22

TROY

Ruby's head was turned away from me. She didn't want to look at me. And the way I saw it, she was practically hugging the door just to create more distance between us.

When I'd taken her to the car, she absolutely had no problems sitting at the back. She was my mate, I could drive us but I was no fucking chauffeur.

"Passenger seat baby…" I warned, pulling the door open for her because that was what gentlemen did for their wives. They called it the bare minimum. Something that should come naturally for me to do.

Well here I was, waiting for her to get in and she did with a bit of an attitude.

I sighed and shut the door before walking over to the driver's side while Chris took the back seat. Maybe that was why I didn't want Ruby there. With him. Away from my touch that I'd make sure she felt every bit of later.

And the man knew to keep his mouth shut. He was used to saying snarky and cocky shit, but not now.

When we got to the border, I had two things in mind. Get the vial for my woman and tell Alana to fuck off.

But when we arrived the sight of her caught me off guard. Alana was seated on the root of a tree, she didn't look like what I remembered. Not that I cared to look at her much back then.

But it was worrisome. What the heck happened to her?

A prisoner looked to have more life than the did. She was skin to bones, sickly and fucking pale.

"Troy…" she whispered, scrambling on her feet when she saw me approaching her. Austin wasn't here yet. Good. By the time he arrived, I'd have dismissed Alana and had all my attention on him and Ruby then

"You finally agreed to see me…" My eyes did a quick sweep of her body, noticing the bruises on her skin. Some old, some fresh. And not only that, but she was also injured.

I kept my distance a few feet from her. One question leaving my lips. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

My expression didn't harden because I cared about her. It did because for her and her father, I hurt the most important person in my life.

I felt Ruby's eyes on us, she stayed a few steps away from me, as if giving Alana and I privacy. Something I didn't fucking need.

Ruby was doing a fucking good job at keeping her distance from me too. But not for long. I wasn't going to give her the chance to be apart from me. We had five years' worth of time to catch up on.

She could hate for staying close, but she'd have to deal with the clingy side of me I was about to unleash on her.

"Can we talk? Alone?" she asked, eyes darting past me to Ruby who just stood there watching us

"No. Be glad I even came out here. Say what you fucking want or leave." I couldn't care less if my tone was harsh. Alana didn't deserve a pint of nicety from me or my pack. She betrayed us alongside her father.

"Please, it's important. Before it's too late…" I was about to protest when Ruby beat me to it.

"It's fine, Austin is here anyway." She said pointing ahead and sure enough, his fucking convoy was approaching. I felt queasy, I loathed the guy with every fiber of my being. And no fucking way was I about to let him speak to her alone.

My eyes shot to Alana, blaming her for wasting my goddam time.

My blood started the boil the closer the car approached. It was definitely because of the smile Ruby was trying so hard to suppress from spreading. Not that it did anything to hide it.

And the fact that she was so disinterested in me.

I was her mate. I was the one she was married to. So fucking what if she was forced? Wasn't she supposed to have some form of loyalty to me? Her Alpha? Her fucking man?

My heart raced in an unpleasant speed. Out of rage.

Out of pure fucking jealousy.

His car came to a halt and so did the rest. When he climbed out of it, Ruby ran to him and I sucked in a breath, praying she didn't throw herself in his arms.

She didn't. Holy fucking shit. That was when I breathed again.

I faced Alana when she called my name again.

"I've been calling you." She pouted but that only made her look like a corpse. A walking one.

"Are you ready to talk? Say what you want!" I winced at my own voice. She flinched, acting like she used to around Ruby's parents years ago. Fragile and close to breaking. I didn't buy it before. I wouldn't now.

"I…I…my father hurt me, Troy. Five years ago, I didn't know that was his plan. And when I found out and refused to help him, he had me locked up." Bull fucking shit. She said, her voice breaking as tears gathered in her eyes. My cold heart didn't even react.

"Not my problem. You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?" I asked again, every bit of me already fed up with this conversation.

"I came to help. I've been locked up and tortured for five years and I just managed to escape. I can help you defeat him. I know his plans. All of them…"

I had turned ready to leave before she said that but stopped in my tracks, and turned to face her again.

I didn't trust her for shit. But she mentioned plans, which meant that Alpha Leo was unto something again. By now I was certain he must have heard about the barrier we had set up. Besides keeping the rogues out, he wouldn't be able to pass through as well.

I gave it a thought, feeling my wolf warning me at the back of my mind. Don't do it.

Even my conscience warned.

"Oh really, and what are they?" I wanted to hear them before determining if she was worth the risk. I crossed my arms waiting for her to answer.

"How about we make a deal? I'll do anything you want if you let me stay, if you take me in." Fuck no.

