Chapter 17

17

Ruby

B ack in the hotel room, I sat in my nest, still wearing my dress. I hugged a pillow to my chest as I watched the alphas get comfortable around me.

Jasper gingerly sat to my right in the nest while Wayne sat boldly on my left like he owned the whole nest. They were both fully alpha regardless of whether Jasper had a pack or not.

The thought of ending things with one of them caused my chest to ache and my heart to race with uncertainty. Breaking up with Jasper or Wayne didn't feel right to me. I bit my lip, not sure where to start- but Wayne took over sensing this.

"Let's start with why you decided to run away with Jasper. Why did you decide to go ahead with an alpha who doesn't have a pack?" Wayne asked, his voice rumbling through the room.

I gulped.

"It was…it's complicated," I said. I felt different now about him than I did a few days ago. I didn't want to completely sabotage my chances now of being with Wayne.

"Try me."

"I didn't know you guys at the time, and I decided to choose love instead," I said, looking at Jasper. "Although I'm not sure where we stand now. "

"I still love you," said Jasper. "That didn't change, Ruby."

My heart raced as I nodded quietly.

I drew in a deep breath, my senses filled with the mingling alphas' scents. My chest tightened, not just from the restrictive dress but from the weight of the question.

"Love," Wayne echoed, almost to himself, his expression unreadable.

"Exactly," I breathed out, my voice steadier now. "But now, we're here to talk about the future, aren't we?"

I locked eyes with each of them in turn, seeking some sign of where this was going. This conversation was important, and it could bind or break us. The silence stretched around us until I grew uncomfortable.

"Running away was a crazy decision," I admitted. "Consistency and loyalty are everything to me. But Wayne- you were chasing me as if I already belonged to you."

His jaw clenched, the shadows of the room playing across his features. He leaned forward while placing his elbows over his knees.

"Your father," he started. "He was worried sick about you. And he demanded that I look for you."

"Really?" My pulse quickened at the intensity of Wayne's gaze on mine. I couldn't look away from him as he spoke. His eyes, deep pools of midnight, held mine captive.

"He feared for you, Ruby. And when I saw you hurting on the side of the road…" Wayne paused, his gaze intense. "I thought I was claiming what was mine. But now- this has become more complicated than I thought."

"Why was my dad so worried?" I asked. "He knows Jasper would never hurt me."

Wayne's gaze flickered, and it looked like he was hiding something, his usual stoic mask slipping just enough to betray him. I'd get to the bottom of it, unearth whatever secrets he was hiding.

"Ruby," Jasper's calm voice sliced through the tension. "What's your decision? Are you choosing them or me? "

The weight of their gazes pressed upon me. My breath hitched, caught between duty and the wild beating of my heart. They both called to me, each causing a different type of feeling to rise within me.

"How about you just join our pack?" Davy asked Jasper, and Wayne's eyes flashed.

"What the fuck?" said Rufus.

"Jasper," said Davy. "It's just... we're stronger together, right? And Ruby can have all of us."

"Thanks, but hell no," Jasper's rejection sliced through the room, stinging through me. "I'm without a pack for a reason, and I'd prefer to keep my freedom."

"But why?" I asked softly, and he held my hand in silence. I felt a pang of disappointment, but I knew Jasper. Jasper was a lone alpha; his spirit was untamed. He would never be happy taking commands from a pack leader.

"Ruby can make her decisions," Wayne said. "With no pressure from us or Jasper. We will be okay with whatever you choose."

My heart thrummed faster as my thoughts raced.

"I need time to think about all this," I said quietly. It was just too much. I didn't have the heart to break up with Jasper or Wayne.

"Maybe you should come stay with us for a while," Rufus suggested. "See how life is with our pack?"

The idea settled within me, causing excitement to go through me. I bit my lip, not sure what to say because it didn't sound like a bad idea.

It was a chance for me to breathe, to exist without the pressure of choosing right here, right now.

"Alright," I whispered. "I can try that. But Jasper…"

"Jasper can visit," Wayne interjected firmly, his eyes never leaving mine. "We have no claim over you, Ruby. You can hang out with him, too."

I looked over at Jasper worriedly .

"Fair enough," Jasper agreed, a shadow of a smile playing on his lips. His approval felt good, settling the fights and tension we had. "May the best alpha win."

"Good," I murmured, the decision feeling somehow both monumental and yet not enough. I'd spend time with them to get to know the pack. But Jasper's presence would still be there, and it made me feel better.

"Then it's settled," Rufus nodded, the lines of his beard framing a satisfied grin. "Can't wait to have you home and out of this damn hotel room."

"Home," I said. The word lingered, sweet and heady, as I considered what that might mean—surrounded by four alpha protectors. I liked the idea, but it also sent nervous thrills through me at the thought.

"Let's get you ready for bed, sweetheart," said Rufus, and I nodded as he slowly unzipped the back of my dress. Jasper watched for a second, and then he placed his hand on my thigh.

I looked at him, and he gazed back with a withdrawn sad expression.

"I'd like to spend the night with you if that's okay?" he asked slowly.

"Yes, I would like that," I replied, and he watched as Rufus gently slid my dress down my shoulders, exposing my back and breasts. Sitting in the middle of these alphas watching me made me feel like the sexiest omega alive while getting undressed before them.

