Chapter 51 Chapter 51

Chapter 51 Chapter 51
SEBASTIAN

I tightened my grip around Ruby, my arms securing her close to my chest as I stepped out of the exit. The whispers of the students faded into the background, but my mind kept replaying that moment I walked in and saw fucking Warren crouched in front of her.

That bastard had his hand in her hair, pulling it back from her face. Worse, he was looking from her eyes to her lips like he wanted her. Like he was tempted to do something he had no fucking right to.

My wolf growled as anger boiled inside me.

He had the fucking guts to touch what was mine and then smirk at me, opening his damn mouth to say, "It’s not like I kissed her. Though, she does have soft lips."

Hearing that, I nearly lost it. My wolf snarled in my head, ready to rip him apart. Ruby may not have been my fated mate, but as long as the contract between us hadn’t expired, she was mine.

How dare he?

How dare he speak to me like that?

How dare he talk about my Ruby like she was some casual prize he could toy with?

If he hadn’t saved Ruby, I would’ve punched his smug face until he was unrecognizable.

The only thing holding me back was the knowledge that, without him, Ruby might not be breathing right now. That thought alone made my chest tighten.

I clenched my jaw, trying to push back the rage as I carried Ruby away from the sport complex building, but the faint scent of Warren that was kissing my nose fueled the fire inside me.

Why the hell was I still smelling him?

Was he following me? I glanced over my shoulder, but he was nowhere in sight.

When I finally saw where his scent was coming from, my jaw clenched as I looked down at the jacket draped over Ruby's shoulders. His jacket.

I almost stopped walking and rip it off her.

The sight of it made my hands tighten around her as if she could be taken away from me.

I was still drowning in that blinding rage when Ruby’s soft voice pulled me from the storm in my head.

"Sebastian."

I forced a smile down at her.

She was pale, her lips slightly parted, and her damp hair clung to her skin. She looked weak and exhausted… but still fucking beautiful.

"I'm sorry, Ruby," I said, my voice rougher than I intended.

"You already told me that," she murmured. "I’m still alive so stop blaming yourself." She said, resting her head against my chest properly, and I nodded slowly.

If I had come earlier, I would have been the one to save her, not that fucking Warren.

I had been at practice when Ruby’s voice suddenly echoed through my mind-link with fear that sent me and my wolf into a frenzy.

I had never known terror like the one that gripped me in that moment.

I shouted through the link, asking her where she was, but she didn’t respond. She couldn’t respond.

I skated off the rink so fast that my teammates barely had time to react. Coach Brody shouted something, but I barely heard him. My only thought was find her

I was heading toward her department, my mind racing with the worst possibilities, when I ran straight into a boy who told me that Lizzy had pushed Ruby into the pool.

That little bitch.

She had been tormenting Ruby for years, and even though Ruby was now the future Luna, I knew Lizzy wasn’t going to stop. She hated me for whatever fucking reason she refused to explain.

I had put up with her bullshit long enough. I had held back every damn time she went after Ruby because Mrs. Whitewood had begged me not to punish her, claiming Lizzy’s sick mother didn’t need more stress.

But this time? I didn’t care.

She had almost killed Ruby and I wasn't going to let it slide.

As I walked toward my car in the parking lot with Ruby in my arms, a familiar voice called my name.

"Seb! Sebastian!"

I turned my head to see Robert rushing toward me, his breathing uneven from running. When he reached my side, he fell into step with me.

"I got to practice, and the guys told me you suddenly ran out," Robert said, his brows furrowing.

"I heard what happened…" he said softly as his eyes shifted to Ruby in my arms. I'm relieved you're safe. I'm sorry, Ruby,"

"Thank you" Ruby said in a voice that was hardly audible above a whisper.

"I'm not letting Lizzy get away with this." I said darkly.

Robert let out a sigh. "Seb, you know—"

"I don’t fucking care," I cut him off before he could say what I already knew.

He had always been the one to convince me to listen to Mrs. Whitewood whenever she begged on Lizzy’s behalf. But not this time.

Robert wanted to say something more, but I silenced him with a low growl.

"Will you help me open the car door?"

Robert sighed but did as I asked. As soon as he pulled it open, I carefully placed Ruby inside.

She looked like she wanted to say something, but I pulled away before she could, shutting the door firmly.

I exhaled sharply and turned to Robert. "Tell Coach Brody and the guys I’m sorry for leaving like that. We’ll meet tomorrow before the game against Marie Hill College."

Robert nodded, though I could tell he was surprised by my anger. He’d seen me pissed before, but this was different.

I climbed into the driver’s seat, and started the car when the bastard's scent rushed into my nose.

Pulling onto the road, I glanced at Ruby, my irritation spiking when I saw she still had Warren’s jacket over her shoulders.

She must have noticed my glare because she started shrugging it off.

Relief washed over me. But the fact that Warren’s scent had touched her still made my fists clench.

"You can throw it away," I said, forcing my tone to be gentler.

Ruby furrowed her brows. "No. I need to return it to him," she said simply.

I snapped my gaze to her, my jaw tightening.

"It’s bad of me to just throw it away," she continued. "He helped me, Seb. I should at least give it back. Besides, he was just being nice."

Nice?

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay calm.

She didn’t understand how much I hated another man’s scent on her.

I didn’t say anything. I just nodded and kept my eyes on the road.

But I hated it.

I hated the idea of her seeing Warren again, even just to return his stupid jacket.

I pressed down on the gas, speeding up. I needed to get home. I needed to burn off this anger.

"Sebastian, please… can you slow down a bit?" Ruby’s soft voice cut through my thoughts.

I glanced over at her . "Oh, sorry about that." I eased off the gas.

When I noticed she was still shivering, I swallowed down my frustration and reached out, turning on the heater. I forgot fucking to do that.

As I glanced up at her again, my eyes fell on her lips, her soft, quivering lips.

My mind flashed back to Warren’s words.

"She does have soft lips."

My grip on the wheel tightened. If Warren had dared to actually kiss her…

No. I wouldn’t even let myself think about that.

I forced my gaze back to the road.