Chapter 342: One More Promise

Brandon slowly reached into his jacket and pulled out a small velvet box.

Emma’s eyes widened as she stared at it.

"Starlit..."

He smiled softly. "Before you start guessing, this isn’t what you think."

She glanced at the box, then back at him. "Then what is it?"

Brandon remained on one knee beneath the willow tree, holding the small velvet box between his fingers as he looked up at her.

"I know we’ve already made our promises to each other."

Emma’s eyes filled with tears.

"We have."

"And I’m not trying to replace those vows." He opened the box, revealing a simple platinum band with a small diamond that caught the light filtering through the willow branches. "Those promises brought us here. We’ve lived through them, broken some of them, fought to keep others, and learned what they really mean."

Emma slowly lifted a hand to her mouth, her eyes fixed on the ring.

"The first time I promised to protect you, I thought protecting you meant making decisions for you. I thought I had to carry everything myself and keep you away from anything that could hurt you."

His thumb brushed lightly along the edge of the box.

"I know better now."

She lowered her hand, her eyes never leaving his.

"Loving you doesn’t mean deciding everything for you. It means standing beside you, even when the truth is difficult. It means trusting you enough to let you choose with me instead of choosing for you."

A tear slipped down Emma’s cheek.

"Your Majesty..."

Brandon rose to his feet and gently wiped the tear away with his thumb.

"I don’t want to promise you a perfect mate, Moonheart. We’ve already learned that perfection isn’t real."

She let out a small laugh through her tears.

"No, it isn’t."

"I want to promise you an honest one."

She looked into his eyes.

"One where we talk when we’re angry. Where we tell each other when we’re afraid. Where neither of us has to carry a burden alone because we’re too afraid of what the other person might think."

She reached for his hand.

"That is the kind of mate I want."

Brandon gently squeezed her fingers.

"Then let me promise you that again."

She smiled through her tears.

"All right."

They stood beneath the willow tree and renewed their vows quietly, without a crowd, without a ceremony, and without anyone else listening. It wasn’t about starting their matebond over. It was about acknowledging everything they had survived and choosing each other again with a better understanding of what their promises meant.

When they finally finished, Emma rested her forehead against his.

"We really did come a long way."

Brandon smiled.

"We did."

They lingered a little longer before finally deciding it was time to head home. Their Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 was waiting nearby, the driver already standing beside the vehicle, ready to take them home.

"Maxwell, once we get home, drive straight to the private parking area and don’t wait for us."

"All right, Your Majesty."

Brandon opened the door for Emma, and she climbed inside. He then walked around to the other side and got in beside her.

They left for home at around 6:30 p.m.

As soon as they settled down, Brandon leaned in and kissed her. Emma kissed him back without hesitation. The kiss quickly deepened, neither of them wanting to pull away. When they finally broke apart to catch their breath, they shared a brief smile before leaning in for another passionate kiss. Brandon quickly reclined the executive seat and adjusted the leg rest so she could relax comfortably. He lowered her on the seat and continued kissing and fondling her.

A few minutes later, Maxwell sent them a notification that they had arrived home. Only Brandon noticed. He then stepped out of the vehicle and closed the door behind him, leaving Brandon and Emma to enjoy some privacy inside the car.

"Do not leave me again. I might not survive it," Emma whimpered. "I want us to be together forever," she continued whimpering.

"I can’t...I..."

Brandon silenced her last word with a deep kiss. She returned it with sudden eagerness, wrapping her arms around him as the kiss grew more intense. She felt like being one with him, so she began to curl her legs with his. She pulled her lips away when she remembered they were three in the car.

"We’re already parked, and Maxwell has left. He sent us a notification about five minutes ago. Right now, it’s just you and me in this zone," Brandon said.

She drew her lips closer to his and went wild with it. It was quite intense, because they had never done it for a while, not while she was still in her moon cycle, but now that it was over, she was freenand they can’t wait. She stroked his hair fondly as she drowned in the ocean of his kiss.

He let out a low growl, gently nuzzling his face against her palm.

