Chapter 19

19

Ruby

A fter the comforting warmth of chicken soup, I lay nestled among the sleeping forms of the alphas who accidentally fell asleep in my nest while we watched a movie together.

But I couldn't sleep.

I wasn't sure if it was because of my long nap from earlier in the car, but I just couldn't drift off to sleep. My mind raced with memories of how each of the alphas, including Jasper, took care of me during my heat. Slick pooled between my legs the more I thought about each alpha's hot touch on my body.

My hand slowly drifted down from my belly, finding its way beneath my short pajama dress. Closing my eyes, I allowed my fingers to delve underneath my panties. I pressed my clit, rubbing in circular motions. Starting slowly at first, I increased the speed as the pleasure built.

Slick dripped from me, drenching the sheets underneath me as I clenched around my probing finger.

"Ruby," Wayne's voice rumbled suddenly, his breath hot against my ear. I jumped, about to remove my hand from my pussy, but he suddenly placed his hand over mine. I nearly swooned from his commanding presence .

With my eyes still closed, I felt his mouth on top of mine as he claimed me in the dark of night.

"Oh," I cried out when he replaced my fingers with his thick ones plunging into my channel.

"So yummy, aren't you?" he groaned in the dark as he kissed my moans open-mouthed. I threw my head back as he pushed his finger deeper into me. "You're so fucking wet. What have you been thinking about, my sweet?"

"The time…during my heat."

"Do you wish you were in heat again, little omega?" he whispered as he plunged a second finger into me, stretching me. I spread my legs wider, shoving pillows out of the way as he pushed two fingers all the way inside of me. "Tell me the truth, omega."

"Sometimes, but without all the pain," I whispered, opening my eyes to see his eyes glowing orange in the dark.

He let out a low, dark laugh. "You're the cutest omega I've ever met. Why are you clenching your legs shut? Open up."

I didn't realize I trapped his fingers between my thighs while he was talking to me. Heat crept from my neck to my face as I widened my legs for him.

Wayne removed his fingers from my pussy with a plop, and he immediately descended upon me, his mouth covering my pussy in one swift move.

"Oh god," I gasped.

"You're so sweet, so fucking good," he growled, his tongue swirling around my folds, making me throb and squirm under his intense passion.

I tried not to moan and wake the pack, so I bit down hard on a pillow. Wayne's tongue plunged deep, drawing out moans from me.

"That's it, give it all to me," he commanded between licks, grunting with a predatory satisfaction. He was the alpha, and I was going to obey him as his omega.

An orgasm shattered through me, and my pussy clenched repeatedly, sensitive now. I tried to pull away, but he gripped my thighs open. I was weak from my orgasm, and I couldn't push away his head, no matter how hard I tried.

"That's enough, please," I begged as his tongue delved around my folds, licking every drop of my slick.

"So good, one more little omega," he commanded, his mouth devouring me in a frenzy. The strokes of his tongue against my clit worked me up again until I was panting once more.

Then he suddenly removed his lips from my pussy, and I wanted to cry.

"Why?" I whined, but he immediately replaced the emptiness with a hard thrust of his cock into me. "Oh, that feels amazing."

"I know, baby," he said as he drove into me. He pounded faster and faster, with every stroke taking me higher. Until he finally spilled himself inside of me while I shattered from my second orgasm of the night. I clamped my thighs around his gyrating hips so I could feel him deeper while I orgasmed. "Fuck!"

"What the heck?" said Rufus, waking up to see his pack leader now beginning to knot himself into me. I moaned in satisfaction as Wayne's knot stretched my pussy wide.

"So perfect," Wayne whispered, his breath warm against my neck as I lay knotted to him, stretched and filled with his cock.

After we relaxed for a few minutes, still knotted and connected, I could feel Wayne's chest rise and fall against my back. Rufus had fallen back asleep after mumbling about how he wished he was the one who knotted me.

The room was quiet until Wayne began to speak in a low, almost hesitant tone.

"You've probably wondered why I don't believe in love," he started.

"I sort of did," I said, curious and touched that he felt close enough to talk to me about it.

"When I was born, my mother died during childbirth. My dad was cold to me all my life," he confided, vulnerability creeping into his voice. "I never visited him after leaving home, but we crossed paths once in a while. "

"That explains it a little bit," I said, my heart aching for him. I had a full, loving family. "It doesn't mean all is hopeless. You're capable of love."

"Let's hope," he said. "I feel like my father blamed me for the death of my mother."

"Don't ever say that," I said, tears falling down my face in the dark as I hugged the alpha to me. "Deep down, he loves you, I'm sure of it. He just doesn't know how to show it."

The following day, I opened my eyes to find a teddy bear holding a card nestled in my nest. Yawning, I looked around the nest to see all the alphas had gone after realizing they spent the night with me.

I smiled when I saw the unexpected gift and read the card.

Hello, dearest Ruby. Today's the Moon Fair- hoping you'd like to join us.

Oh wow.

"What do you think? If you're up for it," drawled a voice at the doorway. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Rufus standing there looking sharp. He leaned against the doorway, wearing a black leather jacket and jeans.

Despite my heartbroken feelings over Jasper, the thought of going to the fair sounded fun.

"You're already dressed," I said, surprised. "What makes you think I want to go?"

He slunk into the room and removed his sunglasses as he knelt before me, touching my chin. "Well, why wouldn't you want to go with me?"

His touch sent hot tremors coursing between my legs.

