The Alpha's Silent Bride: Seventh Time's The Charm novel Chapter 125

Chapter 125: 125: Hidden scent

~ THIRD POV ~

The beast prowls the darkness, it’s heavy step echoes through the underground chamber as oozes from its massive frame. Its only instinct is simple—to destroy anything that dares enter its territory and eliminate the threat before it.

A low, menacing snarl rumbles deep within its chest as its crimson eyes lock onto the fragile human standing before it. The creature lunges without warning, crossing the distance in a blur of black fur and claws so ruinous.

Mara doesn’t even have time to scream again.

One enormous hand closes around her body, lifting her effortlessly into the air as though she weighs nothing more than a rag doll. In the beast’s grasp, she is insignificant... tiny enough to be crushed with the slightest squeeze.

Its lips curl back, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs glistening under the dim torchlight. A guttural growl vibrates through the chamber as it slowly raises her toward its jaws, every instinct urging it to tear its prey apart.

Then... suddenly, It stops. His nostrils flare, as he sniffs once. Twice.

Its savage expression changes ever so slightly as it inhales again, for the third time.

That scent. It’s strikingly familiar, as though it reaches beyond his beast form and stirs something buried deep within him.

The beast inhales deeply, its nostrils flaring as it greedily takes in the fragrance clinging to the human before it, and surprisingly, its once murderous rage disappears.

A low rumble vibrates through its massive chest as something unfamiliar stirs within it, replacing bloodlust with a strange sense of longing it cannot understand.

The scent carries nothing but good memories. They are sweet, comforting, and achingly familiar, yet every time the beast reaches for them, they slip through its mind like grains of sand.

It doesn’t remember where it knows the scent from, nor does it remember the face connected to it, but every instinct inside it recognizes it as something precious.

Its glowing crimson eyes soften ever so slightly as it lowers its massive head, taking another slow inhale as though afraid the scent might disappear if it breathes too quickly.

The beast closes its eyes for the briefest moment, allowing the familiar fragrance to wash over him, soothing the raging heat that had consumed his body only moments ago.

The warmth spreading through its chest is foreign to the beast, but it holds fast to it anyway because it is the only thing that has brought it peace since the curse swallowed the man it used to be.

A restless growl escapes its throat as it instinctively pulls the human a little closer, It doesn’t know why it craves the scent so desperately, and it doesn’t understand why the fragrance makes the unbearable ache inside its chest ease ever so slightly.

The beast cannot remember the woman who owns that scent, but somewhere deep within the darkness consuming its mind, it knows with absolute certainty that losing it would hurt more than any wound ever could.

Outside the sealed chamber, Ravenna watches everything unfold through the narrow iron viewing slit, her heart pounding against her ribs with every passing second.

She doesn’t even notice the tear that slips down her cheek as relief crashes over her in powerful waves. For the first time since Ronan succumbed to the curse, hope finally feels within reach.

A shaky breath escapes her lips as she turns toward the seer, her eyes glistening with gratitude.

"Thank you," she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you... I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you."

The seer remains silent, her weathered eyes fixed on the scene unfolding inside the chamber.

Ravenna looks back through the viewing slit, unable to tear her gaze away from her son. Just days ago, she had foolishly attempted to enter the chamber herself, only for the beast to charge at her with the clear intention of tearing her apart.

She remembers the murderous rage in his crimson eyes as though it happened only moments ago. There hadn’t been a single trace of recognition... not even for his own mother.

But now...

Now the beast stands completely still.

Instead of ripping Mara apart, it merely stares at her, breathing in the scent clinging to her clothes with an almost unsettling fascination.

A relieved sob escapes Ravenna before she can stop it.

"He recognizes her," she whispers, smiling through her tears. "He recognizes his mate."

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