17

RUBY

I didn't know how to feel. Not at first.

Seeing Austin's broken look though, I felt something jab my chest, pushing past my flesh and ribs and attacking my heart. And it cut through. Painfully.

I felt trapped, in a prison I couldn't get out of.

"Tell him to leave. Tell him you don't ever want to see his face again or I swear to the goddess, you'll never get your powers back." Those words hit more than a turnado. Weight heavier than a ton.

I look at my hands first. They were the literal definition of bound and caged. My heart squeezed in my chest. I turned, unable to breathe facing the man who was supposed to be my mate. My life partner. And I said the most cruel words to him. I told him to leave. I told him I was Troy's now, exactly what Troy wanted me to say.

"Ruby, don't do this, please. I love you. We can fight this…" My eyes watered, the streaming streaking down my already wet face. I shook my head and took the most painful step back closer to Troy. Austin didn't know what was going on. He wouldn't understand even if I told him what Troy's father had done to me.

Get your powers first, fight later. That was the mantra that sang in my head. I forced my face to look away from Austin, making him believe that I didn't want him again. "I never wanted you, Austin." Lies. "Troy has been it for me. He's my true mate, remember?" Another lie. And I hated myself for telling a lie. Father hated it.

"You heard her, son. Take your men and leave here at once. My daughter is back home." My father had the nerve to speak. I squeezed my eyes shut. My powers were within reach. I could feel the mild heat. But it never materialized no matter how much I tried. The fuckin drug. I needed the antidote. And fast.

I didn't speak even if I wanted to. And I had a lot to say but to Austin. It was a shame that the drug was affecting my wolf too. It had made me completely human that I couldn't even mind link anyone.

Troy kept his hands lazily around my waist. He had me where he wanted me. I could hear his breathing. Feel his heat. Even only human, I felt things I didn't want to feel. And it seemed he noticed, before his eyes dropped to me.

"You're where you belong, Ruby. With me. I'll show you that I'm the right choice. The only choice."

"You forced me, Troy. You can keep deceiving yourself that you gave me the option to choose but you and I know how I got here. Hell, everyone knows. You and I will never be happy together. I don't know why you can't see that."

My lungs burned for some air. I had said too much without breathing but I didn't care. Troy's expression changed to something else. He looked like he was fighting himself.

"You say that now, but I will make you see that only I can truly make you happy." His voice hung low. His eyes fell on my lips and I unconsciously dragged my lips over them, wetting them.

Earlier on when I fought coming to the hall, he had me pinned to the wall in his room. He pressed his body, and his growing cock against me. Said things to me that I didn't want the displeasure of remembering because they did nothing but linger in my thoughts. And if I were to let that happened, it meant I was letting him invade my mind and soon, he would never leave there or here, reality.

My stomach flipped at his words, butterflies swam for whatever fucking reason because he spoke in tone I had never heard before. And I hated how pleasant it sounded.

Maybe it was a good thing that my wolf was shut from me. She would have purred shamelessly now that we bore his mark.

Speaking of which, the bitch hurt. The spot still tingled, the sensation annoying. But him marking me, was something I knew I would never forget. I didn't forget how the first felt. And I wouldn't this one either.

Austin stood there looking at us. I cursed under my breath, for a moment I had forgotten that he was still here.

Goddess help me.

"You should leave, Austin. Please, just go." Don't hate me. He started to shake his head. Austin could be shy, and be an introvert, but he was a lot stubborn too. A trait I didn't want him to showcase right now because if anything happened to him, his father would hate me. And I couldn't afford that. "Think about your men. Don't let them die because of your hard headedness."

I gestured with both hands, feeling the rope eat my skin. That was more than a bruise now. "They knew what they signed up for when they followed me here." Yeah, he doesn't want to leave. Troy twitched where he stood. My hands shot to his arm, holding him back.

"Don't make me hate you. Leave!" I forced myself to say.

"Escort them off my property, boys. I'd like to spend some time with my mate now." Talk about rubbing salt to a wound. That was exactly what Troy was doing to Austin and I. My eyes remained on Austin's retreating form until he disappeared from my view.

Troy scooped me into his arms in bridal style and followed behind, taking me out of the hall to his house. The one I lived in and was forced to leave because he had chosen someone else as his mate. Resentment formed in my chest but I made no move to stop him from walking. There was no use of that now until I had my powers back.

When he reached the door, it swung open, revealing Maria, the house help. She had aged well, hair grayer, wrinkles starting to show.

"Welcome back Alpha." She said softly with a smile before her eyes fell on me. Recognition hit and her eyes widened. "Ruby? Oh my, you're back…"

No, I was kidnapped and forced to marry this asshole. I spat to myself. But I smiled to her. She didn't deserve any harsh words from me. Back then, except for Troy, Maria was the only person who treated me like I was human. Seeing her now made me realize how much I had missed her.

"Hello Maria. It's good to see you again." I said back in a whisper. She smiled wider, closing the door behind Troy. He walked to the sofa and carefully placed me on it.

