Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

RUBY

R uby’s heart hammered in her chest as she carefully placed her aunt’s journal back into the box, her fingers trembling. The entries she had read were still a jumbled blur in her mind, fragments of secrets and warnings all circling back to one truth—that her aunt had hidden something valuable, something worth dying to protect. Her first instincts told her to stay hidden, to comb through every inch of this house, to unravel the mystery that seemed to have drawn so much darkness to this place. But a deeper instinct, one that came with an immediate sense of danger, was louder now. It was screaming at her to leave.

The house had fallen into an eerie silence, pressing against her senses like a suffocating weight. She could almost feel it in the air, thick and charged, as if the walls themselves were on high alert, listening for the intruder’s every move. Ruby took a slow, measured breath, trying to stay calm though her pulse thrummed loudly in her ears. She didn’t want to leave, but the instinct to survive was now stronger than her need for answers. Get out, Ruby. Get back to safety. Get back to Knox.

Moving as silently as possible, she picked up the shotgun and crept across the attic, the floor creaking beneath her feet. She paused by the window, brushing aside a cobweb and peering out through the smudged glass. The yard lay quiet and empty, bathed in shadows under the weak moonlight. Knox’s truck sat parked exactly where she’d left it, the only vehicle in sight. But she knew better than to let herself relax at the sight of an empty driveway. These shifters didn’t need cars. Every time she’d seen one, they had come from the woods, emerging silently like phantoms, blending with the shadows until they were close enough to strike.

She thought back to her first night here, when she had seen a dark figure moving through the yard, disappearing into the trees. She had dismissed it then, telling herself it was just her imagination playing tricks on her. But now, every outside shadow felt like it was concealing someone or something, waiting for the right moment to step into the light. Had they been watching her all this time, lurking just out of sight, biding their time for her to be alone?

A shiver crept down her spine, but she straightened her shoulders, trying to keep her nerves from taking over. She tightened her grip on the shotgun, her knuckles white. This is your house, Ruby. You’re the one with the gun. She wasn’t powerless. She wasn’t some frightened damsel who would flee at the first sign of danger. She was a fighter, and this was her home. She wasn’t going to let them drive her out.

But as much as she hated to admit it, the thought of reaching Knox’s truck, speeding back to the compound and to Knox’s steady presence, was growing more tempting with each passing second.

Steeling herself, Ruby turned from the window and started down the narrow attic staircase, moving cautiously, barely letting her weight rest on each step to avoid the loudest creaks. She paused every few steps, listening intently, her senses straining against the silence. All she could hear was the faint hum of the wind pressing against the house, whispering through cracks in the walls.

But halfway down the stairs, she froze. A faint shuffling sound drifted up from below, the unmistakable sound of movement somewhere in the house. Her heart leapt, and she pressed herself back against the wall, holding her breath, trying to blend into the shadows. The sound came again, closer this time, sending a fresh surge of terror through her veins. She wasn’t alone.

She forced herself to keep moving, clutching the shotgun as if it were the only thing anchoring her to sanity. If she could just make it to the foyer, she could slip out the front door and reach the truck before whoever was in the house even realized she was gone. But each step felt heavier, the fear building in her chest like a weight threatening to drag her down. The house, once her sanctuary, was now a trap, its narrow halls and creaky floors betraying her with every movement.

Another noise echoed from below, louder this time, unmistakably the sound of footsteps. She slowed her pace to a crawl, barely daring to breathe as she neared the bottom of the stairs. She was so close to the foyer, her freedom just a few steps away.

But as she edged past the entry to the sitting room, she felt a sudden, sharp tug on the shotgun in her hands. Before she could react, the weapon was yanked from her grip, leaving her defenseless.

“I’ll take that,” a low, gravelly voice said from behind her.

Cold terror jolted through her, and she spun around, her eyes locking onto a tall, muscular man standing just a few feet away. How the hell had he gotten in? It didn’t really matter, the fact is he had and now held the shotgun with a practiced, confident grip, his eyes gleaming with a predatory intensity that sent a chill through her veins. His expression was calm, unreadable, but there was something in his gaze that told her he had been waiting for her. She had been his prey from the very beginning.

Ruby took a step back, feeling the solid frame of the wall against her spine. There was nowhere to run, no escape from the hard, unyielding look in his eyes as he leveled the gun at her. Her throat tightened, and she swallowed, searching his face for any trace of weakness, any hint of humanity she could appeal to. But his gaze was as cold as stone, his posture casual yet unflinching, as if he had all the time in the world.

