The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81: 081: Lies

~ RONAN ~

Spending two days without her is hell, but through the pendant connecting us, all I can feel is how close she is. May the Moon Goddess bless the Seer for coming up with that. It’s almost as if I can feel her heartbeat every second, and that’s enough to keep me somewhat relieved.

I’d already made my decision because it was getting frustrating listening to old men debate and argue all day. I had already started putting things in place and resolving issues, and by the next day, which happens to be today—I was going to leave.

However, I was expecting to hold Nikolai accountable for his words when he claimed he had everything under control... until I felt her heartbeat racing and pain throbbing through her.

Fucking hell. The moment I demanded answers from Nikolai, he replied almost immediately.

"Mara challenged Roselle to a spar, and she accepted."

The world went red. She what?

I immediately severed the connection because if I didn’t, I was going to lose it. I was going to let Kael take over. I was going to shift right there in the middle of the fucking Council chamber and run all the way home, leaving a trail of destruction in my wake.

I was trying not to fucking lose it and order Mara locked up until I had the full story, but that didn’t mean Kael wasn’t itching to rip Nikolai’s head off for failing, yet again, to protect her.

She’s been through enough trauma. Enough pain. Enough trouble these past few days... and I want nothing more than for it all to stop.

By evening, I was already preparing to set out, leaving everything in Derek’s care. He was one of the trusted pack members I’d brought with me when my phone buzzed with a text from Maxine, the hacker I’d hired.

"Alpha, I’ve been able to recover the footage. I’m sending it now..."

My pulse quickens. That footage is either going to make me... or break me.

But there’s no backing out now. I have to face this. If it turns out Mara and I really did have an affair, then I’ll have to let Roselle go. Maybe the only thing I’ll be allowed to do is watch over her from afar, with no one to blame but myself for the rest of my life.

But one thing is certain. I’m never going to marry Mara. My phone pings again, and there it is—the recovered footage.

I exhale slowly, leaning against the car as I stare at the screen. My thumb hovers over it for a second before I finally type:

Thank you. I hit ’Download,’ then press ’Play.’

The video begins to play. The recovered footage begins the moment Mara walks into the room. She tosses her robe onto the bed before attempting to make advances on me.

My teeth grind together so hard my jaw aches as I watch the scene unfold.

I watch myself exercise every ounce of restraint as she struggles to touch me, successfully pulling my boxers and trying to touch my dick while I shove her away. The moment her hand reaches for me again, my fingers wrap around her throat, as I force her out of the room before slamming the door in her face.

My heartbeat slowly returns to normal. It didn’t happen. It didn’t fucking happen. She’s a pathetic, lying bitch.

Relief crashes over me so hard I almost laugh.

This... this is the best news I could have ever received.

I hit the road, and by the time I get back to the pack, I’m informed that she’s at the library.

For someone who supposedly has an injured wrist, according to Nikolai, she should be resting.

When I reach the library, I’m not surprised to find Ethan with Roselle. What does surprise me is how close he’s standing to her.

It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to lose it and punch him square in the face. And it has nothing to do with trust. I trust Roselle—a fucking hundred percent.

It’s him I don’t trust.

"Hey, brother..." Ethan grins, his gaze sweeping over me before narrowing back to Roselle.

Even though he’s trying to hide his emotions behind that taunting smile, I can see right through him.

My cousin wants Roselle. Kael snarls at the very thought.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify