Chapter 23

23

Wayne

" W hen can you start?" I asked Jasper. I didn't feel good about hiring him at all, but we needed help urgently with painting the new houses that my team was building for growing packs. We knew he needed a job since Ruby's father fired him, so I gave him a call.

"Right away," said Jasper.

"I don't want any trouble with Ruby, got it?"

"Why haven't you marked her yet?" asked Jasper in that arrogant way of his- nose in the air. I wanted to fucking hit him right there, but I held myself back.

"We're taking things slow with her," I said. "Unlike some alphas, I want her to actually fall in love with me."

"That's fuckin' stupid," said Jasper, shaking his head. "She's already pregnant, and she's probably wondering why the hell you didn't make that move."

"Hey, I'll do what I want with my omega," I growled. "Why don't you sign this right here, and we go on our ways?"

"Yeah, sure," said Jasper dismissively, signing the piece of paper with an angry scrawl. "I released Ruby so that you could protect and mark her as a pack."

"I don't want to tell you to fuck off since you're my employee now. So how about I show you the houses that need to be done?" I said, ignoring the subject.

The truth was that Ruby was still heartbroken over Jasper. I knew that fact even though she tried to hide it. She hadn't rejected the idea of me marking her, but I wanted to do it after she gave birth and was confident about us as a pack.

I walked Jasper around the block, showing him the houses that needed painting.

"These houses need a fresh coat," I said, pointing to the row of worn cabins. "I trust you'll get the job done."

Jasper nodded curtly. "I'm ready to start anytime. And I'll keep things civil around Ruby, don't worry." My jaw clenched at her name on his lips. Jasper cocked his head. "But really…why haven't you marked her as yours yet, Wayne? It's not like you to wait and sit around."

Annoyance flared in my chest. "I want her to be certain first. Bonding is permanent."

"You're putting Ruby at risk by leaving her unclaimed."

A growl rumbled in my throat. "Stay out of it."

Jasper raised his hands and fell quiet, getting the message. I walked him around the property, pointing out the scope of work, both interior and exterior. But as we wrapped up, uneasiness pricked under my skin.

Something felt off.

"Listen, we're all done here, and you know what to do," I said. "I'm going to call it a day."

"Alright, see ya'."

Eager to get home to Ruby, I hurried back, pine needles crunching under my boots as I walked to the house. But when I arrived, the house was too quiet, lacking her feisty presence.

"Ruby?" I called out.

No answer. An alarm spiked through me. In the kitchen, I found Davy in a hard hat, sipping a soda. "Have you seen Ruby?"

He shook his head. "Nope, I haven't seen her come in. Thought she was with you. "

Rufus strode in, his face pinched with worry. "She was going for a walk alone earlier. Now I can't find her anywhere."

"Fuck!" I snarled, already dialing Jasper.

"Didn't we just talk?" he answered.

"Have you seen Ruby?" I barked.

"No, I thought she was with you," he said, voice cool as ice, but I could hear how pissed he was.

I ended the call, fuming as I paced the kitchen.

I had to find her. Now .

Shoving past Rufus and Davy, I ran outside, ripping my clothes off as I shifted. Fur rippled over my skin, bones cracking and realigning.

Her scent. I needed her scent.

I landed on four paws and bolted, powerful haunches propelling me over the terrain as I flew up and down the streets, desperately seeking hints of sweet cotton candy in the wind.

Another wolf fell into pace beside me, all sleek grace and pale fur- Jasper. I didn't have time to argue with him and kick him out. Finding my omega was all that mattered. Ruby was out there somewhere, alone and vulnerable.

The thought made me run faster, a lone howl tearing from my throat, and Jasper followed suit. Two more wolves flanked us, and I knew it to be Davy and Rufus joining. As a pack, we needed to find her. Then, we needed to claim her as ours once and for all.

Ruby

My eyes fluttered open, and a rush of confusion washed over me.

I was lying on a bed of soft petals that cradled my pregnant body, sore and heavy from the weight of my unborn child. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks – I was in the middle of a forest surrounded by trees. Looking to my right, I saw a small cabin that had boarded-up windows.

What the hell was going on?

"Good evening, Ruby," a male voice purred, causing my heart to leap into my throat.

My gaze snapped upward, and horror seized me as I saw Marrok Bloodthorne sitting in a picnic chair as if he'd been waiting for me to wake up.

"Stay away from me!" I screamed, trying to crawl away, but my pregnant belly made it impossible. I felt sluggish as if I'd been drugged with some gas. I couldn't tear my eyes away from Marrok's wide grin. His hair was cropped short and slicked back, and the golden glow of his eyes seemed to burn with intensity for me.

"Don't run now," he said calmly.

"Wh-why am I here?" I stammered, my breath hitching in terror.

