Ruby
I couldn’t stop smiling as I touched my swollen lips, leaning my back against the front door as it closed. It felt as if I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. Mom crossed her arms as she observed me, her eyes narrowing and for some reason, then they homed in on my lips.
“Ruby, was I seeing things, or was that Mr. Grant, who just dropped you off? Please tell me that you haven’t been walking around like that all night?” She pointed to the mirror above the phone table. “I’d take a look if I were you.”
I turned to look in the hall mirror and burst out laughing. “Uh, would you look at that?” I looked like Ronald McDonald with red lipstick smeared all over my face.
If it was all over me, then it was bound to be all over Caleb, too. “Yeah, it was Mr. Grant.” I sighed dreamily. “He drov
Caleb I pulled back the white sheet and witnessed the horror, revealing from the neck upwards. The fatal wound that killed Anna was a gaping hole where her throat ought to be. Tyler had torn it out in a pure act of evil. What other explanation could there be? “Where was she found?” I asked, demanding answers. Every death that occurred in my pack was painful, whether it be by natural causes or someone who had been killed in a rogue attack. I felt the loss all the same. But this ... a young girl, murdered by another member of the pack, was just unfathomable. The deplorable notion was that her mate was the culprit and that beggar’s belief. It was unheard of. I wanted him to find his mate so badly, I just wasn’t prepared for it to come to this. She was Aaron’s youngest sister-in-law. Anna’s e
RubyA whole week had gone by, and still, there was no news on Tyler. He hadn’t tried to make contact with me again. I did try calling his mobile to ask him if what everyone was saying was true but the number was no longer in service. Just as well. I had regretted making the call as soon as I tried.Part of me knew that my dad was telling the truth, but a part of me was left in a state of denial.The police were everywhere. Cops were literally out in force all over town. I’d been asked to give a statement about the last time I saw and spoke to Tyler. I felt pretty bad, having to explain the way I broke up with him like maybe it was me who pushed him over the edge. It sorta made me feel responsible, I guess.Snuggling beneath my comforter made me feel safe, warm, and secur
CalebLauren had canceled my nine o’clock appointment, just as I asked.I helped myself to another strong cup of coffee and slumped down at my parent’s kitchen table.“You look as if you haven’t been sleeping, son?” Dad asked, his brows scrunched with concern.“I’m fine,” I replied, scrubbing a hand over my face, letting out an exhausted sigh.My dad made a noise in the back of his throat. “That’s why you look ready to drop.”I yawned. My eyes stung with fatigue as they watered. “It’s my fault. Ruby and I were texting until three a.m.”“Ah, so it begins.&rdquo
CalebDo you know that feeling you get when you think you’re being watched? Well, that’s what it felt like as I stirred on Ruby’s couch.The dead giveaway was the inquisitive toddler picking up my eyelid, opening it wide, and looking straight at me.His blue pacifier partially hid the grin on his face. There was a mischievous chuckle right before he proceeded to hit me over the head with his toy truck.“Sam, leave him alone!” Jen shrieked and quickly grabbed the truck out of his hand, just as he was about to deliver a second blow.I sat up seeing stars and rubbed my forehead.“It’s alright, he’s probably surprised to find a stranger sleeping on h
RubyThat first split-second where you wake up and remember nothing. There’s nothing quite like that, is there? Then the realization hits you like a ton of bricks, forcing you to sit bolt upright in bed.Caleb. Fell. Asleep. On. The. Couch.Oh my God!I woke up, jumped quickly out of bed, and threw on my dressing gown, desperate to cover the horrendous SpongeBob nightgown that I was wearing. I fished it out of my bottom drawer late last night when I was getting changed in the dark.I caught a glimpse of myself in my dressing table mirror. Hell no! There was no way I could go downstairs looking like Leo Sayer’s clone. My hair was a rat’s nest!With my heart p
RubySifting through my wardrobe, I looked for something sexy, yet casual to wear. I didn’t want to look as if I was trying too hard, but at the same time, I was going to Caleb’s place of work. I didn’t want to look like a potato. Not after hearing Mom say that her colleagues dressed as if they’ve just come back from a modeling shoot.Intimidating much?Why was I worrying? Caleb wouldn’t care what I wear, would he?I decided on a pair of dressy jeans with a sexy tight fitted top and heels. I looked good and at the same time, it made it less obvious that I was out to impress. Besides, my dad wouldn’t get suspicious. I often dressed-up to meet with friends. To be honest, I was dreading dropping the boyfriend bomb on him again. He ha
RubyI pulled the letter from the crumpled envelope. It looked as if someone wrote it in a hurry with it being on lined paper. It had a wax stamp on it which looked out of place in this century. I squinted my eyes to read the narrow slanted writing. I mean, who writes letters anymore?My eyes scanned the letter, stopping at words like packs, heir, and title. I knew Dad was married before, but he never talked about his late wife. I didn’t even know her name was Vanessa. It doesn’t mention me anywhere in the letter so maybe they didn’t know everything.Dad sure seemed keen on going back. He told me that he originally came from Montana but moved to Colorado shortly after his first wife died. I didn’t know these people. Mom was right when she said he never talked about his family because he didn’t. I di
CalebI knew exactly when Ruby arrived in the building. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as if us being within such proximity of each other drew us together with a strong magnetic pull. Her floral perfume, the leather jacket she wore, her coconut shampoo, and her shea butter body lotion that she’d massaged into her skin smelled like heaven.I could sense how nervous she was feeling and there was a hint of fear too. I’d have to talk to Brian about that. He was a good guard dog to have on the door, but he was a touch too harsh with her. I quickly picked up the phone and informed my assistant to send Ruby straight up here.“Hi, Lauren. Ruby is here. Yes, Ruby! Could you see that she’s sent straight up, please? Brian’s being his usual abrupt self, which is probably something to do with Aaro