Chapter 3: Back to the place of pain

~~Ruby’s~~

The journey back to my pack was long, but my mind is elsewhere. Every mile I put behind me is another step closer to the life I tried to leave behind, the pain, the memories, the twin mates who never wanted me. But none of that matters now. My parents are gone. My brother needs me.

I tighten my grip on the reins of my horse, urging it forward. The forest stretches endlessly ahead, the moonlight barely breaking through the dense canopy. The silence should be comforting, but my instincts prick with unease.

Then, the first growl shatters the night.

I barely have time to react before shadows dart between the trees. Rogues.

They emerge from the darkness, filthy, snarling beasts with eyes that gleam with hunger. My body moves on instinct. I leap off my horse, rolling into a defensive stance as the first rogue lunges.

The battle erupts in a blur of fangs and claws. I dodge, spin, strike, every move I made were calculated, every hit precise. The rogues are relentless, but so am I. My strength has only grown over the years, and I refuse to be taken down.

One rogue manages to knock me back, my back slamming into a tree. Pain flares up my spine, but I don’t hesitate. With a growl, I grab the dagger strapped to my thigh and drive it into the rogue’s throat.

It collapses at my feet, lifeless.

The others hesitate. They weren’t expecting this. They thought I’d be an easy target.

They were wrong.

With a snarl, I charge forward, cutting through the remaining rogues until the ground is littered with their bodies. My breathing is heavy, my heart pounding.

And I never once shifted into my wolf.

By the time I reach the pack, exhaustion weighs on my limbs, but the moment I see my brother standing at the gates, all of it fades.

“Luca.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but he hears me.

His expression, one of worry and grief, shatters when he sees me. In an instant, he’s running. I barely have time to brace myself before he crashes into me, his arms wrapping around me in a desperate embrace.

“Ruby,” he breathes, voice thick with emotion. “Thank the Goddess you’re back.”

I clutch onto him just as tightly. “I’m here.”

He pulls back, his sharp eyes scanning me for injuries. Then, his gaze darkens. “You already got into a fight?.”

“Some Rogues ambushed me in the forest,” I admit.

Luca stiffens. “And you didn’t shift?”

I didn't answer outrightly. I couldn't...

Because shifting has never been the same since that day.

He exhales sharply, rubbing his forehead. “Ruby…”

“I’m fine Luca,” I cut in. “It's nothing I can't handle.”

Luca studies me for a long moment before sighing. “You are still as stubborn as always.” But then, he smiles, the tension easing. “It’s so good to have you home, sis.”

I returned his smile. But deep down, I knew, I will never truly be home.

That feeling only worsens when my brother broke the news.

“Ruby..I.. Uhh.. I think you should know…” he hesitates but I gave him that scary look and he caved “You can't stay with me, you have to stay with your mates”

The words hit me like a physical blow. My breath catches, my hands curling into fists.

Those bastards!

Luca watches me carefully, as if expecting me to fight back. But what’s the point? It’s not like I had any choice. The Alpha’s decree is law, and right now, I am powerless to refuse.

Still, the pain I buried so long ago kept clawing its way to the surface.

I thought I had hardened myself against them.

But I was so wrong.

I bade my brother bye and headed for the pack house

With the packhouse in sight, every step I took closer, my resolve begins to weaken. I remind myself why I’m here.. not for them, but for my family. For revenge.

But then I step inside, and the scent hits me.

Perfume. Alcohol. Lust.

I stop in my tracks, nausea rising in my throat.

Laughter echoes from the other side of the hall. I don’t have to look to know.

The twins.

With two other women.

It shouldn’t hurt. I shouldn't even feel it. I was never theirs to begin with. They made that clear years ago.

And yet, as I stand there, frozen in place, the old wounds rip open.

I turn on my heel and walks up to the room I knew was mine in the pack house.

Later in the day I still refused to seek them out. I have no reason to and I would have loved nothing more than to avoid them completely.

But they sought me out first.

Bernard turned out to be the first to find me. He doesn’t speak at first but I noticed his eyes on me and ignored him, as I got through my usual drills in the training ground I could sense his presence . His eyes linger on my movements, sharp, precise, lethal.

“You’ve changed,” he finally speaks.

I didn't stop to. Indulge him. “So have you.”

He frowns. “That’s not what I meant.”

I glance at him briefly, unimpressed. “Then what did you mean?”

He hesitates. “A little birdie tell me you encountered rogues, but you didn’t shift.”

I go still.

He heard? Or Luca told him?.

But I recover quickly, shrugging as I wipe the sweat from my brow. “I didn’t need to.”

Bernard narrows his eyes, but before he can say more, Basil arrives.

Just like his brother, Basil doesn’t say a word at first. He stops behind Benard and just watches me, expression unreadable.

I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to look away.

This time, I won’t break first.

But a guard breaks the silence bearing a letter in his clutches..

“This letter just arrived for Miss Ruby..”

Basil and Bernard shared a glance at each other but before they could move, I beat them both to it and snatched the letter, without a second left I turned and walked into the house and up to my room.

Once inside, I tear open the letter and It’s from Raine.

I recognize the familiar handwriting before I even unfold it. My heart clenches.

“Ruby,

I heard about your loss from Serena. I wish I could be there with you, but I know this is something you need to do on your own. Still, I can’t help but worry. Please, be careful. Don’t let the past consume you.

I’ll be waiting for you.”

My fingers tighten around the letter.

For the first time since returning, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

Even amidst the storm, there is still someone who sees me.

And right now, that’s enough.