Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

RUBY

R uby trudged forward, her heart hammering in her chest, a string of curses running through her mind in a frantic, looping mantra: shit, shit, shit. She wasn’t sure how long or how far they had hiked, but it was now fully dark, and the uneven ground meant she kept stumbling. Each time she did, she tried to leave some kind of mark for Knox and his men to find.

She couldn’t believe she’d allowed herself to be caught. Her instincts had screamed at her to stay put, but had she listened? Hell no. She was so used to living in the city where she knew how things worked—always believing she could take care of herself. Good going, city girl. Just look at the mess you’ve gotten yourself into . If only she had listened to herself, she might still be back at Knox’s compound, safe and sound, instead of moving through the darkened woods with the cold muzzle of a gun pressed to her back.

But if I hadn’t gone back, she reminded herself bitterly, I wouldn’t have found the journals. Her aunt’s journal entries had revealed too much to ignore, secrets her aunt had guarded with her life. The cryptic warnings and tales of hidden treasure were no longer some far-off mystery; they were right here, buried in this mess, and Ruby was knee-deep in it.

The forest was dark, the thick canopy blocking most of the light from the moon and stars. But still enough ethereal light made it through so that shadows danced around her, their shapes shifting with every step she took over roots and moss-covered ground. Her captor’s hand tugged at the lead rope around her wrists, forcing her to keep pace with him. She tripped again, biting back her irritation, reminding herself that anger wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Not yet, at least.

She and her captors had been hiking for what felt like hours, the forest around her swallowing up any sound beyond their footsteps and the occasional grumble from the man leading her. Her shoulders ached, and her muscles were sore from the strain of keeping up with his relentless pace. The weight of her situation bore down on her, making her wish she could turn back time, slip into a different version of this night where she was safe beside Knox. But no, she’d been too stubborn, too proud, too determined to face the truth head-on, and now she was caught in the thick of her aunt’s secrets, with no escape in sight. Secrets for which her aunt had been murdered.

And yet… she couldn’t stop thinking about escape. She glanced at the rope around her wrists, feeling the itch of defiance stirring inside her. She wasn’t some helpless pawn. She’d handled worse odds before and come out on top. The one man’s grip on her wasn’t exactly gentle, but he was focused ahead, oblivious to her mounting plan. A small, reckless hope sparked within her as she realized she might have a slim shot at freedom.

She slowed her steps, pretending to stumble yet again, letting her weight fall heavily onto the rope as if she’d tripped. Her captor cursed, yanking the rope, but her sudden drop threw him off balance. She felt the resistance in the rope snap taut, and with a guttural yell, he tumbled forward, crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

This was her chance.

Ruby didn’t waste a second. She yanked the rope free of his momentarily loose grip and bolted, darting into the underbrush with the urgency of a hunted animal. Branches tore at her clothes, brambles scraping her skin, but she didn’t care. All she could think about was putting as much distance between them as possible.

Her heart pounded as she ran, her breath coming in sharp gasps as the cold night air burned in her lungs. She ducked beneath low-hanging branches, her feet moving instinctively, her senses heightened with the adrenaline of escape. She dared a glance over her shoulder but saw only shadows and darkness. For a moment, a fierce, fleeting moment, she thought she’d managed it—that she’d slipped out of his grasp, that freedom was just within reach.

But then, an angry roar echoed through the trees, a bone-chilling sound that stopped her dead in her tracks. The forest went silent, her own breath the only sound in the stillness, as if even the trees were waiting for what came next. She pressed herself against the trunk of a tree, hoping to blend in, willing her body to disappear into the shadows. But the low, menacing growls that followed told her she was out of luck. The shifters weren’t just following her; they were hunting her.

She broke into a run again, her mind racing, heart hammering, her instincts screaming to flee, to find some place to hide. But she wasn’t fast enough. Within moments, she heard the thunderous pound of heavy paws behind her, the unmistakable sounds of bears charging through the forest. She pushed herself faster, her muscles straining, lungs burning as she fought to stay ahead of them. But the roaring grew louder, and then, with terrifying speed, they flanked her from both sides, massive forms of fur and muscle closing in.

She stopped, skidding to a halt, her breath heaving as she faced the two grizzlies before her. Their eyes glowed with a dangerous intelligence, and in the dim light, she could see the powerful muscles rippling beneath their thick coats, each one poised to strike if she dared to run again. They towered over her, their hulking forms blocking any path of escape, their presence a wall of raw power and intimidation. Ruby swallowed hard, realizing with a sinking heart that there was no escaping them. Not now.

One of the bears took a step closer, the rumble in its chest a deep, resonant threat. Her whole body went rigid, every instinct telling her to run, but she forced herself to stay still, to keep from provoking them further. She could feel the anger in their gaze, a silent warning that she wouldn’t get a second chance if she tried to defy them again.

Then, with a smooth, practiced ease, both bears began to shift. One after the other, their forms were surrounded by a swirling mist that seemed to contain thunder and lightning as they reshaped into tall, powerful men. Their dark eyes held a predatory glint, and the faintest hint of a smirk played on one of their lips as he retrieved the clothing they had discarded nearby, slipping into it with calm precision. The other one kept his gaze trained on her, his expression unreadable but undeniably hostile.

“Nice try, sweetheart,” one of them said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he fastened the buttons on his shirt. “But I’d give up any more thoughts of running if I were you. It’s not gonna end well.”

“Yeah, you can still talk with a broken ankle,” threatened the other.

Ruby clenched her fists, anger flaring up in her as she met his gaze defiantly. “Let me go. You don’t need me for whatever it is you’re after. I don’t know anything.”

