CHAPTER SEVENTY

Ruby's eyes flew open, and she sat up in alarm. The air was thick, holding no moisture, and it felt scorching hot against her skin. She felt the beads of sweat that had formed over her forehead trickle down her face.

She wondered why she had awoken. Her eyes moved over the space, and she soon realized she was in her room at Noah's mansion. That's impossible, she thought as she stood from the bed. Her heart raced as the heat consumed her on the inside along with the outside. She could smell burning wood and also the putrid scent of burning flesh. Panic rose within her when she couldn't find Noah. Her mind roamed, imagining the worst things, one being Noah caught in the fire.

"Noah," she cried out as she ran toward her door. Pushing it open, she could see the house burning rapidly.

The flames moved like a living organism, consuming everything in its wake. Ruby rushed down the stairs, ignoring the pain that erupted in her skin from the places the fire burned. Pain was the least of her worries as she searched for Noah.

He can't be in there, she thought as she neared his office. Goddess, let him be safe—she begged as she pushed the door open. No one was inside, at least none she could see. She moved forward to enter, wanting to search to be sure he wasn't there, but something stopped her, pulling her out of the room and further away from the house. She clawed at the force, wanting to go back, wanting to make sure Noah was not in there. She begged her wolf to help her—to lend her the beastly strength she possessed, but she couldn't feel it. Her mind echoed with emptiness, just as it had been before she found her beast.

Her already broken heart shattered into more pieces as the thought of losing her wolf after just recently finding it was too much to bear. Ruby wept as Noah's not being around made her feel worse. She felt alone, with her only companion being the energy that burned within her, its ever-flickering ember refusing to go out. She crouched to the ground, clutching her chest as pain ruptured through her.

She wanted the feelings racing through her gone. She didn't want to live if she couldn't have her wolf and the man who meant the world to her.

A presence approaching her made alarms blare in her head. From the aura, she knew it wasn't Noah, but something different, something stronger. Ruby felt a caress over her hair, making her look up through teary eyes. Another cry escaped her lips when she instantly recognized the person.

"Mother."

The unsure words left her lips, but the smile and nod from the woman concreted her thought. Nothing felt real. How could her mother be with her when she remembered her dying? How could she be back at the mansion when it had burned down days ago?

But the soothing caress of the woman seemed to calm her panicked state.

"Oh my little moon, you have grown so much," the woman cooed, wiping the last drop of tear that ran down her cheek.

"Mom, what is happening? I don't want to feel like this anymore. Why didn't you help father when he needed you? You could have saved yourself."

The woman's face fell, and the glow in her eyes dimmed. Ruby almost felt as if the night had become darker. "I made a vow to myself that I wouldn't use my powers no matter what in this world. I'm sorry."

"You should have let me die back then. Then I wouldn't have to live like this," Ruby sniffed as she craved Noah's comforting warmth.

"I'm sorry for bringing you into this world to suffer like this—I regretted bearing you, but when I looked into your eyes for the first time, I fell in love. You are more than my creation. You're an outcome of the love between a human and an immortal, a part of me."

"I'm a monster."

"You have been blessed with the gift of the world; life and death are in your hands—the power of mates and the power to protect and end lives."

"I don't want it!" She cried out as her mother stood to her feet.

"It is a burden you have to bear. You need to control it, or else you will hurt the people you love if it gets out of hand."

Kaiah's voice faded into nothing. She had vanished just as quickly as she had appeared. Ruby looked around frantically as the world she found herself in contorted into another. She was in the forest—the same one she had seen herself running through countless times to get to the cottage. The energy churned inside her as she ran down the bushy path. Her body felt as if it was moving on its own accord. The branches tore at her skin, and she felt a looming presence around her. She needed to find Noah, she thought as she picked up her pace—not wanting her fate to end as it had that day with darkness.

But her muscles ached with fatigue, making her steps falter. The man drew nearer like the predator he was, and she could almost feel his breath at the nape of her neck. She sensed his arm go over his head, and she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the blow she knew would come, but it never came.

Ruby jolted awake, panting hard with fear coursing through her veins. Her heart raced, and she almost cried out when she felt her wolf coo inside her in an attempt to calm her trembling body. It was all a bad dream, Ruby repeated in her mind as her eyes acclimatized to the darkness surrounding her. The air felt familiar, and she realized she was back at her house.

She let the suffocating weight of helplessness that had followed her through the nightmare wash away along with her fear. It took a few more seconds for her senses to feel the familiar warmth of Noah. She was in his arms, and his hands ran over her back in a gentle caress.

Ruby lifted her head from his chest to look at him. Her fingers still dug painfully into his arm, and she wasn't planning to let go, in fear she wouldn't find him again. Her sob got caught in her throat when she felt his gaze survey her form as if scanning her for signs of distress. Love surged in her chest as she realized he had held her through her nightmare, cuddling her until the shackles of her dream released her.

