14

RUBY

I woke with a pounding headache. One moment I was getting dressed for my wedding and the next, a shadow appeared behind, knocking me out. The last thing I heard was the cracking sound of my skull being hit.

Where the fuck am I?

The room was dark and I could hear voices. I narrowed my eyes, trying to make out the figures but my vision blurred and my head throbbed in pain. A groan left my lips, making the figures take a sharp look at me. "Looks like she's awake. Get her ready." Came one of the man's voices before he disappeared.

"Austin…" I called, assuming it was him since my mind was in shambles right now and I couldn't form a reasonable thought. The pounding in my head worsened. I moved to touch the spot only to find that I couldn't lift my arm, I was tied up.

What the fuck?

My breathing sharpened. My heart started to race when I realized that I was in danger. I shut my eyes for a moment, the first thing in my mind was to reach out to Austin. But I couldn't sense him, let alone reach him.

"Don't bother, he's not here." A voice said, snapping me back to where I was. The man watched me struggle and pull at the restraints. The headache, my blurred vision and the panic that was setting in were a bad combination for someone who was in danger.

"Who are you and why did you tie me up?" My words came out strained, my throat dry and tight. I couldn't even sit straight at it felt as though I had taken a beating. I waited for an answer, and for some time he didn't speak. He had his arms crossed on his chest as he stared at me. I couldn't tell if he was trying to decide whether to give me an answer or to get rid of me. But I could feel his stare, burning my skin. "Are you going to fucking answer me?" I tried again. Maybe if I annoyed him, he would talk.

And he did.

And I wished he hadn't.

He first stepped into the light, still arms crossed letting me see who he was. Troy? I gasped in horror. What was he doing here? Suddenly I could recognize my surroundings. I was back in his room. Except it wasn't the one where he had had me locked up days ago. I was in his house, where I had lived with him for a year. The house his parents made me leave for Alana to move into.

"Troy…" Words failed me. I didn't know what to say or ask.

"Hello Ruby, we meet again…" I expected a cocky smile after that. But instead I was met with concern. He was worried and a little bit scared?

"What's going on, Troy? Why the fuck am I in your fucking house?" His brow twitched and he rubbed his eyes, he looked rather exhausted. He didn't say a word to me. For the longest minute he just continued to look at me like there was writing on my forehead he was trying to read.

"Troy Fucking Ashford…!!"

I snapped, my patience running thin. I was in the wrong place. I looked down at my body, my hands were tied at my back and I was still in my gown. I hadn't imagined that part. Then the realization hit me. Harder than I would have wanted.

He fucking stole me. He hit me and brought me back to Ironclaw. My eyes immediately began to water, my heart breaking at the thought that I might never see Austin again.

"First of all, language, Ruby. I don't like you cursing. You never did that before.."

Was he joking right now? He had to be. I didn't care that his expression didn't look like was. He just had to be.

"What am I doing here, Troy? I'm supposed to be getting married to Austin!" my voice broke. I could already see Austin's worried expression in my mind. And how freaked out he and father would be to find out that I was missing not just from my room, the venue but the entire fucking pack.

"You know what and why Ruby. And you're right, you are getting married today but not to that bastard. To me…" His voice was deep, his wolf. He was letting me see that there was no escape for me. I lowered my head in panic, yanking at the knot around my wrists. It didn't do anything but scrape my skin. I didn't care. All I could think about was getting out of this and fighting my way out of this pack if I had to.

Use you fucking powers idiot. My mind screamed at me in the midst of the chaos in my mind and I froze. How I had forgotten that my powers could literally burn through anything. But not this time. Just when I needed it more than anything, my hands didn't glow, my powers nowhere to be found. All that coursed through my body was rage, hurt and fear.

I am not marrying Troy. I told myself, willing my body to work harder like I had to make it the first time I was trying to activate it on my own. Tears burned the back of my tears, blurring my vision and I started to sob. Then to beg. "Please work. Just fucking work already…"

My head rose up, looking at Troy, and I begged him with my eyes. I couldn't marry him. I couldn't be stuck in this pack again. I couldn't lose Austin and father. I just couldn't.

But his eyes hardened. He didn't care about the damage he was about to cause. Infact, something sinister plastered on his face. He dared to smile. That kind that told you that he had won and there was nothing you could do about it.

And that only made me even more desperate. My wrist was bruised from how much I was pulling and twisting for the rope, the fucking thing didn't look ordinary. I struggled against it until I started to bleed and that was when Troy snapped. He reached for me, pulling me by the rope. "You're going to get hurt Ruby, stop yanking…"

I yanked some more. Anger boiled in my chest. Goddess knew why my hands didn't glow. I wouldn't hesitate to kill him right now. "Then cut the rope, I have to get back to Austin."

Troy pushed me back to the bed, and spun around exasperatedly. "Do you hate me so much that the thought of being with me makes you want to hurt yourself?"

"Yes, Troy. I would rather drop dead right now than be your mate."

He scoffed, and nodded his head. I watched a switch happen. That earlier Troy was nicer. The one who took over, his wolf, was nothing close. And I had only seen him be like this a few times and it all happened still because of me right it was about to right now.

"Fine. Then I am going to make sure that you not only marry me but be alive to live with me then. You're not getting away from me, Ruby. I already lost five years without you."

I lunged at him. I might not have been able to use my powers but I knew a thing or two about hand to hand combat. Good thing I paid attention during training and actually sparred with Austin.

Troy didn't expect the attack but he countered it just in time. And instead of fighting back, he turned my body around, my back hitting his chest and he held me there. "Calm down mate."

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down." I slammed the back of my head against his nose, he groaned in pain and surprise, staggering backwards. My eyes searched the room for an exit. The door, the windows. All were shut closed like he had anticipated my escape.

"Just accept it, Ruby. There's no escaping this."

"What happened to you not forcing me to do something I didn't want to do? Did you lie about that too?"

"Too?"

"Like you like about marrying me?"

He sighed, lifting both hands in surrender. But I knew better. "That was before I found out you were going to marry him. I didn't want to force you then. Heck, I don't want to force you now but I don't want to lose you either. I thought I had time to work on us again."

Keep him distracted, find a way out and run.

"There is no us, Troy. You betrayed me years ago and I'll be damned if I'm going to let myself be your option again."

Troy lowered his head, just the distraction I needed. I bolted for the door, and surprisingly found it unlocked. I twisted the knob and pushed the door open. I hated this place, but I was thankful for the memory I had of it. I followed the exit, just about to reach the door when his hands grabbed onto my arm and pulled me back. The force pulled the both of us into a fall but he made sure that I landed on him instead of the floor.

I was hauled over his shoulder when he stood us up, first caging me with his arms as he got off the floor. I didn't stop fighting against him. He headed back the stairs with me and took me back to the room, walked inside and locked the door behind him. Contrast to the anger on his face, his touch was gentle. And he carefully placed me back onto his bed.

"I'm going to say this one last time Ruby. You're mine. And I'm going to make sure pretty boy never sees you again. So get ready because you're about to become Mrs. Troy"

No fucking way.