CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

"What do you think?" Noah asked as he pulled the car door open.

Ruby stepped out, and her eyes moved down the driveway—it was imprinted concrete, a shade grey with a hint of blue. It was curved, and its opening widened towards the house's entrance. The building stood tall but not as majestic or grand as the mansion. The roof was vintage dark, and the walls creamy white, which seemed to absorb the sunlight.

The outside was dainty with a stoned half-fence lined with flowers and decorative shrubs. She could make out the forest tree line after a bit of clearing.

"It's beautiful," Ruby said honestly as she sucked in the refreshing cool air.

She felt arms wrap around her from behind, and she leaned into Noah's touch.

"It's not as great as the mansion, but it's home for a while," Noah added with a chuckle.

Ruby placed her hand on his before squeezing in reassurance. "It's perfect."

It was their new home. The first step in their quest to start over—to look past all the events of the previous month. Ruby was shocked at how quickly Noah had rebuilt their destroyed structures—it was as if the battle had never happened, with the only evidence of its occurrence etched in the Greyhound's memories. Her heart grew heavy as she remembered the grand memorial service, which was organized in honor of the ones they had lost. Grief hung in the air that day, but so did hope.

She was finally accepted by the people. Ruby remembered a few pack members staring at her after the funeral. She felt self-conscious under their watchful gazes but tried her best not to let it show. Her wolf leaped happily in her mind, infecting her with its contagious joy when a few walked up to her and bowed in respect before walking away.

A group of pups playing in the field opposite the cemetery stared up at her when she walked out with Noah. They remained in their spot, staring at her with big doe eyes glowing with excitement while asking her if she was the Luna who drove away the enemies without moving a muscle. She remembered the soft rumble that erupted from her wolf—an affectionate, doting sigh that made her wonder what her own pup would look like.

Noah nudged the side of her head before placing a kiss on her cheek. It was then Ruby noticed the smile on her face.

"It's good to hear you laugh after a while. What are you thinking about?" He asked.

Ruby could feel his genuine interest to know her thoughts, but she couldn't tell him. She didn't want him to know how she had made a promise to herself to make sure the goddess's gift ended with her. She masked her growing sadness before Noah could sense it. Ruby didn't think she could let someone into the world to suffer the same way she had in the name of a gift, even though she wanted to have a pup of her own.

"It's nothing. I'm just happy."

The sound of footsteps drew Ruby's attention to another driveway that forked out of theirs.

"Ah, I forgot to tell you we have neighbors."

Noah said as they spotted a woman and a boy walking towards the opposite side of their driveway, but they stopped when they noticed them. Ruby spotted a house many feet away from theirs—too far to be considered neighbors.

The little boy seemed to pull his mother towards them while informing her loudly that it was the Alpha. The woman had a horrified look on her face as they stopped a few feet from them.

"I am so sorry, Alpha, he's a very hyperactive boy," the woman apologized before giving Noah a bow.

Noah informed her it was fine before softly ruffling the little redheaded boy's hair. A smile played on his face as he asked the boy who stared at him with gleaming marble eyes his name. Ruby felt her heart tug painfully as she watched her mate with the pup. He looked happy as he made silly conversations with the boy. Completely different from the man who seethed with rage when he needed to defend and protect her, but more like the man who found any reason to hold and plant feathery kisses on her—he looked sweet, gentle, and warm.

Questions ran through her mind. Would Noah want a pup of his own someday? Was her vow to herself going to be a hindrance to the joy that would radiate from him in ripples when he held his own child in his arms?

Ruby felt Noah beside her once more. Her eyes moved to the woman who watched her with a confused look.

"Are you the Luna?" the redheaded boy asked—she had been so lost in thought that she didn't hear his name.

Ruby gave the innocent brown-eyed boy a shaky smile before nodding. She watched his eyes glow brighter in thrill.

"Is it true—" he began, but his mother pulled him away.

"That is enough, young man. Give them a break. I'm sorry, Alpha…Luna."

The woman bowed before scurrying off in the direction of their house.

"That was unexpectedly nice," Noah said, a playful smile still dancing across his face.

Ruby smiled back before turning to their house. "He was adorable."

She heard a grumbling sound from her wolf, warning her about her slowly dampening mood. Ruby pushed her emotions down—she needed to be happy for Noah at the moment. The conversation of a pup had not come up—not like they had been careful during their escapades. She just hoped she would be ready to tell him about her vow when the time came.

"So, Ruby, are you ready to start a new life with me here?" Noah asked with a slight smirk, tugging the side of his lip.

Ruby sensed his wolf within barking ecstatically while wagging his tail—his energy matching her own beast who urged her to say yes.

The thoughts that had plagued her mind were pushed to the very back as she smiled back at him.

"I don't know, Alpha. A female living in a man's house without a mating ceremony is far from ideal."

Ruby could spot the mischief dance in his eyes. "Are you hinting at something, my love? The ceremony can be done any day now—surely, without interruptions this time, although our bond has been consummated."

Ruby giggled, biting her lip as she hid her reddening face in the curtains of her hair as the memory, which seemed heartbreaking at the time it happened, flashed in her mind, becoming a thing of the past.

"Noah, you need to furnish the house first."

"It is already furnished, but you can decorate if you want."

"And I need to get my things from my place."

"That shouldn't be a problem. I can get new things for you."

Ruby gave him a pointed look, trying her best to hide her smile. "Noah, I have more things in my apartment than I have use for."

Noah sighed dramatically. "Fine, I'll drop you off at your place to pack what you need.

And he did.

Noah dropped her off while protesting to let movers get her things, which she objected to. As much as she wanted to be with him at all times, Ruby wanted to spend some time at the small haven gifted to her when she first arrived at the pack. The space held bitter and sweet memories she could never forget.

Noah had allowed her to spend as much time as needed at her place, and Ruby decided it would be a few days when she saw a text from Sonia asking for a girl's date.

Ruby could feel the presence of the men Noah stationed to watch over her but chose to ignore it. The danger of the battle had passed, but he still insisted she be protected. She also didn't mind; having them around gave her an extra sense of safety.

So she was flummoxed when she heard knocking on her door. Ruby peeped out through her open closet door in the living room. The house had gone quiet after the sudden sound that pierced the silence briefly. Muffled voices echoed from behind the door as she approached cautiously.

Her wolf sat up on alert, sniffing the air. The closer she got to the door, the clearer the voices became.

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave," a deep voice resonated. Ruby figured it belonged to one of the men guarding her house.

"Please, I just want to talk to her."

A female voice followed, making her suck in a breath. A voice she knew all too well. One that had haunted her happiness, one that had been a source of pain and hatred in her life. Ruby undid the locks in her door and pulled it open. A large figure stood in front of her door, blocking her view of the woman. On hearing her behind him, he stepped aside slightly—just enough for her to see the figure in front of him.