"You have a point," I said, and he smiled.

"Get ready then, babe. I'll tell the rest of the pack."

After he left, my heartache clung to me as I dressed for the Moon Fair, and thoughts of Jasper threatened to ruin my excitement. It was my twenty-third birthday, but I didn't want to tell the alphas. I just wasn't in the mood, and frankly, I didn't want too much attention on myself.

I wore a fitted white crop top that accentuated my curves and exposed my stomach. My denim shorts were ripped and showed off my tan legs. I completed the look with a pair of white high-top sneakers and a thin gold chain necklace. The Moon Fair happened once a year, and I usually went with Carmen. But this time, I'd be going with a pack, and I was pretty excited about that.

As I combed my hair and did my makeup, I decided to call Carmen since she'd been texting me for two days. She answered on the first ring.

"Ruby!" she exclaimed, and I knew from the sound of her voice that she'd been waiting for this call.

"Sorry so much happened," I said.

"Girl, you better tell me what's been going on. I've been going crazy after Julie told me that you decided to live with Wayne and his pack."

"It's true," I said, trying not to sound depressed because, in reality - I was happy so far with them, but they didn't fill the void I felt in my heart.

"What about Jasper? I heard you ran away with him!"

"He broke up with me," I said. "Especially after my dad fired him from working on the ranch."

"Since when have you started listening to your dad?" Carmen retorted.

I sighed. "Jasper took it seriously, and he won't join Wayne's pack. You didn't see my dad that day, Carmen."

"If Jasper really loved you, he'd do anything to make you happy. He would have joined Wayne's pack."

"Maybe you're right," I admitted, feeling a pang in my chest.

As I finished getting ready, I couldn't help but dwell on Carmen's words. Descending the stairs, I found the guys talking on the patio, sitting on foldable chairs around construction blueprints they were discussing. My curiosity piqued, and I stepped closer, trying to be discreet.

"…we need a painter," Davy suggested, his eyes scanning the documents. "What about Jasper?"

My breath hitched, and I held it, waiting for the response.

"Fuck no," Wayne growled. "We're not going to mess with our omega's emotions."

His protectiveness sent warmth flooding through me, a strange sense of belonging settling in my heart.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the patio door open and sauntered toward the alphas as the warm sunlight bathed my skin.

"Hey guys," I greeted them, catching their attention immediately.

"Ruby! You look amazing," Davy complimented, his cheeks flushed as he patted the empty chair next to him. I sat down, feeling his warmth radiating from him. He slid an arm around my waist, pulling me close, as he planted a tender kiss on my ear.

Wayne folded up the giant paper with the construction plans, his face breaking into a smile upon seeing me.

"Ready to go?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness. It was strange to see him like this, less bold and more vulnerable. Was he falling for me the way I was falling for him?

"I am, can't wait," I replied, excitement bubbling inside me.

The scent of popcorn, cotton candy, and frying dough filled the air as we entered the Moon Fair. There were so many people and so many packs here celebrating. The bustling atmosphere of laughter, music, and the whirring of carnival rides was already putting me in a better mood. I couldn't help but grin at the familiar scene.

I held Wayne's and Rufus's hands as we strolled through the fairgrounds, stopping at various games and attractions. At one point, Davy took a shot at the ring toss, his muscular arms flexing as he threw the small hoops. To my delight, he managed to win me a giant teddy bear.

"Here you go, Ruby," he said, pushing the enormous stuffed animal into my arms. "Now you've got another big guy to cuddle with."

"Thanks," I replied, hugging the bear and feeling genuinely happy for the first time since Jasper had left.

The evening continued with more games, food, and even a magic show that left Wayne baffled. As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the fairgrounds, I couldn't help but feel like I belonged with these men who were quickly becoming more than just my protectors.

"Are you happy?" Wayne whispered in my ear, kissing me on the mouth with cotton candy on his lips.

"I am," I giggled against his sticky lips. Rufus took my other hand while Davy walked ahead of us back towards the car.

As I walked hand in hand with Wayne and Rufus, the sounds of laughter and the aroma of popcorn filled the air. The fair was bustling with activity, but everything seemed to slow down when my eyes locked onto an alpha with blond hair styled just like Jasper's.

Wait, what the hell?

My heart pounded in my chest as I froze in place, my grip tightening on Wayne's hand.

"Ruby?" Wayne asked, concern lacing his voice.

"I…"

The man turned, and disappointment hit me when I realized it wasn't Jasper. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I blinked them back rapidly, trying to regain control of my emotions.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Wayne inquired, pulling me closer.

"I… I just want to go home," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the noise of the fair, but my alphas heard me.

"Alright, let's head back to the car," Wayne replied, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze .

As we walked, I grew angry at myself. I had these amazing alphas who cared for me, and yet, all I could think about was Jasper – the one who didn't want me. Why couldn't I be happy with Wayne? My heart felt torn, and every step felt heavier than the last.

Once we reached the van, I slid into the backseat with Rufus sitting beside me. As soon as the door closed, I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. The tears streamed down my face, and I did my best to stifle my sobs. Rufus rubbed my back gently, his touch soothing, but it didn't take away the pain.

"Sorry," I choked out between sniffles. "I really thought I saw Jasper in the crowd."

Wayne glanced back at me, his voice terse as he said, "It's okay." He then turned his attention back to the road, remaining quiet for the remainder of the trip.

Shit , I should have kept that to myself.