CHAPTER TWO

“Mate,” the man whispered with his eyes focused on her. Ruby could feel her heart thundering in her chest but her eyes also remained locked on his. His eyes were like ice. They were the color of a clear spring sky. The color of a clear river joining the great ocean. It radiated a thousand hues of blue and a small gleam of hazel swept softly at the arcs. As long as she could remember, Ruby imagined how meeting her mate would be and how he would look like when she finally met him, and nothing could have prepared her for who stood before her. His brown hair was messy and glistened with sweat as if he ran all the way there with his wolf just to meet her. The shirt he wore hugged him leaving little to her imagination. He towered over her, his broad stature making her appear even smaller. “Who are you?” He began as he sauntered further into the room. Instinctively, Ruby stepped back. Her rugged steps didn’t go unnoticed by the god of a man. A small smirk marred the corner of his lip as he took another step into the room, and then another, and then a few more until the back of her leg collided with the side of his bed. A gasp escaped her lips when he trailed a finger up her arm. His touch was soft but it felt like electricity surging through her, through every spot he touched. She knew he felt it too. His lips were in a thin line and his ocean orbs grew darker like a raging sea on a stormy day. He leaned closer, his nose touched the crook of her neck and he inhaled. That was when she got a proper whiff of him. He smelt of musk, but underneath that, of cedar wood and mint, just like the room, like he belonged there. Like he owned it. 'This was his room,' Ruby thought as her senses were clouded by the man who slowly snaked his arm around her waist pulling her closer. Her knees grew weak as she leaned closer to him. Her hand landed on his shoulder earning a groan from him. “All mine,” he grunted, his tone vibrating on the nape of her neck. His arms tightened against her waist. His breath fanned the spot between her neck and shoulder where he would mark her eventually. Ruby winced and pulled away slightly when he pressed against her rib which she knew was still bruised from her beating that morning. And then it dawned on her. That was his room and that meant he was the Alpha. The Alpha of the Redmoon pack was her mate. The man stepped away at the sound of pain that she eluded and stared at her. Concern, lust, and glee flashed through his eyes, but he quickly masked it. Ruby stared wide-eyed at him and then she felt it, the aura of authority that filled the space immediately he stepped in. Ruby lowered her eyes when she noticed him staring intently at her. She knew that he saw it all now; her busted lip and slightly tattered appearance. How he would curse the moon goddess. And she couldn’t also imagine her luck. She, an omega mated to an Alpha. Who could have thought? “Who are you?” he repeated his question and this time, his voice sounded stern. “And how did you get in here?” “I-I Ruby,” she stammered. “Cleaning...” Pink stained her cheek at her inability to speak. Her mate was asking about her and she couldn’t even make a full sentence without fumbling terribly. What would he think when he found out what she was? What she had been put through? Ruby would imagine him running in the other direction while cursing the moon goddess for giving him a burden. But then a small part of her still hoped. He could take her in his arms, hugging her as tightly as he could, shielding her from the world she had come to know and loving her with all he had. But Ruby knew that the latter was wishful thinking. “Speak clearly.” His words were interrupted by feet approaching the door and soon the door was pushed open to reveal Ophelia. Wisps of her blond hair swayed back and forth as she entered with a skip. The top and shorts she wore highlighted the feminine curves she was blessed with. “Aiden, you’re back!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. Ruby felt her throat constrict at the gesture. Aiden’s eyes remained fixed on Ruby’s with his expression being the perfect mask of conflict, but his arm rose to rest on Ophelia’s waist. Jealousy flared inside Ruby, but she fisted her arms to keep it down. The tighter he held onto her, the tighter her chest felt. How she wanted to tear her arms and push her away from him. She wanted to yell at the top of her voice, Let him go, he’s mine! “I can’t believe you’re back. I missed you,” Ophelia proclaimed enthusiastically. “When did you get back?” “I just got back,” Aiden spoke. His deep voice turned Ruby’s insides to jelly. Ophelia giggled and flipped her hair, in the process, catching a glimpse of Ruby standing awkwardly. “Oh, Ruby! You’re still here,” Ophelia said while smiling brightly, baby blue eyes shining and all. But in its depth, mischief danced. Ruby glared at her attempt to feign innocence. If it wasn’t for her childish games, she wouldn’t be there. But if it wasn’t for her childish games, she wouldn’t have found her mate. “Ruby,” Aiden breathed out. Ruby sucked in a breath. He said her name and the way it rolled out of his tongue did something to her insides. Like it was made to be uttered by him. “Yes, she’s Ruby, my sister.” A glow crossed Aiden’s blue eyes when she said that, but it disappeared as quickly as it came when she spoke again. “She’s an Omega.”