Chapter 22

22

Ruby

Nine Months Later

I stood behind the counter of my small cafe, washing the last of the multi-colored mugs while I admired my cute coffee shop. The alphas helped me start my business as soon as we found out I was pregnant.

The shop was adorned with mismatched chairs, and the walls were painted a warm shade of yellow, giving it a cozy, eclectic feel. My nine-month-pregnant belly strained against my purple sundress as I scrubbed away at the mug.

My thoughts wandered to the Crawford Pack, who had taken such good care of me during this time. They'd helped me open this business, and even though most of our customers were Wayne's construction workers or townspeople, it didn't matter- I was glad to be doing something of my own.

"Alright, time to close up," I announced, exhausted from being on my feet all day.

Rufus came over to help, but he was too relaxed, while I still had a list of tasks to finish before we could leave. This business was serious to me, even though he might think it was a hobby. It was either him or Davy who would help me out with this cafe throughout the week. Wayne was too busy overseeing his own business.

"You should slow down, baby," he said with a chuckle as I rushed past him to grab the broom.

"I can't just slow down, " I said sarcastically, feeling irritable and unable to shake off my grumpiness. Deep down, I knew it had to be the hormones causing me to be this way.

There was shocked silence from him for a moment. He took my hand, and I groaned. "I'm serious right now."

"Seems like you need to be taught a lesson," he growled, leading me into the back where all our inventory was kept while my pussy twitched uncontrollably.

"No, I don't need a lesson," I screamed at him, but he let out a dark chuckle as he bent me over some boxes, lifting my sundress to reveal my round ass. He rubbed the palm of his hand over my ass, causing my pussy to twitch again in anticipation.

"All day, you've been showing me attitude Miss Ruby," he said, smacking my ass across my left cheek. My hips bucked at the impact, and I cried out at the feeling of the sting.

"Because you're lazy!" I yelled.

"Seems like your pert little ass needs a good lesson, Ruby," Rufus growled, his hands gripping the firm curve of my buttocks. I could hear the smirk in his voice as he pressed his body closer. The heat radiating off him was palpable. "I've been watching you all day – seeing how you strut around here like some queen. You knew that I couldn't knot you in front of all the customers."

My heart pounded in my chest as I grew aroused.

"I'm focused on work, not on being knotted," I protested, but the tremble in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly again, his fingers tracing over the roundness of my ass as if appreciating what he saw. Then he spanked me again until I felt the burn extend down to my upper thigh.

"I think it's time you understood who's alpha here," Rufus rumbled, lowering his head to place a hot, open-mouthed kiss on my ass cheek. His breath was warm against my skin, sending shivers up my spine. The action was so unexpected that I gasped at the sensation.

"Rufus…" I whimpered, my protest weak as his hands tightened their hold.

"The sight of your ass turning red is so beautiful," he murmured almost lovingly into my ear before giving another hard smack causing me to yelp out loud. My heart raced wildly from all the man-handling.

"Oh my goodness," I gasped when I felt his finger push into my pussy.

"Your needy pussy," he growled. "It's so very wet, isn't it? Are you enjoying the spanking?" His voice dropped another octave, turning into a low growl that sent tingles through my belly.

"Rufus," I said. I wasn't even sure anymore what I was begging for - for him to stop or continue. But even as I said it, he ignored me and gave another harsh smack leaving a hot imprint on my ass and causing me to cry out again.

"Oh, Ruby," he murmured, tracing his fingers over the skin of my ass again, "You have no idea how much I've wanted to do this."

His voice was husky with desire, and suddenly, I found myself unable to protest as my slick ran down my thighs.

"This is crazy," I began but was interrupted by another searing smack against my bare flesh, causing me to bite down on my lip and whimper.

"Yes, Ruby...that's it..." he encouraged, watching as my ass jiggled before him. "That's a good girl."

As the burning feeling spread, so did my desire - an unexpected response that left me breathless. Although it hurt, I craved more, feeling myself grow damp with desire. His fingers carefully traced a pattern over the heated skin of my ass.

"I've been dreaming about this, Ruby," he rasped, preparing me for what was to come. His callused finger, rough from years of hard work, probed at my entrance .

He pressed his finger further into my asshole, slow and deliberate.

I felt stretched while my ass burned from the spanking, the sensation different and intense. Pain mixed with ecstasy. Just when I was starting to enjoy the feeling of his finger thrusting into my ass, he removed his finger. A moment after, I heard him spit, then felt the head of his cock pushing against my ass, and panic took over me.

My breath hitched as he began to enter me. His cock felt even larger than his fingers, stretching me wider and causing a mix of pleasure and pain to course through my body.

"Oh god," I moaned out as he went deeper. Unbidden tears welled up in my eyes from the intense sensation, but slick began to seep from my ass, lubricating his entrance.

Silence filled the room except for our labored breathing and the occasional low growl rippling from Rufus's throat as he slowly sheathed himself entirely inside me. His hands roamed over my back before slipping to my breasts kneading them.

His thrusts picked up pace and power, each motion driving him deeper inside me. His grip tightened on my breasts as he pounded into me relentlessly, leaving me gasping and crying out his name. His cock began to swell, stretching me even further.

I felt the pressure building, intensifying the pleasure until it was an all-consuming force that threatened to shatter me. And then, with a final deep thrust, he knotted inside me, his seed spilling within me in hot spurts as we rode out our high together.

