Chapter 6

The ritual began just as the first light of dawn struggled to touch the horizon. Dexter brought Ruby to a stone altar in the heart of the forbidden Moon Shadow forest. Four massive torches flared with eerie blue flames at each corner of the altar, casting a harsh, flickering glow over Ruby’s pale face.

Dexter stood before her. He shed his cloak, revealing a torso covered in the jagged battle scars of a warrior. He looked down at her with eyes that showed no mercy.

"Lie down," he commanded.

Ruby obeyed. Her back pressed against the ice-cold surface of the stone. Dexter stepped closer, wielding an ancient dagger carved from dragon bone.

"To break the seal, I have to shatter the defensive walls your father built. It’s going to feel like your body is being pulled in four different directions at once," Dexter warned.

Without warning, he sliced his own palm and let his blood drip directly onto Ruby’s solar plexus. Instantly, the blue flames in the torches roared six feet into the air.

The next second, a wave of agony hit Ruby unlike anything she had ever imagined. It wasn't just heat; it was a violent ripping sensation that tore through every cell in her body. She couldn't even scream; her lungs felt like they were caught in a vice. Faint wisps of smoke rose from her skin, and the veins in her neck and arms bulged, turning a bruised, inky black.

"Let her out!" Dexter roared.

Inside Ruby’s fading consciousness, she saw a massive, burning iron cage. Behind the bars, a giant she-wolf with fur as white as snow and piercing silver eyes clawed at the barrier.

“Set me free, Ruby! Let me destroy them all!” the wolf’s voice echoed in her mind.

“Who... who are you?” Ruby asked inwardly.

“I am Lilian. I am the part of you they were too afraid to face.”

Ruby summoned every last shred of her will to shatter the cage. In the real world, her body lifted off the stone altar, hovering inches in the air. A burst of silver light exploded from her chest, tearing through the surrounding forest and toppling massive trees.

Along with the blast, a translucent silver wolf appeared above Ruby, letting out a long, haunting howl at the setting moon. Lilian finally manifested fully before merging back into Ruby, whose body slumped back onto the altar, limp and barely breathing.

Dexter stood frozen. He stepped forward to see if she was still alive, but as he got within a few feet, a scent hit him. It was intoxicating—the fragrance of forest lilies mixed with fresh snow and wild honey. It was so overwhelming it nearly knocked him off balance.

Suddenly, Vargr, Dexter’s wolf, growled inside his mind.

“Do you smell that?” Vargr snarled lowly.

“Yes, it’s powerful,” Dexter answered internally.

“Idiot!” Vargr barked, making Dexter’s head throb. “She’s ours. She is our Mate! I’ve found our Mate in this little girl!”

Dexter went rigid. His eyes widened as he stared at the helpless girl lying there. In all his years, Dexter never thought he’d have a pair, let alone a girl from the Silvermoon Pack he’d considered trash.

"Mate?" Dexter whispered.

Vargr continued to howl in his head, demanding that he go to her and claim her.

Dexter knelt beside Ruby and touched her cheek. The moment their skin met, a powerful electric jolt shot through his entire body, confirming everything Vargr had said.

"So this is why your father sealed you away, Ruby," Dexter whispered. His voice was no longer cold; a protective edge had bled into his tone. "You aren't just a white wolf. You are the match for the lord of the Moon Shadow."

In the haze of her consciousness, Ruby felt a grand presence in her soul.

“Ruby, I am Lilian!” her soul-wolf called out. “I am the starlight that will burn away your darkness.”

Ruby was too weak to answer.

Dexter lifted Ruby’s body with extreme care, as if she were made of the most fragile glass. He ignored the servants' quarters and walked straight toward the main wing of the mansion.

Alvin stood at the foot of the grand staircase, his eyes nearly popping out of his head as he saw his Alpha carrying Ruby. The sweet scent radiating from her had already filled the hall, making the guards instinctively bow their heads.

"Alpha? What happened?"

Dexter didn't answer. He just shot his Beta a look that made Alvin immediately drop his gaze. Dexter’s aura flared, doubling in intensity and filling the corridor with absolute dominance.

"Get the healer. Bring the strongest recovery tonic we have to my room," Dexter ordered. "And make sure no one—absolutely no one—steps foot on this floor without my permission."

"Understood, Alpha," Alvin replied, turning to hurry away.

Dexter continued to the Obsidian Suite. He kicked the massive wooden doors open and laid Ruby on his king-sized bed with its black silk sheets.

He didn't leave. He stood by the bedside, watching her color slowly return. Despite the mate bond being newly confirmed, he kept his expression stony and guarded.

Ruby finally opened her eyes. Reality came back in slow waves. She felt the softness of the mattress—a world away from the hard floors of Silvermoon or the pavilion. She tried to sit up, but her head throbbed violently.

"Stay down," Dexter said. His voice was back to being flat and cold, as if he hadn't just carried her through the entire mansion. "Your body just shattered a seal that’s been locking your soul away for years. If you move now, your bones might snap."

Ruby looked at him. He stood against the light, a massive, looming silhouette. "Why am I here?"

"I brought you."

"This isn't my room," Ruby noted.

"It’s the safest place in the mansion." Dexter wasn't ready to reveal the truth about the bond just yet.

"My wolf?" Ruby gasped. Suddenly, inside her mind, a soft voice resonated.

“Ruby... I’m right here.”

Ruby’s eyes went wide. "Lilian?" She was so happy tears nearly pricked her eyes. For years, she had been labeled a defect, a curse. Now, Lilian was there, breathing with her. Her presence felt incredibly real and powerful.

“They won’t hurt you anymore, Ruby. I’ll rip apart anyone who dares touch you,” Lilian promised.

Ruby let out a faint smile. A small spark of happiness warmed her heart. She wasn't alone anymore.

A knock at the door broke the silence. Alvin entered with a silver tray carrying a crystal vial filled with a clear blue liquid that smelled of lavender. Dexter took the vial and moved closer to Ruby.

"Drink this," he commanded, pressing the bottle to her lips.

Ruby hesitated for a second, but she looked into his eyes. He was cold, yes, but there was no killing intent there. She opened her mouth and drained the vial.

"You’re sleeping here tonight," Dexter said. "I’ll be watching over you."

Ruby went silent, unsure whether to be grateful or confused by this sudden shift in attention.