“Now…” he said, his voice carrying a dark, quiet menace as he gestured with the shotgun for her to step into the sitting room. “About that treasure…”

Knox

Knox’s hands were calloused, rough against the heavy iron shackles as he tightened them around the wrists of the rogue shifter. The man snarled, low and menacing, but Knox growled back as he gave the man a predatory grin, tightening the grip until the metal dug into the man’s skin, grounding him with a cold reminder that there would be no escape.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” Knox murmured, his voice a deadly whisper, “coming into my territory unannounced. Thought you could get away with it?”

The rogue shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting around the compound’s dimly lit interrogation room. Not all shifter compounds had an interrogation room, but Knox felt that no place worth living was complete without one. It might seem barbaric to some, but he liked having a place he could question someone he considered a threat without legal interference. He wanted answers before he turned the two men they’d captured over to the sheriff, who could house them long term. Two of Knox’s men flanked the doorway, their expressions grim and unwavering as they kept a close watch. In another room nearby, the second attacker was being treated by the medics under heavy guard, his wounds deep but stabilized enough to keep him alive—if only to serve as leverage.

The man sneered, his voice laced with defiance. “You think we came here looking for your territory or some of your she-bears?”

Knox laughed. “Our she-bears would tear you apart, and you couldn’t hold my territory.”

The man paled, but then seemed to regain his confidence as he leaned forward as much as the restraints would allow, the chains clinking against the metal table between them. “You’re wrong, Wilder. We’re here for something far more valuable.”

Knox felt a flash of anger spark in his chest. His patience was wearing thin, the need for answers pressing against his instincts. He forced a calm expression, leaning back and crossing his arms, letting his gaze bore into the rogue’s eyes. “If you’re not here for territory or mates, then why risk coming here?” His voice was as cold as steel. “What’s so valuable you’d risk your lives for it?”

The rogue’s mouth twisted into a dark smile. “You know what we want,” he said with a glint in his eye.

Knox felt his body tense, and the air between them grew heavy. A thousand possibilities flashed through his mind, each more infuriating than the last. He leaned forward, his voice low and deadly. “If you’re playing games, you won’t live to regret it. Who sent you? And why come after us?”

The rogue lifted his chin defiantly. “You know the answer to that. We want the treasure. The one the Clearwater family left behind. The one you’ve been so intent on keeping hidden.”

Knox’s jaw clenched. Ruby. This was about her, then. He’d sensed it, felt it in his bones the moment he’d heard of the attack. But the man’s words confirmed his worst fears. They weren’t just after him, his she-bears, or his territory—they were after Ruby and whatever secrets her aunt had left her.

Knox’s grip tightened on the edge of the table, and he felt his teeth grit as he fought to keep his composure. “You think you’re going to waltz into my territory, mess with what’s mine, and leave in one piece?” His voice was a lethal whisper, each word carrying the promise of retribution. “You and your friends are fools.”

But the man only laughed, low and mocking. “You’re not invincible, Wilder. You’ve got plenty of enemies out there. Plenty of people who’d like to get their hands on that treasure. This little fortress of yours can only hold for so long. And when it crumbles, that girl and the treasure her aunt left her will be ours.”

Knox’s hand shot out, grabbing the man’s collar and pulling him forward until they were mere inches apart. “Let me make something very clear,” he growled, his voice thick with rage. “If you or anyone else touches her, there won’t be a place on this earth where you’ll be safe. You hear me?”

The rogue’s smirk faded, a flicker of fear passing through his eyes. But he quickly masked it, pressing his lips together defiantly. Knox released him, shoving him back into his chair with a growl. He glanced at one of his men by the door. “Get more shackles on him. If he tries anything, end him.”

The man nodded, moving toward the table with an additional set of chains, securing the rogue further. Knox stepped back, trying to keep his anger in check. The more this man withheld, the more Knox’s blood boiled, every passing second only adding to his frustration.

But just as he was about to press the man further, the man’s cell phone buzzed on the table between them. Knox glanced at it, noticing a new text notification lighting up the screen. The message preview showed just enough to send his heart into his throat

Got her. Don’t worry, she’ll talk.

His entire body went rigid, his mind racing. He reached for the phone, his eyes narrowing as he turned it toward the rogue, letting him see the message. “You know this number?” he asked coldly, his voice barely above a whisper, but thick with restrained fury.

The rogue’s eyes flickered to the screen, and though he tried to keep his expression neutral, Knox could see the recognition there. He knew the sender, and judging by the look on his face, he knew exactly what they had planned.

Knox held the phone closer, his tone sharp and uncompromising. “Is this a friend of yours?” he asked, his gaze unwavering. “Because if she’s not brought back safe and sound, you’ll be responsible for what happens next. Now pick up that phone,” he demanded, his voice cutting through the room like a blade, “and make sure she’s unharmed. Tell your buddy you’ll meet him—tonight.”

