RUBY"Are you not okay with this?" Sebastian said softly as he studied my face."Of course... I'm okay. Lizzy got what she deserved," I flashed a small smile. From the corner of my eye, I could see Cassie staring at us before she focused back on her phone.I wasn’t sure if I was truly okay with Lizzy leaving the school, considering her mother’s situation. I didn't know the specifics of her health condition, but from what I’d heard, she had been suffering for a long time.Maybe a different punishment would have been better than expulsion."She will serve as a lesson to anyone else who dares to treat you like shit. And if she tries anything after this, I'll do worse than what she got now," Sebastian cupped my face in his hands. His jaw clenched, and I could tell he wasn’t just punishing Lizzy for what she did to me, he had his own reasons for wanting her gone.But could Lizzy really hate Sebastian for no reason? He had told me to be careful around her but...Could it be that Sebastian
SEBASTIANMy blood was already boiling when I pulled into the driveway. The moment I saw Graham standing at the entrance with Ruby, I let out a low growl, my wolf stirring inside me.What was he fucking doing here?I was already fucking furious. The second Kiara called me earlier, telling me that my father had ordered Lizzy to stay in school, I knew something—or someone—had gotten to him. And when I arrived at the packhouse, I saw Doctor Sam just getting into his car.I didn’t know what the hell Doctor Sam had said, but whatever it was, it made my father refuse to hear a damn word from me.Not even my mother could sway him, and that pissed her off badly. I had never seen my father dismiss her like that before. It surprised me, making me wonder what kind of deal Doctor Sam had made with him.He hadn't even let me speak before shutting his office door in my face.I had stormed out of there in a rage. And now, coming home to find Doctor Sam’s son in my house?With Ruby?What was he fucki
ANNALISA "Why did you save her?" My voice was thick with anger as I stepped into the dimly lit room, the air heavy with the stench of alcohol and cigarette smoke.Even though my skin burned with rage, a cold sweat ran down my back the moment the door closed behind me.Warren sat on a stool, his back to me, lazily exhaling a cloud of smoke as he stared at his reflection in the grimy mirror. The wall beside it was covered in brutal red notes and pinned-up pictures of people, the knives securing them gleaming under the flickering light.A chill ran down my spine.I didn't coming here to meet Warren but after I tried calling him countless times and he ignored every call. I had no choice. My body boiled with anger at the memory of that damn video I watched earlier. The way Warren had jumped in to save Ruby from the pool. Warren didn't respond, but I heard the sound of his throat as he swallowed his drink, the glass settling onto the table with a dull thud.I growled, stepping forward, d
LIZZYThe moment my phone buzzed, I hesitated before walking to the bed and checking the message. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face the consequences of what I had done. But when I read the texts on my screen, a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped my lips."Alpha Maximus has ordered that you should stay in school. Thanks to Dr. Sam, you will not be expelled. But the school head wants to see you in his office tomorrow morning."I reread the message Mrs. Whitewoods had just sent to me again, my fingers gripping my phone tightly. I should have felt grateful that I wasn’t going back to my pack.That I wasn’t going to face my parents’ disappointment. Sure, two of them would look at me like another problem added to their already miserable lives.I wasn’t ready to see them, or hear whatever lecture my father had prepared about what it meant to be the daughter of an Alpha, the expectations I had failed to meet.Maybe a part of me was grateful for all that, but it was buried beneat
CHAPTER 1 RUBY I never imagined my heart could shatter into a million pieces until tonight. Watching my boyfriend cupped the face of his fated mate, staring deeply into her eyes, the ache in my chest became unbearable, as if every breath pulled me further apart. “I, Graham Scott, accept you, Lizzy Harris, as my mate.” Graham's words echoed in my mind, ripping through me like a storm. Everything slowed. The room, the people, the lights. It all faded as the truth settled in. Two years. Two years of love, trust, and promises gone in an instant. Every smile, every shared moment, now felt like a cruel joke. He had always told me I was enough, that nothing would ever come between us. A month ago, when I turned eighteen and didn’t feel the pull of a mate, Graham convinced me it didn’t matter. He said the bond didn’t define us, that we were destined to be together regardless. I believed him. I trusted him. I held onto his words like they were my lifeline, like they were the on
RUBY On Monday morning, I woke up with a pounding headache and a heavy heart. The memories of last night replayed in my head like a broken record. Graham’s voice, so loud and certain, announcing his fated bond with Lizzy. The look in his eyes when he saw me, like I no longer existed. The way everyone in that room pitied me, whispered behind my back. But most of all, I remembered Sebastian. His kiss, unexpected and confusing. His words that filled with a bitterness I hadn’t expected. I sighed and pushed myself out of bed, shuffling toward the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face didn’t erase the tired lines beneath my eyes or the ache that had settled deep in my chest. Last night had been overwhelming, to say the least, and even though I wanted to forget about it all, I couldn’t. Not when everything in my life was already falling apart. I thought of my mother, and the familiar pang of loss hit me like a punch to the gut. It had only been four months since she passed,
