Emma lifted her head from Brandon's chest, her bright eyes searching his face with restless curiosity. "Five reasons?" she asked softly. Brandon brushed several loose strands of hair away from Emma's face before guiding her head gently back to rest against his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath her ear like the calm rhythm of a powerful wolf.
"Yes," Brandon murmured, his deep voice low and heavy with memories that stirred like distant howls beneath a silver moon.
"Alright… number one," Emma whispered, her fingers lightly gripping the fabric of his singlet.
"I made you a promise that night in the Springfield Territory," Brandon said quietly. "When I heard you were engaged to Mr Francisco's son Evan, I believed I had failed the vow I once made beneath the silent moonlight. When I saw myself fulfilling that promise in such an ordinary way… My wolf's heart couldn't bear it. The emotions overwhelmed me."
Silence settled across the room like drifting mist over a moonlit forest. Emma's thoughts traveled back to that distant night when she had pleaded with Oliver whose second name is Brandon to claim her innocence. Emma had begged him desperately, fearing what fate might do to her if Oliver left the Springfield Territory. Oliver had refused firmly, saying Emma was too young and too precious. Emma had feared the ruthless world that might one day try to steal her purity, and Emma had wanted Oliver—the wolf who already owned her heart—to be her first. But Oliver had stood strong like a young wolf guarding sacred territory, refusing to cross the sacred line.
"Number two," Emma whispered after a long pause.
"I was striking you too hard," Brandon confessed quietly. "I tried to restrain myself, but the more I tried, the more feral my wolf instincts became. It felt like the beast within me had taken control. I couldn't stop."
Another long silence filled the chamber.
"Number three," Emma said softly.
"I wanted our first night to be a sacred memory," he continued. "A night worthy of a destined mate. I imagined candlelight glowing softly like fireflies beneath the moon, roses filling the room with their fragrance, and two souls bonding slowly like wolves recognizing their fated partner. But instead… I ruined everything."
Emma lifted her head slightly and whimpered softly. "We will have many romantic nights beneath the moon, Brandon. But what happened yesterday… it will never happen like that again. That's what makes it rare and unforgettable." Brandon pulled Emma closer, holding her tightly. Emma could feel his heartbeat drumming steadily beneath her cheek.
"Number four," Brandon continued quietly.
"It was not fully consensual. I allowed instinct to overpower reason. I disrespected you and took advantage of the moment."
"I…loved every—" Emma tried to say.
"My dear mate," Brandon interrupted gently, "what I did cannot be justified. Imagine a mate being tickled against her will. She may laugh whether she enjoys it or hates it. The laughter is only a natural reaction of the body. Just like a wolf responding instinctively to the full moon."
Emma rested against Brandon's chest again, her gaze drifting toward the beautiful painting standing beside the door. Emma admired the brushstrokes that captured her image like a memory preserved beneath moonlight.
"Number five," Emma whispered.
"I have been with a few she -wolves before," Brandon admitted slowly. "But every time I imagined it was you. I always pictured you beside me like the true mate my wolf had chosen. Being with you for real… it felt right in a way I cannot explain. The joy was beyond imagination."
"You left the chamber in a hurry," Emma murmured. "Were you unhappy?"
"I rushed out because I needed to call your healer immediately," Brandon replied. "I had been too rough, and I couldn't bear the thought of you suffering pain because of me."
"It was nothing compared to the happiness I felt," Emma whispered.
"You were engaged to Evan Ashford. What happened?" Brandon asked.
"My life has always been complicated," Emma explained. "I was afraid of doing anything that might make my life worse. I was apparently the result of an unwanted pregnancy, and I never wanted that history to repeat itself. I wasn't emotionally ready, so I couldn't allow Evan to cross that line."
"Did he pressure you?" Brandon asked.
"Of course," Emma replied. "He is a grown wolf. But he eventually accepted it. We rarely spoke about intimacy then."
"Alright," Brandon murmured.
"Do you think your father would accept me?" Emma asked again.
"My father already knows you're with me," Brandon replied calmly.
"I know that… but do you think he will truly accept me?"
"I'm doing everything possible to locate your parents," Brandon said.
Emma's face lit up immediately with hope.
Brandon brought the tray of food back and began feeding Emma slowly. Emma relaxed within the crook of Brandon's arm beneath his neck, enjoying the tenderness of the moment as Brandon carefully guided each spoonful toward Emma's lips. Emma occasionally looked up at Brandon, silently expressing how safe she felt within Brandon's arms.
Soon Emma returned the favor, feeding Brandon the same way Brandon had fed her. The morning passed peacefully as Emma and Brandon shared Brandon's favorite wine, rested within each other's embrace, and allowed soft music to drift through the room like a calm forest breeze.
Eventually Emma rolled out of bed and picked up the painting she had dropped earlier. Goosebumps spread across her body again. She couldn't believe ten years had already passed.
Brandon had been right—Emma had struck him five times before. The first time happened the day the photo was taken. One quiet Saturday morning Emma had been sitting beneath a willow tree in the general park reading her favorite novel when she heard the shutter click of a camera. She dropped the book and chased after Oliver. He had been overweight then and couldn't outrun Emma's long thin legs. When Emma caught him, she hit him hard. Surprisingly, Oliver never struck back. Emma eventually forgave him and allowed him to keep the picture.
The following Saturday he returned to the park carrying a beautiful painting created from that photograph. Emma had been thrilled by the gift, and he had been happy seeing Emma admire his work. From then on Emma watched him draw real-life sketches with his left hand every weekend. He practiced countless poses with Emma, and she loved being his model. Over time their hearts grew closer like two young wolves discovering their destined bond.
Oliver's innocent affection touched Emma's soul deeply. No matter how hard she tried to move forward with Evan Ashford, Emma's thoughts always wandered back to Oliver. She secretly wished he swould be the one to claim the place meant for her true mate.
"Every Saturday after finishing my chores," Emma whispered softly, "I walked to the park hoping to see you again. But you never came. I cried for days and lived inside my own shadow. It took almost two years before I accepted reality and moved on."
Tears slid down Emma's cheeks as she stared at the first painting Brandon had made of her. Brandon gently took the painting from Emma and placed it on his drawing board before lifting Emma carefully and lowering her onto the bed.
"What is it?" Brandon whispered beside Emma's ear.
"I never believed I would see you again," Emma murmured.
"It's alright," Brandon said softly.
"Do you still remember the love chamber?" Emma asked, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
"How could I forget the place where we discovered our first innocent love?" Brandon replied with a warm laugh, and both of them giggled softly.
"You have always been mysterious," Emma said. "Why were you sad when I said I was still in love with my lunvian mate who gave me the special Moonlit box?"
"Because you had no idea what was actually inside that moonlit box," Brandon replied quietly. "And it cost me a fortune."
"Oh my moon goddess!" Emma gasped.
"They took the real gift and gave you an empty box instead," Brandon revealed.
"What was inside the moonlit box?" Emma asked quickly.
"You don't need it anymore," Brandon replied.
"I want to know."
"It was partly our fault," Brandon sighed.
"How was it our fault?" Emma asked.
"The day Alpha Daniel caught me inside your chamber, your little she-wolf defended you and claimed I was her mate," Brandon explained. "You couldn't tell Alpha Daniel the truth either. So when my gift arrived… they gave it to your little she-wolf."
"Oh… no… they knew it was meant for me," Emma protested quickly. "They would never have given you the empty box if they believed it belonged to your little she-wolf."
"Well," Brandon said quietly, "like I said… You don't need it anymore."
"Fine," Emma said, her curiosity burning stronger than ever. "What was inside the box?"