"Ah, my love. I've been searching for you," Marrok explained, his voice laced with a disturbing charm. "I've been following you, but you've always been with your pack." He sighed theatrically. "And now, you're pregnant. Such a shame."

"I have a pack, you know," I insisted, clenching my fists and realizing now that I'd been kidnapped. "And they're definitely going to come looking for me, you asshole."

"Will they, though?" Marrok raised an eyebrow, a sinister smile gracing his lips. "They haven't even marked you. Do you really want to be with alphas who truly don't want you? An alpha knows what's his right away."

My heart ached at his words, the truth stinging me like salt in a wound. Wayne hadn't marked me or said he loved me.

"Once you give birth," Marrok continued, his voice silky and dark. "Then you'll be mine."

"What the hell do you mean?"

"Once their spawn is born," he said, sniffing the air with a look of disgust, holding up a small dagger. "I'll get rid of it. Don't you worry about it, my love."

My blood ran cold at his words, but Marrok smiled casually before placing the knife back onto a bed of branches on a nearby tree.

I couldn't believe he just said that. But remembering how he used to torture animals in the past, he was more than capable.

He was capable of anything .

"You can't do that," I said, my voice breaking with fear.

"Ah, Ruby," Marrok sighed, circling me as I sat on the bed of petals he'd prepared. "You're so pretty, but you've made some not-so-smart choices, haven't you?"

My breath caught in my throat, my heart pounding as I realized just how much danger both my baby and I were in. He knelt before me and touched my arms, sliding his hands down to my wrists until he held my hands in his.

"You don't need to do this," I said, tears pricking my eyes. Marrok shook his head, a twisted smile gracing his lips.

"Relax, baby," he murmured. "You're with your true alpha now. I'm your promised mate."

My pulse raced when Marrok leaned down, inhaling deeply as he pressed his nose against my neck. His hand slid down my belly and between my thighs, bringing memories of him pleasuring another woman flooding back.

The memory of her limp body and his soaked fingers.

No matter how hard I tried to fight it, arousal began to take over. I tried to protest, but he rubbed my pussy gently through my thin cotton underwear, making my body betray me.

"You shouldn't do this," I gasped, attempting to clench my thighs together, but Marrok was relentless. He breathed heavily into my ear, his voice dark and seductive.

"Admit it, Ruby," he whispered. "You need this badly. Spread your legs."

His command to spread sent shivers through me, and I found myself unable to resist his alpha command, which purred to my inner omega. My thighs drifted apart uncontrollably, and he chuckled softly.

"Don't do this," I said, shutting my eyes tight and remembering how hurt Jasper looked when I allowed Wayne to knot me. I couldn't betray Wayne.

"Such a good omega," he praised, his words dripping with sinful temptation. Pleasure coursed through me, and I felt myself losing control. "This is the wettest pussy I've ever touched."

He slid his hand into my underwear and cupped my pussy directly. My breaths came in ragged gasps as I teetered on the edge of an orgasm, but suddenly, he released me, and I was left feeling bereft.

"Why?" I panted, struggling not to beg him to continue.

"I want to see your pussy," he said, lifting me with his hand still between my legs and carrying me into the dusty cabin. Inside, the sparse furnishings consisted of a single sectional and a brown dining table. He laid me down on the couch, my hand protectively clutching my pregnant belly.

Marrok swiftly pulled my underwear down my legs, ripping it off my ankles. I watched in horror as he brought my panties up to his face, staring at the wet spot on the seat of it.

He sniffed them, causing me to shudder with fear. My legs shook, and my pussy seeped onto the couch, betraying how turned-on I was despite the danger I was really in.

"Please," I whispered, terror gripping me as he turned to me with a feral look in his eyes.

"Your panties- they smell…quite delicious," he said, setting them down reverently on the arm of the couch. My legs were clamped shut as I hurried back away from him. I was trying to create as much distance between him and me, but he was as quick as a panther when he glided across the couch towards me.

My heart started thumping hard when he grasped my knees which were pulled up while my dress barely covered my ass.

"Why me?" I asked him, confused. Many other females who weren't pregnant would be perfect candidates for him. I was the least bit interested, and I just wanted to raise a pack with Wayne.

"You were stolen from me," he said. "Years ago, our parents agreed that we would mate in the future. But your father betrayed my family and made another secret deal instead."

"That's not true," I said slowly. I was trying to piece together everything in my mind, and suddenly, it all fell into place. My father's anger when I ran away with Jasper and how Wayne thought it was his duty to be with me. My father only wanted to protect me.

"It's true, my love," sighed Marrok. "They've kept us apart. I always knew you were my fated mate, and I loved you from a distance for so long. And in time- you will learn to love me."