RUBY I hesitated for a moment, wondering why he cared enough to stop for me. Without a word, I climbed inside, the soft leather cold beneath me. We drove in silence for a few minutes, the tension in the car thick enough to choke on. Finally, he broke the silence. “You’re in trouble, aren’t you?” he asked, his voice low but direct. I glanced at him, unsure of how to respond. How did he know? Except, Cassie and Aiden, I hadn’t told anyone about the scholarship yet, and I definitely hadn’t planned on telling him. But somehow, he could see it. “Hmm.. yes,” I muttered, staring out the window. “Mind sharing?” he pressed. I sighed, realizing there was no point in lying. “My scholarship got canceled. I have until the end of the month to pay the tuition, or I’m out.” He didn’t say anything at first, but I could feel his eyes on me. When he finally spoke, his voice was unusually calm. “How much do you need?” “Five thousand,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “But it do
RUBYAs I closed up from work and walked down the street, my mind was spinning with everything that had happened. The cold night breeze nipped at my cheeks, but it wasn’t enough to distract me from the thoughts running rampant through my head. Sebastian’s offer kept replaying in my mind, over and over again. Pretend to be his mate? Could I really go through with something like that?I tried to focus on something else—anything else. The hum of cars passing by, the distant chatter of people in the shops I passed—but it was useless. No matter how hard I tried, Sebastian’s words clung to me like a shadow.I hadn’t even gotten far from the café when I saw Lizzy and Graham. They were stepping out of the big shopping store, Lizzy’s arm looped around his, her head tipped back in laughter as if everything in the world was perfect.My stomach twisted. Graham. He used to be the light in my dark world. When we were together, I thought he was my escape from all of this—the whispers, the cruel star
LIZZYThe moment my phone buzzed, I hesitated before walking to the bed and checking the message. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face the consequences of what I had done. But when I read the texts on my screen, a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding escaped my lips."Alpha Maximus has ordered that you should stay in school. Thanks to Dr. Sam, you will not be expelled. But the school head wants to see you in his office tomorrow morning."I reread the message Mrs. Whitewoods had just sent to me again, my fingers gripping my phone tightly. I should have felt grateful that I wasn’t going back to my pack.That I wasn’t going to face my parents’ disappointment. Sure, two of them would look at me like another problem added to their already miserable lives.I wasn’t ready to see them, or hear whatever lecture my father had prepared about what it meant to be the daughter of an Alpha, the expectations I had failed to meet.Maybe a part of me was grateful for all that, but it was buried beneat
ANNALISA "Why did you save her?" My voice was thick with anger as I stepped into the dimly lit room, the air heavy with the stench of alcohol and cigarette smoke.Even though my skin burned with rage, a cold sweat ran down my back the moment the door closed behind me.Warren sat on a stool, his back to me, lazily exhaling a cloud of smoke as he stared at his reflection in the grimy mirror. The wall beside it was covered in brutal red notes and pinned-up pictures of people, the knives securing them gleaming under the flickering light.A chill ran down my spine.I didn't coming here to meet Warren but after I tried calling him countless times and he ignored every call. I had no choice. My body boiled with anger at the memory of that damn video I watched earlier. The way Warren had jumped in to save Ruby from the pool. Warren didn't respond, but I heard the sound of his throat as he swallowed his drink, the glass settling onto the table with a dull thud.I growled, stepping forward, d
SEBASTIANMy blood was already boiling when I pulled into the driveway. The moment I saw Graham standing at the entrance with Ruby, I let out a low growl, my wolf stirring inside me.What was he fucking doing here?I was already fucking furious. The second Kiara called me earlier, telling me that my father had ordered Lizzy to stay in school, I knew something—or someone—had gotten to him. And when I arrived at the packhouse, I saw Doctor Sam just getting into his car.I didn’t know what the hell Doctor Sam had said, but whatever it was, it made my father refuse to hear a damn word from me.Not even my mother could sway him, and that pissed her off badly. I had never seen my father dismiss her like that before. It surprised me, making me wonder what kind of deal Doctor Sam had made with him.He hadn't even let me speak before shutting his office door in my face.I had stormed out of there in a rage. And now, coming home to find Doctor Sam’s son in my house?With Ruby?What was he fucki
