Three

Ruby

The third time I woke up I felt like myself. I felt rested, but I was still in a room that wasn’t my own. I laid there unmoving, but my sleepy eyes were on the black ceiling. The rest of the room was shrouded in darkness, only illuminated by one lamp that was standing by the door. I waited patiently until I felt truly awake before untangling my hand from the sheet to wipe at the corners of my eyes.

I replayed the events that had led me to be in a bed that wasn’t my own and fisted my hands. How many days have even passed I wondered?

I wasn’t dead, so that was something, but how long would that last? What had happened in that alleyway hadn’t been a dream. Xavier had transformed before my eyes and killed three men. Natalie had then created some kind of world inside my head and had then magically put me to sleep. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply before exhaling and then repeating the act once more. I could easily imagine that everything that had happened was impossible, but I would be foolish to do that when I had seen it all with my own eyes. Maybe what had happened with Xavier was a

dream.

I rolled onto my side and my heart skipped a beat as I looked into Xavier’s eyes. He was sitting in a chair at the far end of the room with one leg crossed over the other. I could only tell it was him when he leaned forward into the light. He was wearing a white T-shirt and washed-out jeans, and even in the light his face was unreadable as he stared back at me.

He placed his elbows on his knees before interlocking his fingers before him. All I could see as I looked at him was the creature I had seen the previous night, but I was surprised at myself for not feeling fear.

I should be screaming and banging on the door. I should be doing something other than staring at him.

“How are you feeling?”

I sat up and looked down at the white nightgown I was wearing. "You didn't change my clothes, did you?"

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I assure you there is nothing flat on my body except for my stomach.”

He combed his hand through his hair, and I watched as the silky strands jumped back into place. “How are you feeling?” he repeated.

“As good as anyone who’s been abducted.”

He reclined in the chair and his face was once again hidden. “Abducted?”

I sighed. I wasn’t in the mood to play around with Xavier. I was already calmer than I should be. If he was going to kill me, he would have already, right?

“What happened?”

“You already know. You saw something you shouldn’t have.”

Well, that confirmed that I wasn't dreaming, and I wished it wasn't so because now I had questions. A lot. “I don’t remember what I saw.”

Maybe if I pretended I hadn’t seen anything he’d let me go. I had a bad feeling about where this conversation was going, and considering that I knew he could rip me to shreds, I shouldn’t say anything to upset him. I shouldn’t even be thinking certain thoughts. What if he was reading my mind?

He got to his feet and walked over to the bed, his hands buried in his pockets, and my body went stiff. But what really got me was when he stepped into the light and his eyes were as black as they had been that night.

I swallowed hard and threw the covers off me. I stood and looked up at him, into his obsidian eyes, and slapped him across the face.

“You knocked me out.”

He reached up and touched his cheek, his head turned to the side. The side of his mouth twitched, and my eyes widened, shocked at what I had just done, but I stood my ground, my legs shaking. If I was going to die, I’d rather die bravely anyway.

“That’s what you’re worried about?” His head turned back to me. “When you know I could have done so much worse?”

“Are you going to kill me?”

He stepped closer and my heart started to hammer in my chest. He looked me up and down, as if he was sizing me up, and I clenched my fists so much my nails began to dig into my flesh. Was he checking if he could swallow me whole?

I crossed my arms over my chest and, to my surprise, a smirk found its way onto his lips. It was small, but it was there.

“You’re hiding your fear very well, but I can smell it.” I lifted my hand again to slap the smug prick and he caught my wrist. “Hit me again, Ruby, and I will hurt you.”

“Where am I? I want to go home, Xavier. I don’t care what you are, I’ll keep my mouth shut, just let me go home.”

He threw my hand down and I stepped back as I held onto my wrist. He hadn’t squeezed me, but he probably could have a muscle spasm and accidentally shatter the bone in my arm. I had slapped a werewolf. Me, Ruby Saunders.

The black in his eyes disappeared and he crossed his arms over his chest, causing his shirt to stretch taut over his bulging biceps. I turned away, my eyes scanning the room. "Just let me go."

“I can’t do that, and you know it.”

