LOGINRubyCaleb and I were confused by the interaction we’d just had with the stranger. We were still staring at each other, unsure how to respond, when Vic, Cassius, and Eir found us on the dance floor.Vic stayed a step back, even though he was the one hosting us. I deduced that he wanted the people to
RubyBack at Vic and Rachel’s cabin in Westland, Vic gave us the tour, showed us the two bathrooms we could shower in if we wanted to, and the two rooms we would be staying in that night.“I’ll let you rest and get settled,” Vic said. “Rachel and I will just be having some pine tea downstairs, and y
I exchanged a look with Caleb. “Our most vulnerable populations have been unprotected for years. Caleb has been quietly funding programs to help them from his personal fortune, and we want to build those programs into community organizations. We want to provide for our people and provide opportunities for them to work together, not take from them and leave them to fend for themselves.”“And what makes you the best neighbors?” Cassius asked. I supposed that made sense since it was specifically his land that we neighbored with.“In short,” I said, “a sense of community. The humility to ask for help and the generosity to provide help. For example, I asked the Elder Council just last night about where we source our salmon from, knowing that that’s a staple food for you. I don’t know if we’re overfishing the Sockenee River, if we’re negatively impacting the environment that we share with you. These are topics I would want to discuss with you three to make sure we are playing our part as th
RubyAs the five of us shuffled to fill in the seats between the bears and the head of the table, I whispered urgently to Caleb, “You should be at the head of the table. You are the heir to the lycan throne.”“You are the one who found Rachel and introduced her to Vic,” he whispered back. “You are the one who orchestrated the allegiance between me and Vic. You are the one they trust—use that.”I settled in, altogether flustered, at the head of the table as requested. Daniel and Caleb flanked me, while Rachel and Vic took spots across from each other next to Frederik and Gaul respectively.Meaning I was the farthest from Eir and Cassius, the two I was meant to win over.No pressure.“You claimed upon your arrival,” Cassius said, diving right in without even asking us our names, “that you were here to negotiate an alliance with us. We were already allied with Lucas, though Vic tells us he manipulated us and we should no longer trust him. What makes you different?”It was a good and fair
I thought about how with only three of them that meant no ties.“Between the fact that I trust you and Caleb,” Vic said, “and I’m in love with a lycan, you’ve probably already got my vote, so you’re halfway there.”“You don’t even have all the information yet,” I said.“Remember when I said bears are fiercely loyal?” Rachel said.“Except when we feel we’ve been betrayed,” Vic added. “And that’s the trouble. If you get a majority vote from me and only one or the other between Eir and Cassius, the people will be dissatisfied because of how my reputation has tanked recently. They’ll follow the decision to honor the rules, but their hearts won’t be in it and that might cause dissent down the road.”Vic pointed as we came up on the main road we’d arrived on. “Left here, then take your first right.”“How would we avoid dissent down the road?” I asked.“A unanimous vote,” Vic said. “Get both Eir and Cassius on board. Each of their votes is worth more than mine right now.”“Hopefully,” I said
RubyVic opened his door, and Rachel said, “Don’t bother getting out. We’ll barely be on time as it is.”She walked right over to the car, opening the door next to me. “What’s going on?” I asked.“Scoot over,” she said. “We’ve got a meeting to get to.”I did as she asked.“They called the house?” Vic asked as Rachel slid in behind her mate and closed the door.“Sure did,” Rachel answered. “Said you were expected at Central Point with your four lycan friends in thirty minutes.”“Daniel and I are actually werewolves,” I clarified. Caleb’s eyes caught mine in the rearview mirror, but he quickly looked away.“I know that,” Rachel said, “but bears definitely cannot tell the difference between the two. Besides, they didn’t actually call us lycans.”“What did they call us?” I asked.“Dogs,” Vic growled.“Isn’t it cute?” Rachel laughed. “The best insult they can come up with for us is to call us man’s best friend.”“Sorry, am I supposed to be driving somewhere?” Caleb asked.“Back the way we
I had woken up later that morning than I intended to, and had to rush to get dressed. I couldn’t be late for this first meeting with Caleb and the rest of his planning committee for the Alpha Ball. I threw my hair in a messy bun and ran out the door.I spent the week before looking for new grocers a
Caleb leaned back, laughing at Lucas’s words. “Your mate? You don’t have the right to call Ruby your anything.”Lucas growled, breathing heavily. My body was still warm from Caleb’s touches, but the look on Lucas’s face made my skin go cold. “The mate bond between us would say otherwise, brother. Yo
CalebI watched Lucas close the door behind him, and I couldn’t help but feel grim satisfaction. He might be running away with his tail between his legs now, but I knew he would be back. It was just a matter of time until he worked the strength back up to face me again.“Well, that was a little more
CALEB“Daniel, let it go,” Ruby yelled, her hands swishing at her sides. Goddess, she is extremely drunk. “He didn’t really mean it, like not actually.” She said to me, squeezing in between us and trying to push us apart.“I think your little friend needs to be taught a lesson, Ruby.” I said, liftin







