her face.

A quiet laugh slipped out of him. “You almost forgot our pup is two- months old today.”

He reached for her hand under the blanket.

“I already spoke with your healer. You’re due for a scan.”

“I don’t like healing den,” she admitted.

“It’ll put your mind at ease,” Brandon said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Come on. Let’s have the healer take a look.”

Emma searched his face for a moment before letting out a reluctant sigh.

“Fine,” she murmured. “But if they tell me I’m worrying over nothing, you’re buying me dessert afterward.”

A chuckle escaped him. “Deal.”

He helped her out of bed, keeping a steady hand at her waist until she found her balance. Once she slipped into a light cardigan and comfortable flats, Brandon opened the chamber door for her.

The guards straightened as the royal couple stepped into the corridor, bowing respectfully before falling in behind them.

“It’s not a healing den,” Brandon corrected gently when she teased him about dragging her there.

Emma didn’t release Brandon’s sleeve until they were inside the scan chamber. Her grip wasn’t tight, but it lingered, betraying the unease she had tried so hard to hide. Brandon covered her hand with his own and gave it a gentle squeeze before nodding toward the examination bed.

The chamber stayed too quiet. She sat on the edge of the bed, legs swinging slightly above the floor. She tried to sit still, but her eyes kept sliding to the monitor.

Brandon stood close, one hand resting on her shoulder. He wasn’t looking at the screen much. Mostly her.

When the healer spread the cool gel over her stomach, she flinched and gave a small laugh.

Brandon leaned in right away. “Cold?”

She nodded quickly. “Yeah.”

Her hand reached for him again without thinking. He took it and held on.

The screen flickered.

Blurry shapes. Soft movement.

Emma leaned forward, squinting like she could sharpen it herself.

A small sound filled the chamber. Then a faint flutter. She went still. “Wait…” she breathed.

Brandon’s fingers tightened around hers.

The healer adjusted the machine. And there it was.

A small curled shape, floating, shifting gently like it was asleep.

Emma’s hand went to her mouth.

“That’s…” Her voice broke.

The healer smiled. “Your pup.”

She didn’t blink. Not at first. Like the moment might slip away if she moved.

Then her eyes filled.

Brandon kept his gaze on the screen, jaw tight. His thumb moved slowly over her knuckles, steady.

“It’s so small,” Emma whispered, laughing through it.

“So strong,” Brandon said.

That made her look at him.

He didn’t smile big. Just stared at the screen like something in him had settled into place.

Emma shifted closer without thinking. He moved right with her, letting her rest against him.

On the monitor, the tiny shape shifted again.

Emma let out a shaky laugh and wiped her cheek fast, like she was annoyed at herself.

Brandon leaned in, voice low. “Already restless.”

A small laugh slipped out of her again.

And she didn’t let go of his hand this time.

Later, outside under the pale Monaco moon, she leaned into him without speaking, and he held her closer than before.

“You okay?” he asked.

She nodded slowly. “It feels real now.”

“It is real,” he said.

Silence lingered for a moment.

She lowered her voice. “I can’t wait to cuddle him.”

Brandon’s fingers slid through her hair, slow and absentminded. “We will,” he said. “In seven months.”

She gave a small smile, shaking her head slightly. “That sounds like forever.”

Brandon let out a soft chuckle, thumb brushing slowly through her hair as he leaned closer.

“Seven months goes fast when I’ve got you to look forward to,” he said quietly, eyes holding hers. “And I’m not going anywhere in the meantime.”

The rest of the day blurred into noise and laughter.

Brandon reached for the game controller first, tilting it out of her reach. “You’re not winning today.”

She narrowed her eyes and leaned in, trying to grab it back. “You say that every time.”

He smirked, lifting it higher. “And I’m right every time.”

She lunged for it again, missing by a breath, then gave him a look. “That’s cheating.”

“Alpha advantage,” he said, far too calm.

She scoffed and grabbed a pillow instead, tapping his arm with it. “Put it down.”

He blocked it easily, still laughing under his breath. “Make me.”

That was all she needed. She climbed onto the couch, reaching over him, hair falling across his shoulder as she tried again.

“Moonheart,” he warned, but there was no real bite in it.

