CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR

Adrenaline pumped through her veins one last time as she turned, biting hard on Aiden's hand. He hissed, and his grip on her faltered. Ruby didn't waste a second. Her feet pressed hard on the ground as she ran. Using her petite frame to her advantage, she sidestepped a warrior who lunged towards her—his hand missing her by a fraction. Ruby didn't dare to turn around as she sprinted. She heard their feet hammer against the dirt ground as they chased after her.

Ruby panted loudly as she rushed down the familiar street of Redmoon. She winced in pain as her steps wavered. A moment of haziness washed over her. Shaking her head, she tried to focus her vision, which was growing woozy. The steps behind her pounded closer. Ruby cried. She knew she wasn't going to make it, but she had to get close enough to the pack house where Noah may still be.

Ruby could feel the penetrating gaze of the pack members who stood on the side to watch the commotion. Some stopped mid-step and whispered among themselves. Their faces portrayed uncertainty as they wondered what was going on.

Ruby spotted the central road of the pack in the distance. Just a little bit more, she urged herself. The towering pack house stood at the end of the road. Her body willed her to rest, but she shook back the tiredness—biting down on her lip to distract herself from the pain of her body.

Ruby felt hopeful for a second—she was going to make it, and in the next, a car zoomed down the road, blocking her way. Ruby lost her balance, and before she could fall to the ground, arms wrapped around her, lifting her.

"Stop! Leave me alone!" Ruby raged in panic as her eyes watered. "Noah!"

She screamed hauntingly while squirming in Aiden's arms. Edgar stepped out of the car with Ophelia in tow, her eyes blaring in hate directed at Ruby and Aiden.

"Aiden, it's all a fucking mess! Noah is here," Edgar yelled.

Aiden grunted, still fighting to keep her at bay. "Don't you think I already know that?"

"I warned you about this, and you didn't listen," Ophelia barked.

Aiden glared at her. "No one asked for your opinion!"

"Noah!" Ruby cried out hoarsely, using the little energy left inside her to call to him through their bond.

He needed to hear her—he had to, Ruby thought as she screamed once more before a hand covered her mouth.

"Take her through the path behind the old house. He will be here any minute."

Ruby heard her father say before Aiden began dragging her into the car. Her eyes remained on the pack house and the people gathering around as they watched their Alpha drag her away. Her strength slowly dispersed as her body shook with sobs. Her heart felt like it had been torn from the inside. Ruby stared pleadingly at the pack members, begging them to help her—to take her to Noah. But they looked away, hiding their pups behind their back.

Aiden dumped her into the backseat of the car, but before he could slam the door shut, she heard the sound of vehicles approaching. Just before the thin thread of her faith was snapped, the cars screeched to a stop. She watched wolves stand by the vehicles, sneering at Aiden's small group.

One of the car doors was pushed open, and Isaac stepped out. His eyes were trained on Aiden, and rage marred his every feature. Ruby watched the car door next to Isaac's open, and her insides soared with happiness as she watched Noah step out. She buckled into the back seat as a familiar shiver ran up her spine. Ruby let out a breath she didn't know she was holding before letting more tears fall.

His face was hard, and she could feel his wolf's aura all the way. His eyes zoned on Aiden, pinning him in the most deathly glare she had ever seen. Aiden glared back, a growl brewing from inside him as he tried pushing the car door shut.

"No!" Ruby screamed, pushing back at the door. "Noah!"

Ruby watched his eyes widen and turn glassy for a second before he peered at her through the tinted car window. His eyes roamed around the car before fixating on hers. Ruby felt as if the air in her lungs had been knocked out as she stared back at him. Her pain and exhaustion felt like a distant memory as she pushed open the door, staring directly at him.

"Noah," she whimpered as he took steps closer to her.

His eyes were set on her as he whispered her name under his breath, closing the distance between them. Her heart thudded to the familiar tune it danced to when he was near. He had come for me, Ruby thought joyfully as she dismounted the car, aching to be in his arms.

"Not so fast," Aiden said while wrapping his arm around her burnt wrist and stepping in front of her, blocking her view.

Ruby heard Noah sneer as he stopped walking.

George stepped forward. Murmurs broke out around as the people wondered what was going on.

"How dare you forcefully enter our pack and destroy our pack house?" George barked out as he took a step forward. His body hunched forward to threaten, and his face was twisted in an ugly scowl.

Ruby struggled in Aiden's hold, and Noah didn't take his eyes off her. A look darkened his face, and his eyes flashed with notable anger. Isaac stepped forward, smoldering fire burning in his eyes as he squared up George.

"Hand her over," Noah said—his statement directed at Aiden. He was calm, but the threat and aggression he oozed was enough to make the people around him cower while staring at him in shock.

