Brandon stared at the tiny object tucked inside the pendant.

It wasn’t a photograph or a folded note. Hidden inside the pendant was a tiny memory chip.

No bigger than his thumbnail, it rested neatly inside the hidden compartment, as though the pendant had been designed for one purpose alone—to keep it safe.

His fingers curled around the pendant as his thoughts raced. Nelson had carried it until his final breath, protecting it no matter the cost.

Brandon’s jaw tightened.

“What were you hiding, Nelson?” he murmured, his eyes never leaving the tiny chip.

Meanwhile, Elara pulled out her device and called Joel, Bernard’s older sibling.

The video call rang only once before it connected. A young he-wolf appeared on the screen, his hair slightly messy, as though he had rushed to answer.

“Hi, Joel,” Elara said with a warm smile.

Hearing his name, Bernard leaned into the camera’s view and gave his sibling a small wave.

Joel blinked twice, his eyes moving from Elara to Bernard as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. He slowly lifted his hand and waved back.

“Moon Princess Elara?” he asked, staring at the screen.

“Yes,” Elara replied with a grin.

Joel threw his head back and laughed. “No way! Moon Princess Elara!”

Elara laughed with him. “I told you. It’s really me.”

Still smiling, Joel looked at Bernard again as if he needed another look to believe it. “Wait… is that Bernard?”

Bernard nodded with a smile. “Yeah. It’s me.”

“I knew it!” Joel pointed at the screen. “I saw your pre-mating picture on social media. Congratulations, man!”

“Thanks, Joel,” Bernard said with a smile.

Joel rubbed the back of his neck and let out another laugh.

“I still can’t believe this. How did you even get my number?”

“Your mother gave it to us,” Elara replied.

The smile faded from Joel’s face. He rolled his eyes and pressed his lips together for a moment.

“So… she sent you two to talk me into coming back?” he asked.

“No,” Elara said. “The king wants to speak with you.”

Joel frowned.

“Why?”

“Joel, I’ll be honest with you.” Elara met his eyes. “The king wants to help your family reconcile…”

Joel cut Bernard off with a loud laugh.

“I guess Maelis forgot to tell you I’m the evil pup,” he said between laughs.

“Joel…” Bernard said.

Joel looked at Elara.

“Moon Princess, send me an invitation to your royal mating. I’ll definitely come. But if this is about making peace…” He shook his head. “Count me out. I’m not interested.”

“Did she really call you an evil pup?” Bernard asked.

Joel let out a bitter laugh.

“More times than I can count.” He leaned back in his chair. “Her mate died when I was four winters old. She blamed me for it.”

Bernard and Elara stayed quiet.

“My DNA test was falsified at birth. How was any of that my fault?” Joel spread his hands.”When my father found out, he accused her of cheating. They argued. He stormed out one moonfall, and…” He snapped his fingers. “He never came back.”

He looked straight at them.

“Tell me. Did I ask anyone to fake my DNA test?”

“No,” Elara said softly.

“My so-called mother left me with my grandmother and went looking for her favorite pup.” Joel gave a small shrug. “I wished her luck. I hoped she’d find him. I still hope she finds the happiness she’s been chasing.”

“She did find him,” Bernard said quietly. “She found me. But you’re still her pup too.”

Joel froze.

The smile slipped from his face as he stared at Bernard.

“Wow…” Joel let out a low whistle. “The resemblance is unbelievable.” A crooked smile tugged at his lips. “I guess she’s happy now.”

“She is,” Bernard said.

Joel lowered his eyes for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“So, what does the King want?”

“He wants all of us to reconcile,” Bernard replied.

Joel shook his head.

“We’re not the ones fighting. Maelis and the Crowe family are the ones who need to make peace.”

“Then we’ll be there to witness it,” Bernard said.

Joel chuckled. “Fair enough.”

“So, when’s the meeting?”

“Today at five,” Elara said. “I’ll call you as soon as it starts, and you can join us virtually.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Elara glanced at Bernard before looking back at Joel.

“You should come home. Your sibling could use your help.”

The two siblings held each other’s gaze for a moment.

“I’ll be there before the royal mating,” Joel said.

“Call me as soon as you land at the skyport,” Bernard said. “I’ll send my driver to pick you up.”

“I will.”

The call ended.

Bernard turned to Elara with a grin.

“So…” he said, leaning a little closer. “Where were we?”

She smiled, placed both hands on his chest, and gently pushed him back onto the bed.

“Here,” she said, pointing to the bed.

***********

By five o’clock, the moon was already climbing into the sky, its silver glow spreading across the estate.

Everyone had gathered in the executive garden, but the Crowe family had yet to arrive. Beside Elara, Maelis kept glancing toward the entrance, her fingers twisting together.

A few minutes later, a guard announced the Crowe family’s arrival.

Maelis’s shoulders stiffened. She lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together.

Elara looked up as Prescott Crowe walked in. Her gaze shifted to his mate, then to the young man beside them, whom she guessed was their family member.

They walked over and exchanged greetings.

“Hi, Moon Princess,” Isara Crowe said with a warm smile.

“Moonfall, Mrs. Crowe,” Elara replied.

“How have you been, Princess?”

“I’ve been well.”

Isara turned to Bernard and smiled. “Bernard.”