"Maria, please have the bath water ready for my luna." His Luna. I wasn't that. I didn't want to be that. Not his anyway. My mind drifted to Austin and I imagined how broken he would feel. How betrayed I must have made him feel.

I watched Troy drop on one knee, taking my hand in his and then start to work on the knots, loosening them. The rope had etched into my wrists like a second skin. I winced as he peeled it off. Cold air hit the wounded spot, a sting following. It was worse than I thought it was. Troy cursed under his breath and my eyes snapped to his face. From the frown on his face, he must not have expected me to tug at the rope like I did.

"Fucking hell, Ruby. Look what you did. You've wounded yourself." I rolled my eyes, feeling my chest tighten at the memory of finding myself in his other bedroom in the Alpha's mansion.

"If you hadn't kidnapped me, my wrists would have been fine." My nostrils flared in anger. I yanked my hand away and scooted away from him. He sighed and got on his feet.

"I couldn't have you leave me again, Ruby. The wedding had to happen or I would have lost you." I didn't bother to look at him. I was appalled by his audacity. It was heart wrenching. What right did he have to force me into this?

I glared at him and got on my feet as well, I didn't care that he was a tower over me. "I hate you, Troy. I had your guts. I had your entitlement. I had everything about you." And I didn't lie. I couldn't have. Not with the anger rumbling like thunder in my chest.

His face twitched but he backed away one step. "At least you feel something for me. I don't expect you to be happy with how things went down, but like I said, I couldn't afford to loose you to him. You're stuck with me. So sit the fuck down, and let me treat your wound before it gets infected."

I glared at him some more. But I did sit down. Only because I was about to ask him something. I watched him leave, making no attempt to escape this time around. I was smart enough it wouldn't do me any good if I did. I stared at my wrists. I felt powerless, back to the girl that lived here and was hopelessly in love with him. Then I could do nothing but rely on him for everything.

The sound of footsteps reached my ears. In a moment, Troy came back holding a first aid kit. That too, I recognized. "You said you'd give me the antidote once I marry you. We're married now, where is it?"

Troy clenched his jaw, said nothing and took a seat beside me. He pulled out the alcohol and some wipes and swabbed it on the wound. That shit hurt like a bitch. Then he blew some air on it before patching it up with some bandage.

I waited a heartbeat for an answer but none came. So I tried again. "I knew you were a liar, but I didn't think you'd go back on your word on this." His word.

It was something Troy held dearly. If he made a promise, he always went through with it. Well, most of the time anyway.

Once he was done wrapping my wrists, he shut the lid of the first aid box and set it on the floor. Then he looked at me. "You'll have the antidote Ruby. I want you to take a look at something first." He left the room again and returned a second later with a brown envelope.

He handed it to me and I took it and set it on the table, not opening it just yet. Troy remained standing, before crossing his arms over his large chest. It reminded me how good it felt when he held me. How it used to feel to lay on it.

Snap out of it, Ruby! My mind scolded me and I was thankful for the awakening.

"Open it. Read and tell me what you think." I stared at him for a full minute, before lowering my gaze to the envelop that sat pretty on the center table. Did I want to see what was inside? My mind split in two. One part warned not to read it. The other, couldn't wait to see what was inside it.

I grabbed it, if this was what it took to get me the antidote, then so be it. I fish the papers inside and my breath got caught in my throat. I abruptly stood on my feet, heart pounding. Troy really did intend to lock me up.

"What the fuck is this?" I asked, as if I didn't already know.

Troy didn't move a muscle, but his eyes told me that it was either this or nothing. "Read it all, Ruby…" He stated still unmoving and I let out a frustrated sigh.

I looked at the papers again, the heading and force myself to read it again. Marriage Contract Agreement

I read it all and I paled. I shook my head and let the papers fall. "No, Troy. I'm not doing it." My chest tightened at the realization that I'd have to be stuck with him in this pack for a while and I wasn't having it.

Instead of doing something about it like telling me this was some sick joke, Troy smiled softly I almost didn't recognize him. "I did say I'll get you the antidote, my luna. And I will. Don't think I don't know what your plan is. So I need you to sign this, I want your word that you will stay in this marriage with me for a year and you won't try to run away, you won't leave until we're divorced."

Why would he do this to me? Scratch that, why would the moon goddess pair me with someone so insufferable?

One year with him and everyone I hated in his pack would be the death of me. "Troy…" I started to protest. Maybe there was something else we could agree on.

But he shook his head as if reading my mind. "Take the deal Ruby. I could keep you here for the rest of your life but I'm offering you a choice now. You said I didn't when I forced you to be my mate right? I'm not forcing you now. I want you to choose. Sign it, and I'll have a year to prove to you that you and I belong together and the moon goddess didn't make a mistake."

His words dulled in my head. The ringing became louder. This deal was a way out. I didn't want to risk being locked up somewhere away from sunlight in this pack. I'd been in the dungeons before. I knew exactly how cold it was down there, not to mention the dirty, smell and wetness.

I shuddered just thinking about it. One year. I could survive that right? One year and I would go back to my life. I gathered the papers in my hand and straightened. "I'll sign it, but I have conditions of my own…"