The rogue hesitated, his hands bound and trembling slightly as he glanced at the phone. Knox’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as he held back the urge to grab the man and shake him until he got the answers he needed. “If you want you and your friend to live through this, you’ll make that call,” he said, voice low and deadly.

“You’re not going to do anything more than hand us over to that sheriff in town. You’re too honorable.”

“Hurt him,” Knox called to the men in the room next door, and the other shifter screamed. He refocused on the pale face of the man he was interrogating. “If Ruby has even a scratch on her, I’ll make sure you pay for it. Slowly. Then I’ll start on him.”

With reluctance, the rogue picked up the phone, his shackled hands fumbling to press the call button. Knox watched him, his entire body tense, barely holding back the need to lash out, to tear through every barrier that separated him from Ruby. Every instinct screamed to go to her, to find her himself, but he forced himself to stay put, knowing that if he left now, he could lose whatever advantage he still held over this man.

The phone rang once, twice, before a low voice answered on the other end. “Yeah?”

The rogue looked up at Knox, and Knox nodded, giving him a silent command to speak. “Hey, it’s me,” the rogue said, his tone flat and betraying none of the fear that Knox could see in his eyes. “I… we need to meet. Change of plans.”

A brief pause. “What for?” the voice on the other end demanded, suspicion clear in his tone.

The rogue swallowed, his gaze darting to Knox before he continued. “Just… we need to talk, all right? Somewhere secure. I don’t want any more mistakes.”

Knox leaned forward, his presence a looming threat over the man, his eyes locked on him like a predator watching his prey. “Tell him it’s urgent and to bring the girl,” he murmured softly, his voice a low command that brooked no argument.

The rogue hesitated, then nodded, relaying the message. “It’s urgent. We can’t wait. The boss wants an update on… the girl and what she knows. He’s not happy with how things went down with her aunt. You’ll need to bring the girl.”

Another pause, and then the voice replied, “Fine. Meet us at the camp.”

The rogue glanced up at Knox, and Knox nodded once, satisfied. He took the phone from the rogue’s hands, ending the call and pocketing it. The rogue shifted uncomfortably in his chair, watching Knox with a mixture of defiance and fear.

Knox leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper but laced with deadly intent. “If Ruby’s hurt, you won’t live to regret it. Understand?”

The rogue’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t respond. Knox straightened, casting a quick look at his men. “Secure him. Beck and I will take him to the meeting point. The rest of you will remain here and guard the compound. If this one, or the one we’re leaving here, tries anything…” He let the words hang, the promise of retribution clear in his tone.

The rogue’s shoulders slumped slightly, resignation settling over him as Knox’s men moved in, ensuring the restraints were secure in preparation of transporting him. Knox’s mind raced, a fierce protectiveness overtaking him as he prepared for whatever lay ahead. Ruby was out there, vulnerable, in danger, and he would be damned if he let anyone keep her from him.

“Let’s move,” he growled quietly, his voice cold and commanding as he led the way. His pulse thundered in his ears, every step bringing him closer to the confrontation he knew was inevitable.

As he climbed into one of the clan’s black SUVs, his mind flashed to Ruby—her determined eyes, her fierce spirit. He knew she wouldn’t give in easily, but the thought of her in danger sent a fresh surge of fury through him. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he sped toward the trail that would take them to the rendezvous point.

Beside him, the rogue was silent, his face set in grim determination. Knox glanced at him, his voice low and menacing. “If you’re lying, or if this is some kind of setup, you won’t survive the night. I promise you that.”

The rogue shifted, another flicker of unease crossing his face, but he remained silent. Knox clenched his jaw, focusing on the road ahead, his mind a storm of rage and determination.

As they neared the meeting spot, Knox took a steadying breath, his mind sharp and focused. He would get Ruby back, no matter what it took. He’d face down every last one of these rogues, burn the forest to the ground if he had to, but he would not rest until she was safe in his arms.

Turning to the rogue one last time, Knox gave him a final, chilling warning. “When we get there, you’re going to do exactly as I say. No sudden moves, no surprises. And if you try anything, I’ll end you.”

The rogue swallowed, giving a reluctant nod, his bravado finally beginning to crack under Knox’s relentless gaze.

Knox felt the tension coil in his muscles, his senses razor-sharp as they pulled into the clearing at the foot of the trail that led up the mountain. His eyes scanned the area, noting every shadow, every potential threat. He and Beckett stepped out of the SUV, pulling the rogue shifter who was ambulatory with them. Everything about Knox’s stance was commanding as he looked up the trail. His voice was cold and held a deadly promise as he spoke.

“All right,” he said, his gaze hardening as he leveled a glare at the rogue. “Let’s go find your people and talk about that treasure…”