CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

Ruby stared dumbfounded at Hestia. To say she was shocked to see her at her door was an understatement. Her palms were pressed together, begging the guard to let her through. Ruby's eyes moved over her frame. The arrogant, self-centered, pompous, always put-together woman she knew wasn't the same person who stared back at her. Hestia looked completely different. She wore a purple cardigan with a white top peeking through and dark ripped jeans. Her blond hair was in a messy bun. Her eyes were swollen and red as if she had been crying for a long while, and her stance was slouchy. Ruby heard her wolf howl, pulling on her restraint as she extended her claw. She saw Hestia as a threat, adding her to her list of people whose demise was a necessity for her happiness, and she couldn't blame her beast's aggressive thoughts—she could imagine anyone else at her door, even Aiden. Still, never Hestia with gloomy blue eyes staring dejectedly at her. "Ruby," Hestia said, her voice croaked and almo