CHAPTER SEVEN

It had been five days since Ruby followed Dorian to his house. Fear had been her loyal companion following her into the warm house, which was a welcomed contrast to the chill of the forest. He had been nothing but kind, offering her a warm meal, which she admittedly gobbled up without any worry of it being spiked or poisoned. As soon as she was done downing the food like a starved animal, Dorian offered a room where she could rest. He had informed her that his daughter was asleep in the room next to her, and as soon as he was out the door, she jumped onto the very comfortable bed and out faster than a shooting star. Heaving a sigh, Ruby chuckled softly at the memory. At first, she remained vigilant, but her guard faltered when she was offered nothing but kindness from the strangers who now treated her like family. Images of Edgar and Ophelia flashed in her mind. The suffering she was put through by those two made her heart ache. Shaking her head, she pushed the memories and the pain to the furthest part of her mind while picking up an old watering can by the handle. As she ambled out of the shed, the sweet smell of fresh flowers tickled her nostrils, guiding her towards their origin-Dorian's garden. Calmness and gratitude flowed through her veins as she examined the plot of land covered in vibrant-looking flowers and plump vegetables. Her eyes then moved through the meandering street leading to the heart of Duskfall pack. The place seemed foreign to her, the polar opposite of the much more modern-looking and bustling atmosphere at Redmoon Pack. It looked like it belonged in another age. The intricate streets flowed like a river, winding around large homes that looked identical to the next. Although the road was a meander, Ruby could still see the pack house from Dorian's, which stood at the far end of the pack, closest to the forest. Being a small pack, it seemed like everyone knew each other. Ruby enjoyed watching the people go about their duties. Some had given her a gleeful wave, although she was a stranger to them, while others gave her a questioning look, which she didn't mind. "There you are!" a squeaky voice echoed from behind her. Ruby turned just in time to see a Lily skipping towards her. A toothy grin was plastered on her face, stretching from ear to ear, and her hazel eyes glowed with childish glee. An involuntary smile made its way to Ruby's face as she watched the little girl stumble towards her. "Hello, Lily," Ruby greeted as she sauntered to the little girl. "Watch your step, Lily," Dorian bellowed at the nine-year-old, who paid him no heed. Her arms wrapped around Ruby's torso as giggles erupted from her. Poking her head to the side, she peeked at her father. "I'm careful!" she replied before returning her attention to Ruby. "You came to the garden without me! You promised to let me help you take care of the roses." From the moment they were introduced, Lily had never left her side. Lily was a breath of fresh air to Dorian, and it didn't take long for Ruby to get attracted to the bubbly child. Although she wasn't Dorian's daughter by blood, he had taken up the responsibility to care for her. She was only three years old when he found her. Ruby didn't want to think about the trauma the little girl had passed through. She was glad Lily made it to a kind person like Dorian. "Of course, you can help me," Ruby laughed softly, letting a giggling Lily pull her toward the rose garden. "Yes! Oh, Ruby, they look so beautiful." Ruby was thankful for Dorian and Lily. They were her life savers, pulling her away from the darkest corner of her life and showing her the true meaning of family. By the Goddess, Ruby loved being in the Duskfall pack. The atmosphere was serene, free of maltreating family and hateful mates. But Ruby knew her days there were numbered. She knew that Aiden wouldn't rest until he found her and punished her for the crime of being his mate. "Ruby, are you okay?" Lily's soft voice pulled her out of her reverie. Staring into Lily's eyes, which were now filled with concern and warmth, Ruby smiled, and before she could reassure the child, a piercing pain erupted from her neck. Grimacing, she massaged the spot with her hand and soon noticed it was where she was supposed to be marked. Not even a second passed before the agonizing pain spread from her neck to her chest. Her hand shakily clutched the fabric over her heart as she hunched over with her mouth open in a soundless scream. "Ruby! What's wrong?" Lily cried out. As much as Ruby wanted to comfort Lily by saying she was okay, she knew that she would be lying. The gut-twisting pain forced her to her knees as it spread from one part of her body to another. Everything hurt. Her body felt as though it was dragged down a rocky road and then doused with acid from the inside. Soon, a pain-stricken scream escaped her lip as she curled into a ball on the dirt floor. "Dad!" Ruby could hear Lily screaming and her little feet padding to the front of the house, but everything seemed distant. The only thing that felt real was the tears welling up in her eyes and the tripling pain. Dorian's screams as he ran towards her sounded muffled. He couched to her level and picked her head up from the floor. Ruby watched his mouth move as he talked, but no sound reached her ear. She gasped. A frail attempt to suck air into her starved lungs, but it felt like a thousand daggers were going in and out of her throat. Black stars danced before her eyes as she was slowly dragged into a welcoming abyss of darkness. Underneath the pain radiating from every crevice in her body, she could feel the mate bond she shared with Aiden slowly loosening. Being wolfless, she couldn't comprehend what was affecting the bond, and also, because she didn't have a wolf, she was damned to feel all the pain when the bond was tampered with. Ruby thought of all the possible explanations for what she was feeling- Was Aiden hurt? Was he torturing his wolf in hopes of destroying the bond they shared? Every explanation felt unrealistic, and then it dawned on her. He had marked Ophelia as his mate, his Luna, and to consummate their union, they were mating. Ruby let her tears roll down her cheek as the pain pushed her deeper and deeper into the darkness. This time, she hoped it would take her away from her misery once and for all.