"Noah, you're here, right?" Ruby said, wanting to make sure she wasn't still dreaming. Her words sounded crazy, but she didn't care when her sanity was on the line if she was still in the world her mind had trapped her in.

"I'm here, my love."

His words tickled her ears, bringing her immediate relief. Ruby clung closer to him as the memory of the ambush replayed in her brain. Her mind felt fuzzy as she tried to remember. She recalled the unrefined power flowing out of her. She remembered her inside boiling as if about to implode. At the thought of the energy, she felt it sizzle to the surface.

"I'm sorry," Ruby whispered, begging the force to disappear. The gift which felt like a curse she couldn't control.

"Why would you say that?" Noah leaned back to stare at her.

"I'm sorry for what I had done. I almost killed everyone."

A shiver ran down her spine as she imagined what would have happened if Noah wasn't there to calm her down.

"But you didn't. You helped us," Noah brushed her cheek lightly. "I should be the one apologizing for doubting your power."

A cry broke out of her lips as the weight of her fate dawned on her. She never knew the intensity of the force inside her until that day. She didn't even know what happened after—she didn't even know what day it was.

"I don't want to be like this, Noah. I want to be a normal wolf."

Ruby could feel his wolf inside him, wanting to comfort her. The ability to sense someone's beast as if it was hers still amazed her.

"You're perfect just the way you are. You just need to get a little hold over your gift."

"But I can't!" Her voice broke as she remembered the pain that flashed in his eyes as he tried to calm her. "I hurt you too."

"I am fine. Whatever you did back there wasn't on purpose; it is all in the past now. The only thing that matters is we are alright."

Her fingers ran over his cheekbone as she wanted to believe his words with everything in her. Her wolf urged her to see the brighter side of things—she had helped stop Aiden before he did any more damage to the pack. She had gained favor in the eyes of the pack members who saw her as a problem when she first discovered her wolf, but now their Luna.

Everything turned out well. They had defeated Aiden—her wolf growled, preferring if he was dead. She could live with Noah now without worries, but why did a small part of her still worry that danger still lurked waiting for her?

Noah's fingers, trailing down her bare thigh, pulled her back to the present. She noticed she was dressed in a shirt and shorts. The feeling from his touch sent a tantalizing spark through her body. Ruby pushed her worries to the back of her mind. For now, she would let herself go in Noah's arms.

"I never want to use my powers again," Ruby breathed, running her fingers over his neck.

She felt his muscles tense under her palm as her touch moved down over his collarbone and then his bare chest.

His hand caught her wandering fingers, making her look up at him. "The choice is always yours. I will stand with you no matter what."

Her breathing caught in her throat when she sensed his desire for her. Heat stained her cheek as she felt wetness pool between her thighs as he moved her to straddle him.

The air grew thick when she felt his hardness beneath her. Her eyes, which remained on his face, moved downwards to his lips. She leaned upwards as he tilted her chin up. The warmth of his breath fanned her lips as they brushed in the most feathery, soft touch. It was so light; she almost thought it didn't happen. Her insides churned, wanting more as she lifted herself, pressing her lips against his.

No matter how often she kissed him, the euphoric feeling remained. Sparks erupted in her brain as she sighed in contentment, letting their lips dance in unity to the symphony of their hearts.

Ruby couldn't stop herself from moving against him. She wanted to feel him—all of him against her. She broke the kiss and hurriedly removed her shirt. The chill air bit her sides, but it was no match for the heat that radiated from Noah.

Noah groaned, crashing their lips together once again. Desire so raw flashed in his eyes as his arms wrapped around her waist, pressing her firmly against him. Ruby wanted him—she wanted him so badly like she needed air to survive. Her wolf purred in delight as his need for her matched hers.

Her head felt light as she let herself go in him. She lost track of time for a moment, but his teeth grazing her neck pulled her back. Noah fought with his beast's urge to mark her—to claim her completely as his.

The rest of their clothing went flying before Ruby could even comprehend what was happening. All she wanted was to drown in the sea of pleasure that surrounded her when Noah's arms were around her. A loud moan escaped her lips when he entered her. Her sleekness aided his throbbing cock to fill her completely. She opened her glassy, lust-filled eyes to gaze at him as her fingers dug into his back, leaving a pale streak in its wake.

She grinded harder into him, and together, they found the perfect rhythm. Her heart bled with a newfound joy. Everything was perfect. They had come out victorious—together—after a challenging phase. Their lips crashed together once more as Ruby declared her love for him to the heavens through lust-filled moans as they rode each other—claiming the night and themselves once again.