12

RUBY

Leaving Ironclaw without any bloodshed was a miracle I wouldn't forget. Father was ready to wipe them clean and be done with it. But I stopped him. And luckily for them, Troy wasn't hardheaded like his father was. He knew better than to risk his pack over me. Over the company they think they could get their hands on.

It was ridiculously funny. The audacity.

Having arrived at the pack hours ago, I locked myself in the four corners of my room.

I craved a little solitude. Austin had been worried ever since we returned. I could feel him pacing at the back of my mind. He wanted to reach out but not when I didn't want him to. He needed a sign and for that he waited.

After showering and freshening up, I tried to eat but the food tasted bland and gritty. I couldn't bring myself to eat it. Not that anything was wrong with it. A lot was just wrong with me at the time.

I also tried to shut my eyes for a moment, to allow sleep ease the stress away but I just kept tossing and turning.

The sky darkened after some time and I heard a faint knock on the door. I rose to my feet, swinging my legs over the large bed and hurried to answer it.

Father stood in the doorway holding a plate of fruits. "I heard someone didn't eat," he started. He wasn't scolding, but his expression displayed worry.

I followed him back to my bed where he placed the plate on the side table before sitting on the edge of the bed. "Are you okay, sweetie?" he asked, placing his hand gently on mine.

The walls I built around my emotions came crashing down at once without warning. I hadn't realized how much I was bottling up until the tears started to fall.

Father pulled me to his arms and wrapped me in a warm embrace.

Today was a lot. I hadn't expected so much to happen over one harmless trip. I ignored Austin's warning and we almost paid for it.

"There, there. It's alright. You're home safe now, aren't you?" Yes, but for how long until he shows up again?

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone there. I just didn't want to leave a bad impression on the company…"

"Nonsense, you did nothing wrong. You're a good kid. And you know, it's okay to say no in business. They can't force you to provide services for them when you don't want to…" Father offered a small smile as he held me and comforted me.

The tears continued to fall, the ache in my chest still heavy. I was so sure I had moved on. The tears were evidence that there was still something in there.

I wiped them with the back of my hand a few times, that didn't stop them from the continuous flow.

"Can you believe they tried to force me to marry him?" I asked, somewhat offended. "And so that he could have control over my company…" I strained the words out.

Father's face twisted from care and love to instant rage. "Austin told me…" he backed away from me for a bit. "I should have wiped them out." He gritted once again.

"Thank you for showing up when you did though. Now they know not to mess with me…" His head bobbed up and down in agreement. Before his expression turned serious again.

"And that brings me to why I want to talk to you, Ruby." My pulse quickened. Did I mess things up again? He rose to his feet and started to pace, making my palms sweaty. "What do you think about Austin as a man?"

I frowned, his words caught me off guard. "Austin?" He nodded then abruptly halted before sitting back down next to me.

"I know this might sound sudden, but I have always thought that you and my son make a good match for a mate. Not to mention the boy is head over heels in love with you. Has been for years."

I was more than taken aback to this confession. I'd only seen and treated Austin like a brother and a friend. Not once had it crossed my mind that he could be my mate.

I sat in silence, heart racing, mind confused and palm sweaty so much I had to rub them against my shorts.

For a heartbeat I didn't say a word and neither did Father. He just watched me.

My head lowered, I tried to search for an answer, anything that wouldn't make the situation awkward. Thank God it's not Austin in front of me right now.

"Ruby, you don't have to agree if you don't want to. Hearing my boy tell me how Ironclaw pack tried to force you into a marriage you didn't want with so much anger and pain in his eyes was heartbreaking for me. I just thought you might want to know how he feels about you since he's too much of a coward to tell you himself…"

I chuckled at that last part, I knew firsthand how shy Austin could be. I just didn't think it was to me alone and no one else.

"I don't know Dad. I mean I didn't know he felt that way…"

"Now you know Kiddo, think about it."

"Who's thinking about what?" Austin's voice cut in. I avoided his gaze. Knowing what I knew now, I didn't know how to look at him without feeling some type of way.

He stalked in and my heart raced in my ears. Goddess, why is he here?

"Ruby, eat your fruit. And don't you dare say no…" Father excused himself before I could even say a word. He left me alone with Austin.

I reached for the plate, eating would definitely keep my mouth from talking. But my fingers lightly touched Austin's. It would have been fine before now. But now, I felt a spark I didn't even know was there.

I withdrew my hand and he got to lift the plate. "Are you feeling better?" He asked and I nodded, staring at my hands and playing with them. "Ruby, look at me."

Oh no, please don't make me.

"He scolded you didn't he? I swear he's going to make me…"

"He didn't scold me. Can I have my fruit plate now?" I managed to look up, my eyes meeting his. He arched a brow as though he didn't believe me but slowly handed me the plate.

I took the first bite quickly, I could still feel his eyes on my face. I prayed that my face wouldn't redden. I don't even know why I'm like this.

"You're acting weird. Did something happen?"

Fuck, I knew it.

I paused mid feeding myself and shut my eyes. Before letting out a sigh and putting the plate back on the table. It was now or never.

"How long have you been in love with me?" My heart thumped in my ears. Austin froze, before rising to his feet. He backed away from the bed and headed for the door. "If you leave now, we won't ever talk about it." I was joking.

But he turned with frightening speed and for a second I thought he'd hurt himself.

"I'll answer…" he rushed the words out. But then he sighed as if to slow his own heart beat. "He told you, didn't he?" He asked and I nodded. "Uhm, yes, I love you, Ruby. I've been in love with you since the day father and I saved you. I've loved you since then, I just didn't know how to tell you. You were closed off, I didn't want to scare you."

He breathed hard, the sound rough in the silence that echoed after.

For a moment we just stared at each other, not speaking. "Fuck, I'm sorry. I wanted to wait until…"

"It's okay." My voice was small. "I had no idea you felt that way, Austin. Dad thinks we would make a good match. What do you think?"

He chuckled. "I just poured out my heart to you, you're asking what I think?"

"You feel this way because you haven't found your mate yet. What happens when…" he rushed forward, covering my mouth with the palm of his hand.

"I only want you Ruby. I don't care about anyone else." His words sounded so sincere. I hadn't seen him this serious before. The emotions in his eyes were raw I could almost see the love he was talking about.

So this is what it feels like to be chosen.

I dared to think. One time Troy had the same look in his eyes for me. But not as burning as Austin's.

Austin looked at me like I was the very life he was living. Amidst that emotion was another, and I knew her well.

Fear.

Fear of losing someone.

I only then realized that I had seen it back in Ironclaw when Bolton demanded that I wed his son.

So that's what it was.

I didn't know what came over me, but I lowered Austin's hand from my mouth and wrapped the other hand at the back of his neck before pulling him into a kiss.

It was slow, shocking both of us. But after about five second I pulled back and said words I'd never thought I would say to anyone, let alone Austin who had been my brother for five solid years.

"Let's get married Austin. I'd love to be your mate."