LOGINRuby's POV When I finally opened my eyes, I saw Austin's face hovering above me. His brows were furrowed in worry, and his hand was gripping mine tightly.“Ruby?” he said softly, voice laced with relief. “You’re awake.”I blinked, still groggy. “What… happened?”Austin exhaled, his tension easing a little. “You fainted after the ritual. We thought—” He cut himself off, shaking his head. “Doesn’t matter. You’re okay now.”I slowly sat up, noticing the others gathered around. Their expressions were a mix of awe and confusion. “Did it work?” I asked. “The ‘claiming’?”One of them hesitated, then said, “It feels… different.”Before I could ask what that meant, a low growl broke the silence. I turned just in time to see one of the players’ bodies tremble, bones shifting beneath his skin. His eyes glowed faintly gold as fur began spreading across his arms.Then another transformed. And another.Gasps and murmurs rippled through the group as they all began to shift one by one under the pale
Ruby's POV The apartment felt quieter once Austin left.I stood by the window for a while, before finally pulling out my phone.When my adoptive mother picked up, her voice was softer than I remembered. “Ruby,” she said, “I was just about to call you. How are things over there?”“I’m fine,” I said. “How about you? Any trouble lately? Is anyone bothering you?”She sighed. “No, nothing like that anymore. Ever since that last incident, it’s been peaceful. I’ve even started tending a small garden behind the house.”“That’s good,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You deserve some peace.”There was a pause before she asked, “And you? You sound… different. Is it because of that young man?”My pulse quickened. “You mean Austin?”“Yes. Is everything all right between you two?”I hesitated. “It’s… complicated,” I began. “We’re—”The door handle turned, and Austin stepped inside. I stiffened.“Mom, I’ll call you later,” I blurted, hanging up before she could reply.Austin paused, look
Austin's POV Monday morning came with a gray sky and a heavy mood to match. The championship final was set for Saturday, and tension around the arena was already thick enough to choke on.Mother had summoned me to the VIP box before practice. When I walked in, she was standing by the glass wall, watching the ice below like a queen surveying her kingdom.“I’ve selected your new lineup,” she said without turning around. “All werewolves. Full strength for the final.”I frowned. “New lineup? What happened to my team?”“They’ll sit this one out,” she said calmly. “The opposing team is entirely werewolves. We need parity. Power must face power.”I let out a sharp breath. “And do these ‘new recruits’ even know how to play hockey? Because last time I checked, super strength doesn’t mean you understand teamwork or timing.”Her gaze slid to me, cold and unwavering. “You underestimate what raw power can accomplish.”“No,” I shot back. “You overestimate it. The old team is skilled. They earned t
Austin's POV John showed up at the rink early the next morning, standing near the boards with that smug half-smile that always managed to irritate me.“Father wants to see you,” he said, tone deliberately casual. “At the golf course. Said it’s important.”I didn’t answer right away, just nodded, grabbed my duffel, and headed for the showers. Something about the way he said it told me this wasn’t going to be a friendly chat.The grass was still wet with dew when I met Father at the course. He looked relaxed, swinging the club with calmness.“I hear you’ve been… distracted lately,” he said lightly. “Is someone you like responsible for that?”I kept my eyes on the ball. “When you need to know, you’ll know.”He gave a low chuckle. “Still evasive. You get that from your mother.”My swing connected cleanly. The ball arced perfectly across the field and landed right where I wanted it. Father’s next swing sliced too far left.“Maybe you should focus less on my personal life,” I said evenly,
Austin POVMy mother’s eyes burned with the kind of cold authority I’d grown up around. “The necklace,” she began, her tone almost reverent, “belongs to the Alpha King’s daughter. If you marry her, you’ll become the next Alpha King, and more importantly, you’ll prevent the Crescent Clan from returning.”I blinked, her words echoing in my mind. “The Crescent Clan?”She nodded. “The very same bloodline that nearly destroyed our kind. This tournament, is part of a larger plan. A test of worth. You were chosen for something greater, Austin. Don’t throw that away for a human girl.”For a moment, I said nothing. The room seemed to shrink around me. Then I let out a sharp breath.“So that’s what this is to you? Politics?” I said. “You think being Alpha King means trading love for strategy?”Her jaw tightened. “A true Alpha understands sacrifice.”I met her gaze squarely. “No. A true Alpha doesn’t need to sacrifice the person they love for power.”Something flickered in her expression. Anger
Ruby's POV When we finally pulled apart, silence lingered between us. Austin’s hand brushed against mine before he murmured, “Let’s get out of here.”The city lights streaked past us, the hum of Austin’s motorcycle steady beneath us. The cold air stung, but the warmth radiating from his back kept me calm. When we finally pulled up to a modern apartment complex, Austin cut the engine and turned toward me. “I rented this place recently,” he said, his tone gentle. “I wanted somewhere safe for us away from everything else.”The words sank in slowly. He’d thought ahead long before tonight. “You planned this?” I asked softly.A faint smile touched his lips. “I plan a lot of things when it comes to you.”Inside, the apartment smelled faintly of cedar and fresh coffee. It was neat, warm, and felt unexpectedly homely. He set down the keys and turned to me. “Trust me, Ruby. I’ll handle everything from here.”There was something steady in his eyes that made it easy to believe him. I nodded. “
Ruby’s POVI didn’t know how long I sat there, fingers curled around a half-empty glass. The alcohol had dulled the sharp sting in my cheek, but it hadn’t quieted the mess in my chest.John’s voice still echoed in my ears, like a sour note that refused to fade.“She asked for you.”“She trusts you.
Ruby’s POVIt happened so fast I barely processed it. It wasn’t a real kiss, just the lightest contact. But it jolted me, like static beneath the skin and I froze.He did too.The moment stretched thin. His eyes found mine, startled, unreadable, but he still held me.Heat crawled up my neck, and I
Ruby's POV The silence after Austin’s words wasn’t empty. It was full of meaning, of questions, and the steady thud of my heart that suddenly felt too loud.After what he’d said on our walk earlier and the way he described the kind of woman he wanted, I just knew. Every word pointed to me. And now
Ruby’s POVAustin’s kiss was so deep, so consuming, it left me dizzy. I clung to him desperately, my lips barely keeping up with his. When he finally pulled away, I gasped, chest rising and falling as if I’d surfaced from underwater.He pressed his forehead to mine. And I put my arms round his neck







