Chapter 5

POV Ruby

I shook my head and walked out of the theater. Of course I had noticed Wolf lurking toward the back of the lobby after we walked in to get our tickets. I was expecting this. He was so sadly predictable. I sighed as I looked for my friends. I realized that the movie they were in wasn't out yet so I sat in the lounge and waited. Of course, Wolf followed me and sat next to me.

"So you figured that out, huh? Why did you let me sit with you anyway?" He asked and I chuckled.

"I wanted to see if there was anything of the boy I used to know still in there." I explained and he frowned.

"So? What's the verdict?" he asked after a pause.

"I'm not sure but I'm beginning to lose hope" I replied softly. I wasn't prepared to see the sad look pass over his face. It disappeared quickly and he shook his head.

"Hmm..." He replied and I smirked.

"Oh... I hit a nerve!" I teased with my eyebrows up. He rolled his eyes. He looked like he was about to snap at me but stopped himself.

After a breath, he replied, "I really am sorry for last night... and for following you today. I've missed you Rue". I nodded but didn't believe a word he said.

"Ok, how about this? I forgive you and we let all this go? We're going to be at the same school this year and I hate drama. I'll leave you alone and you leave me alone." I tried. I knew that it probably wasn't going to happen but hey, a girl can dream. I saw by the look on Wolf's face that he had other plans as soon as I finished talking.

He nodded but I saw the evil look in his eyes. Thankfully, Scarlett, Cassy and Don came up to us right then.

"Hey, Ruby! Who's your frien... oh!" Don exclaimed as Wolf turned to them.

"What are you doing here?" Scar spat and Cass just glared at him.

"Ruby and I just happened to run into each other before the movie. Isn't that funny?" he asked without a smile.

"So funny." Cassy deadpanned.

"Let's go." I said and grabbed the girl's arms and pulled them towards the door with Don following after.

"I'll see you later, Rue!" Wolf called out, making it sound more like a threat than anything. I shook my head and kept walking as I flicked him off.

"What was that?" Cass asked.

"He followed us and sat next to me during the movie" I explained the rest of our interaction in the car.

"That guy is seriously creepy." Don replied and Cassy shook her head.

"I don't trust him. He's so dark now. The Riders have made him evil." Scarlett spoke up and I nodded.

"Yeah, I see it now. It's too bad. He was such a good guy before. I wonder why he's like this now?" I lamented. Cassy hugged me and I sighed.

"I'm just going to have to stay away from him from now on." I promised as we pulled up to the restaurant for dinner.

"We'll help you!" Don added and the girls both agreed.

POV Wolf

I stared after Ruby as she walked away. This girl was tough but I knew that I would win in the end. I would have her and then destroy her. I had to. I couldn't watch her with anyone else. It made my blood boil to see her last night with that other guy. Later, when Jackal commented on how hot she was, I almost beat the crap out of him. Foxy and Hound had to hold me back. Jackal was still pissed at me.

I sighed and walked out to my bike. I needed to go talk to my Dad. He would know what to do. I quickly rushed to the  and Den nodded at my 'friends' as I walked back to my Dad's office.

"What's up, boy?" he asked as I walked in.

"I need a plan" I began. Then I told the whole story to him. He asked a few questions but just listened to the whole thing.

"So Cherry and her girl are back, huh?" he grinned when I finished. I nodded and he thought.

"You know, Cherry is still technically a Rider. She abandoned us when she met and married Dale. It broke my heart, I loved that woman. The only thing that saved her was that husband and the fact that the Riders were banished to the South side. Now that we've expanded to the North side and her husband is gone, I can't believe that she thought she would be safe to move back here. She's on our land now. Her and her wife and two daughters." he began and we both grinned.

"I think that we need to remind her that she belongs with us. So does her daughter." he finished and we began to plan.

POV Ruby

Dinner with Cassy, Scarlett and Don was fun. Don was quickly becoming close with both Cassy and I. I was happy to see Cass and Scar getting even closer than they already were. Cassy and I decided to invite Scarlett and Don to sleep over that night after checking with my Mom. We ran by both Don's and Scarlett's houses so they could get some things and then went to our house.

"Mom! We're home! Silvia!" I called as we walked in.

"We're in the kitchen!" Silvia yelled back. We found them sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee. Cassy and I hugged them and they greeted and hugged Scarlett as well. We introduced them to Don and they seemed excited to meet him.

"So? How was the party and everything from today?" Mom asked afterwards.

"It was good, aside from how much Sam and Wolf have changed" I replied and Mom looked at me with alarm.

"Wolf? Varg's son?" she asked and I nodded.

"I thought that you two had lost touch?" she asked.

"We had and I'm beginning to understand why" I answered and she nodded.

"He's bad news, Ruby. Stay away from him. Varg was awful at that age. He got me roped into all sorts of terrible things back then. I know that you are so much smarter than I was then." Mom warned.

I knew that she and Varg used to date in high school. She was a rebel back then and a member of the Riders. My Dad made sure to tell us all about it but she never brough it up since my parents split. I think that she just didn't want Cerise and I to make the same mistakes she did. She told me that she always felt lucky to get out of that situation and Riders when she did. Varg didn't make it easy for her to leave. She always seemed a bit sad about the situation though. A few times she seemed to hint that it wasn't her choice to leave but I didn't find out until later why. Now I knew why it had to happen.

"Don't worry, Mom. I thought that Wolf was the same as when I left. I realize now that I was wrong" I assured her sadly. She gave me a sympathetic smile and squeezed my hand. I smiled at her weakly. I really was saddened by the outcome of the two boys that I had cared for in my childhood.

After that sad interlude, the rest of the night was great. Silvia and Mom hung out with us and made cookies. We watched scary movies and ate tons of junk food. It was the perfect sleepover.

"I love your family." Don gushed to Cassy and I as we settled down to sleep in Cassy's room.

"Thanks! We do too!" I replied.

We got up the next morning and Scarlett and Don went home after Mom made us breakfast. Cassy and I spent the rest of the day getting ready for our first day of school. We finished unpacking our stuff. We set up our bags with school supplies and helped each other set out perfect outfits for the morning. Mom and Silvia finished unpacking the rest of the house and by the time evening rolled around, we were all set to begin our new lives in Rose Hills. Mom made us roast chicken with veggies and potatoes for dinner and we chatted as we ate.

"Are you excited about your new job?" Cassy asked my mom.

Mom grinned and replied, "I am! It's kind of a new old job for me though. I worked at this paper after I graduated and until Cerise was born. I'm excited to see how it's changed." I grinned at her.

It was nice to see her so happy. A job she liked, a wife who cared about her, a loving family. These are all things I knew that she always wanted. After the my parents marriage and everything that happened, she didn't think that it was possible. She fought her way back though and I was so proud of my brave, strong mother.

We finished dinner and cleaned the kitchen together. Just as we were about to go watch some tv before bed, the doorbell rang. Curious, we all followed my mom to answer it. She looked through the peep hole.

"Shit" she mumbled and I exchanged a worried look with Cassy. Mom opened the door to reveal Varg and several other large, black leather clad men. As I looked closer, I recognized Jackal, Hound and of course, Wolf.

"We thought that we should welcome our sister back home!" Varg boomed.

"Crap" I said and Wolf smiled at me.