Chapter 29

They drove the rest of the day in comfortable silence, broken only by Ruby’s casual questions about his life. It was hard at first, talking about the past, like the words were stuck somewhere inside him. But Ruby just kept digging. She was like those archeologists that painstakingly brush the dust off dinosaur bones. Patiently working until the whole thing is revealed.

He told her about never knowing his mother and growing up with Theo’s instead. About his father’s expectations for him, about almost leaving the pack even before Scarlet died. None of it fixed anything, but he felt better, lighter just telling her.

He still didn’t know what to do about Ruby possibly being his Mate and he couldn’t bring himself to confess that piece of the puzzle, but God, it felt good to have her listen and still want to be near him. Maybe she’d been telling the truth the whole time. Maybe she wasn’t scared of him. He let a tiny sliver of hope work its way into his heart.

By the time Rafe pulled off the road into the diner parking lot, the dipping sun painted the tree tops golden.

“How about dinner?” he asked, turning to an absurdly delighted Ruby.

“You’re taking me out to dinner? Is this the part where you start to woo me?” She grinned and he bit back his own smile.

“No, I’m just hungry.”

“Me too! But I figured you’d be hunting us some poor little creature and we’d roast it over a campfire or something.”

“Would you rather that?”

Ruby wrinkled her nose and Rafe lost the battle with his smile. “I’ll take my chances with the diner.”

Rafe nodded and got out of the truck and around to Ruby’s side fast enough to help her down. And she actually let him. Damn. Opening up to a girl really works.

“So, you know this place?”

Rafe took in the diner from Ruby’s perspective. The current building was at least sixty years old, silver with several letters missing from the sign. Myrna’s Diner, now read My ’s in r, but the sign wasn’t necessary anyway. Everyone around here knew the place and anyone that wasn’t local didn’t need to know. Tall grass grew around the front, stopped only by the gravel parking lot. There were three other cars in the lot, two pickups and a rusted old Civic with a hula dancer on the dash. A big crowd for Myrna’s. But the hamburgers and milkshakes were the best. Or at least they always had been.

“Trust me,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her toward the door.

“Be right with you, sweetheart.” The old woman behind the counter didn’t bother to look up when the bell over the door rang their arrival. Ruby looked up at him and smiled like she was having the best day. A ridiculous swoop of pride raced through him.

“Take your time,” he said.

The woman spun at the sound of his voice, along with the heads of a few regulars sitting at the counter.

“Rafe, by God, is that you!”

“It’s me, Gert.”

She scurried around the counter and gave him a squeeze around the middle before smacking him hard on the arm. “Where on earth have you been?” She narrowed her eyes and smacked him again. “Making an old woman worry about you like that. We heard you left—” her eyes cut to Ruby “—uh … town.”

“It’s okay, Gert.”

Gertie looked Ruby over again, apparently deemed her not a threat, and turned back to Rafe. “We heard you left the pack a few years back. I knew you set up shop down south a ways, but it would have been nice to hear from you.”

Tears welled in the old woman’s eyes and Rafe cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. I should have checked in with you. I haven’t … I haven’t been back in a while.”

Gert glanced at Ruby like she already knew this little human was the reason Rafe was back in these parts.

“This is Ruby.”

Ruby stuck out her hand. “So nice to meet you.”

Gertie hesitated a breath and then scooped Ruby into a bone-crushing hug. “Aren’t you just the cutest little thing. Where on earth did Rafe find you?”

“He stalked me through the woods,” Ruby said with a smile and Gertie threw back her head with a laugh like a gunshot.

“I like this one, Rafe. She’s a spitfire.”

Rafe only nodded, suddenly getting whiplash from his past and present crossing paths.

“Rafe’s been coming here since he was knee high to a grasshopper,” Gertie went on. “Back then my mama ran the place. Myrna that is. But she passed on a while back.”

Ruby nodded and Rafe could see her mind racing, trying to piece together what Myrna was and how long she’d been slinging hamburgers by the roadside.

