The 200-Year Bride Swap のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

(Rocco)I didn’t have an opportunity to talk to Alicia before dinner at the packhouse. There was just too much work that had piled up while I was away for the wedding and the council negotiations. When I knock on her bedroom door to give her the opportunity to rather have dinner here, she walks out wearing jeans and a shirt that leaves most of her back open for all to see. There’s a determined glint in her eye, and she has the axe in her hand.“Whoah! You don’t have to take that with you, you know,” I try to make light of the situation, but she doesn’t even smile.“Yes, I have to. Tonight, I have to,” she says and storms past me towards the door.Okay then. I follow somewhat wary of her mood and make a note to myself to be prepared for anything tonight.A deadly silence falls over the room as we enter and Alicia stalks to our table. I notice the reaction of my pack members as she passes – some stone-faced, some frowning, some surprised, but all of them wide-eyed when they spot the Elv

(Rocco)“Alpha, sir. We’ve been wondering how you intend to handle the situation with your Elven queen and Luna if you happen to find your mate before the ten years is up?”Elder Harrick’s question hangs in the air like a challenge, a direct hit meant to expose a weakness or uncertainty in my resolve. The pack falls silent, their eyes darting between the elder and me, waiting for my response. I can feel the weight of their scrutiny, the expectation that I’ll falter or hesitate, and give them some glimpse of vulnerability.But I don’t flinch. I let the silence stretch, let the tension build just enough to make everyone a little uncomfortable. It’s a trick I learned from my father, way back when, when he was still alive. Sometimes the best response isn’t a rush of words, but the calm, deliberate pause that unsettles your audience.When I finally speak, my voice is steady, carrying the weight of my authority and the unspoken promise of my commitment. “Finding a true mate is a rare and sa

(Alicia)I did see that question coming, but somehow, I don’t even care about telling him about it now. It’s the one thing I never speak about, that hardly anyone knows. But given that I’m married to this man and, for the sake of all supernatural kind hopefully stays married to him for the next ten years, I guess he needed to know.Taking a sip before I sink deeper into the couch and letting my head rest back so that I looked up to the ceiling rather than at him, I take that leap of faith and start talking.“Long story, but here goes. It was one early morning. My 15-year-old mother was out running, as she always did as part of her training, when she caught the unfortunate eye of my drunken father returning home after a night out with the boys. He bent her over a park bench and raped her. That’s how yours truly came to exist.“As luck would have it, my mother’s father came upon the mess just as dear old dad was finishing up – catching him the throes, so to speak. My grandfather decked h

(Alicia)Three times. Three failed peace treaties. Three Elven brides dead. I knew that part, but not exactly why. All three were killed by the Alpha’s fated mate the moment they were discovered. The reality of it sinks in, cold and suffocating. It’s not just politics; it’s not just suspicion and whispers. It’s a pattern, a curse almost, and I’m right in the middle of it.The elder’s question suddenly made perfect sense.I look up at Rocco, standing across from me in his office, his expression set in that unreadable way he’s mastered. My mind races, running through everything I’ve seen and heard since I stepped into this pack. The tense stares, the reluctance, the unspoken challenges simmering under every interaction. And now, this.“Rocco.” My voice sounds steadier than I feel, but I force myself to hold his gaze. “I need to ask you something.”He turns to me fully, his eyes narrowing slightly as if already sensing the storm brewing beneath my calm façade. “What’s on your mind?”I li

(Rocco)Back in the present, I watch Alicia closely, trying to read her expression as she stares at me. Her eyes are sharp, searching for answers, and I can feel the tension between us thickening, like a storm cloud ready to burst. My pulse quickens. This isn’t the conversation I wanted to have, not now, not like this, but there’s no avoiding it.“Alicia,” I start, trying to keep my voice steady, choosing my words carefully. “It’s not as simple as just telling you everything that’s in my head. What I said about the prophecy earlier... I shouldn’t have let it slip like that. But the truth is, prophecies are… they’re messy. They’re never straightforward, and more often than not, they cause more problems than they solve.”Her eyes narrow, and I can see the flicker of hurt mixed with curiosity. I hate that look. I never wanted her to feel like she’s on the outside, trying to piece together a puzzle with missing pieces. But damn it, this whole situation is like walking a razor’s edge, and