RUBY"Are you not okay with this?" Sebastian said softly as he studied my face."Of course... I'm okay. Lizzy got what she deserved," I flashed a small smile. From the corner of my eye, I could see Cassie staring at us before she focused back on her phone.I wasn’t sure if I was truly okay with Lizzy leaving the school, considering her mother’s situation. I didn't know the specifics of her health condition, but from what I’d heard, she had been suffering for a long time.Maybe a different punishment would have been better than expulsion."She will serve as a lesson to anyone else who dares to treat you like shit. And if she tries anything after this, I'll do worse than what she got now," Sebastian cupped my face in his hands. His jaw clenched, and I could tell he wasn’t just punishing Lizzy for what she did to me, he had his own reasons for wanting her gone.But could Lizzy really hate Sebastian for no reason? He had told me to be careful around her but...Could it be that Sebastian
RUBY After soaking in the warm bath for a while, I finally stepped out, wrapping myself in a thick towel. The heat had eased the ache in my muscles, but my thoughts remained tangled. I dried myself off, walked into the bedroom, and picked up the cup of tea Noelle had left on the nightstand. It was still warm, and I took slow sips, letting the herbal scent soothe me. Dropping the cup down, I walked into the closet, and grabbed the thickest sweater I could find, along with some sweatpants. As I pulled them on, my mind drifted to Aiden and Cassie. They must have been worried sick about me. I wanted to call and tell them I was fine when I remembered my phone was inside my bag… which was still in my locker at school. I sighed, pulling the sweater over my head. As I tied my hair into a loose ponytail and stepped out of the closet, the door to my room swung open. “Ruby!” Cassie rushed in and hugged me tightly, nearly knocking the air out of my lungs. “I’m fine, Cass,” I said, patting h
RUBY "You okay?" Sebastian glanced over at me. It wasn’t the first time he had asked. In fact, I had lost count of how many times he had checked on me. I had a headache, but I forced a smile. "Yea." When his eyes diverted to Warren’s jacket beside me, his lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. Instead, he refocused on the road. I sighed. The warmth of the car’s heater eased the cold from my skin, but it did nothing to dull the pounding in my head. When I smelled another scent mixed with Sebastian's as he carried me out of the pool area, I knew instantly that it belonged to Warren. Even though it was faint, I could tell it irritated Sebastian. Sebastian had never given me cold glares before until today. That's why I didn't hesitate to shrug off warren's jacket. He was jealous. And I didn’t think it was just an act anymore. For a while, I had convinced myself that everything was part of the contract. That he was just playing his role, pretending to be pos
SEBASTIAN I tightened my grip around Ruby, my arms securing her close to my chest as I stepped out of the exit. The whispers of the students faded into the background, but my mind kept replaying that moment I walked in and saw fucking Warren crouched in front of her.That bastard had his hand in her hair, pulling it back from her face. Worse, he was looking from her eyes to her lips like he wanted her. Like he was tempted to do something he had no fucking right to. My wolf growled as anger boiled inside me. He had the fucking guts to touch what was mine and then smirk at me, opening his damn mouth to say, "It’s not like I kissed her. Though, she does have soft lips."Hearing that, I nearly lost it. My wolf snarled in my head, ready to rip him apart. Ruby may not have been my fated mate, but as long as the contract between us hadn’t expired, she was mine.How dare he?How dare he speak to me like that?How dare he talk about my Ruby like she was some casual prize he could toy with
RUBY I couldn’t breathe.The water swallowed me whole.The pool’s icy grip tightened around my body as I thrashed, my limbs burning with exhaustion. Panic clawed at my chest as I fought to surface, but I didn’t know how to swim. I couldn’t swim.My lungs screamed for air. My vision blurred. Was this how it would end?Sebastian...I reached for him through the mind-link, my silent plea laced with desperation."Ruby! What's happening? Where are you? Answer me!" His voice was sharp with fear, but I couldn’t respond. My body was growing weaker. The darkness at the edges of my vision stretched, consuming me.Then, just as I was slipping away, strong arms wrapped around me.A force yanked me upward, breaking through the suffocating depths. Cold air rushed against my skin as my body was hauled onto solid ground, laid on the cold tiles, but I barely noticed. My chest convulsed, and water spilled from my mouth as I coughed violently, my entire body trembling.My eyes were still closed but I w
RUBYIt had been three weeks since the night I told Sebastian about my past. Sometimes, the nightmares still came, but they didn’t choke me with the same kind of fear anymore.I didn't know if it was because of Sebastian, all I knew was that whenever he fell asleep beside me, I slept like a baby. But he didn’t always stay.Sometimes, when the dreams became too much, I mindlinked him to come over.Other times, I wouldn’t even have to call him. I’d wake from the terror only to find him beside me, wrapping himself around me as if he just knew I needed him.I always wished Sebastian could sleep in my room every night, but he wouldn’t.He told me he couldn’t trust himself to be in the same bed with me every night. And I believed him because I felt the same. I wasn’t sure I could be around him without something happening between us.There were moments when we caught ourselves making out, satisfying our desires with nothing but our hands, as if we couldn’t help it. And when reality hit, we’d