“Anyway, this one was as cute as a button when he was a pup. Didn’t take long for him to grow into this…” Gertie gestured up and down his body and then made a face as though she didn’t know what to make of him.

“There is a lot of him,” Ruby said, grinning. “But I think it’s part of his charm.”

Gert cackled again. “Come with me, darling. I’ll give you my best table.” Gertie took Ruby’s hand and led her to the last booth against the windows. It was exactly the same as all her other tables but Rafe followed along with a smile.

“I’m glad you’re back, dear,” she said with another fond squeeze of his arm before scooting off to tend to her other customers.

Ruby’s eyes were sparkling with delight when he sat down across from her.

“Knee high to a grasshopper? When you were a pup?” she practically squealed. “This place is amazing. Gertie is amazing. Picturing you as a pup. Amazing!” She grinned and slouched back in her seat. “Thanks for bringing me here.”

Rafe shrugged, feeling more exposed than he had all day. It was one thing to tell Ruby stories about his life while staring out the windshield, but to actually show her parts of it? And while she looked at him like that? This might have been a mistake.

But it was too late now because Gertie was already back, laying sticky menus on the table in front of them. And Ruby was already telling her she definitely wanted Myrna’s world-famous vanilla shake with a hamburger and fries and Rafe was already muttering he would have the same and that was that.

Ruby leaned across the table when she’d gone to put in their order. “So, are you going to tell me?” she whispered.

“Forest nymph.”

“Like Phoebe?”

Rafe nodded. “Phoebe’s great-aunt or something like that.” Rafe could not for the life of him keep track of the elaborate nymph family trees around these parts. There were hundreds of them and somehow they were all related.

Ruby shook her head in wonder. “Man, if I had known all this when I was growing up…” She trailed off and now Rafe leaned in, wanting her to finish. Needing her to.

“What would you have done?”

She shrugged but her smile had faded. “Don’t know. Just felt less alone, I guess.” He hated that she ever felt alone. That she ever felt sad or mistreated. He wanted to burn the world down to make sure it never happened again. Which was insane considering that since meeting her he’d made her feel like that more than once.

“Murder face,” she said pointing at him.

“Huh?”

“You’re doing the murder-y face thing again.”

Rafe relaxed his brow.

“That’s a bit better.” Ruby smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She’d left it down today and it hung like a dark curtain over her back. Her lips were stained red as usual and the black liner she’d used on her lids this morning somehow made her eyes look wider when she looked at him.

“So is this some kind of werewolf hang-out?” she asked, the teasing tone back in her voice. She’d done that all day, switched from serious to playful, never letting him sink too deep into a dark place.

“Something like that. We can’t live entirely on bunny rabbits.”

“Oh, of course not.” Her smile grew.

Gertie came back with a tray full of food. “Here you are, loves. Enjoy.” She scurried away but Rafe could tell by the way she studied him that he wasn’t getting out of here without telling her more about why he was back.

“This all looks delicious!” Ruby took a slurp of her milkshake, her cheeks caving in as she sucked through the straw. The shakes were so thick he usually ate them with a spoon. “Mmm…” she groaned with a satisfied smack of her lips. “It is delicious.”

Rafe’s lips tipped into a smile. “I told you to trust me.”

“I do trust you.” The response was so quick it surprised him, but just as quickly the words burrowed down deep. Ruby trusted him. And he couldn’t fuck that up.

“So what’s the plan?” she asked, biting into her burger with a dedication he truly admired in a woman.

“Uh … well, I figure we’ll camp around here tonight and then hike in tomorrow. It’s only five miles or so.”

Ruby’s eyes widened. “A five-mile hike? You clearly think I’m in better shape than I am, Rafe.”

He couldn’t help his grin. “Your shape is perfect, Ruby.”

