The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31: 031: Falling for Roselle

~ RONAN ~

It’s hard to ignore the kiss Roselle gave me in the early hours of the morning. I can’t stop thinking about it. It was the most intoxicating thing I’ve ever experienced, her soft mouth against mine, fuck she tastes so fucking divine.

It was brief, yet a poignant moment. But it’s been replaying in my head on loop for the past six hours, disrupting my focus on every piece of pack business that crosses my desk.

The taste of her is still on my tongue.

I left her in Dr. Elias’s care while I attended to the administrative work that accumulates when an Alpha takes time away from their duties. Celeste has been instructed to bring her meals, comfortable clothes, and anything she needs. I’m giving her time to recover, not just physically, but emotionally. The trauma of what happened in those woods needs space to process.

When she’s ready, I’ll get her to tell me who helped her escape. Whoever managed to conceal their scent well enough to get past my guards is connected to those rogues. The conspiracy doesn’t end with two dead men in the forest. There’s a connection leading back to whoever orchestrated it all, and I intend to find it and burn it to the ground.

But that can wait. First, I need to stop thinking about her mouth and try to fucking concentrate.

The door to my office opens without a knock.

A lady steps inside, and I’d be a fool to pretend I don’t recognize the game she’s playing. She’s dressed in a short skirt that leaves her thighs exposed—nothing out of the ordinary. It’s the usual tactic: dress up nicely, put on a tempting display, and try to entice the Alpha.

I don’t bother looking at her face. My eyes return to my systems immediately, my disgust barely contained.

"Good morning, Alpha," she greets, her voice pitched to be alluring.

I respond without looking up from my screen. "Good morning."

There’s a pause, as though she’s waiting for me to acknowledge her properly, to appreciate the display. I don’t.

She continues anyway, undeterred. "I’m here as a potential match for—"

"The bride selection," I say flatly, finally glancing at her. She’s pretty enough, I suppose. Fit. Clearly groomed for this purpose. But there’s nothing behind her eyes except calculation. "The Council sent you."

"Yes, Alpha." She moves closer, leaning against my desk. "I’ve been trained in everything a Luna could need. I can manage your household, coordinate with the pack, and handle political functions. I’m fluent in three languages. I’ve studied combat strategy. I can—"

I hold up a hand. She stops mid-sentence, her expression faltering slightly.

"What makes you happy?" I ask.

She blinks. "I’m sorry?"

"What makes you happy?" I repeat, leaning back in my chair. "Not what you think will make me happy, or what you’ve been trained to do. What genuinely brings you joy?"

She stares at me, clearly unprepared for this question. "I... I enjoy serving the pack. I enjoy—"

"That’s not what I asked." I keep my tone calm. "I asked what makes you happy. What do you love? What do you want out of your life that has nothing to do with being a Luna or impressing an Alpha?"

Her mouth opens, closes, and then opens again, which implies that she genuinely doesn’t have an answer.

"That’s the problem," I say. "You’ve spent so much time learning to be what someone else wants that you’ve forgotten to figure out what you want." I stand, moving around the desk to face her directly. "My advice? Go figure that out. Do the things that make you happy. Pursue them relentlessly, and don’t spend your life trying to fit into someone else’s mold."

She looks genuinely stung. "But the —"

"Isn’t your life," I say simply. "You are. Live it for you, not for them."

I move back to my chair and sit, returning my attention to my screen, the clear signal that the conversation is over.

She stands there for another moment, clearly hoping I’ll change my mind, that I’ll suddenly appreciate her outfit or her training or her availability. My gaze never leaves the screen.

Finally, she leaves, closing the door quietly behind her.

I returned to my work, but my concentration was shot. All I could think about was Roselle’s kiss—the way her hands trembled as she reached up to touch my face, and how she’d fucking kissed me out of the blue. It was just a kiss, yet it felt like the biggest orgasm I’d had all year.

The door opens again.

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