5

RUBY

He was here, and I had no idea how I was supposed to feel about that. My mind was whirling with a million and one emotions all at once, and no matter how hard I tried to keep it in check, it just didn't budge. I told myself it didn't matter, that his presence wasn't going to change anything, but deep down, I knew that wasn't exactly true. 

Of all the places he could have been, of all the roads his life could have taken, he was standing here, in front of me, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Troy looked older, like time had sharpened his features, carved harder lines into his face, turned the boy I once loved into a man who looked like he fought wars in his sleep. He didn't look happy, not in the slightest. Instead, he looked like someone who carried too many demons and no place to set them down.

He might look like he was carrying the entire world's problem on his shoulders, but there was one thing that stood out. He was still as handsome as ever, in a way that was almost painful and devastating. 

For a dangerous second, I wondered what had happened to him all these years. I wasn't sure where it was coming from, but I had the tiniest urge and push to ask him how he'd been, what had really happened, and maybe even catch up. 

I almost laughed at myself for thinking like that, but if I was to be truthful, a part of me actually wanted that. Whatever it was that had spurred that decision though, it didn't last because my wolf snarled inside me, claws scraping against my ribs, and dragging me back to reality.

"No," I mentally said to myself. "Troy doesn't deserve anything from me, especially after how he'd treated me." 

I hardened my expression as I pulled myself back to the present again. 

"I said," I repeated coldly, "we're not interested in doing business with you."

Even I was surprised by the bitterness in my voice, but apparently, Troy was not. 

I half expected that to intimidate or at least throw him off balance, but it didn't. Instead, he smirked, slow and infuriating, like my anger amused him. 

"You should know by now, Ruby," he said, his tone filled with equal parts pride and something I termed a hidden desperation "I've always been stubborn."

"I noticed," I shot back. "Sadly, that's not going to get you anywhere today. You might as well leave while it's still early."

"I'm not leaving until we talk." Troy let out again, and I knew he meant it. I also knew his presence alone was enough to cause a scene, and attention was the last thing I wanted. People were already watching, and waiting, and while a little visibility was good now and then, the wrong type was usually bad for business, and goddess knows that was the last thing I needed right now. 

I'd worked hard to build what I had right now, and the last thing I wanted was to let a chapter from my past ruin things for me. 

"Fine," I said sharply. Before I would second guess myself and my own choices, I gestured toward Austin. "Stand down."

 "Really? You can't be serious, Ruby." He hesitated, his gaze flicking between Troy and me. I wasn't a mind reader, but I just knew he wanted nothing more than to beat Troy into a pulp. "Are you sure?"

"It's okay, it's just talking." I nodded once. "Make sure everyone else is okay."

"You, both of you." Then I turned to Troy and the man beside him. "Come with me."

Call me crazy or whatever, but I could swear I saw Austin and Troy staring at each other. It was brief and almost fleeting, but in the seconds that passed, I could already tell the primary emotion brewing between the both of them. Animosity. 

I didn't wait for either of them to acknowledge my words before I turned away again. We'd barely taken three steps when Troy grabbed my arm.

I gasped as he yanked me back, pulling me against his chest, his arms wrapping around me from behind. A small gasp slid past my lips, but nothing could have prepared me for the familiar scent of him, wood smoke and something dangerously him, wafting through my nostrils like a memory I didn't ask for.

"Why did you leave?" he demanded quietly. I hated that I could still feel it, but he sounded broken, like my departure had actually done a number on him. "Where have you been all these years?"

I forced myself to not think about it. Whether it was true or not, he was probably trying to get into my head just so he could make things easier for himself. In the blink of an eye, I twisted out of his grip, fury exploding through me.

"How dare you ask me that?" I snapped. "After everything you did?"

"Ruby, I…"He swallowed, his jaw tightening. "I can explain…."

"No, Troy. Don't you dare pull that card on me" I lifted a finger, stopping him cold. "If that's why you're here, you might as well leave."

"Luna…" Chris opened his mouth, but it was Troy's turn to cut him off this time. "Don't," Troy warned him sharply. "I'll handle it." 

"Luna?" I arched a brow. "What's that supposed to mean? What's he taking about, Troy?" 

"We need to talk," Troy said, his voice changing into something lower and serious. "This isn't about us. It's about the pack."

I almost laughed.

Of course it is. Only a man like Troy could waltz back into your life asking for help like he wasn't the one who'd ruined everything you built the moment he got the chance a couple of years ago. He'd done it so easily, betrayed me with so much as a blink, and now he was here because he needed help? 

Pathetic.

"The rogues have been attacking for a while now," he continued, pulling back to the present again. "We need help, and we're looking for the shield."

I stared at him, my lips pressing into a thin line.

"You found it," I thought. "You just don't know it."

The shield wasn't just my company's work, it wasn't just technology and code and machinery. It was me, I was the shield and it was all thanks to my power fused with innovation and woven into systems that kept entire territories standing.

Protection came at a cost, and time limits. And that was what my company was all about. I protected their packs for a period of time, and in return, I got paid. It was simple business really, but just expensive. 

Austin appeared in the room with us like he had been listening, his tone professional and detached. For a quick second, I was tempted to not listen to him, but I did. 

"The barrier technology can only function for a limited period," he explained. "One year of protection costs fifty million, and renewal is required annually so the system can be updated."

"No way." Troy's expression darkened. "That's… excessive." He said looking at me like that wasn't supposed to do something.

I smiled sweetly instead, looking at him dead in the eyes.

"Oh?" I said. "Is that so?"

Neither of them spoke after that, and deep down, I just knew I was about to have some fun with these two.