Chapter 423
Four hundred and twenty-five
Emma POV
I walked from my bed to the window and back.
I couldn’t just sit in my bedroom anymore. Ever since Charlie’s call last night, I couldn’t seem to take a full breath. Alexander was locked up, facing a reopened treason case that could end in his execution. He hadn’t ignored my calls. He physically couldn’t answer.
I stopped at the window, watching the gray sky darken. I had to see him. But getting into a high-security holding facility required authorization, or an access pass validated by a pack Alpha.
If I went to Charlie, he’d either refuse or demand to come with me.
And if I went to Wesley? The thought was laughable. In Wesley’s eyes, Alexander was a dangerous rogue who had compromised his cousin. If I asked Wesley for permission to enter a prison to visit the man who fathered my child, he’d report me to my parents and Uncle Cameron. So that was out of the question, and I couldn’t forge a release order. That was treason, a crime that would drag Alexander into ruin if it were discovered.
A clearance for a consultation was all I needed.
A knock at the door broke my thoughts, followed by the click of the lock. Anita stepped into the room, a travel bag slung over her shoulder.
Now that I’d finally broken the news to my parents, the panic had eased enough for her to leave. I’d begged her to go ahead with her trip to Haley’s pack and not postpone her own life for my crisis.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay, Em?” Anita asked, setting her bag down by the door.
“I’m sure,” I said, forcing a smile as I walked over and wrapped her in a hug. “You’ve done more than enough. Telling my parents means the worst of the shock is over p>
Anita looked at me and sighed. “All right. I’ll return as soon as I can. Be good p>
“I promise,” I said.
After Anita left, I sat alone in the quiet apartment.
Tonight was Harrison and Iris’s engagement dinner.
Under normal circumstances, I might’ve sent my regrets, given the mess my personal life had become, but tonight, that dinner was my only lifeline.
Isabella would be there. Her upcoming Luna coronation had tightened her schedule. Getting a private moment with her at the pack house was almost impossible without drawing suspicion, but at Harrison’s dinner, I could reach her.
The dinner wasn’t for another three hours, so I forced myself to slow down. I couldn’t look like a woman on the edge of a breakdown.
I took a long shower, letting the hot water loosen my stiff neck. I dried my hair, curled it so it fell over my shoulders, then did my makeup and slipped into an emerald-green dress that draped over my waist.
I paused in front of the full-length mirror and stared at my still flat stomach. Beneath the dress, I carried a child whose existence had already changed my life.
The private dining room at the glass-walled restaurant glowed with fairy lights. Voices and the clink of glasses
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filled the room.
ugged Harrison as soon as I walked through the doors. Iris stood beside him, her hand tucked into his arm.
“Emma! I’m so glad you made it,” Harrison said. “I know things have been crazy with the coronation prep, so it means a lot that you came p>
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, Harrison.” I smiled. “Congratulations, both of you. You deserve all the happiness in the world p>
For the next half hour, I smiled for photos, laughed at old stories, and caught up with friends from work. I had always been close with them, and tonight was no different.
A waiter passed with a tray of crystal flutes filled with spiced elderberry punch. I reached for one, then caught the smell.
Dark orchard wine.
Alcohol.
I set the glass on the table. My fingers shook against the stem.
I had reached for it without thinking. I wouldn’t be able to do that anymore.
“Emma p>
A voice spoke behind me.
I turned. Isabella stood there in a cream-colored jumpsuit, her hair pinned back with jeweled clips. She was alone, and she was exactly the person I’d been waiting for.
I got up and hugged her. She smiled.
“I saw you standing over here alone. How are you holding up p>
She picked up two glasses of sparkling mineral water from a passing tray and handed one to me. I took it.
“Let’s sit down,” she said, nodding toward a leather booth in the corner of the patio, away from the music and laughter.
We slid into the booth. The evening breeze brushed my arms as we talked about the dinner and the upcoming coronation. I kept waiting for her to mention what had happened at her house two nights ago.
Isabella set her glass down and looked at me.
