CHAPTER ELEVEN

Darkness and emptiness were all she felt. The atmosphere around her was still, holding an ominous silence. But in spite of the unnerving condition, Ruby found herself relaxing in the obscurity, embracing it without a care of what lurked beyond. Out of the blue, a flicker of light appeared. Its glow drew her towards it. Ruby struggled with the invisible force, contented in the darkness she had become familiar with. But like a rushing wind, she was pushed towards the light, getting sucked in its brightness. Ruby winced, shutting her eyes as bright light invaded her. Her head throbbed, and her joints and muscles screamed in pain. Where was she? She thought as she tried opening her eyes once again, letting them adjust to the brightness. "I see you're awake." A feminine voice pierced through the silence from somewhere in the room. Ruby had no recollection of how she had gotten there. The white-walled room, the lavender scent invading her nose from the sheets she laid on, or the lady sitting across her bed with a smile playing on her lip didn't spark any recognition from her mind. She tugged at her memory, and slowly, everything rushed back to her. Aiden. The rejection. Lily… Her breath hitched in her throat, and salty water pricked the back of her eye on cue. She remembered leaving Lily when she needed her. She remembered hating herself for being weak as she ran through the forest, abandoning the people who had helped her. It was all her fault. She should never have followed Dorian home. She should have run in the opposite direction when he had offered her the tiniest hint of security. Then, they would be safe in their little cottage with no misfortune. She remembered running like a coward with the rain clouding her vision and making the forest path slippery and difficult to move on, but she didn't stop until she found the highway. She remembered flagging down a bus and boarding it. With head bowed, she made her way to the back of the vehicle, her drenched form making little puddles with every step she took. As soon as she sat, Ruby felt all the adrenaline that had kept her going beginning to fade. Her heart thundered in her chest as the bus started moving. She had gotten away. Her mind felt woozy from the relief that washed over her. With every mile the bus put between her and the path she had followed, the more she let herself relax. The last thing Ruby remembered was watching the rain, which had subsided to a drizzle kissing the bus's glass window and drifting away to the monotonous hissing of the bus tires over the rain-washed highway. And now, she was in a room on a bed she didn't recognize. What the hell happened? Where was she? She thought as Panic crept into her mind. Her eyes ran over the unfamiliar woman who sat patiently watching her with brown doe eyes. Her pepper-salt hair was secured tightly in a bun. The woman handed her a sealed water bottle as if noticing her uneasiness. Ruby collected the bottle. All her senses were on high alert. Although her muscles felt sore, she prepared to run for it if the cause arose. "I'm Linda, an elder here, and I am responsible for anyone who comes into the Greyhound pack," the woman finally said. Greyhound pack? She had never heard of it, not that she knew every pack that existed. But it all seemed strange. Ruby knew the further the bus went, the further she had gotten from pack communities. She figured she should be on rogue territory and not a pack. "Greyhound pack?" Ruby aired out the question that danced in her mind. "Is there a pack present in the rogue territory? Linda chuckled at the question. "Rogues are not what you think they are, child." Ruby stared, perplexed. The knowledge she had about rogues was one that had been known for centuries- wolves who roam free, banned from their pack for grievous crimes. "Surely, yes, some rogues are out there with feral instinct and an insatiable taste for blood, but what about those who are tagged as rogues but only ran for their survival." Ruby squirmed uncomfortably as Linda's words hit home. Linda offered a meek smile to ease her discomfort before asking, "What is your name?" Ruby remained guarded but didn't see the need to ignore the woman's question, so she answered. "Come with me, Ruby." As soon as they stepped out of the house, a gush of wind fanned Ruby's face as she took in the surroundings. She was amazed by how the rogue territory had evolved to resemble a pack. The area bustled with civilization. Roads stretched meandering through buildings of varying sizes as cars and people passed along, going about their day. "Many come here in the hope of starting anew," Linda's voice snapped her out of the pack-stricken reverie. "I came here many years ago, and now you are here. Greyhound was created for wolves that need a fresh start. Here, you are free, not bound by where you came from or what your status was." Warmth spread through her insides. She had started the journey with no destination, and here, an opportunity to start anew was placed straight on her lap. She was free of the bond she had shared with Aiden. She was free from her family, who she knew were more than happy that she was gone. She was alone but contented, ready to make decisions for herself. "You must be tired," Linda placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder, leading her back inside the house. "Your body needs a few more days to recover, and I sense your wolf will need a little bit longer." Ruby was taken aback by Linda's words. Her heart thundered in her chest, and she searched her mind for the presence of the said wolf. But she couldn't feel anything. There was no connection to another being inside her like she had heard many talk about. She didn't blame the poor woman. A wolfless werewolf was a rarity, and she had probably concluded that her slow-healing wounds and frail form were due to an injured wolf. "I don't have a wolf," Ruby informed as embarrassment rushed through her. It was a mystery how she had survived for so long without one. Linda remained quiet for a few seconds, processing the revelation. A soft gasp escaped Ruby's lip as Linda placed a hand over her chest. She stood a few inches from her, and Ruby stared into her pale amber eyes. "I may be getting old, but I promise you, my senses have never failed me" was all Linda said before stepping back. Not wanting to push the conversation further, Ruby remained silent. "When you fully recover, you'll meet the Alpha." Ruby nodded and watched Linda exit the room, finally leaving her alone. Thoughts and questions swelled in her mind, but underneath it, she was happy to be free. And for once, she shook off the feeling of dread and impending danger and embraced her freedom