Color crept up her neck into her cheeks. He shouldn’t take such pleasure in that. Especially not when he had no intention of fucking her. But maybe another taste wouldn’t hurt…

“And what happens when we get there?” Ruby’s question tore him away from thoughts of her delicious pussy.

“Uh … not sure.” He’d been so determined to leave, to find another way to protect Ruby, a way that didn’t directly involve him, that he hadn’t really thought this plan through.

“Well…” Ruby leaned forward, her elbows on the table. “I was thinking we could see if your brother has any thoughts about Lena. Or about what her visions might mean.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know if we can trust him.”

“But you were going to leave my protection up to him.” Ruby cocked an eyebrow like she knew it was all bullshit. And of course it was.

“So why are we going? I came so we could get help for Lena,” she pushed. Rafe swallowed a growl. The idea of telling his brother about any of this was turning his meal into rocks in his gut. He must have been insane to think Knox could help them.

“I need to find out if he knows who the hell is following you. To see if he has any idea why some rogue wolves are attacking you outside your home.”

“It only happened once.”

“They came back, Ruby. More than one of them. It’s only a matter of time before they attack again. And as much as I hate to admit it, my brother has pull around here. He’s the Alpha. If something is going on, he’ll know about it.” He would decide how much to tell Knox later. Maybe they could get the information they needed without ever letting his Alpha brother know about Lena’s powers.

Ruby watched him as she ate, taking it all in.

“He tried to kill you.”

“Yes.”

“Will he do it again?” she asked, fear threading in between her words. And the shortsightedness of his actions slammed into him. He’d brought her here. He’d led her directly into danger. Again. Just so he could keep her near. Just because she asked.

This was why his father rejected the fated Mates story. It made wolves stupid and impulsive. He felt like a young wolf all over again, nothing but hormones and bad ideas.

He couldn’t get the food past the lump in his throat. He swallowed hard, once, twice, until he could finally breathe. “I don’t think so.” Rafe tried to sound confident in his answer, but now that they were this close, he realized he had no idea how his brother would react to seeing him. Or any other pack members for that matter.

Maybe it was because they’d spent all day reminiscing but Rafe couldn’t help but think of the times before his last few years with the pack. The times when his brothers were on his side. The times when they used to come here for burgers after beating the shit out of each other for fun. There weren’t a lot of memories like that, but they were there. Mixed in between the demands of their father.

He didn’t think Knox would hurt them. Not now that Devon was gone.

Ruby nodded like it was settled. “Okay. We’ll suss him out first, but let’s try to find something we can use to help Lena.”

“We will.”

“Thanks.”

“Stop thanking me.”

Her mouth turned down into a small frown. “I won’t stop. You’re helping me and my sister and I’m allowed to thank you for that.”

He huffed and she stuck out her tongue at him. Gertie was back before he could argue further.

“So, what brings you back?” Gertie asked innocently as she cleared the table.

“I need to talk to my brother.”

“Oh?” Gertie’s silver eyebrows rose to her hairline.

“What’s been going on over there, Gert? Have you caught wind of anything strange?”

The old woman’s mouth twisted into a wry smile. “Anything stranger than a pack of werewolves? Not really.”

Gertie made her business by not spilling everyone’s secrets, a rarity amongst nymphs, who trafficked in gossip. And Rafe hadn’t seen her in years. Her loyalty didn’t lie with him anymore. He glanced at Ruby, not wanting to share stories that weren’t his, but she nodded her permission.

“Ruby was attacked by a wolf a few days back.”

Gert’s eyes widened, her gaze flicking from Ruby to Rafe. “You think it was your brother’s pack?”

“You tell me, Gert.”

She brought a hand to her chest, forgetting about the tray of dirty dishes she’d rested on the table. “You boys had your differences, but Knox has done a lot for the pack since you’ve been gone. Things have changed.”

Rafe grumbled. “So I’ve heard.”

Gertie sighed. “That old man did a lot of damage to you kids, but he’s gone now. You have to let the past go, Rafe.”

