Gonzalo's POV
The dark expanse of the forest swallowed me as I drove aimlessly through the woods, leaving the familiar Moonshade territory behind. My thoughts were a whirlwind of memories and uncertainties, tangled like the trees that surrounded me.
I couldn't shake the memory of that heated encounter with Alpha Ralph—the first time he set foot in the Moonshade Pack. My father had taken me to discuss potential alliances, and we were met with Alpha Ralph's arrogance and disregard for authority
I remembered the searing anger that surged within me as Ralph arrogantly claimed Ruby as his mate, treating her like a possession. I knew in my gut that their union was not fated, and yet Ralph's sense of entitlement was infuriating. It was a storm waiting to erupt, a clash of wills that couldn't be avoided.
In the presence of my father, the tension escalated. My father, ever the good guy, atte
Ruby's POVVincent excused himself, leaving me momentarily alone amidst the lively celebration. I took a moment to look around, realizing that despite being the alpha's daughter, I hadn't really connected with the pack on a personal level. This was an opportunity to change that.As the music played and the dance floor came alive once again, a young man approached me. He had a friendly smile and an inviting appearance. "Hello there," he greeted, extending his hand towards me. "I'm Ethan."I returned the smile, accepting his hand. "Nice to meet you, Ethan. I'm Ruby.""I know who you are." He said almost cutting me off. I looked at him, smiling weirdly."What I meant is that who doesn't know you, Ruby and how beautiful you are." He said. I sighed, he was doing a terrible job in trying to make up for his initial errorHe led me onto the dance floor, and soon we were swaying to t
Ruby's POVI approached the figure in the dim moonlight, a sudden chill grazed my arm, causing me to jolt and lose my balance. My heart raced as I instinctively caught myself, only to realize it was just a branch from a nearby tree that had brushed against my skin. A nervous chuckle escaped me. "Get a grip of yourself, Ruby."I stood up and cleaned my dress which was already stained with mud. I approached the figure, only to discover it was merely a tree shaped by the play of shadows. Frustration bubbled up within me, and I muttered a string of curses under my breath. "Of all the times to be jumpy..."I turned to head back towards the pack's territory, berating myself for my overactive imagination. But just as I began to walk away, I heard my name called again, echoing through the quiet night. Fear clenched my heart, and I froze. I strained my ears, trying to determine the source of the voice, but all that
Gonzalo's POVI released Ruby. "Calm down." I said to her again.Her eyes flashed with anger and fear. She spun swiftly and her hand collided with my face in a resounding slap. The sting was sharp, but I understood her anger."How dare you?" she said, her voice laced with betrayal.I touched my cheek, taking in her disbelief and anger. "It's not what you think."She regarded me with a mix of rage and skepticism, her arms crossed defensively. "Explain, then."I took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "I'm here to apologize, Ruby. To make amends for everything I did to you in the past."She scoffed, the disbelief still present in her eyes. "Apologize? Make amends? After all you've done?""I know I've hurt you," I admitted, "but I've changed. I want to do right by you, by everyone I've wronged.""You're only here for the competition, aren't you?" she accused, her voice cutting an
Ruby's POVI hesitated for a moment, glancing back to see if Gonzalo was still there. But the darkness swallowed any trace of him. He had vanished into the shadows. I turned my attention back to Max and Vincent as they walked ahead, heading back towards the territory. I followed them, a knot of worry forming in my stomach."Is there something you want us to know?" Max asked me, his voice carrying a stern note as we walked. The events of the night had taken an unexpected turn, and I wasn't sure how to explain it."No," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was just curious and wanted to see what was on the other side of the gate."Vincent's eyes bore into mine, and I could sense the seriousness in his gaze. As we reached the small door leading back into the territory, I looked over to Max. He was ordering the gate to be locked and stationed two guards in front of it. It was clear they were taking this matte
Ruby's POVI felt the lingering unease from Ethan's response as I walked away from Ethan. He had hurriedly left, clearly still affected by the incident. As I moved through the subdued gathering, the weight of Max's stern expression sat heavily on my mind. I needed to address the situation with him, to clear the air and make amends for my impulsive actions.I found Max still standing in the same spot, his gaze fixed on the distance. He seemed lost in thought, and I hesitated for a moment before approaching him. When I did, he turned to face me, his expression still serious,he was staring at Ethan as he walked away, he had obviously seen his weird reaction towards me."Well, that's becoming a thing," I said, attempting to lighten the atmosphere with a weak smile."He's a weirdo," Max remarked, his tone carrying a note of concern.I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What?""You might want t
Gonzalo's POV The woods whispered their secrets as I walked through the darkness, a sense of contentment warming my heart. Meeting Ruby had been a whirlwind of emotions, a bittersweet reminder of the past and something that we had shared. She was as enchanting as ever, her beauty captivating and ethereal in the moonlight. I finally reached the clearing where I had parked my car earlier. It stood there, silent and loyal, waiting for my return. I sighed in relief and got into the car, the familiar scent of leather and pine comforting me. As I drove back to the Moonshade Pack, my thoughts were consumed by Ruby. Her image danced in my mind, her smile, her frown, and the way she looked at me. It was hard to deny the pull I still felt towards her. She was like a magnetic force, and no matter how hard I tried to fight it, I found myself drifting back to her, she seemed to be doing better than she was at moonshade or night
Ruby's POVThe door clicked shut, leaving me alone in my room with my thoughts again. My conversation with my mother had yielded no resolution, just a lingering unease. I lay back on my bed, attempting to clear my mind, but thoughts of the night kept coming back.Gonzalo. The memory of our encounter in the woods played in my mind like a broken record. He had acted so differently, so genuinely caring. The way he held me when he asked me to be quiet, even though it was firm, it wasn't hostile like I remembered, and I could see his eyes as he hid from Max and Vincent, even risking his own position in the competition, was unexpected. It left me conflicted and a little surprised, seeing him again in that circumstance was totally unexpected.As I mulled over the events in the woods, a thought nagged at me. Gonzalo had hidden in the bushes, watching Max and Vincent confront me. I could have easily called him out, exposing him a
Ruby's POVVincent's revelation left me stunned. How did he know that Gonzalo had been in the woods with me? I stared at him, my eyes boring into his, seeking answers."How did you know?" I asked, my voice laced with surprise and a hint of concern.Vincent leaned back, resting his elbows on his knees, and sighed. "Ruby, you might not have noticed, but I pay attention. Even though we haven't known each other for long, I think I've picked up on things that others might overlook."I sat back on my bed, still processing this new piece of information. "So, you saw Gonzalo when we were heading back to the small door?"Vincent nodded. "Yes. As we were leaving, I happened to look back and saw him running into the woods. I wouldn't have recognized him if not for the tattoos behind his neck."The realization that Gonzalo had been so close, that Vincent had seen him and kept it a secret, hit me. "And you didn't