Chapter 03

{Zayne's POV}

_6 years later.

“Hello, young lady. Where are you going, dressed like that?”

I tried to mask the frustration in my voice but failed as I stared at Ruby walking down the stairs in nothing but a tiny black gown.

How she had grown so fast, sometimes was hard to actually believe.

Ruby only rolled her eyes at me, “Chill out dad. I am just going to hang out with my friends.”

“Not wearing that, you are not.”

She crossed her arm over her chest and huffed angrily, “You cannot dictate what I can or cannot wear, dad.”

“You are just eleven and I am your father, so yes I can. Now go upstairs and change into something more decent or you can just play with your little sister. Your choice.”

“You always do this to me!” She yelled, “That little bastard is not my sister. I hate her and I hate you!”

I rolled my eyes and moved my focus back to my paper. I was not in the mood for Ruby’s attitude or one of her tantrums right now.

I had more things to worry about. Major things to worry about actually.

However, Diana came rushing out of her room , “honey I heard you yelling. What is wrong?”

“Well, your husband has vowed to ruin my life!”

“Hey!” I snapped. Ruby jumped at my loud voice, “you better watch your tone with me young lady if you do not want to be severely punished.”

“Come on Zayne. Cam down, you cannot talk to her like that. She is just a child.” Diana snapped, running to her defence as usual.

I sighed, seriously not surprised and yeah i was not in the mood for another one of these episodes.

“Control her, if she is truly a child. Because if she cannot learn to respect herself then I will show her how to do that.”

Diana opened her mouth maybe to say something but closed it - a good decision on her end - and turned to Ruby.

“Come on honey. Let's get back upstairs so you can change.” She said throwing me a glare

“I really don't know why we have to put up with him, mum. He is not even my father.”

I rolled my eyes, and said nothing.

Ruby had made it a habit to mention that over the past few months. I chose to ignore it as did everyone else . It was just the ramblings of a teenager being a teenager.

“Do not say that Ruby. Now go back upstairs.”

With a huff, she turned and went upstairs.

Diana sighed and walked up to me with a solemn look on her face.

“You are not being fair to her, Zayne and I don't like it. She is your daughter and your only heir.”

“Deciding to discipline my child does not make me a monster, Diana. I pampered her way too much and she has obviously grown into a spoiled little brat.”

“She is a teenager. A pre teen actually. And you should know that she started acting like that since you brought in - adopted that girl.”

I knew that would come up somehow in the conversation and as usual I chose to ignore it.

“You give Jane way too much attention and to be fair, I cannot blame Ruby for acting out.” Diana said with a scowl on her face.

“Ruby is acting out because she is spoiled. Jane is my daughter too. She became my daughter the moment I signed those adoption papers, so I do not want to hear anyone calling her a slave anymore or talking about the amount of attention I choose to give her.”

Diana’s face squeezed in anger and she took a few more steps towards me, “do not think that i do not know why you have been so close to her, Zayne. I am not stupid nor am i blind. Anyone with eyes could actually see how much she looks like Marissa.”

I tried to mask the emotion that swirled inside me at the mention of that name with a blank expression but I must have failed because Diana scoffed and crossed her arm.

“You have to wake up one of these days, Zayne. It has been six years and Marissa is gone. For all we know, she must have moved on to someone else right now.”

I didnt dignify her claim with a response. But many times, that thought had crossed my mind, followed by a pain so sharp, breathing through it was a nightmare.

Of course Marissa must have moved on and who was I to blame her for that?

After the way I treated her.

I shifted uncomfortably and was about to stand and leave when a loud scream echoed through the house from upstairs.

Diana and I exchanged a panicked glance, before we ran upstairs to Ruby’s room.

I kicked the door open, almost tearing it at its hinges, and my heart leaped into my mouth when I saw her laying on the floor, her head in her own vomit and blood.

“Ruby!!”

******

I was panting and I could hear my heart beating wildly against my chest as I paced through the halls of the hospital.

