[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride":3,"chapter-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-725":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Alpha's Unwanted Bride",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1497113,1945,"Chapter 725: HEALER","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-725",725,"\u003Cp>The walk home was quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because I had suddenly become well behaved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother simply refused to speak to me after my encounter with Aston.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walked beside her carrying baskets of herbs while humming softly to myself, occasionally swinging our joined hands just to annoy her further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It worked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ruby.\" She sighed tiredly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ma?\" I asked innocently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You shouldn’t have embarrassed him that way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He embarrasses himself naturally. I simply help the process along.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother didn’t seem too pleased so I kept my mouth shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The path to our home curved away from the crowded marketplace and toward the quieter side of the village where fishermen, healers and craftsmen mostly lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Small homes lined the road with herbs hanging from windows and smoke curling from chimneys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The further we walked, the cooler the air became from the sea breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our little house sat near the edge of the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side of the roof needed repairing and one of the shutters refused to close properly during storms, but mother kept flowers blooming around it regardless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wild vines curled around the wooden fence while herbs dried beneath the porch roof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I loved it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother pushed the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before we could step inside, the front door burst open suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Penelope!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman stumbled out so quickly that mother’s teasing expression vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman looked terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side of her face was swollen badly and dark bruises wrapped around both wrists. Her lower lip had split open and dried blood stained the front of her dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My smile disappeared immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please,\" she whispered shakily. \"Please help me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother dropped the baskets from her arms at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh goddess,\" she breathed softly. \"Martha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman burst into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother hurried forward and caught her before she collapsed while I quickly pushed the door open wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Inside.\" Mother urged gently. \"Quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha stumbled into the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar scent of dried herbs, lavender and smoke wrapped around me instantly as I shut the door behind us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our home was small but comfortable. Herbs hung from the ceiling beams while shelves lined the walls completely, crowded with jars, roots and healing mixtures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother carefully guided Martha toward the chair near the fireplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened?\" I asked quietly even though deep down I already knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha lowered her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He was drinking again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anger twisted violently inside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That bastard.\" I hissed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ruby,\" Mother warned softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No mother.\" I snapped. \"Look at her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha flinched at my tone and immediately I felt guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knelt beside her chair carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry,\" I muttered more gently. \"I just hate men like him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha gave me a weak smile through swollen lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother moved around quickly gathering cloth, bowls and herbs while I remained crouched beside Martha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can you lift your chin for me?\" I asked softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She obeyed carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bruising along her throat was worse up close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother returned with warm water and began cleaning the cuts carefully while Martha hissed painfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He said I embarrassed him,\" she whispered shakily. \"Dinner wasn’t ready when he came home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my jaw so tightly it hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother remained quiet but I noticed the anger behind her eyes too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hated injustice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Always had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha winced sharply as mother dabbed her split lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry,\" Mother murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No it wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing about this was alright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without thinking, I reached forward and took Martha’s trembling hand into mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s going to heal,\" I whispered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth spread instantly through my palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling rushed through me quickly, strange and familiar all at once. Like sunlight pouring beneath my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha gasped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother’s head snapped upward instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bruises around Martha’s wrists were fading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deep purple marks lightened beneath my fingers while the swelling around her cheek visibly eased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha stared at her arm in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother moved immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s been practicing healing techniques with infused herbs,\" Mother interrupted quickly. \"It’s an old method.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha looked stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have never seen anything like this before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither had I.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not this strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warmth intensified suddenly and I quickly let go of her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My emerald necklace burned lightly against my chest beneath my dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother saw it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew she did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because for one brief second, fear crossed her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it disappeared instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother forced a calm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ruby has gifted hands,\" she explained smoothly while continuing to crush herbs into a bowl. \"Some healers are simply born more sensitive to treatments.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha touched her cheek shakily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The pain...\" she whispered. \"It’s almost gone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room suddenly felt too warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother quickly handed Martha a small cloth packet of herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Use these tonight,\" she instructed firmly. \"And stay with your sister for a few days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martha’s eyes filled with tears again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you,\" she whispered brokenly. \"Thank you both.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I helped her stand carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Martha suddenly hugged me tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have a good heart Ruby.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My chest tightened painfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After she finally left, silence settled inside the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother locked the door carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then she turned toward me slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already knew that look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The serious one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dangerous one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down at my hands uncertainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strange warmth had faded now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know how,\" I admitted honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother approached slowly and took my hands into hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You need to be more careful. Until we figure you out.\" She told me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know. I just.....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ruby. You did good. But we need to keep this undersheets for now. Okay?\" She asked me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way she said my name made me finally look at her properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked frightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before I could ask anything else, loud crashing came from the back room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father’s awake,\" I muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right on cue, heavy stumbling followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Penelope!\" he slurred loudly. \"Where’s the damned ale?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother closed her eyes briefly in exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warmth of moments ago vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hated when he drank this early.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother squeezed my hands gently before letting go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll talk later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just like that she walked toward the back room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remained standing there alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My fingers brushed against the emerald necklace resting against my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief second, I could have sworn it felt warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like it was alive.\u003C\u002Fp>",1077,"2026-06-06T04:22:27.141Z",1,"novelbin.me","15b5ab756b9f9f028ef116d46bd0c6481a66a1ab163da0fbf7f1a5630428904b","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-726","the-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-chapter-664",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-alpha-s-unwanted-bride-cover.jpg"]