RUBY The next day, I woke up late for school for the first time. As loud as my annoying alarm was, I didn’t even know when it rang and went off. After Sebastian dropped me off last night, I’d climbed into bed after a shower, hoping to drift off immediately but sleep wouldn’t come. Instead, everything that had happened at the packhouse kept playing in my head, scene after scene, refusing to let me rest. And the kiss with Sebastian… that was the worst part, looping through my mind like a glitching reel, something I couldn’t turn off no matter how hard I tried. I tossed and turned, even whispering a quick prayer to the goddess to let me sleep. Eventually, sleep must have crept in without me realizing it, because the next thing I knew, I was jerking awake, breathless and sweating. The image of Annalisa’s wolf with blazing eyes, seared through my mind. In the nightmare, she lunged at me, slashing her claws down my side when she saw me with Sebastian. I shuddered as the dream fl
RUBY"Lizzy is the Queen K leader. If I join, I’ll be under her. I doubt she’ll accept me easily, not after looking down on me for so long," I said, watching Cassie wave down a cab to take us back to the dorms.She paused, looking at me like I’d said something unbelievable."People in power rarely change, especially someone like Lizzy. She treats bullying Omegas like it’s her life’s mission.""Come on, Ruby, you’re in a higher position now," Cassie said, smirking."If Lizzy tries shit, just remind her of her place. She might be an Alpha’s daughter, but you’re the future Luna of this pack. This isn’t her father’s territory."I knew my new position meant no one would dare mess with me now. But this role was temporary, and I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention. I had to be careful with every move I made here, knowing Sebastian and I would part ways by this time next year."Getting back at Lizzy would make me just as cruel as her, and that’s the last thing I want," I said, tucking a
SEBASTIANRuby had done something strange to me. I thought I could keep my wolf under control, suppressing the cravings for sex to protect our fake bond.But since that intense moment with her last night that I smelled her arousal, my control began slippingMy wolf had gone wild, fierce and restless. I’d fought against the pull all day, trying to shake the sensations gnawing at me.But the moment I stepped into Lex Club with Robert, where one of our teammates was celebrating his birthday, the last thread of control snapped. The heavy scent of alcohol filled the air, laced with a faint, unmistakable smell of sex. That slight trace should’ve been easy to ignore, but it hit me hard, igniting something feral within me."I want to go," I whispered into Robert’s ear.He snapped his head up, confusion settling on his face under the glittering lights. "We just got here. What changed?" he asked, his voice barely cutting through the loud music.I wished I could tell him the truth, but I coul
RUBYI cried myself to sleep last night... After Sebastian left, I scolded my wolf for pushing him against the wall.She claimed she was trying to protect me because I seemed to be afraid of how he was touching me, and she said she didn’t mean to act so violently but...But what? Did I ask her for that? To act out of control, like I had that night, five years ago?The memory flooded back and a wave of guilt washed over me. Tears burned my eyes as I thought of how Mom had shielded me, burying my mistake that night to protect me. The guilt, mixed with the ache of losing her, felt raw with each memory. It was as if I could hear her voice, feel her arms around me, smoothing my hair and soothing me with her laughter. I hugged her photo frame to my chest, letting myself fall apart just a little longer.When I awoke the next day, my heart felt a little lighter, though my eyes were heavy as lead."I'm sorry, I no longer work there," I told a customer on the phone who wanted to order coffee
RUBY It took me a moment to realize why my heart had jolted. I glanced over at Aiden, and my mind flashed back to him leaning closer to my face just moments ago. Aiden was looking at me with a slight frown as he took another slow bite of his sandwich.My eyes dropped to his lips and my stomach fluttered with nerves. Immediately I looked away.Would he really have kissed me if Sebastian hadn’t called just then? And if I could remember this will be the second time Aiden was making attempt to kiss me. Why this sudden change from him?“Ruby?” Sebastian’s voice on the other end of the phone was loud and concerned.“Yea..." I said, unsure of what to say."I said to wait for me there. I’ll come pick you up.”"Okay,” I replied sharply.As Sebastian ended the call, I began gathering my things, slipping my notes into my bag. Part of me knew Sebastian wouldn’t mind seeing me with Aiden. After all, Aiden was just my friend. But knowing he’d almost kissed me left me feeling strangely unsettle
RUBYEvery fiber of my being screamed at me to turn around and avoid a confrontation I might regret, but something inside refused to let me back down. I wasn’t going to let anyone make me feel small anymore.The strap of my bag slipped down my shoulder, and I jerked it back into place, my eyes never leaving Annalisa. She was approaching with her arms crossed, her blonde hair styled into two sleek braids, and her short purple dress radiating luxury. Her icy eyes took me in with a look of disdain.Once again, my mind went back to the nightmare, and a shiver ran down my spine. But I quickly pushed it aside.It was just a dream. Annalisa may hate me now, but I didn’t believe she’d go as far as trying to kill me. It was just one year, I would leave Sebastian.I took a steadying breath, forcing myself to meet her frosty stare as my heart hammered in my chest."As far as I know, Omegas are only meant to be one of two things: pup carriers or playthings for wolves who don’t want anything ser