The second man chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Oh, but we do need you, Ruby. And until we get what we want, you’re not going anywhere.”

Her jaw tightened as she looked between them, her mind racing for some way, any way, to turn this around, to regain some control. The rope was tightened around her wrists, made more secure, as if they had learned from her brief escape.

The man who had spoken first leaned close, his eyes gleaming with a dark satisfaction. “Don’t make us carry you, either,” he warned, his voice low and menacing. “We can be civil about this, or we can do it the hard way. Your choice.”

Ruby took a steadying breath, swallowing down the anger and fear that threatened to bubble over. She knew she was outmatched. For now, she’d have to play along, at least until she could find another opening. Knox would come for her. She had to believe that. And until then, she’d survive.

Without another word, they resumed their march, her captors leading her deeper into the woods, the darkness swallowing them up as they moved forward. She kept her head high, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter, but every step took her further from Knox, further from safety.

The forest seemed to close in around them, the branches overhead blocking out the sky, casting the ground in shadows that made every step treacherous. She stumbled over roots and rocks, her body aching, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to show any weakness. The grizzlies flanked her like guards, their silent, watchful presence a constant reminder of the power they held over her.

After what felt like hours, Ruby’s legs burned, her wrists sore from the constant tug of the lead rope, but her resolve hadn’t wavered. She was bruised and battered, but not broken. She could endure this. She would find a way out.

But even as she held onto that fragile hope, she couldn’t shake the sense of dread that settled in her chest, a dark certainty that whatever lay at the end of this journey would change everything.

Exhaustion clawed at Ruby's limbs as the jagged peaks of the high mountains loomed, a stark silhouette against the sky. They had been on the move since they’d taken her from the lodge, ascending the treacherous path that led to Silver Falls. The air was thin here, and each breath she took seemed to rasp in her throat, mingling with the cold that bit through her clothes.

As they crested the final ridge, what she supposed was their camp came into view: a haphazard collection of tents and makeshift shelters scattered across a rocky plateau. Her heart pounded a staccato rhythm, echoing the crunch of ice and rock beneath their feet. Ruby's gaze swept the desolate encampment, noting the way the men moved with a purpose that suggested they were no strangers to the harshness of this hidden place.

Suddenly, another man emerged from the largest tent, his presence commanding immediate attention. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a bearing that spoke of unchallenged authority. His eyes locked onto Ruby, and even from a distance, she could see the calculating gleam within them; it was the look of a predator who had just sighted prey.

"Bring her," he commanded, his voice carrying across the clearing. The men around her tightened their grip, ushering her forward with a rough nudge.

Ruby stumbled, her boots slipping on loose rocks, but she regained her footing. She tried to steady her breathing, aware that any sign of weakness might be exploited. As they approached, the man stepped back into the tent, disappearing into the shadows that danced with the flicker of a lantern hung by the entrance.

"Move," one of the men grunted, pushing her toward the open flap. The fabric brushed against her skin, cool and damp like the mist that rose from the falls.

Inside, the tent was larger than it had appeared from the outside, the interior lit by the warm glow of several lanterns. The ground was covered with heavy rugs that muffled their footsteps. Shelves lined with maps and various artifacts hinted at long hours spent planning whatever venture had brought these men to this unforgiving wilderness.

"Sit," the man ordered, gesturing to a wooden chair in the center of the space. His voice was devoid of warmth, and it echoed slightly, bouncing off the canvas walls.

Ruby obeyed, lowering herself onto the seat, the wood creaking under her weight. She kept her head high, refusing to let fear seep into her posture. She met the man's gaze squarely, searching for any telltale sign of his intentions, but his face remained an unreadable mask.

"Who are you?" Ruby asked, her voice steady despite the tremor she felt inside.

"Questions are my privilege," he replied, his tone sharp as flint. "You'll answer mine."

She clenched her hands in her lap to stop them from shaking, reminding herself to breathe. The suspense of what was to come wrapped around her like the cold mountain air, threatening, oppressive. But Ruby was determined to show no cracks in her armor, even as the silence stretched taut between them, poised to snap.

"Where is it, Ruby?" The man leaned in, his breath a mix of tobacco and impatience. Each word was a hammer, each question designed to chip away at her resolve.

"I don't know," she replied, her voice unwavering even as the cold knot of fear in her stomach tightened.

The man backhanded her, rattling her teeth. “I don’t believe you. Where is it?”

"I swear—I didn't even know about any treasure until I came here."

"Your aunt," he pressed on, the words sharp and probing, "the shifter. She must have told you something."

"No. I swear. Until a few days ago, I hadn't known she was different… you know, not human," Ruby countered, the stubborn set of her jaw reflecting the steadfast denial in her heart. The revelation of her aunt's secret identity had upended everything she thought she knew, but this man wouldn't pry that upheaval from her lips.

Frustration creased his brow, and with a sudden shove against the rickety table, he stood, sending the chair scraping back against the rugs. His silhouette loomed before her for a moment, dark and foreboding, before he whirled around and stormed out of the tent.

Ruby's ears strained as the heavy canvas flap fell into place, the muffled voices outside threading through to where she sat, alone but for her dread. "...Ivan is on his way," the man's voice grew fainter, but his next words cut through the distance like a knife. "He'll break her. He likes hearing humans scream as he fucks them. That should make her more willing to talk. If not..."

The unfinished threat hung in the chill mountain air, and a shiver racked Ruby's frame, fear crawling up her spine with icy fingers. In that instant, clarity pierced her like the first shocking breath of winter—her life was a currency here, and without the treasure, she was worthless. If Ivan couldn't extract what they wanted from her... Her eyes closed briefly, and she steeled herself for the nightmare yet to unfold.