I spun on my heels, my temper getting the better of me. "I don't know shit! I don't know shit! I don't even know what you are! What I know is that three men died and I got knocked out, and now I'm here. And what the hell did you and Natalie do to me? You know what? I don’t want to know. I want to forget all of this, and that means you, her, and this entire mess. Now let me go!”

“Any human who learns about werewolves has to die.”

My heart stopped beating. I hated how calmly he had just said that.

Did I even hear him correctly? I couldn't have.

“What?” I raised a shaky finger to his face as I forced all the bravado I had to the surface. “You’ve got to be kidding. You’re joking right? How does that make sense, Xavier? That was something you were aware of? And now you’re saying something like that so casually, as if you weren’t the one who chose to reveal yourself to me?”

We stood in silence for a moment, my angry eyes piercing into his. I watched his face shift from relaxed to furious within seconds. When he took a step toward me, I stepped back, tripped, and fell onto the bed.

“You humans are all the same.” His mouth was barely opening as he spoke, but his voice was projecting throughout the room. He was pissed, livid, and my fear pinned me to the bed as he leaned over me. “You humans are all ungrateful. You’re ungrateful. I saved you from being raped and murdered, but yes, that was my mistake.”

He stood up and stormed from the room and my body jerked as he slammed the door. I swallowed despite how dry my mouth was as tears began to roll down my cheeks. I wasn’t ungrateful. He had saved me from a horrible attack. But now I was going to be killed by werewolves?

Xavier

Never before have I hated my exceptional hearing until now.

No, that wasn’t true. Every day of my life, having to live alongside humans has been a headache. They are loud, messy, and my only place of peace has been my home. Until now.

I rested my elbow on the marble island and pinched the bridge of my nose as Ruby continued to pound on her door on the fourth floor.

Is she going to get tired at any point? She’s been at it for an hour.

My hand slid to my cheek as I sat there, still shocked that she had slapped me. She’s brave, I’ll give her that. Or maybe she isn’t as smart as she looks. What human slaps a werewolf knowing that werewolf could rip them to shreds?

Images from the night I had killed those men flashed within my mind and my face morphed into a deep scowl. I took a deep breath, which was what I should have done that night instead of losing my cool. It was too late now anyway, what was done was done, and now there were consequences to accept.

I didn’t feel bad for those men; they got what they deserved. If their victim hadn't been Ruby, it would have been someone else who wouldn't have had someone like me to protect them.

I shook my head. I hadn't actually saved Ruby at all. Because of me, she jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. By law, werewolf law, she would now have to die. Humans can never be trusted with the truth that the monsters from their Hollywood movies are real. Even though those movies are so inaccurate.

History has proven time and time again that humans can’t handle knowing that they are almost at the bottom of the food chain.

“Xavier, fix your face. You look like shit.”

I looked over at Natalie as she walked into the kitchen and made a beeline for the fridge.

“She’s giving me a headache. She won’t stop screaming.”

She threw a bottle of water across the room and I caught it easily as she took a seat at the island. “What do you expect? She just needs time to process things.”

“How do you process being told you’re going to be killed? Or that werewolves are real?"

She puckered her mouth, looking thoughtful for a moment before shrugging. “You may have a point.” She then pointed at me. “She’s handling things much better than I expected, though. If I was in her position, I’d die from a heart attack. I think the entire house heard that slap.” She chuckled, then sipped her water as I narrowed my eyes. “She’s got balls, I’ll give her that.”

“She’s not brave, she’s stupid.”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “Oh please. Just like how you should have

walked away and not gotten involved the other night?”

“You know I couldn’t.” I said through clenched teeth. Her brows furrowed for a moment, and I looked away from the emotions in her eyes. I didn’t need her pity for the shit I’ve landed myself, and ultimately the pack, in with this situation.

Ruby was a problem, a loud fucking problem. It's been years since a human was condemned to death because they've learned of our secret. My father isn't going to be pleased that his son, a pureblood and alpha-to-be for our pack, lost his cool and now would have to kill a smart-mouthed human girl who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

My mind took me back to Ruby's room when she had slapped me and pulled a face. What I should have done was rip her arm off. That’s what any other werewolf would have done. I was the son of the alpha and here I was, being slapped around by a human as if I was a little pup.