It had been two hours since we rushed Ruby to the city’s best hospital, and there was still no positive feedback.

Diana was curled on a chair, her face red and swollen from crying - I was in no better shape but I had tried as much as I could to comfort her - an effort that did not in any way help.

I straightened my spine when I saw a nurse approaching us.

“Hello Alpha.”

‘Spare us the pleasantries.” Diana snapped, ‘How is my daughter doing?”

The nurse nodded, “This girl, Ruby…is she really your daughter?”

“What sort of a stupid question is that?” She snapped again before I could respond and the nurse shook her head.

“Pardon me, Luna, if my question is offensive. However we just tested your blood for the transfusion and - none of you are a match with Ruby.’

My blood ran cold at her words and I turned to Diana who was now glaring at the nurse with madness in her eyes.

“Run the test again. There must be a mistake.” She said,

“We already did, five times but it kept showing the same results. I am sorry.”

Diana grabbed the nurse by her collar, and started yelling, “Do the fucking test again! Keep on doing it because you are making mistakes.”

I grabbed her arm and forced her to release her hold on the nurse who was starting to look pissed off.

“Calm down, Diana.”

“Do not tell me to calm down! You heard what she said. Ruby is our baby girl and they have to save her.”

“They will save her, Diana. I promise.” I wrapped my arms around her quivering body, and stroked her back, “They will save her.”

Turning to the nurse, I firmly instructed, “There are blood banks available. Do everything you can do ro make sure Ruby gets everything she needs in the next couple of hours.”

The nurse nodded and rushed away while I held onto Diana tightly as she sobbed into my neck.

“There has to be a mistake.”

“Of course, there is.” I murmured.

But when I excused myself to use the bathroom, I brought out my phone and secretly sent a text to Elias, my Beta.

I needed to get to the bottom of all these.

****

Thankfully, the hospital was able to find enough blood for Ruby, and by the time the sun set - she was conscious and ready to accept visitors.

Although she was still mostly weak - and could barely speak.

The doctor had explained what was wrong with her but they were all a series of jargon to me. The most important thing was that she's fine.

Later that night, I went back home alone - to get Ruby a change of clothes and some fresh food.

As I approached her room, I stopped by the door beside hers and with a deep breath, opened it.

Jane was sitting on her bed, with her doll in hand and she looked scared.

“Hey sweetheart,” I called, sitting beside her.

She looked up at me, with wide golden eyes that looked shockingly like Marissa's and pouted.

“Is Ruby going to be okay, daddy?” She whispered and I smiled.

“Sure she is.”

She didn't say anything else and went back to stroking her doll's hair.

Ever since I adopted the little girl almost a year ago - I have been trying everything I could, to make her come out of her shell.

And yeah there had been slow progress, but it wasn't as much as I'd wanted.

I carefully touched her bare leg and she jerked looking up with wide eyes that were filled with panic then she smiled and said nothing still.

My heart broke for her - looking at her like this, how lonely she was made me want to embrace her and promise her the world but Jane would probably bolt out of the house if I got closer than necessary.

I left her room and almost bumped into Elias, who was evidently standing there waiting for me.

“I got what you wanted, Alpha.” He said handing me two envelopes.

“Did you read them? What do they say?”

Elias backed up and bit his lip for a moment before he took a deep breath and said, “According to the DNA - Ruby isn't your daughter, at least not biologically.”

I released a breath but not one of relief - pain and anger.

My fists clenched tightly around the envelope as anger coursed through me but I took deep heavy breaths trying as much as possible to control my emotions.

“And?”

“Jane, is your biological daughter.” He finished.

Months, I have suspected.

And now that he has confirmed it, I had no idea how to feel, or what to think.

My head felt like it was spinning right on my neck and it took every ounce of strength I had, to stop myself from punching holes into the wall.

I turned and started striding away angrily.

“Where are you going?” Elias asked following me.

“Get the car ready. We are going to look for my wife.”