Chapter 4

I clutched the remaining scraps of fabric over my chest, turning slightly to face him.

"I am not trash, Alpha," I said, my voice forced and steady. "These scars are proof that I can survive. If I could endure years of torture in my own pack, I can handle anything you command of me here."

Dexter stepped forward. His leather boots struck the marble floor with a heavy, intimidating thud. He stopped directly in front of me, leaving so little space that I could feel the heat radiating from his massive frame. He didn't speak immediately. His dark blue eyes swept over my face before dropping to my shoulder, exposed where the dress had been torn away.

His large hand rose. I remained still, refusing to flinch even as my instincts screamed of danger. His rough fingertips brushed the skin at the base of my neck.

Slowly, he moved his fingers, tracing the line of my collarbone before sliding down toward the cleavage hidden by the tattered fabric. I held my breath. The pressure of his touch left my skin flushed.

Dexter leaned down, bringing his face into the crook of my neck. I could feel his hot, masculine breath against my skin. His lips nearly grazed my ear as he inhaled my scent deeply.

His other hand gripped my waist, pulling me flush against his hard, stone-like physique.

"You really are useless," he whispered. His voice was low and gravelly, sending a strange shiver racing down my spine. "Your body is weak, your back is ruined, and I can't feel a single spark of power coming from you. You’re nothing but a burden."

His grip on my waist tightened until it bordered on painful. I looked up, meeting his ice-cold eyes. "Wait," I said, my voice raspy. "Give me time. If you help me, I promise I will be useful."

Dexter released his grip and took a step back. A smirk played on his lips.

He crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Useful? How? Even the weakest wolf in this pack could rip your throat out in a second."

He began to circle me, inspecting me like he was appraising a piece of damaged goods. "And there’s one thing that bothers me most. Why can’t I smell your wolf at all? You’re an Alpha's daughter. Your scent should be filling this room."

I balled my fists at my sides. The bitter truth finally had to come out. "It’s because I’m cursed," I answered shortly.

Dexter stopped dead in front of me, arching a silver eyebrow. "Cursed?"

"Yes." I took a long breath. "My mother died giving birth to me. The members of the Silvermoon Pack called me cursed because of her death. They believe I bring misfortune, and that’s why I can't find my wolf. My power died before it ever had a chance to wake up."

Dexter went silent. He stared at me for a long time, as if trying to look through my skull to find a lie. The room grew deathly quiet; the only thing I could hear was the frantic thudding of my own heart.

Slowly, his oppressive aura eased just a fraction, though his gaze remained sharp.

"Death during childbirth is common for our kind if the pup is too strong," Dexter finally said. He walked back to his desk and picked up a small letter opener.

He twirled the blade between his fingers. "But for a child to have no wolf at all... that’s rare. Either you truly are defective, or something is being hidden from you."

"I’ll prove it to you," I insisted. "I’m not some ordinary human. I just need someone who doesn't look at me like I’m trash so I can find out what’s wrong with my body."

Dexter stabbed the tip of the blade into the wooden surface of his desk. "I’m no saint, Ruby. I don't care about your tragic backstory. But I hate it when people try to swindle me by sending broken property."

He pointed toward the door. "Alvin will take you to your quarters. Starting tomorrow, you will be tested. I’m going to find out if you really are cursed or just a coward suppressing her own power out of fear. If you fail, I’ll personally toss you into the wasteland outside our borders."

I nodded. "I won't fail."

That night, I lay in a bed in the pavilion that was far softer than anything I’d ever slept on at Silvermoon. Yet, my mind wouldn't rest. If it was true that my mother died because of my power, it meant my wolf wasn't missing. She was just buried deep inside.

The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, Alvin was already knocking. He handed me training gear made of leather.

"The Alpha is waiting for you at the rear training grounds," Alvin said.

I followed him down a path through a small forest behind the mansion. It led to a large field of packed earth.

Dexter was already there, standing in the center of the field, shirtless. The muscles in his back and arms glistened with a light sweat, and the Moon Shadow symbol tattooed on his shoulder looked imposing.

"Run," he commanded without preamble as soon as I arrived.

"What?"

"Run laps around this field until I tell you to stop," Dexter said. He sat in a wooden chair at the edge of the field, watching me with eagle eyes. "I want to see just how long that 'steel' body of yours can hold up."

I started running. The first lap was easy. By the fifth, my lungs began to burn. By the tenth, my legs felt heavy as lead. The scars on my back throbbed as sweat seeped into my pores.

Dexter showed no sign of stopping me. He just sat there, sipping from a silver cup, his eyes following my every move.

After nearly an hour, my vision began to blur. I tripped and fell face-first into the dirt.

This is getting intense! Dexter is definitely putting Ruby through the wringer. Would you like me to continue the scene where he confronts her on the training field, or should we skip to later that evening when she's recovering?