Caleb
Blind rage burned behind Aiden’s eyes. His face was an inch from mine, standing nose to nose. A low growl vibrated through his chest as his lips curled up over his teeth in a threatening snarl.
The way he’d scented the air when he burst through the door must have done it. He could smell Ruby all over me and it sent his temper soaring.
I didn’t want to hurt Aiden. The moment one of us changed, that would be it. Our primal sides would need bloodshed and it would be a fight to the death. He knew it and I knew it, yet neither of us had turned. It surprised me he hadn’t.
Fighting wouldn’t resolve matters. It wouldn’t achieve anything, but sometimes, when people are blinded by anger, they just don’t want to listen, no matter what you say or do.
Caleb I knew that he knew. Of course, he would scent her on my lips. He was waiting to see if I lied. “Aiden, please calm down and take a seat,” I spoke reasonably. “Calm down?” Aiden’s eyes narrowed as he shot me a scathing look. I owed him the truth. I had a lot of respect for the guy because, in all fairness, Aiden was a wonderful man, despite all the bad things that have happened to him. My father and I permitted him to stay in this pack, despite never becoming part of it because of the title he held. It caused a little controversy around here, and it took a while for the community to accept him. Sure, I did it for selfish reasons. I didn’t want him whisking Ruby away to another state. The chances were, I’d never see her again and I couldn’t have that.
Ruby My attempt to sneak back into the house and creep up to my room was foiled by Sam’s announcement of my arrival. “Oobie!” he squealed with his arms outstretched. I winced at the high-pitched sound, scooping him up into a hug and carrying him off into the kitchen where my mom was busy preparing lunch. There was an awkward atmosphere that clung to the air. “You’re in the doghouse when your dad gets home.” Her voice was straining as she applied pressure to the knife she was using to cut through a block of cheese. “Why?” I whined at the injustice. “I wasn’t gone long.” They had kept me under lock and key longer than I’d ever been grounded before. “Mom, I just wanted to get out of the house. I am eighteen, I’m not a child anymore.”
Ruby“Can we please talk?” Dad eyed us desperately, imploring us to listen. We backed up towards the door, preparing to escape. “Caleb and I were fighting.” He let out an exhausted sigh. “I just thought—” He circled his hands around, struggling to justify this.”I squealed with shock as soon as he mentioned Caleb.“What? Oh, my God. Dad, why would you do that?” I demanded an explanation, livid that he got into a fight with my boyfriend.My insides were screaming. That was Caleb’s blood. I felt sick.“I know this seems bad.” He ran a hand up and down in front of himself, gesturing at his presentation. “But it looks a lot worse than it is,” he splutter
Caleb Even in my favorite thinking place, standing under the shower faucet, the arrangement with Aiden was still ringing fresh in my mind. I enjoyed the feel of the water jets as they massaged my shoulders, cascading a waterfall down my back. I used to find it therapeutic. Only, nothing seemed to lift the downbeat mood I was in. It was time that I faced facts: a deal was a deal. It was only a matter of time before I had to tell Ruby the truth and risk losing her forever. I had just sold my soul to the devil. Aiden and I had shaken on his deal, but not before I included a condition of my own. One, he agreed on. I asked for a little more time, so he granted me the whole of summer. He even shocked me by suggesting that we make dinner reservations at the Ivy Orchard after graduation. Either it was a genuine heartfelt gesture or a
Caleb She growled in embarrassment and hid her face in her hands. “Ugh, fine. Just don’t laugh.” “I can’t promise that. You laughed when you saw me standing in the buff. Now that doesn’t do much for the male ego, does it?” I replied, not letting it drop. I wanted my answer more than ever. Ruby gasped in amusement. “I wasn’t laughing at ... whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “Alright, I’ll tell you. Ever since I met you, that night in the elevator in Washington, I thought about you a lot.” A blush crept across her flawless creamy skin. It reached her ears, turning them crimson. I ran a hand down my face in mock horror. “Ooh, no, no, you had a little girl crush on me? Babe, now I feel weird.” She stoo
Ruby Caleb was standing with idle grace, holding the car door open like a true gentleman. He was dressed to the nines in a sexy, black Armani suit that complemented his masculine physique. Combine all of that with a sultry look, he looked glorious. I could scarcely breathe. It got me thinking, ‘How on earth could a man like him possibly be real’? He was too perfect, too good to be true. I wasn’t sure why I was looking for fault all the time or why I couldn’t just thank my lucky stars that I had a perfect boyfriend. Maybe it was because I didn’t feel as if I measured up to him. I thought, if I could find even the smallest fault, just one, Caleb would seem like a real human being and not like some God-like figure that I’d placed on a golden pedestal. “You’re gonna be a little overdressed for a diner, just so you know,” I teased
RubyThe pretty waitress returned carrying an ice bucket containing a bottle of champagne. I didn’t take my eyes off Caleb as she popped the cork and poured some into my glass, then into his.I picked up the delicate flute and brought it to my lips, pulling back for a moment as the fizz bubbles flew up my nose. I took a small sip to sample the taste, wincing and scrunching my lips. The effervescent liquid set my taste buds alight. It was gorgeous. Not like the sugary sweet stuff my mom usually buys at Christmas. I knew absolutely nothing about champagne or fine wines. I was a clueless novice. Just like Eliza Doolittle in the movie ‘My Fair Lady’ before she was trained to fit into high society with all the rich, snobby, socialites, I imagined myself speaking in an overly accentuated, upper class, English accent, reciting the famous phrase, ‘The rain in Spain,
Caleb“So, have you thought of what you’ll do if your parents move to Montana?” I felt the squeeze on my heart as I asked the dreaded question.Please say you’ll stay.Ruby’s expression seemed pained. Her brows drew together as if she had been worrying about it.“I did want to stay at the house but Dad said I can’t. He thinks I’ll trash it or something.” Ruby rolled her eyes, then dropped her gaze to the table. “I’m worried that they’ll sell it.”“It’s normal to get attached to a dwelling but it’s just a house, Ruby,” I replied, trying to sound positive but judging by her disappointed expression, I would say that I failed dismall