SEBASTIAN“Can you grant me access to your wolf?” I asked, staring into her striking blue eyes.Ruby flinched, her breath hitching as the uncomfortable look I was becoming too familiar with washed over her.I barely remembered I was driving when I furrowed my brows slightly, staring deeper into her eyes as though the answer lay within them. My wolf, unhelpful as ever, flashed a vivid image of Ruby in her thin nightwear from last night and a tingling sensation danced through me. Noticing a slight movement of her lips, I shifted my gaze from her eyes to her trembling lips as they parted slightly as though she was about to speak.But before a word escaped her, a loud crash jolted us both.The car lurched forward violently, and Ruby was thrown toward the dashboard.“Ruby!” I growled, one hand gripping the steering wheel while the other shot out to stop her from hitting her head.Quickly steadying the car, I pulled over to the side of the road, letting the idiot behind us pass. My heart
SEBASTIAN Ruby’s laughter was light, melodic, and completely out of place in the moment. Even though I was confused, I couldn’t deny the pull her laugh had on my heart. It was sweet, almost addictive, and so contagious that I felt the corners of my lips twitching. I wanted to laugh along with her, but bursting into laughter without knowing why would be ridiculous. I blinked, trying to piece together what had just happened as Ruby laughed uncontrollably, her hand nearly covering her mouth. Why was she laughing? Was it because I told her my wolf wanted to fvk her? No. Ruby couldn’t be laughing because of that... could she? I glanced at her in confusion, then quickly looked down at myself as I leaned back in my seat. My shirt? Clean. No weird stains. My jeans? Intact. What could possibly be so funny? I even checked my reflection in the rearview mirror. Nothing out of the ordinary. My confusion deepened as I turned back to look at her, my brow furrowing. My patience was
RUBY I wasn’t sure what terrified me more. The thought of an intruder or the raw intensity radiating from Sebastian. “Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice rough and commanding. His grip on my wrist tightened, as if he feared I might vanish. My heart thudded loudly as he shielded me with his broad frame. His growl low and menacing sent shivers down my spine. I could feel his Alpha aura swirling powerfully as though his wolf might surface any moment to slash at whoever it his wolf might surface at any moment. “Who’s there?” Sebastian growled. A muffled yelp broke the silence, followed by hesitant footsteps and a timid voice. “It’s me. I—I’m sorry, Alpha.” My jaw dropped as I peeked around Sebastian’s shoulder to see Noelle rushing out of the kitchen. Her face was pale, and her wide eyes darted nervously between us. She looked genuinely terrified, fumbling with a white earbud she yanked from her left ear with trembling hands. “I didn’t know you arrived! I was just coming out of
SEBASTIAN "Sebastian..." Annalisa began, but I cut her off immediately as a sliver of irritation rippled through me. "Why are you making this so hard?" I blew out a frustrated breath. I almost regretted having this fake bond with Ruby instead of Annalisa. But Ruby was the only one who knew my secret, which was why I had this arrangement with her in the first place. Why couldn’t Annalisa just move on? I thought we were done having this conversation. I thought we’d ended things between us. I didn’t miss the tears that glistened in her eyes before she lowered her head, staring at the ground. My heart sank. Fuck... I hated how much I’d hurt Annalisa. She had sacrificed so much to earn my heart, but she deserved someone who could love her back in the way she needed. And that someone wasn’t me. "I know I’ve hurt you, and I’m sorry," I said gently. Her scent of arousal filled the small space under the staircase, making my cock twitch even as I'd been trying hard to ignore it. She rais
ANNALISAI had always believed Sebastian was meant to be mine. From the moment I became aware of the word "mate'', I couldn't imagine the perfect mate to spend the rest of my life with other than him.As the Beta's daughter, I grew up alongside him. I was supposed to be on Beta training but because of the love I had for him, I switched. I was there for every Luna training session, every meeting that Sebastian had to go. As the future Alpha, he had to learn the ways of the pack, and I made sure I was right by his side, preparing to be his Luna.We trained together and shared countless moments that convinced me we were destined to be more than just friends. Everyone around us thought we would end up together as fated mates. And although my parents always warned to guard my heart around Sebastian, especially my father. He constantly told me I shouldn't get my hopes up until I turned eighteen and found out for sure if he was my mate. But I didn’t listen. How could I, when every fiber