“Mrs. Crowe.” Bernard returned the smile with a polite nod.

“How are you?”

“I’m doing well.”

“Elara, please call the other pup,” the king said.

Elara placed the call. Joel answered almost immediately. His face filled the screen, and he greeted everyone except Maelis. He didn’t even glance her way.

The king looked around before speaking.

“I planned to settle this after the royal mating, but it couldn’t wait. I don’t want any drama at my Moon Princess’s royal mating.”

He turned to Prescott Crowe.

“Mr. Crowe, you’ve wanted to meet Bernard. He’s here. You may speak to him now.”

“No, he can’t!” Maelis stepped forward. “With all due respect, my High Alpha King, this man rejected me and my pups.”

“Count me out!” Joel’s voice rang through the device.

Elara lifted a hand toward the screen. Joel caught the gesture, pressed his lips together, and fell silent.

Maelis pointed at him. “You are my pup.” Then she turned back to Prescott. “You rejected us.”

“Maelis,” the king said evenly, “don’t refer to Mr. Crowe as ’this man.’ His name is Prescott Crowe. You may simply call him Mr. Crowe.”

Maelis lowered her eyes for a moment before looking back up.

“Thank you, my High Alpha King. Mr. Crowe rejected us, and I won’t let him anywhere near my pups.”

“They’re our pups too,” Isara Crowe said. “And they’re adults. Let them speak for themselves.”

Prescott reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

She took a steadying breath but kept her eyes on Maelis.

“What else were we supposed to do? We’ve apologized to you over and over again. You’re not the first mate to be rejected. It happens. But most people don’t spend winters filling their pups with hatred.”

“Maelis, I rejected the Queen of Greendor.” The king gestured toward Emma. “The woman who’s now our Queen Luna. I made things difficult for her, but she never gave up. She gave me countless reasons to accept her, and I’m grateful I did. Today, my family is together, and we’re happy.”

He looked from Maelis to Joel before continuing.

“People are different. Some forgive easily. Others need more time. But don’t carry your pups into your pain. Let them choose for themselves. That’s all I want for this family—a happy ending. We can have it if we’re willing to forgive.”

“You spoke well, my High Alpha King,” Joel said.

Every eye in the garden turned to the screen.

The king met his gaze. “I don’t know what Maelis did or said to you, and I don’t need to. I’m only asking you to forgive her.”

Joel was quiet for a moment.

“I will… if she forgives our grandparents.”

Maelis’s chin trembled.

“I… I’ve already forgiven them.”

Bernard let out a soft laugh. Elara looked at him, and a smile spread across her face. A moment later, they were both laughing quietly.

Brandon leaned close and whispered something in Emma’s ear. She laughed, and he joined in.

Isara Crowe turned to the king.

“My High Alpha King, thank you for everything you’ve done for our grandpup. When we saw the school he attended and the education he received, we realized how much you’ve done for him. You raised him as though he were your own blood pup. My mate and I will always be grateful.”

The king smiled.

“He is my pup.”

Bernard lowered his head and brushed away the tear that slipped down his cheek.

The meeting came to an end on a peaceful note. Not long afterward, everyone gathered around the dining table for the feast Maelis and Mr. Richard had prepared. As laughter drifted through the garden, Elara looked around the table and smiled. Things had turned out far better than she’d hoped.

Brandon picked up his fork and glanced at Emma.

“Let me feed you. You’ve been so picky with your meals lately. That’s not like my foodie queen.”

Emma laughed and shook her head.

“Oh, my High Alpha King, I’m afraid I can’t let you feed the Queen Luna of this kingdom like she’s a little pup.”

Laughter rippled around the table.

Mr. Crowe smiled at the two of them. “I like what I see. The two of you are going to lead this kingdom with love and grateful hearts.”

“It makes me happy every time I remember they’ll be the future leaders of this kingdom,” the king said.

High Luna Alexandra nodded. “Ever since they returned from their honeymoon, she’s made my work so much easier.”

Elara placed a hand over her chest and looked at Alexandra.

“Mother, haven’t I been helpful too?”

Alexandra laughed. “You’ll always be my Moon Princess, and you’re helpful in your own way.”

Brandon grinned at Elara. “Are you jealous of my Queen?”

The table erupted in laughter again.

When dinner was over, everyone set their cutlery on their plates. The soft clink of silver filled the air as napkins came up to wipe away the last traces of the meal.

“Shall we?” Mr. Crowe said, looking at Bernard and Elara.

“Yeah,” they answered at the same time.

Mr. Crowe led them toward the car, walking between them with a hand resting lightly on each of their shoulders. The three of them walked in comfortable silence.

Meanwhile, Emma and Isara were deep in conversation.

“I’ve read your book, and I absolutely loved it,” Isara said with a warm smile. “Most of my staff have been asking about it, and I’ll make sure every one of them gets a copy.”

Emma’s face brightened. “Wow, that’s very kind of you. Thank you so much.”

The two women shared a warm embrace before exchanging their final goodbyes.

Isara walked over to the car to meet her mate. She smiled warmly at Elara and Bernard before Mr. Crowe turned his attention to Elara.

“The day after tomorrow is your dowry presentation. Am I right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then come by the house tomorrow around noon. I have a special mating gift for both of you.”