تسجيل الدخولJoe POVI shrugged. “I’ve had girlfriends in the past. They say that heat cramps are like period cramps ramped up, so I figured…” I gestured at everything. “Do you want anything else?”“Could you sit with me for a bit? I’d like to talk,” Ruby said hesitantly.I sank into a chair, uncertain. Was she going to ask me about my past relationships? I thought we’d all had a silent understanding that we wouldn’t talk about that sort of thing. But I wondered if Ruby really wanted to know…“Thank you for entering into the mating bond,” she said, surprising me. “It’s helped so much to fight this spirit. I don’t like to think where I would be if I had actually stayed in the woods by myself.”I reached out to take her hand. Sparks exploded under my skin, and I had to bite back a gasp. Fuck. I was definitely in the rutting phase if such a simple touch would elicit such a reaction. I told myself to pull away, that she was in pain and too vulnerable right now. Though we had discussed it a little bit
Joe POVI shrugged. “I’ve had girlfriends in the past. They say that heat cramps are like period cramps ramped up, so I figured…” I gestured at everything. “Do you want anything else?”“Could you sit with me for a bit? I’d like to talk,” Ruby said hesitantly.I sank into a chair, uncertain. Was she going to ask me about my past relationships? I thought we’d all had a silent understanding that we wouldn’t talk about that sort of thing. But I wondered if Ruby really wanted to know…“Thank you for entering into the mating bond,” she said, surprising me. “It’s helped so much to fight this spirit. I don’t like to think where I would be if I had actually stayed in the woods by myself.”I reached out to take her hand. Sparks exploded under my skin, and I had to bite back a gasp. Fuck. I was definitely in the rutting phase if such a simple touch would elicit such a reaction. I told myself to pull away, that she was in pain and too vulnerable right now. Though we had discussed it a little bit
Joe POVAs soon as the meeting was over, Ruby slipped through a back door.Nearly everyone was so busy talking to each other or Zach and Kurt that they didn't notice. But I did. I did because I was watching her, anticipating something like this. She was so clearly unsettled during the meeting that, of course, she would try to bolt at the first opportunity.I caught Zach’s eye and jerked my chin toward the door. He glanced at it just as Ruby disappeared. A scowl briefly crossed his face, but he erased it quickly and nodded at me. I headed after our mate, trusting that the other Alphas would make excuses for our absence. I slipped out after Ruby.To my surprise, she was already out of sight. Damn, she moved fast when she wanted to. I inhaled deeply, finding her scent. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to take off into the woods again. It was a lot for someone as shy and reserved as Ruby to deal with. If the continual bickering with Zach was any sort of indication, she might be regret
Kurt POVWithout telling them the whole truth about what was happening. But that was only logical—we wanted their support before they realized Ruby was a witch. Still, finding out how to tell them why we all took her as our mate without putting more suspicion on her was going to be tricky.Ruby’s shoulders were slouched, her head bent, and her arms wrapped around her waist. I stood to her left, Joe on her right, and Zach just behind us. The four of us stood in town hall with the Elders’ Council sitting on chairs, listening to Joe talk about how we’d discovered we were mates.According to his story, we three had gone looking for her, found her in distress, and realized from how protective we all felt that we were mates.The Alphas all stood behind the Elders. Some of them, such as Alpha Quinn, watched us with narrowed, suspicious eyes. Denric, Jarek, and Cassian had small, knowing smiles. Did they suspect magic? Or was it something else?“I thought there was something there,” Alpha Laz
Kurt POV“Ruby,” I called, but she didn’t turn around.I knew her well enough that going after her when she was in her current state of mind wouldn’t be helpful. As much as my wolf wanted to go to her, pull her into my arms, and reassure her, she needed space to process her feelings. Especially since she had left the house to spend some time alone, and it seemed that Zach immediately went after her.My jaw clenched as I whirled on my heel and marched to where Zach stood sulking in a clearing. His eyes flashed with annoyance when he saw me approaching. It only made my wolf growl louder.“What the fuck are you doing?” I snarled at him, grabbing his collar. “What did you say to her? She said she needed space, that doesn’t mean you stalk after her to harass her again! What the fuck is wrong with you?”I shook him, my frustration and anger reaching a boiling point. The scars on my face tightened as my wolf’s growls deepened, reverberating in my chest. Zach shoved me off him, a sneer twis
Kurt POV“Ruby,” I called, but she didn’t turn around.I knew her well enough that going after her when she was in her current state of mind wouldn’t be helpful. As much as my wolf wanted to go to her, pull her into my arms, and reassure her, she needed space to process her feelings. Especially since she had left the house to spend some time alone, and it seemed that Zach immediately went after her.My jaw clenched as I whirled on my heel and marched to where Zach stood sulking in a clearing. His eyes flashed with annoyance when he saw me approaching. It only made my wolf growl louder.“What the fuck are you doing?” I snarled at him, grabbing his collar. “What did you say to her? She said she needed space, that doesn’t mean you stalk after her to harass her again! What the fuck is wrong with you?”I shook him, my frustration and anger reaching a boiling point. The scars on my face tightened as my wolf’s growls deepened, reverberating in my chest. Zach shoved me off him, a sneer twis