We stood panting as he cradled my body with his arms from behind. He gently lowered us to the ground on top of a flattened box in the storage room until his knot could release my ass.

"That was so fucking great," said Rufus, kissing my neck.

"I'm glad you enjoyed that," I said, feeling embarrassed that he knotted me in my store. Even though I enjoyed every second of it, I needed him to feel uncertain.

"Don't lie, you enjoyed it too," he said. I stayed silent. Then, in a more worried tone. "Did it hurt you? "

"No, it didn't hurt," I admitted, feeling his concern wash over me. "I enjoyed it, but don't think you can just knot me while I'm trying to work."

He chuckled softly, kissing my neck some more. "I'll try to remember that."

Thirty minutes later, his knot finally released me.

"I'm going to tell Wayne about this," I whined as I fixed my dress, trying to stand on trembling legs while my ass was sore. Rufus smirked devilishly, unfazed by my threat.

Once we were outside and closed shop- we walked together under the sun towards Wayne's office. My hair was mussed, and my body smelled like Rufus. I tried to fix my hair and dress as much as possible before Rufus opened the door.

But upon entering the air-conditioned office, I froze.

His blond hair was unmistakable, and I wanted to turn around immediately. Rufus growled audibly next to me when he caught sight of Jasper, too.

Jasper was sitting across from Wayne at the large oak desk. He turned in his chair, and his blue eyes narrowed as his gaze fell on my swollen belly.

I instinctively covered it with a protective hand.

"Jasper, what are you doing here?" I finally managed to ask.

"We desperately needed a painter," Wayne explained quickly before Jasper could speak. "We have too many homes to count, and packs need homes. This shouldn't impact you, Ruby."

Why was this alpha making decisions without me? This wasn't right, even though it was my father who technically fired Jasper.

"We didn't talk about this," I said in a low voice while Jasper's eyes were on me. I couldn't look at Jasper just in case old feelings would arise. But I still felt the sting of betrayal in my chest as I tried to stay calm.

"If you really don't want me here, it's fine," said Jasper, getting up from his chair automatically. "I don't like seeing her unhappy."

He walked towards the door while I was still standing in front of it, and he stopped in front of me, waiting for me to move aside. The proximity of his body to mine was only inches away, and my breathing grew hitched.

"Wait, if you really need a job," I said in slow consideration. "That's okay with me."

"You sure, Ruby?" he asked in a clipped tone as we looked into each other's eyes.

"Yes, it's fine. I just want there to be peace."

He nodded, and the alphas looked at each other with a silent understanding. There would be no warring over me.

"Rufus, I need to be alone for a minute," I said when we both left the office to allow Jasper and Wayne to talk. "How about I meet you at home?"

He looked around, only seeing construction and dust for miles around -nodded. "I'll see you at home even though it makes me nervous to leave you on your own."

"I'll be okay. I just want to walk," I said, holding back tears. No one would understand what I was going through. What Jasper and I had between us was real, and seeing him in the office brought back all our memories. Nine months wasn't going to erase that- I was just distracted by Wayne and his pack.

"Alright, I'll meet you at the house," Rufus said, his voice softening with concern.

The sun warmed my skin as I slowly walked down the street. I touched my pregnant belly as I walked towards the candy shop, which was at the end of the road. Wayne had fallen in love with me more and more every day. I was also growing closer to him and his pack to the point that I hated to be separated from them.

But Jasper and I had that instant connection, which was hard to break. Shaking my head at my ridiculous thoughts, I walked into the candy shop where I enjoyed shopping sometimes. I picked out the candy I'd been craving, excited as I placed the assortment of jelly beans and chocolate bars into the handheld basket. Before my pregnancy, I ate super healthy and would never even think about this. But the little bun inside me demanded it, and I smiled as I walked to the waiting cashier.

My attention was soon drawn to an alpha standing behind me in line. I didn't like his tart scent, and his aura was menacing.

"Is that all?" the cashier asked when I laid out the candy with trembling fingers.

"Yes," I said in a low voice as I casually looked back to see who it was. But all I could see was the shadow of his face since he wore a hood over his eyes. After my candy was rung up, I hurried out of the shop, clutching my bag. However, as I walked, I felt like I was being followed.

My heart pounded in my chest, and I glanced back, struggling to see through the dust swirling around me. I made out the features of the alpha following me, and my blood ran cold when I recognized him.

He was the alpha I'd seen at the bar with Jasper – the one who'd been fingering that human woman outside. It was Marrok, the odd alpha that no one wanted to be around.

Panic flared within me as he approached.

"Why are you following me?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. If he sensed my fear, it would show vulnerability on my part.

His dark eyes locked onto mine. "You're supposed to be mine, Ruby. Years and years ago, remember?"

"Err, no, absolutely not," I retorted, anger overtaking my fear. I touched my belly protectively. "I'm mated, as you can clearly see. So you better back off."

He sniffed the air, then inspected my neck with a predatory gaze. "Why haven't your pack marked and claimed you yet?" he asked, his tone unsettlingly calm.

"None of your business," I snapped, walking backward now. His eyes flashed with fury, but he resumed his creepy smile.

"I've been waiting for this day. For so long," he said in a soft voice as I looked around desperately for help. There was no one nearby, and I cursed myself for walking far just for some damn candy.

"Stay away from me!" I screamed, but Marrok's hand clamped over my mouth, silencing me. My heart raced as I struggled against his grip, stark terror rising within me.