Chapter 68 CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT | RACHEL'S WRATH

Chapter 68 CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT | RACHEL'S WRATH

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT | RACHEL'S WRATH

RONAN

“What is he saying?” Rachel asked again, her voice sharp and confused. I turned back and looked at her, my chest tight, my thoughts scattered.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered, the words falling uselessly between us.

Rachel hit my chest hard, the sound loud in the quiet space. “Tell me the truth,” she yelled. “Stop hiding from me.”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.

“Is this because of what happened before?” she asked, her voice trembling now. “Is this because you don’t trust me anymore?”

Brian shifted awkwardly, then cleared his throat. “I’ll give you two some space,” he said, already stepping away. His footsteps faded, leaving only the sound of our breathing.

The silence pressed down on me. My knees gave out, and I fell to the floor, the weight of everything finally breaking me.

“Forgive me,” I said quietly. “Please, Rachel.”

She hit me again, harder this time. “Why?” she demanded. “Why would you do this to me?”

I stayed quiet, my head lowered.

“Why would you fall in love with Aspen?” she screamed.

The name rang in my ears. I felt it everywhere, in my chest, in my throat, in the memories I never meant to have. I thought of all the years I spent trying to make this work, swallowing my pride, taking blame that wasn’t mine, apologizing even when I didn’t understand what I’d done wrong. I thought of how small I had become beside her, how careful I was with every word, every breath.

Rachel lifted her hand again, anger blazing in her eyes. I caught her wrist before it could land and pushed myself to my feet.

“Look at me,” I yelled, my voice cracking. “Just look and see.”

She froze.

“This ended years ago,” I continued. “We just refused to admit it.”

“I’m done being humiliated,” I said. “Done being framed for things you couldn’t face. Done carrying your guilt like it was my own.”

Her eyes widened, but I didn’t stop.

“I want to be free,” I said, my voice steadier now. “Free from your control. Free from the way you twist everything until I disappear.”

Rachel stood there, stunned, like she had never heard me speak this way before. For once, she had no sharp reply, no weaponized words ready.

Her shoulders dropped, and her voice softened, almost breaking.

“Then tell me one thing,” she said quietly.

She looked straight at me and asked, “Is she your mate?”

I went quiet for a while, the kind of silence that buzzed in my ears and made my wolf restless beneath my skin.

“No,” I finally said, though the word tasted strange in my mouth. My wolf snarled at the lie, at the tension in the air, at the woman standing too close.

Rachel stepped forward anyway, her boots scraping softly against the floor. “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice low, cold enough to crawl under my ribs.

I smiled, slow and deliberate. “Why are you asking?” I said, watching her eyes narrow.

She studied my face like she was searching for a crack. “It’s impossible,” she replied. “You can’t have a mate. Not after what we did. We killed mine.”

A laugh burst out of me, sharp and bitter. “We?” I repeated. “Don’t rewrite history now.” I shook my head. “I didn’t kill your mate with you. You did that alone. Your obsession did. I stood there, yes, but I didn’t raise the blade. And you didn’t do it for me.”

Her eyes burned. “How dare you say that.”

I shrugged, the motion easy even though my chest hurt. “How dare you avoid the truth,” I said. “For once in your life, take responsibility.”

She looked like she might explode, but I turned my back on her before she could say another word.

I walked toward the room where Aspen lay, my steps heavy with urgency. The healer blocked my path, shaking her head. “She can’t leave yet,” she warned.

“I’m taking her now,” I said. There was no room for argument. I lifted Aspen gently, feeling how light she was in my arms, how fragile. I pulled a face cap over her hair, shielding her from the cold and from eyes that didn’t deserve her. I adjusted her weight against me and walked out.

Brian was waiting in the corridor. We stared at each other, a thousand unsaid things passing between us. “I’ll meet you at the hut tonight,” I said quietly.

He nodded and made way for me.

I moved through the tunnel we came from, every shadow familiar now. I avoided the guards, keeping my senses sharp and my wolf alert.

When I passed the place where we had fought earlier, I slowed down a bit. The ground was spotless, like nothing violent had ever touched it. It unsettled me more than blood would have.

At the dormitory gate, I paused and woke Aspen softly. I used the key I stole earlier to get the door opened and sneaked inside.

I returned the key to the guard’s pocket without waking him.

In the room, I laid Aspen on the bed carefully, smoothing the sheets as if that might anchor her here, safe. I sat beside her, breathing only when I was sure she was still breathing too.

I stayed there longer than I should have, listening to the quiet environment that surrounded us, promising myself that whatever storms came next would break on me first.

Rachel finding out about this is dangerous, I thought, my chest tightening as the weight of it settled in.

I don’t trust her—not with secrets, not with lives. If she learns what Aspen truly is to me, she won’t hesitate to use it. She never does.

The question clawed at me, sharp and relentless… How do I keep Aspen safe from someone who knows all my weaknesses?

I brushed my thumb over Aspen’s hand, grounding myself.

I have to keep her safe, away from the claws of Rachel. She's probably hiding a knife behind her back right now.