Chapter 50 Chapter 50

Chapter 50 Chapter 50
RUBY

I couldn’t breathe.

The water swallowed me whole.

The pool’s icy grip tightened around my body as I thrashed, my limbs burning with exhaustion. Panic clawed at my chest as I fought to surface, but I didn’t know how to swim. I couldn’t swim.

My lungs screamed for air. My vision blurred. Was this how it would end?

Sebastian...

I reached for him through the mind-link, my silent plea laced with desperation.

"Ruby! What's happening? Where are you? Answer me!" His voice was sharp with fear, but I couldn’t respond. My body was growing weaker. The darkness at the edges of my vision stretched, consuming me.

Then, just as I was slipping away, strong arms wrapped around me.

A force yanked me upward, breaking through the suffocating depths. Cold air rushed against my skin as my body was hauled onto solid ground, laid on the cold tiles, but I barely noticed. My chest convulsed, and water spilled from my mouth as I coughed violently, my entire body trembling.

My eyes were still closed but I was half-aware of the voices swirling around me.

"Ruby! Wake up!"

Cassie’s voice was close, her hands tapping my cheek frantically.

"Ruby, wake up, damn it!"

Her voice quivered with fear.

"She's not breathing right—move back!" A deep, authoritative voice said.

Firm hands pressed against my chest, steady and insistent, forcing air back into my lungs. My body jerked under the pressure, then—warm breaths filled my mouth

Suddenly, I gasped, choking on air as my eyes shot open and the world swam before settling into focus.

A face hovered above me. Not Sebastian’s.

Wet blond hair clung to his forehead, droplets trailing down sharp cheekbones. His piercing hazel eyes, strangely familiar, held a glint of amusement. He wasn’t as breathtaking as Sebastian, but there was no denying his rugged attractiveness.

"You’re awake," he murmured, a smirk tugging at his lips.

I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up.

"Ruby!"

Cassie’s voice pulled my attention to her. She was kneeling beside me, looking wet, too.

As I struggled to sit up, she caught me, wrapping her arms around me tightly.

"I’m sorry. I was late. But I'm glad he got you," she whispered, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead.

"Are you okay?" She pulled back, scanning my face as if making sure I was really here.

I nodded slowly as I looked around,, noticing the students gathered, whispering in hushed tones.

How dared Lizzy?

"I’m sorry about this, Ruby."

A hesitant voice made me look up. Brielle stood there, guilt flashing in her eyes.

I managed a small smile, letting her know it wasn’t her fault.

"Come on, let’s get you off the floor," Cassie said gently, slipping an arm around me and helping me up. My legs wobbled, but she steadied me, guiding me to a nearby bench.

She helped me sit down, then crouched beside me, her brows furrowed in worry.

"Thank you, Cas," I rasped.

She shook her head. "It wasn’t me. He saved you."

She pointed toward the stranger, who stood near the pool’s edge, talking to another boy. As if sensing my gaze, he turned, flashing me another smirk.

A strange sensation curled in my stomach.

His eyes.

They looked familiar.

"I'll grab some towels," Cassie said before rushing off.

I heard whispers from the crowd.

"How dared she did that to our Luna"

"Lizzy should be expelled for this."

"If not because she ran away I would have her tight under the pool" Another one said, earning laugh from some students.

Knowing Lizzy ran away after what she did to us, my wolf growled.

As I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering, I thought about Sebastian and wondered why he wasn't here? I had thought… he was the one who saved me.

He must have been searching for me since I didn't tell where I was...

"Are you feeling okay?"

The deep voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see the stranger approaching, his soaked clothes clung to his body but the jacket in his hand wasn't wet.

"This will keep you warm."

He draped his jacket over my shoulders, and dropped into a crouch front of me now, his hazel eyes studying me with something unreadable.

"Thank you," I whispered.

A chill ran down my spine—not from the cold, but from the intensity of his gaze.

"Those eyes look familiar," my wolf murmured again.

A flicker of memory flashed in my mind; those same eyes staring at me from a rearview mirror. But I couldn’t place where I had seen them before.

The stranger guy smirked, his lips curving like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

"It’s my pleasure, Luna Ruby."

His voice was smooth, almost teasing, as he reached out and brushed a damp strand of hair from my face. I stiffened at the unexpected touch, my breath catching as his fingers lingered.

His gaze flicked between my eyes and my lips, as if studying me. A strange tension settled between us, making my stomach twist.

I frowned, peeling his hand from me.

"What—" I stared but the mentioned of Sebastian name cut me off.

"Oh! Sebastian is here. When did he enter?" someone whispered.

My breath caught when I turned my head, and saw Sebastian.

His obsidian dark eyes locked onto me first, softening with concern. But then his gaze diverted to the stranger beside me.

And just like that, his concern melted into something else. Something dark. Something dangerous.

I looked back at my rescuer, who still hadn’t moved. His hand was still on my shoulder.

"Warren," someone called, and the man who had saved me stood slowly, water dripping from his clothes. He looked at Sebastian with an expression I couldn’t quite read, something cocky. Almost like he was enjoying this.

I could literally hear Sebastian's growl inside my head as he strode closer.

"What the hell do you think you were doing?" he growled at Warren, not even glancing at me.

Warren tilted his head, a slow smirk spreading across his lips.

"Relax, Alpha. I just saved your future Luna from drowning. You should be thanking me, not glaring at me like that."

Sebastian’s jaw tightened, his wolf's red eyes flashing.

"Thank you for fucking your eyes on her lips," Sebastian growled.

Warren only chuckled. "Oh, lighten up. It’s not like I kissed her." He glanced at me, licking his lips. My wolf growled inside my head at his disrespect.

"Though, she does have soft lips." he added.

Sebastian snapped, grabbing Warren’s collar.

"You better watch your mouth."

I shot to my feet, my heart still racing from the near-death experience.

"Sebastian... Please let him go!" I shouted. But Sebastian didn’t listen

Warren raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning. "Easy, Alpha. Just stating an observation."

"Shut up, or I’ll slice off your tongue," Sebastian snarled, his Alpha aura simmering from him.

I had never seen him this angry. I took a step forward, but someone held me back

I turned to see Cassie.

"You can't go near them," she whispered urgently.

But I couldn't tear my gaze from Sebastian, from the dangerous way his eyes are flashing

My heart pounded as I worried Sebastian might actually hurt Warren.

"Seb, please don't hurt him. He saved me," I shouted again, hoping he’d listen this time.

Sebastian glared at Warren. "Don't you dare talk about my mate like that."

With a rough shove, he released Warren and turned to me, his expression shifting to concern.

In one smooth motion, Sebastian scooped me up into his arms, his grip strong yet careful as he pressed me close to his chest.

A gasp ran through the crowd. I wasn’t sure if it was from the fact that Sebastian had picked me up or because of the sheer dominance in his action. All eyes were on us—on him.

But I couldn't focus on them.

Not when Sebastian's heartbeat was pounding beneath my ear. Not when his scent, warm and woodsy, wrapped around me, making me feel safe despite everything.

I felt his possessiveness in the way his arms held me, tightly, protectively, like he was reminding the world exactly who I belonged to.

"I’m sorry," he murmured, his voice softer now. "I came too late."

I stared up at him. Even though he was mad at Warren, his frustration seemed to be more directed at himself.

I wanted to tell him it was not his fault when his voice cut in.

"Let's go home, you need to change" he muttered under his breath, his voice rough as he turned toward the exit.