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

Chapter 98: 098: Worst Person To Ask

~ RONAN ~

It’s been two days since Roselle’s heat finally subsided, and I’m still grateful she let me share those intense, sacred moments with her.

Waking up beside her every morning, buried deep inside her, soothing her through the fire... it strengthened our bond in ways I never thought possible. She’s mine in every sense of the word now. But reality waits for no one.

Resuming work has been fucking tedious.

My mother has been constantly on my neck, trying to convince me to free Mara and mark her as my mate instead. She either doesn’t understand—or refuses to accept—that my heart, my soul, and my wolf have already chosen Roselle. As if that weren’t enough, the council has been just as relentless, questioning my decision to marry her and throwing around concerns about "blood purity" and "pack stability" as though they have any right to dictate who I choose to claim.

Then there are the usual pack affairs: border disputes, resource allocations, training schedules. All of it feels heavier lately.

But my major concern, the one that keeps me up at night, is the Lycan situation.

Word has already spread through the pack like wildfire: a Lycan has been identified and is currently locked up in our territory. People are shaken. Fear and whispers ripple through every gathering. I’ve tightened border security and doubled the patrols, hoping it will make it much harder for outsiders to slip in unnoticed.

So far, there’s been no sign of other Lycans trying to breach our lands... but that doesn’t suppress the threat that has already taken root.

If there’s one wolf who turned Lycan inside our pack, then their Alpha is almost certainly lurking somewhere nearby, watching and waiting.

I still don’t know why this Lycan was here in the first place. What he wants. Whether he came alone or as a scout for something bigger.

I rub my temples, staring at the reports on my desk. Kael is restless inside me, pacing with protective fury. He wants to eliminate the threat immediately.

Nikolai and I have already started investigating what the Lycan said about the Alpha being someone close to me. We were going to get more information from him, but according to Nikolai, the Lycan had confessed that he doesn’t know the Alpha himself.

Which keeps me right at bay... and Roselle has been acting weird lately. Ever since her heat period, she’s been sort of detached. With Celeste keeping her company, I don’t know if it’s the best after-effect or whatever it is... but she has demanded to see Irina. I had contacted Elias to fetch Irina for her... because when I get back there’ll be some sort of good news or...

The door to my office swings open and Nikolai walks in without knocking, as usual.

"You’ve been lost in thought for the past ten minutes, staring at that same report like it’s going to bite you," he says, voice dripping with mockery. "What’s got the big bad Alpha so distracted? Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about that Lycan."

I lean back in my chair, rubbing my face. "It’s not just the Lycan."

Nikolai raises an eyebrow, dropping into the chair across from me. "Then what is it? You look like someone kicked your favorite puppy."

I hesitate for a second, then decide to just say it. "You’ve been with girls, right? Helped some through their heat periods."

He raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. "A gentleman never kisses and tells... but yeah. Why?"

"Have any of them acted kinda weird afterward?" I ask, running a hand through my hair. "Detached or distant?"

Nikolai steps further into the room and drops into the chair across from me. "Weird how?"

I wave him off. "Forget it. You’re a fucking manwhore with a rotating door of women and zero experience actually having a mate or a wife. What the hell would you know?"

Nikolai clutches his chest dramatically. "Ouch. Funny... but I have dated, you know. You should try me. I’m full of wisdom."

I sigh again, the weight on my shoulders feeling heavier. "I’m worried about Roselle. Ever since her heat ended, she’s been... off. Sort of detached. Quiet. She’s been asking to see Irina, and I had Elias fetch her. I don’t know if I hurt her during the heat. If I was too rough, too greedy... maybe I made it more about myself than her."

Nikolai leans forward, his playful expression fading into something more serious. "Did she complain about anything?"

"No," I admit. "She hasn’t said a word about it."

He pauses for a moment, then shrugs. "What if she’s pregnant? I’ve heard pregnancy hormones can mess women up early on."

For a brief second, the thought hits me hard, Roselle round with my pup, a little version of her or me running around the pack house. The image warms something deep in my chest. Then reality snaps back.

"It’s only been two days since her heat ended. That’s not possible."

Nikolai chuckles. "True. Maybe it’s just heat after-hormones or something."

"Is that even a real thing?" I ask, skeptical.

He grins. "Hell if I know. You’re asking the wrong person, man. I’m the worst person for relationship questions. I’ll probably die a bachelor."

I snort. "No shit."

Nikolai laughs but then grows serious again. "Honestly, Ronan? Just talk to her. Communicate. Ask her what’s on her mind. She’s going to be your wife. If something’s bothering her, she’ll tell you... especially if you make it safe for her to do so."

I nod slowly, staring at the reports again but not really seeing them.

"Women are complicated as fuck, but they usually appreciate honesty." he continues

I nod slowly, his words sinking in. He’s right. I need to talk to her. Whatever she’s hiding, whether it’s fear, doubt, or something else, I need to know.

"Thanks," I mutter.

Nikolai stands, clapping me on the shoulder. "Anytime, Alpha. Now go be a good husband before you drive yourself crazy."

After a long, exhausting day, I finally head back to our room, my mind made up. I’m going to bare my soul to her. I’ll ask how her day went, how she’s really feeling, and gently press until she tells me what’s been weighing on her since her heat ended. No more tiptoeing around the distance I’ve been sensing.

But the moment I push open the door, I stop dead in my tracks.

The sight before me makes my stomach twist.