“It’s hard to forget someone’s teeth at your throat.”

“Don’t forget yours were at his too,” Gertie countered. “But neither of you went through with it.”

“He would have,” Rafe growled. He hadn’t stuck around to find out, but he was sure that if he’d stayed in his wolf form, Knox would have killed him that day and then finished off Theo. Regardless of how the brothers felt about each other, Knox wanted it more than they did. The oldest son. He wanted to be the next Alpha. He always had. Their father should have let him have it, but instead he made it a sick competition. Something like that was not easily forgotten.

Gertie laid her small hand over his and gave his fingers a squeeze. “I don’t think your pack had anything to do with the attack, but I hope you find some answers.”

“Thanks, Gert.”

She turned her attention back to Ruby. “How was that milkshake, Red?”

Ruby grinned at the nickname. “The best I’ve ever had, thanks.”

Gertie smiled in return. “Glad to hear it. Now you be careful out there and stay close to your big wolf-man here.”

“I intend to,” Ruby said, shooting him a dazzling smile.

Gertie laughed and lifted the tray with a small grunt. “Good girl.”

“Let me get it for you, Gert.” Rafe tried to stand but the woman was already turning away from him.

“And let you steal my tips? No way.”

Ruby laughed as their diminutive waitress walked away. “Poor Rafe,” she cooed. “Always trying to save us weak, defenseless women and always getting shot down.”

“That’s not what I’m doing…”

She met his eye, serious again. “I know,” she said. “You’re only being kind.”

Kind? Is that how she saw him? A new warmth settled through him. A new glimpse at himself.

Ruby rustled around in her purse. “We can split the check.”

“No. I got it.” He waited for her to get pissed at him again or to tease him for being an outdated misogynist, but he’d seen the stack of medical bills on her desk. He knew how hard Ruby worked.

Instead, she just breathed out a dramatic sigh of relief. “Oh, phew. I’m broke.” She laughed and slid from the booth. “Thanks for dinner, buddy.” She clapped him on the shoulder as she said it, the word and the gesture combining in an awful gesture of friendship. Buddy? What the hell just happened?

His idiotic behavior from the night before came rolling back to him. He made her come and then he’d rejected her. He’d run away. No wonder she was acting like they were just friends now. What the hell did he expect?

It was what he’d wanted. For Ruby to stay away from him, for her to never find out she was his Mate, for her to be safe. But God, that word, that nickname: buddy. It was something you called an acquaintance, a neighbor whose name you always forgot. Something essential curled up and died inside of him at the thought of being Ruby’s buddy.

Gert stopped him on his way out the door. “She’s different, that one,” she said, one hand on Rafe’s arm. “Magic in the blood?”

Rafe swallowed hard, thinking about Lena. If Lena was a seer, then there was non-human blood in the family, right? Magic blood. Ruby couldn’t be entirely human, could she? Questions he’d been trying not to ask flooded his brain. Seers lived nearly as long as werewolves. If Ruby was even part seer…

“She’s human,” he assured Gertie, not wanting to let himself hope. Not with everything else going on. But he tucked it away for later. For when he finally told Ruby what she was to him. When they finally had a chance to figure out where to go from here.

Gertie hummed a note of suspicion, but didn’t argue. “Don’t stay away so long next time.”

“I won’t,” he promised and followed Ruby out of the diner.

His gaze raked over her as she waited for him by the truck. Ruby’s shorts were no less erotic than her usual skirts, her lush thighs and ass filling them completely. She looked positively edible. Friends sometimes go down on each other, right? Shit. He was an idiot and he had no idea what to do next, although his cock had some very strong opinions on the matter. Any half-hearted plans he made last night to keep away from her were rapidly slipping through his grasp.

“You coming?” Ruby glanced back at him with a smile. He hadn’t noticed he’d stopped walking and just stood staring at her from the door.

“Uh … yeah. I’m coming.” He just had no idea what he was going to do when he got there.