The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm

Chapter 85: 085: The Strange Woman

~ ROSELLE ~

I wake to the soft morning light, only to find the spot beside me empty.

The warmth he’d left behind has already faded, but the dull ache between my thighs is enough to remind me that, before I drifted off to sleep, Ronan had been wrapped around me. The memories of last night come crashing back, and heat rushes to my cheeks.

A small smile tugs at my lips.

It’s almost as though we’ve finally found our way back to each other, as though we’ve figured out what our life is meant to be. I love him so much for refusing to give up on us, for fighting to make this work.

At least Mara would get exactly what she deserved.

The thought fades almost as quickly as it comes, replaced by the curse... and then Ethan. His unsettling behavior, the way he always seems to be lurking in the shadows, sends a chill down my spine. I don’t know what he’s planning or what he’s waiting for, and that uncertainty gnaws at me.

But for now, none of that matters.

For now, I’m just grateful that Ronan and I have found our way back to each other.

Soft streams of sunlight spill through the gap in the curtains, the blinds mostly drawn shut, leaving only a narrow opening for the golden morning light to filter into the room. It isn’t harsh enough to blind me—just warm enough to make the room feel peaceful.

This is the kind of morning I’ve missed. The kind Ronan always gave me.

I slowly push myself upright, but the faint soreness between my thighs reminds me to take it easy instead of springing out of bed like I usually do.

I glance around the room. Where did Ronan go?

Walking to the dining room, breakfast is already set with a written note, fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, juice, coffee. A smile creeps up my cheeks as I blush at the thought of it and walk forward to grab the note.

I smile before I even open it.

Rose,

I had to attend to some urgent pack business this morning, but I didn’t want to wake you. You needed the rest after last night.

Eat breakfast. Celeste will attend to you. Elias might call for you at the medical wing.

I’m sorry I’m not there when you wake. But know that I’d rather be in bed with you than dealing with anything else right now.

—R

I smile to myself, clutching the note to my chest for a brief moment before carefully folding it and setting it aside. Then I make my way toward the bathroom, my steps slow and unsteady, my legs still heavy as I walk.

I really just had my first time, I think, and the realization sends another wave of warmth rushing to my cheeks. I can’t help but smile at my reflection, my heart fluttering as the memories of last night come flooding back.

Grabbing my toothbrush, I stare at my reflection in the mirror, biting my lip to keep from laughing.

My red hair is a complete mess, spilling around my face in wild tangles. My lips are slightly swollen from all the kissing, and a rosy flush still lingers across my cheeks. Faint marks dust the side of my neck—not quite bruises, but enough to leave little doubt that I’d been thoroughly claimed.

I really just had my first time, I think, and the realization sends another wave of warmth rushing to my cheeks. I can’t help but smile at my reflection, my heart fluttering as the memories of last night come flooding back.

Look at you, Roselle. First time officially checked off the list. I can’t help grinning as another blush creeps across my face.

After brushing my teeth, I brush my hair out, trying to make myself look somewhat presentable, then run a warm bath. The steam rises up, and I slip into the water carefully, letting the warmth soothe the ache between my thighs. It’s incredibly soothing, the warm water easing the soreness while somehow amplifying the memory of last night.

The last time I’d imagined a life like this, I was ten years old, daydreaming about my future with Warren. I’d pictured a home filled with laughter and children, waking up every morning to find him looking at me like I was the center of his universe.

I’d dreamed of a simple, quiet life built on love, trust, and family.

How naïve I’d been. Warren hadn’t been the prince I’d imagined. He’d turned out to be a monster, possessive, manipulative, and cruel.

But maybe... maybe this is better.

Ronan is nothing like the boy I dreamed of as a child. He’s darker, more complicated, and infinitely more dangerous. He’s exactly the kind of man Father would have warned me to stay far away from.

And yet...

When he looks at me, I don’t see control. I don’t see lies. I see a man who would burn the world down before he’d let anything happen to me, and that’s better than any childhood fantasy I could have dreamed of.

I get out of the bath and dry off carefully, moving to the walk-in closet. I choose something simple, a light dress that falls just below my knee, comfortable and easy to move in. It’s a soft material, pale blue, with long sleeves that will cover the marks on my neck.

Not that I’m ashamed of them. I just don’t need the entire pack knowing exactly what Ronan and I did last night.

Heading back to the dining room for breakfast, munching happily.

Celeste arrives just as I’m starting to eat, and she takes one look at my flushed face, my swollen lips, and my carefully covered neck, and she grins.

"Don’t say a word," I warn her, pointing my fork at her.

"I wasn’t going to say anything," she says, her dimples deepening as she tries to hide her smile. "I was just going to say... you look happy. Really, genuinely happy."

I feel my cheeks burn, but I’m smiling too.

"He left a note," I tell her, and just saying it makes me giddy like a teenager. "And he made sure breakfast was ready. And he was so... thoughtful about everything."

After having a hearty breakfast, Celeste hands me a concoction saying it’s going to help relieve the pain. I nod and drink the potion. It tastes better than it smells—sweet with a hint of something floral. We chat briefly as I finish eating, and then she delivers Elias’s message: "The lady is here and waiting at the medical wing."

By the time I reach the medical wing, I’m expecting to find Ronan waiting for me.

But he isn’t there. An odd knot of disappointment settles in my chest.

"Good morning, Roselle," Dr. Elias greets warmly.

I force a smile and exchange a few pleasantries before he gestures for me to follow him into his office.

The moment I step through the doorway, my feet stop moving. My breath catches. My eyes lock onto the woman seated across from Dr. Elias’s desk.

For a heartbeat, the world around me falls completely silent.

No...