Chapter 26 - A Dire Wolf's Mate

(Ruby)

I woke up to the smell of waffles, bacon and coffee. I knew my mother was cooking. She did that when there was something on her mind. I rummaged through my bag, spotting the letters that I placed in there last night. I carefully tucked them in the bottom of my bag and put on a pair of leggings and a loose t-shirt. Before I left my room, I collected my purse and stuffed the file in.

“Good morning, mama.” I said, placing a kiss on her cheek. She smiled at me but I could tell she had been up all night crying.

“Good morning hunny. Big plans today?” She asked, eyeballing my purse.

“Yep. I’m taking you into town today.” I said, with a mouthful of waffle. I grabbed a cup and filled it with coffee, not forgetting the sugar or cream. My mother rolled her eyes at me.

“I'll take it if you were hungry this morning. You can’t wait for everyone to sit and eat?” I choked a little on my food.

“Oh…ya sorry about that.” I looked down but my mother just smiled.

“Your father did the same thing. Every morning he would come down and snack before waiting on everyone else.” She said, as she wiped a tear from her face. I was about to say something but my mother put her hand up to stop me.

“Ruby, I'm fine. You don’t have to ask, OK.” I knew she wasn’t fine. I wouldn’t ask anymore, I sat there drinking my coffee when the familiar sound of my brother’s footsteps came down the stairs.

“Mom, have you seen my…Ruby what are you doing here?” My brother asked.

“Nice to see you too, Jordan. I’m here to help mom with dad’s funeral arrangements.” Saying it out loud still hurts. I looked over to my mother, who smiled. Another one of her ways of saying she was fine.

“Actually, this is perfect. What are your plans today, Jordan?” I asked, taking another sip from my coffee cup.

“Nothing really. I was gonna go hang out with some friends. Why?” He asked.

“I need you to come with mom and me into town.” I said bluntly. Jordan just looked at me dumb founded, shrugged his shoulders and mouthed ‘whatever’. After breakfast, I texted Nate to let him know I would be going into town with my family to sort out some finances my father left.

Once we got into town, the first place I stopped was the bank. My mother seemed a bit confused but went along with it.

“Good morning Ladies and welcome to the Emerald Wolfton Bank. What brings you in today?” The lady who greeted us looked at us with such disgust it actually made me sick.

“First off, hello to you too. Secondly, I’d like to talk to the manager in charge.” I snapped at her, not giving my Alpha aura away, because I wanted to see if she actually recognized my position.

“I’m sorry ladies, we don’t help the needy. If you’re looking for free handouts, the homeless shelter is one block down.” I looked at the lady’s name, Crystal, Assistant Manager. How perfect this was going to be. My mother said she didn’t need to be here and I corrected her, she did need to be here.

“Let’s see…Crystal was it? Here’s what’s going to happen here. You’re going to get me the branch manager or I’m going to have you fired. Do you understand my English? Or should I spell it out for you?” I snapped.

She picked up the phone and waited for the line to answer. “Hey Tony, I have a couple of beggars requesting a visit with you…uh huh…yep…See you in a second.” Crystal hung up the phone and gave me a smirk. Five minutes went by and a short chubby man in a business suit walked up and almost stopped in his tracks.

“Here they are Tony, the beggars I was telling you about.” Crystal said, with no hesitation.

“Luna Ruby, I was not expecting a visit from you.” Tony reached for my hand but Crystal stopped him.

“Tony, I know the Luna personally and her name isn’t Ruby,” Crystal spat out.

“Crystal, are you insane? This isn’t our Luna. This is the Luna Ruby of Sunset Crest Pack. Her mate is one of our biggest contributors.” Tony said as he reached for my hand once again.

“What brings you in today?” Tony asked. I looked at Crystal before responding.

“First off, fire Crystal here, for assuming my mother and I are beggars and homeless,” I said, as I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

“Ms. Ruby, I do apologize for assuming you were homeless. It was a misunderstanding.” Crystal said, pleading for forgiveness. Unfortunately for her, I wasn’t a forgiving type.

“Crystal, that’s Luna Ruby. You need to clean out your desk now. Even I know not to judge others by their appearances,” Tony told Crystal. Crystal stomped off towards her desk, grabbed her belongings and left.

“Now I’m here because my father passed away recently and left some titles and deeds for me to put in my mother and brother’s names, as well as accounts he had set aside for them.” I said, getting back to the task on hand.

My mother and brother looked at me like I was insane, until I took out the file from my purse. Tony led us into his office and began the paperwork. My mother signed the new deed making her the new home-owner. They signed for their new accounts that my father left them. The fact that my mother didn’t know any of this was still a shock to her. Jordan was in so much shock when he realized how much dad actually set aside for him.

Tony handed me what seemed to be a bank book that had my name on it with a message from my father.

To Ruby and my grandkids

I thanked Tony before leaving with my family. My mother looked at me, asking me how I knew about all of this.

“It was our game. He left me clues. Only I knew where to look.” I said with tears in my eyes.

“Dad really left all of this to me?” Jordan said, holding the bank book. I laughed as my mother took it from him, saying he wasn’t going to touch that money until he turned 18.

I took them out to dinner at a little Italian spot I heard of. We got seated and looked over the menu. I ordered the fettuccine with broccoli and some water. My mother ordered a medium rare steak in memory of dad with steamed broccoli and a glass of wine and my brother ordered a lobster tail with a salad and a coke to drink.

When we finished eating, my mother raised her glass. “A toast. To your father and my mate, may he rest in peace.” We all raised our glasses and toasted. The server came by with the check and I handed him my card. Tomorrow would be my father’s funeral and for some reason I had a bad feeling something was about to happen.