Why didn’t I just walk away? I’m a Blackwood. I should have fought my urges and kept moving because a smart wolf would have seen past his anger and known that once she saw the truth she'd have to die anyway.

But her screams had been deafening, her fear so thick that the scent was overpowering.

A loud crash echoed through the house and I winced as I clenched my fists. She was going to draw more attention to herself. Only a handful of people knew about her presence on the pack grounds, and it needed to remain that way, for now anyway.

I combed my hair back, my ear twitching now that she finally had stopped screaming for help. "You know this is a delicate situation, Natalie." Her eyes grew serious and I crossed my arms on the island as I leaned forward, "No one can know what’s really going on here, what’s really going on with…”

“Thank Jesus, she finally stopped screaming.” I swallowed my words as Anna walked into the kitchen, her brown hair up in its usual high ponytail. "Someone needs to kill that human bitch already. Why is she here and not in one of the cells? I knew she looked like trouble from the day I saw her at that diner.”

My fist came down hard on the counter as I growled. Anna gasped and drew back, her eyes wide with shock. I pinned her with a stare that had her scurrying out of the kitchen, and it only annoyed me further when Natalie started laughing.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen you get upset at Anna. She’s like an itch under your feet when you’re wearing sneakers. She seriously needs to get over her obsession with you."

“Natalie, be nice.”

She snorted. “Oh, like you just were? I still don’t know how you managed to date her for a year.”

Natalie and I looked to the door as my father walked in. Just like that, the headache that had finally eased returned with a vengeance.

“Natalie, what did you find out?”

“Alpha Mathieu, you’re back. Um, I’m sorry but I did not learn much. She saw through the illusion I created in her mind. I wasn’t able to get anything from her, but I can tell you she’s not a threat.” Natalie bit down on her lip. “There’s some kind of block in her mind. It’s like a wall, but a strong one. I couldn’t get through. The more I pushed the more painful it was for me.”

Mathieu Blackwood, alpha to the Blackmoon Pack and my father, had a look on his face that I didn’t like. This was a problem our pack did not need, especially right now. At forty-eight years old he didn't look a day over thirty. He’s six foot seven with a thick black beard and black eyes, just like mine. Just looking at him was intimidating, never mind the intensity that seemed to roll off him in waves. There was a time when I had feared him just like everyone else does, but not anymore. I’m to take his place soon. A strong alpha fears no one.

“Xavier.” I looked up from the saltshaker that had been holding my attention. I knew what was coming. "This shouldn't have happened. You, out of all the wolves here, should not have lost control like that. And for a human! Alphas must have control, Xavier. Explain yourself."

Natalie's brows touched her hairline as she made a sound in the back of her throat. I threw her a look and so did Mathieu. "What is it, Natalie?"

“You’re not going to like what he has to say.” She bowed to my father in respect before glancing up at him from under her lashes. “With all due respect Alpha, Xavier didn’t have a choice in the matter. They were going to rape her.”

Mathieu frowned as his dark eyes darted from Natalie to me and then back. “So, what is it then? Someone needs to explain exactly what happened before this has to be reported to the Council. They won’t give a shit about a human girl being raped.”

"That's because the Council is made up of sick old bastards who only care about themselves.”

Mathieu exhaled heavily with exasperation. “Natalie!” “Sorry.”

“The Council is there to protect us. You two might not have been around back when we were at war before, but another war, in this day and age, would lead to our extinction. We stay hidden in order to stay alive.” He looked my way. “So all humans who find out about us have to die.”

Over my dead body was Ruby going to die for my fuckup. This wasn’t her fault.

“We’ll have to talk in your office, Dad.” He frowned.

Living with wolves means privacy is limited because everyone has supernatural hearing. He knew that suggesting we talk in his office, which was soundproof, meant something was wrong.

He nodded and walked away. Natalie folded her lips inward, an apologetic look on her face, as I followed my father to the fourth floor.

I was about to pull the pin from a grenade with explaining to Dad why I had saved Ruby.

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