The next day, I was lethargic and tired in the van after a night of cuddling with all four of the alphas. Rufus insisted that we leave early in the morning, and I could barely keep my eyes open while he drove us back to my family's home. I wanted to go back to see my family and calm my father down after everything. I would tell him about the agreement, and maybe he would leave me alone about this marriage thing.

"Tired?" asked Wayne, feeling sorry for me as he looked at me sitting in the passenger side with my eyes half-closed.

"Just a little," I mumbled, trying to get comfortable. A couple of times through the night, I was getting knotted by the alphas. I wasn't sure when I would get their knots again, so I used last night as an opportunity.

I settled in for the long car ride, taking a nap until three hours later, when we finally pulled up to my family's house.

My dad was already standing on the driveway with his arms crossed, looking furious. The sun bore down on him, making his bald head shine. My heart sank at the sight of him, knowing that he was going to be primarily angry at me.

"Oof, Benjamin's not happy," said Davy quickly. "I'll protect you, Ruby. We can handle your father."

"It's okay. I can handle him," I said, unable to crack a smile as I slowly got out of the van.

"About time you showed your face," Benjamin growled, arms still crossed over his chest. The sun glinted off his head, intensifying the fury in his eyes.

"Listen, Dad," I snapped back, steeling my shoulders. "You don't get to control my future. I'll mate whoever I want, and nothing you say or do will change that."

He stared at me, silent and unreadable, for what felt like an eternity. Just when I thought he would explode at me again, his expression softened ever so slightly, replaced by something more akin to concern. "One of the horses is dead."

My heart dropped, and all the courage I'd mustered vanished instantly.

"Why? What happened?" I stammered, panic seizing my chest. I could hardly move, my limbs suddenly feeling heavy and numb.

He walked towards the barn without a word or a glance towards Jasper. As we neared the barn, I was shocked to see the barn door splintered and hanging off its hinges. My heart raced as I tried to comprehend the damage.

"Looks like it's been tampered with," Jasper observed quietly, stepping forward to examine the wreck more closely.

"As for you, Jasper," my father said, his voice cold and unforgiving. "You're fired."

"Wait, what do you mean?" I asked, shock registering in my voice. "Dad, you can't just fire him!"

"I can and I will. Daughter, he sabotaged your chances of being honorably mated to a pack. He's not fit to work here anymore," my dad replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. Wayne and his pack stood a little distance away to give us privacy.

"Sir," Jasper interjected, his voice polite but strained. "May I at least say goodbye to Ruby before I leave?"

My father hesitated for a moment, then finally relented. "Fine. But make it quick."

Jasper nodded and turned to me.

"Come," he said softly, leading me away from the barn and from my father's watchful gaze.

We walked in silence until we found ourselves in the middle of a wheat field. The tall grasses swayed gently in the light breeze.

"Jasper…" I began, but he raised a hand to stop me.

"Ruby, I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I only wanted what was best for you. I thought running away was the answer, but it only made things worse."

"No," I choked out, unable to stop the tears that welled up in my eyes. I knew what he was going to say. "You don't deserve to be fired, and I'm not going to say goodbye!"

"Sometimes life isn't fair," he said solemnly, his heartache mirrored in his eyes. "But you're right, and you need to be with a pack of alphas who will love you. I don't hate you for that."

"But don't you love me? I love you, Jasper. "

"I love you too, baby, but you will eventually love Wayne and his pack too."

My heart clenched painfully at his words.

"What about the deal we made at the hotel?" I asked, grasping at straws and any hope I could find. "I'll see you again, right?"

Jasper hesitated, then leaned down to press a soft kiss on my lips. His scent of ocean waves enveloped me, and I yearned to drown in it forever. But when he pulled away, his gaze was unwavering.

"It's over," he whispered, his voice strained with emotion. "You need to move on, even if it hurts. Your father disapproves of me, and I'm not going to go against his wishes."

"Jasper," I said. "You can't do this."

His eyes remained sorrowful, and he didn't respond. And in that moment, I realized that he was letting go of me, releasing me from the bond we had formed. The reality of it hit me, leaving me raw and exposed.

Pain and anguish ripped through me. I could barely stand straight as I gasped for air. Before I fell to my knees, Jasper steadied me with a hand on my elbow.

"Your pack is waiting," said Jasper, and each word was like a stab to my heart. I couldn't move my feet, but somehow, I numbly followed until we stood in front of Wayne's van.

"Jasper," I cried out, tears rolling down my face as my lips trembled. "I can't."

"You can," he said, his expression pained as he stared at the interior of the van. "I trust that they will take care of you. And you will have a great life."

He helped lift my numb self onto a chair, and he squeezed my hand one last time.

"Bye," I whispered as he closed the door, sealing me away from him. The finality of it felt like a physical blow.

Wayne started the engine without a word, and we began our journey to my new home. In the backseat, I couldn't hold back the flood of tears any longer.

As if sensing my anguish, Rufus silently offered me a box of tissues. Grateful for the pack's understanding, I accepted the tissue box, knowing that my life had irrevocably changed and there was no turning back.