The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5: 005: Not Permitted to Talk

~ RONAN ~

She’s seated at the edge of the bed when I walk in, her back straight, hands folded in her lap like she’s been coached to sit that way. Nikolai is across the room, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, and the look he gives me when I enter says she’s fine and has been like that.

I cross to her.

"We’re leaving in five," I say softly, my eyes meeting hers. She looks away, and I reach for her hand to help her up.

She winces from my hold, withdraws her hand from mine, and tries to hide it just as fast, but I’ve already caught it.

Kael growls inwardly at me. The smell of fresh blood hits us instantly.

I reach for the edge of the gown’s sleeve, slowly, giving her every chance to pull back, and push it up gently.

I don’t let go of her hand. I turn it over slowly, and I frown instantly at the sight I’m met with. The material of the gown she’s wearing is pressed into her wrist, peeling off an old wound that’s freshly reopened.

"Look," Kael observes quietly. I already am.

Fury burns through me, and damn it, breaking Warren’s bones wasn’t just enough for this. I should have fucking ended him...

"Breathe," Kael says.

I’m trying. I’m fucking trying to... what’s that fucking damn stupid exercise again? Inhale. Exhale... How can someone be this evil? All because she’s mute? So, what?

I look up at her face. She’s staring at me with those soft hazel eyes, completely still, waiting to be told what to do with my reaction. Is this what they’ve turned her into now?

"What happened to you?" I ask, trying as much as I can to keep my voice as calm as I can without letting it growl out.

She holds my gaze for a moment. Then her free hand lifts, fingers moving. She’s signing. Thankfully, as an Alpha, I was made to understand certain languages, including signing.

"I’m not permitted to talk."

I stare at her. Hell fucking yeah, they threatened her.

"I’m sorry?"

She signs it again, slower. Patient with me, even now.

"I’m not permitted to talk. To sign, either. But it’s nothing."

Not permitted. Eighteen years old, in her own pack, her own home, and someone told her she was not permitted to use her own hands to speak.

"I’m going to go back and finish Warren," Kael says.

Get in line. "I know, but we have to be rational about it... We’re in his pack, and ending him would mean war with other packs, but we’re definitely not fucking letting this slide."

"It’s not nothing?" Repeating her answer with a frown on my face, she blinks. "And from this moment, when you’re speaking to me, you talk freely. Sign freely. However you need to communicate to me, Is that fine?"

She stares at me like I’ve said something in a foreign language. Her long lashes beat together, but she nods anyway, her face pulling back into her once sober self. Was I too harsh? Did I...

I move to the box Nikolai had brought in from the car, I never travel without a spare set, old habit, and pull out a loose-fitting top. It’s soft, and nothing that’s going to press against damaged skin.

"Here." I hold it out. "It’ll be more comfortable than..."

Her hands come up immediately, waving it off and then signing politely.

"I’m fine, thank you. I don’t need it."

How much more have they damaged her? There’s going to be a whole lot of healing to do.

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