The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70: 070: Ethan’s Trap

~ ROSELLE ~

I’m trying to ignore the voice in my head that keeps screaming, You’re at fault. But I’m not. I’m fucking not.

I know it’s hard to believe, but I’ve already made up my mind. If they really spent the night together... if he really did sleep with Mara... then I’m leaving.

It’ll be hard. Goddess, I know it will be. The thought of walking away from him, from this pack, from the life we were building together, it feels like asking me to cut out my own heart and throw it away.

But I can’t see myself staying with him after discovering he’s Mara’s mate, only to find out he shared a bed with the woman who almost killed me. The woman who orchestrated my torture. The woman who’s been plotting against me since the moment I arrived.

I just can’t.

Last night, we’d agreed to sleep in separate rooms, and he’d accepted without argument. Part of me had been relieved. I needed the distance. I needed time to think without him clouding my judgment with his touch, his voice, his presence.

Now, I wasn’t sure any amount of distance would be enough.

So I decide to get out of the house entirely.

I need fresh air. I need to clear my head. I need to remember who I am outside of Ronan, outside of this pack, outside of the curse and the mates and the Moon Goddess’s cruel sense of humor.

I slip out through the back entrance and make my way toward the gardens.

The gardens are beautiful in the morning light.

Flowers bloom in every color imaginable, roses and peonies and lilies all arranged in careful patterns. The grass is soft under my feet, and all these bring memories, the memories of the last time I came here with Ronan.

I can almost see him here, walking beside me, pointing out different flowers and telling me their names.

Now, standing alone in this garden, surrounded by the physical embodiment of memories I’d rather forget, I feel tears pricking at my eyes.

I was such a fool to believe in fairytales.

You know that eerie feeling when your skin prickles and every hair on your body stands on end? Yeah, that’s exactly what hits me.

It’s almost as if someone is watching me from the shadows. My breath catches the moment I notice the faint reflection of a shadow shifting in the morning light.

I freeze where I stand, every muscle in my body locking into place.

The atmosphere suddenly turns tense, every instinct I possess screams that something is terribly wrong.

My entire body snaps into high alert. I spin, my heart hammering in my chest, ready to fight.

Standing there is Ethan, Ronan’s supposed cousin, his dark eyes locked on mine with an intensity that makes my skin crawl.

His lips curl into a slow predatory smile, as though he takes pleasure in watching fear settle beneath my skin.

The sight of him sends a chill racing down my spine.

"Are you stalking me?" I ask, unable to keep the suspicion out of my voice.

"You look pretty," he says instead, his deep voice screaming one word: danger. "I can see why my cousin is so obsessed with you."

"What do you want?" I ask, taking a cautious step backward as I struggle to keep my voice steady, even though my heart is pounding against my ribs.

Something about the way he’s looking at me sets every survival instinct I possess on edge.

Honestly, who stares at someone like they’re deciding the best way to devour them?

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