RUBY“I asked a question,” Mrs. Whitewoods said again, adjusting her glasses slightly down the bridge of her nose, her short raven hair neatly pinned back. Her tone, though calm, carried authority. “What’s going on here?”The girls around me shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. Lizzy hesitated, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for a way to twist the story. Renee and Ginger exchanged nervous glances, but neither spoke up.My heart pounded in my chest as I debated speaking up, knowing Lizzy could twist the story. But before I could say anything, Mrs. Whitewoods’ voice cut through the silence.“Skylar,” she called.“What exactly happened here before I walked in?”Skylar hesitated, her eyes darting between me and Lizzy. “There was… an altercation. Lizzy insulted... the future Luna and tried to assert that she shouldn’t be part of the group.”Mrs. Whitewoods’ expression darkened as she turned to Lizzy. “is this true?”Lizzy stammered, “I-I didn’t mean—”“Don’t lie to
RUBYThe room buzzed with murmurs, tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Lizzy’s fiery gaze bore into mine, and for a brief moment, I felt like I was back in those days when she made my life unbearable. The memories surged forward, threatening to drown me, but I held my ground. I refused to let her see any weakness.She stormed into the room with her minions, Renee and Ginger, trailing behind her. Their smug smiles faltered the moment I met their eyes, and they quickly looked away.“Who gave this omega the audacity to join my group?” Lizzy snarled, her fists clenched as she stopped a few steps from me. Her sharp voice silenced the whispers. "Are you all deaf and dumb?!" Her sharp, cold gaze darting between me and the others.“She’s the future Luna of this—” Skylar began, only for Lizzy to cut her off.“Luna my foot!” Lizzy spat, her words laced with disdain. Gasps rippled through the room like a wave.Anger surged through me. I needed to put this girl in her place. Who did she
RUBY Monday morning came, and I was surprised to wake up just as my alarm would’ve rung even though it wasn’t here. I hadn’t brought it with me because it seemed old and cracked. As I got up and prepared for school, my mind wandered to everything that had happened between Sebastian and me over the past few days since the mating ball. Everything felt so fast, so strange. Sebastian's presence in my life had changed so much in just a few days. I couldn’t believe how little I thought about Graham now. Sure, it had hurt when he left me for his fated mate but now… I could barely feel it. I slipped into the gorgeous dress—one of many Sebastian had got me yesterday. The soft, luxurious material felt foreign against my skin, but it fit me perfectly, hugging my body in a way that made me feel… confident. It was strange to think about how it all happened. After our dinner, Sebastian had come into my room yesterday to grab some of his clothes to his quarters when he noticed how sparse my se
RUBYMy stomach knotted with uneasiness as I drew my brows together slightly.Had her mother recovered? Was that why she came back so soon?I scrolled through the group chat, reading the girls' messages to check if any of them mentioned it, but none did. Instead, the group was filled with happy emojis and flattering words.I sucked in a sharp breath. Something about this didn’t sit right with me. Or... did she come back because she’d heard I was now in the Queen K group?No. Lizzy wouldn’t abandon her mother, who was on the brink of death, just because of me... right?I shook my head, pushing the thought away, but the unease only grew stronger as another thought hit me.Like Sebastian said, I didn’t know what Lizzy was capable of doing.Was it possible she had something to do with Cassie’s phone being unreachable?I quickly checked my DMs, my heart racing with hope for a message from Cassie. Nothing. I tried her number, but the automated voice told me her phone was switched off.What
RUBYThe morning greeted me with a comforting heaviness. My body aching was a proof to how much fun I had yesterday. Memories of the outing filled my thoughts, and for once, they weren’t overshadowed by regret.Kiara had been a breath of fresh air, full of energy and excitement to have me as her brother's mate. She dragged us to places I had only seen on TV or through the windows of passing street buses: a quaint diner with milkshakes and the best pancakes I’d ever tasted, a lively carnival Mom once promised we’d visit together, and a serene park adorned with fairy lights.For the first time in years, I let myself enjoy the moment and allowed my wolf to communicate with me freely. I laughed without restraint, and my wolf felt giddy with excitement as she guided me to win games at the carnival. For once, I forgot the weight of my reality.Yesterday felt like a dream, I didn’t want to end.But now, as I shifted in bed, exhaustion clung to me like a second skin. I buried my face deeper i
SEBASTIAN Ruby’s laughter was light, melodic, and completely out of place in the moment. Even though I was confused, I couldn’t deny the pull her laugh had on my heart. It was sweet, almost addictive, and so contagious that I felt the corners of my lips twitching. I wanted to laugh along with her, but bursting into laughter without knowing why would be ridiculous. I blinked, trying to piece together what had just happened as Ruby laughed uncontrollably, her hand nearly covering her mouth. Why was she laughing? Was it because I told her my wolf wanted to fvk her? No. Ruby couldn’t be laughing because of that... could she? I glanced at her in confusion, then quickly looked down at myself as I leaned back in my seat. My shirt? Clean. No weird stains. My jeans? Intact. What could possibly be so funny? I even checked my reflection in the rearview mirror. Nothing out of the ordinary. My confusion deepened as I turned back to look at her, my brow furrowing. My patience was