The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80: 080: What’s Your Game?

~ ROSELLE ~

Everything hurts. My body feels like it’s been run over by a truck, broken ribs screaming with every shallow breath, deep bruises throbbing across my torso and arms, and fresh cuts stinging where Mara’s nails had raked across my skin. Blood trickles from a split lip and a gash above my eyebrow, warm and sticky as it drips down my face. I’m on my knees in the dirt of the training ground, the world spinning slightly as the crowd’s murmurs wash over me like distant thunder.

I try to push myself up, but my arms shake violently and give out. A wave of dizziness hits me hard.

"Can you stand?" Ethan’s voice is surprisingly gentle, almost concerned, as he crouches beside me.

Before I can even nod, he scoops me off the ground like I weigh nothing, one arm under my knees and the other supporting my back. I’m too dazed and hurting to protest immediately. His body is warm against mine, solid in a way that feels both comforting and deeply wrong.

Nikolai is there in an instant, fury etched across his face. "Put her down," he demands, stepping forward with clenched fists. "I’ll take her."

Ethan doesn’t move at first, his grip on me tightening just slightly. "She’s hurt. I’m not going to drop her."

Nikolai’s eyes flash with barely contained rage. "She’s our Luna, and I’m capable of helping her out as the Beta. Hand her over. Now."

Inasmuch much as im.awaew about Ronan hatred for his cousin, it seems to me Nikolai inherited it too. I mean, Ethan js a jerk, a complete asshole, but i have no reason why he would help me.

I’m caught in the middle, too weak to do anything but lean my head against whoever is holding me. Finally, Ethan relents with a low chuckle and carefully transfers me into Nikolai’s arms.

"Fine. Take your precious Luna," Ethan says, that smug smirk returning.

Nikolai doesn’t respond. He just holds me close, his steps hurried and protective as he rushes me toward the healer’s wing. Each time he takes a turn, the movement spins and sends fresh pain shooting through my broken ribs, but I bite my lip to keep from crying out.

Elias is already waiting when we burst through the door. One look at me and his face darkens with fury.

"What in the Goddess’s name happened?" he demands, his voice rising as he gestures for Nikolai to lay me on the examination table.

Nikolai carefully lowers me onto the bed, and Elias is already moving before I’ve fully settled.

His hands work quickly and expertly, pressing gently along my ribs, cleaning the cuts on my skin, checking for signs of internal bleeding, and assessing every bruise with practiced precision.

His expression darkens with every new injury he discovers.

"Broken ribs. Deep bruises. Multiple lacerations." He shakes his head in disbelief. "You just finished healing from the last round of stress and injuries, and now this?"

He looks up at me, frustration and concern warring in his eyes. "Again?"

I wince as he probes a particularly tender spot.

"Mara challenged her to a spar, and Roselle accepted. By pack law..." Nikolai explains, his voice calm as though he’s trying to make Elias understand that the situation had been completely beyond his control.

Elias’s eyes flash with fury.

"I know the pack law," he snaps. "I also know that Mara is a skilled warrior, and putting a wolfless girl up against a fully powered werewolf is nothing short of a death sentence disguised as a fair fight."

His jaw clenches so tightly that a muscle ticks in his cheek, and I can almost see the anger radiating off him.

"I’m telling Ronan," he says through gritted teeth. "He needs to know."

"No!"

The word escapes me before I can stop it.

I quickly grab his wrist with my uninjured hand, panic rising so fast it steals the breath from my lungs.

"Please... don’t tell him. Not until he gets back," I plead, tightening my grip just enough to keep his attention on me. "He’s already dealing with the Council and the dispute. I don’t want him worrying about me or rushing back because of this."

I swallow hard, searching his face.

"Please, Elias."

He looks torn, eyes narrowing between me and Nikolai. Finally, he sighs heavily. "Fine."

I nod weakly, relief washing over me even as pain pulses through my body.

Outside, the pack is clearly divided.

Through the open window, I can hear the murmurs drifting in from the courtyard. Some voices argue in hushed tones, utterly horrified by the brutality of the spar, while others openly praise Mara’s dominance, insisting that a wolfless Luna was never going to work anyway.

The opposing opinions blending together into a confusing mess that makes my head throb even more.

The noise only makes my pounding headache worse.

When Elias finally finishes bandaging me and gives me something for the pain, I step out of the healing room on shaky legs, supported by Nikolai.

Ethan is waiting just outside.

He straightens as soon as he sees me, that strange, unreadable expression on his face.

"You did well." I search his face, expecting to find at least a hint of his usual taunting smile or mocking sneer, but neither is there.

"For someone without a wolf," he continues, "you held your own against someone like Mara."

I stare at him, still wary.

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