I was taken aback by her audacity to ask me that. It was three fucking stages of wrong. One, Ruby would kill me, second, she was a traitor's daughter. And third, the pack would eat her alive if they saw her.

I shut my eyes, completely annoyed and out of it. "No." I wanted to turn my head to catch a glimpse of what my mate was doing but Alana spoke again.

"He's planning another attack, he knows about the barrier. About her…" she pointed at Ruby and I felt every color drain from my face. Shit.

Ruby had kept her identity hidden from a lot of people. From what I gathered, Austin did most of the deals, only letting her use her powers but in a secluded manner most times.

How the fuck did Alpha Leo find out about her?

"I know she's important to you. If you want to save her and everyone, you'll take me in and protect me, Troy. Please, I'm doing this to make things right." I didn't care about the reason. It wasn't about me or anyone else. It was about my mate. My fucking future. If anything happened to her, the pack would lose me too, and the pack will be gone.

I took a sharp turn facing Ruby, worry and fear coursing through my entire body, sucking themselves into my blood streams. I have to keep her safe.

"How sure are you about what she's saying, Alpha?" Chris interrupted my thoughts but my eyes were on Ruby. Only now remembering what she was wearing and how exposed her body was. I clenched my jaw, hating that I couldn't rush forward and tell that prick to fuck off already.

"Good fucking question. I don't trust this bitch Troy. Don't let her in…"

My wolf chimed into the discussion and I let him.

"He knows about Ruby's powers. I'm not stupid to trust Alana. But if there's a slight chance at beating Alpha Leo, we will take it." I'd already made up my mind and I hated myself for it.

My eyes are still trained on Ruby when I saw Austin hand her the vial that sure looked exactly like the one I had given her. She popped it open without a thought and downed the liquid. My breath caught up in my throat when I felt it. Our bond. It had intensified and I wasn't even next to her. It was comforting to a degree, my anger seemed to die a bit down.

Only to spike up when I noticed how the fucker was looking at what was mine. He ran his tongue on his lips, a prey in front of him. His lips moved, and no matter how much I strained my ears, I couldn't hear a word. Fuck!

"Alpha…" Chris called my attention to them again. To what was of utmost importance.

"Troy, are you even listening?"

"It's Alpha Troy to you."

"Sure, Alpha. Does this mean you agree? You'll take me in and let me stay?"

Her eyes bulged with hope, a bright fucking disgusting smile on her face. I looked at Ruby on more time before letting out a sigh.

I hated myself for having to do this, to choose Alana again.

Its for Ruby, Troy. I thought about that. It was a suffocating thought. It was a need for me to do.

For the pack too. In case Ruby decides she wants a divorce later.

Not that I'd ever let her go. But just in case she left for some other reason.

"You got a deal. But if you fuck with me or my mate, I won't hesitate to kill you. Got it?" Ice as cold was my voice. She nodded in fear. Good. She needed to know that I wasn't the coward I was years ago.

"I understand Alpha. I'll tell you everything, I swear it."

"You motherfucking idiot. If I lose my mate, you're the one dying." Knox hissed, bitterly might I add.

I was about to calm him down when I felt Ruby close. I turned to find the bandages gone, her wrists and palm were as good as new. And Austin had just gotten into his car and was driving off.

Shit. What did they even talk about?

"Pretty boy gone without even a hello?" I asked, trying to squeeze anything out of Ruby. She glared at me, not saying a word.

She was looking at Alana with so much bitterness I could taste it. I gupled, feeling a knot form in my throat.

"Tell her, Troy…" this bitch voiced out excitedly I almost face palmed myself.

My eyes widened for a second.

"Tell me what?"

"Hi, Ruby, long time no see."

No answer.

She was glued on me. Waiting. Heat rushed through my body. Her heat. Her powers. I felt a rush of her emotions, and it came in waves. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, she pulled her walls up before I could even take a sneak peak into her mind.

"Alana will be staying with us for some time…"

I swear I didn't breathe after that. I was sure she was going to vaporize me with her powers. A few seconds passed and I felt nothing. So I played it cool, breathing out through my nose like I wasn't a tad bit scared.

Not at the powers per se. Something worse. I knew I was breaking her heart. I saw the hurt flash in her eyes. And I hated myself a little more.

Instead of acknowledging what I'd just said, she turned to my Beta like I didn't fucking exist.

"I need a few sets of clothes, can you drive me to a boutique?"

She asked so nonchalantly I could swear she didn't have a heart. But I could feel her energy.

Chris laughed nervously, and scratched the back of his head before he answered. "My apologies Luna, but I have some work to do." With that, he was gone. He vanished.

"I said I'd take you. And I will. Get it in the car. You too Alana."