(Olivia)

When I came on this trip it was to get rid of that bitch. I never expected I’d find my mate and get rejected at the same time. I thought his name was K. It turns out K is for Kyle, who happens to be Alpha Collin’s Beta. Why didn’t I know it back in that bar? Why couldn’t I smell his scent? If I would have known, I could have done things differently.

I was sitting in the corner of my hotel room balled up in the fetal position. The pain of being rejected was excruciating. Nate had knocked earlier. I told him I wasn’t feeling good and by the sound of my voice he knew I wasn’t lying. I picked up the phone and ordered room service. I was in too much pain to move. Pearl was still whimpering in my head.

Mate hates us… This is your fault.

Pearl was right, I fucked up majorly. I didn’t accept his rejection, so I still had that. There was a knock at the door. I tried to get up but I couldn’t. I had to really push myself past the pain in order to get up. I walked over to the door and opened it, only to find Kyle standing there instead of my room service.

Fear and panic started to set in as I slowly backed away from the door.

Oh goddess, don’t tell me he’s going to force me to accept his rejection.

Kyle took a few steps inside and closed the door behind him. I picked up my brush and threw it at him but he dodged it. Tears started to welt in my eyes as I started to sob.

“Stay…stay back!” I choked out but he kept walking my way. This was how I was gonna face more pain by being forced. I backed up onto the wall, sliding down it crying on my knees.

“Tell me why you met with Collin?” Kyle asked.

“I..just…I…Just wanted to be…Karson’s…Luna…she…stole it…from…me.” I managed to say between sobs.

“She as in Ruby?” Kyle questioned. “What are you planning with Collin?”

“I’m giving…him…what he…wants.” I choked.

“You have no idea who Ruby is, do you?” This time Kyle looked at me with concern in his eyes.

“What…do..you mean?” I asked, still sobbing.

“Ruby is the daughter of King Damen. She is the last descendant of the royal bloodline. Handing her over to Collin is a death sentence, for all packs. You failed to do your homework. Collin is a power-hungry Alpha, who, in my opinion, murdered his own father to get what he wanted.”

Hearing what Kyle said confused me, but Pearl was telling me she believed him because our mate wouldn’t lie to us. The only problem was he rejected me.

You say we can trust him but he rejected us! I asked Pearl.

He rejected you! He didn’t reject me! Pearl snapped at me.

Pearl was right. I used him for information on Ruby. Karson was never meant to be mine. The moon goddess only blesses those who are worthy of a true mate. As much as I wanted Karson, he never looked my way. I always took his kindness as a flirtatious relationship. I didn’t want to lose my only mate.

“I need to hear you say it.” Kyle said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Wait…wait. What if I tell you everything? Please don't make me accept the rejection! I refuse.” I begged. I had never begged before, this felt beneath me. I would do anything to keep the mate bond, even if that meant giving up my wild idea of Karson being mine.

“I want your Alpha’s number, then you’re getting on a plane back home. You're going to turn yourself in. Once I know you did all that, we’ll talk.” Kyle said, holding his phone.

I gave him Karson’s number, packed my stuff and headed to the airport. Before I boarded the plane, I made one last phone call.

“My new best friend, what do I owe this call?” Collin asked excitedly.

“I’m heading back home, forget everything I said and watch your back. You have enemies in your circle.” With that, I hung up the phone and awaited my punishment.

(Kyle)

I drove Olivia to the airport after I told her to pack her belongings. I will do everything in my power to keep my friend safe, even if she doesn't remember me. I watched her go through security and when she was out of my sight I dialed Karson’s number.

“Hello, this is Karson,” he said as he answered the phone.

“Hello Alpha Karson, this is Kyle Griffen. I’m Collin’s Beta.” I replied.

“What does Collin’s Beta want?” Karson asked, slightly annoyed.

“I just sent your pack member Olivia back on a plane. I needed to tell you what crimes she committed.” I said, calmly.

“What crimes?”

“Olivia met with Collin in secret. She didn’t give me the entire details of their conversation, but my guess, it has to do with Ruby.” I said sharply.

“I knew I shouldn’t have trusted her! How do you know Ruby? And why are you telling me this?” Karson asked.

“Ruby and I grew up together but drifted apart as we got older. I’m telling you this because I care about her. Also, I found out Olivia is my mate. I rejected her but she has yet to accept it.” I could feel Thorn whimper but he knew it had to be done.

“Thank you Kyle. Stay in touch. I could use someone like you here, should you ever leave your Alpha or what not.” Karson said before ending the call.

Only the goddess blesses those worthy of a mate. So why mate me with a traitor?

(Ruby)

Karson texted me asking if I was OK and where I was at. Seriously over protective. So I texted him to get him off my case.

I’m still at my mom’s- Ruby

I’m just making sure. I worry about you- Karson

Karson, I'm not a child. I’m perfectly fine.- Ruby

Olivia is on her way back. I’m on my way to escort her back to the cells!- Karson

What!? Why?- Ruby

Not important right now. Keep your eyes peeled. And be careful- Karson

I’m always careful- Ruby

Even while you’re pregnant. You know you can’t shift til the baby is born- Karson

Shit! I forgot. Flora, if anything happens, how will I protect myself?

I will guard our pup with my life, you just stay calm. Flora said, trying to put my mind at ease.

I remembered the letter and sent one last text out to Karson before I went to bed.

The funeral is tomorrow. Dad hid some letters away. One in particular is addressed to both you and me, from Alpha Michael, figured we could read together. Going to bed now, I love you- Ruby

I love you too- Karson