The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48: 048: Oops, Caught In The Shower

~ RONAN ~

I’ve barely arrived at the pack house when Mom’s voice booms through my mind link.

"Please don’t tell me you did something impulsive again. I just found out you’ve been gone from the pack for hours, and I’m scared you did something. I can’t afford to lose you, Ronan."

Nikolai pulls the car into the garage, killing the engine before turning back. The drive home has been awfully quiet, and from the constant looks Roselle has been flashing me, I know she has questions... or something. But maybe she’s too terrified to ask.

Does she think I killed him? I would’ve fucking killed him and crowned another Alpha for Westbrook... but I’d given her my word, and I have to uphold it.

I hold out my hands to her, now free of blood, nudging her to take them. Her hazel eyes meet mine, and I bring her hand to my lips, pressing a soft kiss against her knuckles before gently pulling her into my arms and kissing her forehead.

I know she’s still shaken from having to return to the place that gave her nightmares, and I know Elias is going to chop my head off if anything happens to her... but this needed to be done. She needs to see that Warren no longer has any power over her. She needs to know that she’s safe now.

I walk around to the other side of the car and open the door for her, helping her out.

"I know you can hear me, Ronan. I need answers..." Mom’s voice echoes through our mind link.

Honestly, I’m too exhausted to have this conversation. My body aches from the physical exertion of torturing Warren. Kael is satisfied but exhausted. All I want right now is to take Roselle upstairs, help her freshen up, maybe have dinner with her, and tuck her into bed. I want to hold her while she sleeps. I want to make sure she knows that I’m still here, that I’m still hers, that nothing has changed between us. I don’t want any more drama.

"We can have that discussion another time, Mom. I need to rest."

"Oh, hell no. These past few days, I can feel my heart racing more and more, and Elias keeps telling me I need to stop worrying if I want my blood pressure under control. But you’re not helping, Ronan. You’re not. Remember, we have someone standing by, waiting to take over this pack if you falter. I..."

Oh, here we go again.

At first, I have zero intention of saying anything to her, but now... I have to make it sink in. She needs to stop worrying. As much as I don’t want her health issues getting any worse, she has to understand that I’m no longer five years old.

"Mom, I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong. I’m good," I say, leading Roselle into the room.

"You’re not. I can’t stop thinking ever since that girl wrapped you around her finger. All you’ve been making are bad decisions. I don’t know what you’ve done this time, but whatever it is, it can’t be good. You need to find a new bride..."

The way she says it makes it sound so simple. As if I’ll magically find a new bride, the curse will break, and everything will fall back into place.

If only it were that easy.

"That’s not how it works, and we both know that. Maybe we’ll have this discussion another time. But you need to learn to accept Roselle. She’s actually a sweet girl, and I know you’re going to like her."

I say, finally cutting off the mind link before she has the chance to say anything else.

I guide Roselle to the living room and settle onto the couch, pulling her down beside me. She collapses against my chest with a small sigh, her body heavy with exhaustion and emotional trauma. I wrap my arms around her, one hand stroking her hair gently, the other resting on her lower back.

"Are you fine?" I ask softly, my lips pressing against the top of her head. "Are you okay?"

She nods against my chest, her body relaxing incrementally at my touch. For a long moment, we stay like that without saying a word as I listen to the steady rhythm of my heartbeat and the sound of her breathing gradually evening out as she begins to relax.

But eventually, her hands come up, and she begins to sign, her movements careful and deliberate.

’You took time there, she signs, her hazel eyes searching mine. What were you discussing? With Warren?’

Okay, I’m grateful she’s finally opening up to me, even though I know she wants me to reassure her that I didn’t kill Warren.

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