CHAPTER TEN

"Hello, Ruby." The words hit her hard, sucking out all the air left in her lung. Her head felt light as her eyes remained fixed on Aiden. "Leave us," His words were uttered carelessly, but Alpha William knew well to obey as he scurried out, leaving them alone. Alone with Aiden. The room felt ten times smaller as fear crept into her mind. He had found her as he had promised to. What would he do with her now? "How-Why…" Ruby croaked out but soon realized she didn't have anything to say. The tension that filled the room was so thick it could be cut with scissors. Despite her incoherent stuttering, Aiden didn't make a sound, nor did the blank expression on his face shift to reveal even the slightest emotions. Ruby tried again, not being able to take the silence. "How did you find me?" Aiden scoffed as if she asked the most absurd question. "Find you? You called me here, sweetheart." The endearment held no warmth, only mockery. "I think it's best you leave." As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake. But the deed had already been done. Before she knew what was happening, her back had collided with the wall, or was it a door? All that mattered was the fear slowly spreading through her and Aiden's eyes, darkening with anger. "I see you've learned to speak up after running away, mate. Let's see if you still have your voice when I take you back to where you belong." Ruby stared at Aiden. Once suffocating feeling she felt when he pinned her against the wall with his hand firmly on her throat dwindled, and all that remained were sparks of excitement created by the mate bond. Ruby pushed down the growing thrill. She couldn't let him know she was still affected by his presence. "What do you really want from me, Aiden? I left. You should be happy! Why are you here?" Ruby yelled, pushing hard on his chest to create a little distance between them. But her effort was inept. He stood firm, and his grip around her neck tightened. Ruby got a slight glint of the emotion that crossed Aiden's eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came. "You know what, I'm done with you, I'm done with this cursed bond, and I'm done being connected to someone like you." Ruby fisted her hand to stop herself from breaking down. She should be used to his words. His anger and hatred should be recurring episodes she had to withstand. But his every word pierced her already shredded heart, dismissing every hope or longing she still harbored. Aiden wasted no time continuing, "Before the Moon Goddess with my soul laid bare." Ruby could hear the thundering of her heart from her ears. Every fiber in her being yelled for him to stop, begged her to move, to do anything to stop him from completing the oath. But Ruby's mind was made up. She had accepted her fate and wanted to be freed from the cursed bond, too. "I, Aiden Stone, Alpha of the Redmoon Pack, reject Ruby Laine as my mate." The pain was immediate. It felt like a hand had pierced through her chest with its fingers to reach her heart before squeezing hard. She could feel the mate bond, like a thin thread straining as if pulled from both ends. Ruby looked up to stare at Aiden, and she could see the inner turmoil between him and his wolf through his eyes. His eyes darkened as his wolf threatened to be set free, but he quickly pushed it down, and his eyes regained their bright blue. A mischievous glint flashed in Ruby's eyes at the sight of Aiden, who was also in pain. For once, she was glad he had a taste, even if the tiniest bit of the pain he had put her through. "With the Moon Goddess as my witness, I, Ruby Laine, accept it." And with that, it was gone. The pain and a slight tug in her heart still remained, but the overwhelming urge to make him love her was gone. She felt lighter, freed. Ruby almost laughed when she saw Aiden staring at her wide-eyed. Obviously, he hadn't expected her to accept it so quickly. He regained his composure soon after. "Finally, I'm free from you." Ruby remained and reached for the door, but Aiden grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Not so fast. You're coming back to Redmoon with me." His touch seemed strange. The sparks that erupted when he touched her before had died down to almost nothing. "What-Why? It's done. You don't need me anymore," Ruby jerked her arm, but his grip was too tight. "I decide when it's over, Ruby, and you have a sentence complete." "Let me go," Ruby tried tugging her arm free again, but his grip only got tighter. "No-" Aiden's words were interrupted by the door busting open. Ruby almost cried for joy when Dorian walked in. his eyes scanned the room briefly before landing on Ruby's arm clasped in Aiden's unfaltering grip. Anger flared in his gray orbs as he grabbed Ruby's other arm. The action earned him a growl from Aiden, which shocked them both. In one effortless pull, Dorian pulled her to himself, shielding her with his large frame. Ruby was shocked Aiden had let go, but at the same time, she was glad to be away from him. "That is enough, young man," Dorian bellowed in a tone Ruby could only peg as fatherly. "You have no business here, old man," Aiden spat out the words with so much venom. "This is between mates." "Not anymore," Dorian interjected. Ruby felt self-conscious. She didn't think anyone was around to hear their conversation. "Ruby had nothing to do with you anymore, so I think you should leave her alone." If eyes could kill, Ruby knew Dorian would be lying dead on the floor with a few dagger wounds. He wasn't only challenging Aiden. He was also challenging his rank as an Alpha. Ruby knew he was seconds away from letting his wolf take control. As if sending the impending danger, Dorian turned with Ruby in hand, about to exit the room. "Make your decision, Ruby…" Aiden's voice stalled their exit. "Either you come with me, or I take you away, my way, and I assure you, I will destroy anything and anyone who stands in my way." A shiver ran down Ruby's spine at the promise evident in his voice. Peering up at Dorian, she found him already staring at her. As much as she wanted to be free, she couldn't risk the lives of those she had come to love. Ruby tried pulling her hand away from Dorian, but he only tightened his grip and pulled her out of the room. Throwing one last glance at William's office, her eyes collided with Aiden searing at her. She knew it wouldn't be the last time she would be seeing him. ******* As soon as they exited the pack house, Dorian pulled her further down the street, his pace not faltering. Ruby called out to him, but he ignored her and kept pulling her until his abode came into view. It was then Dorian acknowledged her yells. "Dorian, I have to go back," Ruby said, not meaning her words. "And then what?" The question shut her up. Then what? Ruby thought to herself. He would have to face the fate she had run away from. Then Betty's sacrificing for her would be in vain. But she had to. Aiden words haunted her from the moment they were uttered, and Ruby knew firsthand that his threats shouldn't be taken lightly. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me." A piercing scream rang from the cottage as soon as the words fell from her lips. Ruby's blood ran cold, and before she could even think, her feet slammed on the ground as she ran in the direction of the house with Dorian already hot on his heels. As they neared the house, Aiden's beta, Xavier, stepped out. He held onto Lily by her forearm. Screams and tears flowing out of the little girl made her heart break even more. "You should have obeyed when Aiden asked nicely," Xavier said, a sickening grin danced on his face. Ruby heard a snarl escape Dorian at the sight. He picked up his pace, colliding head-first into Xavier's gut, the force forcing him to let go of a crying Lily. Ruby ran closer, but Dorian's yell made her stop. "Get out of here, Ruby." She couldn't, not when they needed her. Guilt flooded her mind at the state they were in because of her. "I can handle everything. You are free. Go now!" Dorian threw one look at her. He looked scary. His eyes were pitch black, and thick veins protruded from his neck. He gave her a weak smile and turned to Xavier, who was half-morphing into his wolf. Ruby turned her gaze to the spot where Lily sat. The little girl was still crying. Ruby wanted to run to her, hold her, and promise to never leave her. But she couldn't. If she did, she didn't think she would go. Ruby let her tears fall as she turned in the opposite direction and ran towards the forest. And like before, she ran, not looking back, but at the same time, leaving a piece of her heart behind.