“Starlite,” she shot back, copying his tone.

The silence stretched for a heartbeat

Then he let the controller drop into her hands.

“Happy now?” he asked.

She settled back like she’d won a war. “Very.”

Later, music filled the chamber. She swayed first, a small step, then another, her stocking-clad feet gliding effortlessly across the floor. When she stopped in front of Brandon, she bent gracefully at the waist, every movement fluid and poised, carrying the quiet confidence of a dancer performing for an audience of one.

Brandon watched her for a moment before shaking his head. “You’re doing that thing again.”

“What thing?” she asked, turning slowly.

“That thing where you act like you don’t want to dance.” He pushed off the counter. “And then you do.”

She laughed when he reached for her hand, pulling her in. “You started this.”

“Did I?” His hand settled at her waist, steadying her as she spun once under his arm.

Emma bumped into his chest on purpose.

He caught her without thinking. “Careful.”

“Or what?” she tilted her head up at him.

His smile softened. “Or you’ll keep winning.”

Her laugh broke first, and she stayed there, fingers laced with his, moving to the music like they had nowhere else to be. They kept staring at each other until Brandon caught her and gently lowered her onto the bed.

He made a crazy love to her, different styles until they collapsed side by side, both breathless, like they had just run a marathon they didn’t even mean to sign up for.

The next day at noon, Brandon had planned to take her out on a date, but she was too exhausted to go.

“What do you want me to get for you?”

“A lot of things.”

He raised a brow. “Such as?”

She started counting on her fingers. “Sweet milk with cinnamon, roasted nuts, pickles, cheese-covered potatoes, smoked turkey legs, and sour berries.”

Brandon nodded. “Anything else?”

She leaned against his shoulder and slipped her hand into his. “Yeah.”

“What?”

“I want food you cooked.”

He looked down at her.

She gave him her best pleading look.

A laugh escaped him. He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Alright,” he said. “I got it.”

He leaned down, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and headed for the door.

“Starlit, be back on time,” she called without looking up from her device.

He lifted a hand in response and disappeared outside.

She settled deeper into the couch and kept scrolling through her device. The last mating picture Nira had posted had thirteen million views, ten million likes, and one hundred and eighty-four thousand comments. A smile tugged at her lips as she scrolled through the reactions.

She decided to read through a few comments from her top fans.

One read:

“Aww, I wish I were you. You look gorgeous in that gown.”

Another said:

“I heard you traveled to New York for your honeymoon. I can’t wait to see you pregnant.”

Then she spotted a third one.

“How many rounds do you guys go each day?”

“Wait… I heard Moon Prince Brandon found the love of his life beneath a willow tree. What were you doing there?” another follower wrote with a string of laughing emojis.

Emma slapped a hand over her mouth, but the laugh escaped anyway. Still smiling, she scrolled back up. One comment caught her eye and made her stop.

“I need a copy of your book. Where can I get it?”

Her brows lifted. She tapped the comment, then tagged Nira beneath it so she could reply. A few more similar comments followed, and Emma tagged those too.

The High Luna’s call came in, and she swiped up to answer. Her face filled the screen as her voice came through, calm at first, carrying the kind of warmth that softened without effort.

“My Queen Luna, how are you?” the High Luna asked.

“I’m fine, Mother.” Emma’s lips curved into a small grin, though it didn’t quite settle in her eyes.

“Where is my Prince?”

“He’s…”

The word broke before it could form.

Her thumb stalled above the screen.

The grin faded as if it had never been there.

“Emma?” the High Luna’s tone shifted, quieter now, edged with concern.

Emma didn’t answer.

When movement caught her eye, she fell silent, her gaze moving between the figure before her and the screen.

The figure stepped inside. Emma’s breath caught.

The figure did not speak. She did not hesitate. A gun hung in her hand, heavy and certain as she walked forward.

Emma lowered her gaze fully from the call, the High Luna’s voice still calling her name through the speaker, fading into something distant.

“Emma? Emma, what is happening?”

The figure kept coming.

Each step shortened the space between them, the barrel steady as it lifted.

Emma’s fingers tightened around the device, but she did not look back at the screen again.

The call continued in her hand, unanswered, as the world in front of her took over everything.

Then the screen went dark.