She leaned in close, kissing him and inhaling his scent, enjoying the sensation of his soft lips pressing against hers. He threaded his fingers in her hair, tightening his grip and making her gasp into his open mouth as his tongue lavished hers.

His hands slid down her body, caressing her gorgeous shirt as he lavished her neck with kisses. They really kissed each other like crazy.

When his hand slid up her thigh, she moaned with longing. She couldn’t wait, she wriggled out of her panties, and then straddled his lap.

"I love this seat," she whispered.

"It’s meant for you," he smiled, his intense stare thrilling her to core. She

felt as if he could see into her very soul, instantly reading the depth of her desire for him.

They resumed their lip-lock as Brandon took his hand up under her skirt again, finding the split of her body and using his thumb to circle her clit before flicking it gently.

Emma was on the edge, but she needed more.

"I want you now," she said in a heated whisper.

"I had wished to do this in a car with the love of my life one day."

"It seemed we’re on the same page," Brandon said as he already had his legs in between hers, slowly took her clothes off.

She sat slightly up and leaned on the chair’s armrest as she began to unbutton his shirt, while he continued simmering her lips affectionately. It was as though they hadn’t kissed for quite a while.

She loosened his belt and unzipped his tight denim. He mounted her and pushed his body up against hers. He took her as deep as he liked and saddled her slowly as they locked their lips and fondled each other. He rested for a while and continued saddling.

Brandon’s body tensed, a low growl vibrating in his chest as he held her close, as though pouring every unspoken emotion into that sacred closeness. She clung to him, her wolf trembling as wave after wave of warmth rushed through her. They remained locked together long after the peak had passed, unwilling to break the fragile stillness.

Twenty minutes later, they got out of the car and they jostled at the sight of Luna Alexandra.

"I was beginning to wonder if you two had decided to sleep in that car tonight."

"Mother, how did you know we were still here?" Brandon asked.

Alexandra smiled knowingly. "I’m your mother, and I’ve been in your shoes before. Besides, you’re home, and your chamber is waiting. Go ahead and finish what you started."

A mischievous smile tugged at her lips as she turned to Emma.

"My Queen Luna, that button isn’t done properly."

Emma glanced down at her shirt and quickly covered her mouth, but the laughter escaped anyway. Brandon laughed with her.

Alexandra shook her head, laughing as she turned and walked away, leaving them both standing beneath the private parking slot.

Brandon turned to Emma and helped button her shirt properly, then gently smoothed her hair back into place.

"Thank the Moon Goddess the pups weren’t the first to find us."

"Exactly..."

Brandon barely finished answering before a familiar voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Father?"

"Mother?"

They both turned.

Bryan stood several steps away, with Charlotte and Elyon beside him.

Emma quickly wiped her cheeks as memories of where they had begun came rushing back.

Charlotte looked between her parents. "Why are you crying?"

Emma laughed softly. "I’m not crying, I’m happy."

Bryan frowned. "You are."

Brandon chuckled. "She is."

Emma gave him a playful look. "You’re supposed to be helping me."

"I was only being honest."

Emma shook her head with a small laugh and quickly wiped another tear from the corner of her eye.

Elyon walked closer and looked up at her. "Are you crying because you’re happy?"

She carefully crouched down and opened her arms. Elyon immediately ran into them.

"Yes," she said, hugging him. "I’m crying because I’m happy."

Bryan glanced at the rings in their hands. "Did you two get mated again?"

She laughed, while Brandon looked at their three pups. "Not exactly."

Charlotte tilted her head. "Then what were you doing?"

Brandon exchanged a smile with Emma. "Making another promise."

Bryan looked at his parents for a moment before asking, "Do we get to hear it?"

Emma smiled. "Maybe when you’re older."

Elyon frowned. "I’m already older."

Charlotte laughed, and Bryan shook his head.

Brandon slipped an arm around Emma as their pups gathered around them beneath the parking slot.

For once, there was no throne, no council, and no kingdom waiting for them.

There was only their family.

And that was enough.