“Emma… I haven’t stopped thinking about what happened the other night. I know everything feels overwhelming right now, but I don’t want you to be terrified about what’s coming p>
I looked down at the condensation on my glass. “It’s hard not to be terrified, Isabella p>
Isabella reached across the table and covered my hand with hers. “When I was pregnant with Maverick, I was lost and terrified. I had no idea how I was going to raise a child without a clear path forward. I felt like the whole world was closing in on me p>
She squeezed my hand. “But you aren’t alone, Emma. You have us. You don’t have to figure out the child’s entire future right now, just take it one day at a time p>
I let her talk.
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She thought I was afraid of what people would say about carrying a rogue’s child. If only that were my only problem.
“I appreciate that. Truly. But my problem right now isn’t just about the baby p>
“What do you mean p>
“I need to see the rogue Lord. He’s locked up in Zachary’s pack p>
Her face morphed into a confused frown.
“What are you talking about? Alexander is a detained rogue facing serious pack charges p>
“I know.” I clenched my hands in my lap. “He’s facing a reopened council trial for his father’s death. I can’t sit here and pretend he doesn’t exist while he’s facing execution p>
“Emma, you can’t go down there. Wesley would lose his mind if he knew you were even thinking about this. He sees Alexander as a threat to you and the pack p>
“That’s why Wesley can’t know.” I leaned closer. “And if I ask Charlie, he’ll try to stop me or use it against him. I’m not trying to break him out. I need an access pass with the Alpha’s official seal p>
Isabella shook her head and pulled her hand away. “You’re asking me to use Wesley’s official seal behind his back? Emma, that’s deceit. Wesley is my husband. He doesn’t tolerate manipulation, especially when it involves rogues p>
“Please, Isabella.” Tears pricked my eyes. “You have access to the stationery and the pre-stamped consultation forms for legal reviews. Wesley signs dozens of documents every day. I just need an access form validated with his administrative seal so the guards will let me through the gate for fifteen minutes p>
Isabella stared at me and sighed.
“Emma, you can’t keep doing this. If you need something from Wesley, why not ask p>
I held her hand.
“Remember how lost you felt with your bond with Wesley and couldn’t tell anyone yet p>
Her gaze narrowed on me. “Come on, Emma. You can’t compare that with what you’re doing now. First it was money, and now this? Why are you risking your standing with Wesley, your safety, just to help this man p>
“I promise I’ll tell you everything, but you have to help me.” My voice broke, and a tear slipped down my cheek. “I can’t let them condemn him without seeing him once p>
The laughter from the engagement party drifted over the wall. Isabella sighed and rubbed her temples.
“If Wesley ever finds out I had a hand in facilitating an unauthorized prison visit, he’ll be furious with both of us p>
“He won’t find out if the seal passes a verification at the gate. I’ve been to an alpha’s prison before. The wardens won’t double-check with the Alpha’s office for a fifteen-minute visitor clearance if it bears the official crest p>
Isabella remained silent for a long moment, then leaned back against the booth.
“Fine,” she mumbled.
“Thank you, Isabella p>
“I’m not finished.” She held up a finger. “I will not forge his signature. I will route a clearance through the coronation paperwork stack so it receives the Alpha seal from his desk. But if you think I’m going to let a pregnant
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woman walk into a prison housing dangerous rogues without protection, you’re out of your mind p>
Anot pulled tight in my stomach. “Isabella, I can’t take our guards. They’ll report straight back to Wesley before I even get there p>
“I know,” she said. “Which is why you aren’t taking Wesley’s guards p>
She turned toward the dining room. I followed her gaze. Harrison stood near the cake table, laughing as Iris fed him a strawberry, one arm wrapped around her waist.
“Harrison?” I turned sharply toward Isabella. “No. Absolutely not, Isabella. I’m not dragging Harrison into my mess p>
“You need a male to go with you, and more importantly, you’re his boss and he’s fiercely loyal to me as a friend He won’t run to Wesley to report you, but at least I’ll be relieved you’re not alone p>
“Isabella, please p>
“That is my condition, Emma. You take Harrison with you as your personal escort, or count me out p>
I groaned loudly.
She wasn’t going to budge.
“Okay then. I’ll ask Harrison p>
“Good p>
Isabella stood and smoothed down her jumpsuit. “I’ll have it delivered to you by tomorrow p>
She squeezed my shoulder, then headed back toward the engagement party.
P
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.