CHAPTER NINE

Aiden's words kept repeating in Ruby's mind as she adjusted to life in the Duskfall pack. Found you. The mere thought of it sent shivers down her spine. How had she done it? How could she feel everything he was feeling? He was in bed with his eyes closed when she sensed him. Through the connection, she knew someone was beside him, but Ruby didn't want to think about that. And then she felt his wolf. For the first time, she felt her true mate. It felt intimate, but she somehow broke the connection when Aiden said those words. She hadn't felt the dreaded pain or Aiden since then. Not that she had tried retaking the rejection oath. She was too scared about the outcome. The creaking of her room door pulled her out of her conflicting thoughts. In walked Lily with a bright smile which outshined the red roses she carried. Ruby's lips tugged upward as she observed the flowers. It had been two days since she tried rejecting Aiden. Dorian had put her on house arrest, preventing her from going too far from the house or working in the garden. She had protested, stating she was fine, but he refused to hear another word. So there she was, stationed in her room with Lily as her dedicated companion. Not that she minded the little girl's presence in any way. Ruby always felt a pang in her heart whenever Lily sat beside her. Although talking or showcasing her favorite toy for the hundredth time, a subtle wave of tension still lingered in the room. Ruby wished she could wipe the pain she had unintentionally caused the fragile child. "Dad and I prepared this for you," Lily announced as she carefully placed the vase of roses on the nightstand. Ruby smiled as she tapped a spot on the bed. On cue, Lily took off her shoes and jumped in. "Young lady?" Dorian chuckled from the door. Lily squealed, unaware that her father had followed her in. With pink-stained cheeks, she replied cockily. "Well, you plucked them, and I carried it all the way here. See, team effort." Ruby and Dorian laughed at the remark. "Why don't you go play with your friends and let Ruby rest," Dorian said out of the blue, earning a scowl from Lily. Shaking her head, she leaned further into Ruby. "No!" Dorian raised his hands curtly. "Fine, I'll go tell Luke that." At the mention of the boy, Lily sat up, her ears earning a red tint. "He came by earlier and asked if you want to play with his new bicycle. I'll go tell him you're too busy for him and his shiny new bike," Dorian concluded, pretending to exit the room. Lily turned to Ruby, an apologetic look present on her face. Ruby chuckled, "Go play. I promise I'm fine." And with that, Lily jumped off the bed and ran out of the room, and soon, the front door closed with a familiar click. The silence that followed was void, almost palpable, and with it, a wave of tension filled the room. Ruby sensed Dorian had something to say and didn't understand why it was difficult for him to spill it out. He stood stationed at the door, and his eyes roamed. "Dorian, is everything ok?" Ruby asked anxiously. Dorian nodded, finally meeting her eyes. "I don't want to freak you out, but Alpha William demands an audience with you." Shock and worry crossed her face, but she quickly masked it up. Ruby knew it was bound to happen. She needed a formal introduction to the Alpha to stay in the pack. Although Dorian was a respectable member of the pack, the Alpha had to see for himself if she posed a threat to his pack or not. "I had sent words to him when I first brought you here. I swore to take responsibility for anything that happens while you are here," Dorian rambled. "I'm sure he just wants to make sure you are harmless. You have nothing to worry about. I'll be there with you." Ruby chuckled at Dorian's uneasiness. "I'll meet Alpha William. I'm sure it's just a procedure for the pack's safety. You have nothing to worry about." Dorian nodded. "We leave in an hour." ***** The walk to the pack house took approximately ten minutes. The sun nestled in the blue sky resembled an orb made of molten gold. Its heat, tamed by the gentle breeze, was a welcomed gift of nature. Ruby sucked in a breath, filling her lungs with the warm countryside air laced with flowers and dust, and she could even make out the mouth-watering aroma of freshly baked pastries. The atmosphere in Duskfall was tranquil. Soon, the Alpha's house came into view. It stood majestically at the center of the pack. Its walls were made with a reddish brick, which shone like it soaked its glow from the golden energy source. On the left of the building was a large field surrounded by a wooden fence. As Ruby approached, she could make out people training there. "Everyone, both boy and girl, goes through training when they reach a certain age," Dorian said as they approached the pack house. "Danger is unpredictable, so we need everyone to be prepared when it strikes." Ruby nodded at the truth in his words. "Maybe I'll sign you up for the next training. I don't want you backed against a tree with a sprained ankle ever again." Ruby chuckled at his words. At the front of the house, a man waited. He looked to be in his forties with pepper-salt hair. Dorian bowed in respect, and Ruby followed suit. "You must be Ruby," The man said. His face held crevices of age, but that did nothing to tamper with his looks. Ruby nodded awkwardly. "Come with me, Alpha William is expecting you." The inside of the house was as beautiful as the outside. Multiple doors lined the walls, sealing rooms with contents unknown. A stairwell sat at the far right, and the man led them to it. Turning to Dorian, the man spoke. "Alpha William would like to meet Ruby alone." Dorian motioned to protest, but Ruby grabbed his arm. "It's fine," She reassured. Dorian took a second to think about it before nodding. Ruby turned back to the man to find him already ascending the stairs. Swallowing a nervous lump, she followed suit. The creaking under her feet with each step did nothing to calm her nerves. She had hoped Dorian would be there with her as a pillar of familiarity, but it seemed nothing went as she wished. Once up the stairs, the man stopped and pointed to a single door at the end of the hall. In a bold nameplate, read Alpha William with a crescent moon crest. With shaky hands, Ruby knocked once, and a voice ushered her in. Turning the knob, also engraved with the crescent moon, she stepped into the room. Furnished with a big mahogany table and black executive seats, the room was spacious but, at the same time, bare. At the back of the table was a man Ruby figured was Alpha William. She had expected an older version of the man. A youthful aura surrounded him, but above all, the suffocating energy of an Alpha radiated from him, filling the room. Ruby bowed in respect. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Ruby," His voice was deep and held authority. "Likewise, Alpha." "I heard from Dorian about your unexpected arrival to my pack. Do you know how long you'll be staying?" Ruby thought for a second but couldn't come up with an appropriate answer. Her arrival at the pack had been a mistake. She ran without a destination but knew she would have to move along soon. "I-I don't know." Pathetic! Ruby cringed inwardly at her answer. "No pressure," William assured. "It's my pleasure having you here." Ruby croaked out a thank you. "But before you leave, there is someone who would like to meet you," A small door, which Ruby had failed to notice, creaked open. A shiver ran up her spine when she smelt it, or rather him. Dread filled her lungs as she turned just in time to see Aiden step out. His face was as perfect as she remembered, but this time, a malicious look swirled in his ocean orbs. From the corner of her eye, Ruby noticed William stand from his seat to bow. She couldn't move. She couldn't breathe as her lungs were suffocated by the strong aura radiating from him. And then he spoke—each word laced with resolution and an underlining darkness. "Hello, Ruby."