Ruby:Unconsciously, I found myself heading towards Damian's office, like I had been possessed by a spirit. Pausing outside the door, I hesitated, unsure if I should intrude on his space. But the worry gnawing at my gut pushed me forward, and I gently pushed the door open."Damian?" I called out softly as I stepped into the dimly lit room. The familiar scent of cedarwood and old books enveloped me, offering a sense of comfort.My eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of him, and there he was, seated behind his desk. His brow furrowed in concentration as he sifted through a stack of paperwork, but when he looked up and saw me, his expression softened with surprise and warmth."Ruby, hey," he greeted, his voice soft and welcoming. "What brings you here?""I... I was just passing by," I stammered, trying to mask the nervousness in my voice. "I thought I'd check in on you."Damian's smile softened, and he gestured for me to take a seat opposite him. "Care to join me? I'm finalisin
Damian:"Is this your new side chick?"Selene's words hit me like a slap in the face, leaving me stunned for a moment. I could feel my anger rising, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. It took me a great deal of effort to control myself and not snap her neck in half. The nerve of hers to refer to Ruby in such a disrespectful manner!I hadn't introduced Ruby to my sister officially because I didn't see it as necessary; however, I was sure that James would have updated her with the full details involving my life, and then she should have figured out by herself that any woman seen intimately close to me would obviously be my mate.My wolf snarled in agreement, feeling irritated by the disrespect given to our mate, his instincts urging me to defend her."She's my mate, Selene," I asserted firmly, my grip on Ruby's waist tightening protectively. "So if you don't want your head rolling on the floor, I suggest you watch your words." My voice carried a warning tone as I stared my sister down
Ruby:After closing the door behind me, I wandered through Damian's house, my mind still reeling from the tense exchange I had just witnessed.I hadn't anticipated feeling so uneasy during my first encounter with one of Damian's family members. His sister turned out to be quite different from what I had imagined—she bore no resemblance to him whatsoever. Instead, she exuded an air of arrogance and intimidation, and I couldn't shake the peculiar scent that seemed to linger around her.She didn't have the scent of a typical werewolf or an ordinary human, and her manner of speaking clearly indicated her dislike for me and her opposition to any woman being with her brother. I couldn't help but wonder why.Was she fond of Ava? I sighed as I glanced around and noticed that my feet had carried me to an unfamiliar spot. A portrait caught my eye, depicting a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Anna. The only person who could fit that description was Ava, Anna's mother. It was weird to se
Ruby;Millions of questions swirled in my head as I unexpectedly found myself in heat, but I knew they could wait. Right now, I have more pressing issues to deal with, like finding a safe place, than deciphering the cause of my current predicament.Being out in the open while in such a state was incredibly risky, causing my heart to race and my hands to tremble. With urgency driving me, I hurried deeper into the woods, seeking refuge away from male wolves who would be drawn to my scent like moths to a flame.Returning to Damian's house was an option, but the thought of pretending that everything was fine and facing his irritating sister was unbearable. Besides, it was his fault that I was in this condition.Like, why did he have to scent-mark me? The fucking bastard wanted to have his cake and eat it too. No way.When a female wolf goes into heat, it's typically because she has begun forming a bond with her mate, as was the case with me in the past when I was with Liam, although the e
Ruby;"Who's your mate?" I asked, attempting to mask the ache in my chest beneath a veil of nonchalance."Ruby, I understand you're upset, and you have every right to be. But trust me, it's not what you think. There's an explanation for all of this, but before I get into it, Damian's voice trailed off as his gaze shifted to the other men in the tent."Out!" His command was sharp, sending the men scurrying out of the tent,leaving us alone in the bloody aftermath."Ruby," Damian began, but I cut him off before he could say anything more."Don't say my name. Just make this madness stop, please, because it's all your doing," I breathed out, feeling the pain in my core intensify."Are you giving me permission to touch you?" His question held a hint of mischief, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. All I could manage was a reluctant nod.His lips curved up in a half-smile, and his eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, like they had stars sending an unexpected flutter through my ches
Damian:Standing before the mirror, my hands trembled slightly as I adjusted my tie. In the silence of my thoughts, Marcus's voice broke through via the mindlink."Alpha, everything is ready for the Luna's welcome ceremony.""Alright, thanks," I replied with a sigh of relief, taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady my nerves.I didn't want anything to go wrong with the celebration, and I was determined to make today perfect. It was inexplicable how I managed to convince her, and despite my past mistakes, Ruby had shown incredible bravery and forgiveness by agreeing to stand by my side as Luna. It was wrong of me to have invaded her privacy by taking her precious book without permission, and even worse, to have considered her as a replacement for my deceased mate.It was unacceptable, and deep down, I knew I didn't deserve her trust. But I was too selfish to let her go. After last night's passionate time together, our bond felt stronger than ever, and I could sense it growing with
Ruby:"Selene was right. I came at the perfect moment." The beautiful lady wearing a similar white dress to mine laughed loudly, and a shiver of discomfort ran down my spine as her words sank in. I closed my eyes briefly, trying to quell the frustration rising within me, before running my hands through my hair in embarrassment.It felt like the universe was conspiring against me, and Ava's mocking laughter only added fuel to the fire burning in my heart. I shot her a glare, hoping to silence her, but she just smirked back, enjoying my discomfort.Turning to Damian, my jaw clenched as I watched him stand there like a statue, his eyes locked on the resurrected figure of his dead mate, a look of disbelief etched on his face. I reached out to him, my fingers trembling as I hoped to break through the invisible barrier that seemed to hold him captive."Damian, snap out of it!" I yelled with desperation as I fought to get his attention. But he remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on Ava as if sh
Ruby:"No, Damian," I choked out, feeling overwhelmed by the situation. As his Luna, it was my duty to ensure his honor wasn't compromised by neglecting the well-being of his pack members, who had placed their trust in him."What do you mean by no?" he questioned, and my heart fluttered at his words. He was making this difficult for me, but as I looked over at his pack members, seeing disappointment all over their faces, probably because I, as their Luna, was associated with criminal charges, I knew I had to do this.It would be selfish and foolish of me to drag Damian down with me into this mess until the misunderstanding was settled.Even though it deeply hurt me, I couldn't allow that. So for now, letting him go and saying things I didn't mean was my only option."I'm nothing but trouble, Damian," I said through gritted teeth, my glare directed at Ava. "Be with her because she's the one who came back from the dead for you.""Ruby, please don't say-""Your daughter would be happy to