Aiden growled, his grip tightening around Ruby's wrist. A look of fear slipped through his hard façade before he composed himself.

"She is not going anywhere with you. She is where she belongs!"

Noah took quick steps forward, but George blocked his path. He grabbed the Beta's arm and twisted it in an unnatural angle. The crunching sound, which indicated the breaking of bones, sent the by-lookers in an uproar, making them step back. Noah pushed a grunting George to Isaac, who wasted no time—obeying his wordless command, pulling him by his injured arm, making him wail, before grabbing onto the back of his neck and slamming his body on the dusty ground. George pushed against his hold, trying to attack again, but Isaac grabbed a fistful of his hair, kneed him in the chest, and then wrapped his bicep around his neck, cutting off his air supply.

Ruby's wrist stung, and Aiden was oblivious to the pain he was putting her through. With one quick swing, she bit down on his hand, making him hiss in surprise. His eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at her. His grip weakened, and Ruby was about to run when she saw his other hand coming towards her.

She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the slap, but it never came. She heard a grunt, making her open her eyes. Noah towered over Aiden. He grabbed his hand, which was about to strike her. His eyes shone with resentment, and his body shook with annoyance. In a quick motion, his other hand grabbed hold of Aiden's neck before he threw him to the side—his body crashing hard on the ground.

Ophelia screamed and rushed to his side. Aiden skidded to his feet, shaking his head to clear any damage to his brain.

Ruby turned to Noah, who stood fuming by her side. His eyes moved to her, and they softened instantly. She stood helplessly with her arms beside her as she watched him walk to her. Her eyes grew blurry, and her heart pounded in her chest. His inviting warmth was enough to comfort her. His fingers grazed the line of her jaw, and Ruby found herself leaning into his touch, heat igniting the spark rumbling from her stomach. Her hand shook as she lifted it to his face. Tingles flew like it was the first time she was touching him. Ruby's fingers traced along his scar—his smooth, imperfect mark she loved so much.

In the next instant, Noah pulled her into him. His arms wrapped suffocatingly around her as if she would disappear any second, and she didn't mind it. He hadn't said a word, but the silent gesture and the rapid beating in his chest spoke loud enough for her to understand. Contentment swirled inside her as Ruby let herself melt into the arms of the man she loved, clinging to his arm like he was her lifeline. She wasn't alone anymore. Noah had come for her. She was safe.

A loud growl sliced through the air, and everyone's attention turned to a seething Aiden. His wolf, barely below the surface, boiled to the brim with envy, hating the sight of Ruby in Noah's arms. Darkness swam in his blue eyes, reflecting the perfect definition of jealousy. He took a step forward, disregarding any logic or prior fear. Ophelia, who had noticed the switch in his mood, grabbed onto his arm to stop him from attacking. But he was far gone, his wolf not tolerating being touched even by his marked Luna.

He sneered at her, and his aura grew thicker in the air, making her bow her head warily in submission—the crown of her head the last thing he saw before he turned back, huffing in approval of her compliance.

Ruby watched Ophelia shut her eyes tightly in embarrassment. She had shown her weakness for the whole pack to see—their Luna submitting before her mate. Ophelian fisted the fabric of her pants in humiliation as her people stared at her disappointed. If she couldn't stop her mate, then no one could.

"Get away from her!" Aiden yelled as he took steps closer to Noah. His angry state made his people who had gathered step further back to a safer distance.

Ruby could feel the muscles under Noah's shirt tighten as he glared at his approaching brother. The look on his face caused a ripple of fear to spike within her. Fear not for her wellbeing but for the wolf who had taken what was his.

"Noah, my love, look at me."

Ruby whispered softly. An edge of worry and urgency in her voice. But he didn't look her way. He was beyond the point of reasoning—every logical thought deserted and curbed to the side. His dark hair fell on his forehead, enhancing the ominous look in his eyes. Similar eyes to the approaching man, shooting him an arrow-like glare in tune with a predator's.

"Ruby is mine," Aiden growled. "My mate!"

Gasps sounded from every direction. Redmoon wolves stared at her in shock before looking at Ophelia, who stood degraded with a red hue of shame glossed over her cheek and her eyes downcast. Aiden had done it. He had revealed the truth, which he would have killed to conceal years ago.

One look at Noah and Ruby knew how the day would end. A bad premonition hung in the air, sealing the fate of the two brothers. She ceased in her feeble attempt to catch his attention, loosened her fingers which clutched his shirt, and stepped away—giving him the silent go-ahead to accomplish his heart desire.

Noah closed the distance between them. Aiden acted first, dragging his extended claw over the side of his arm, but it was a futile attack as Noah grabbed his neck before slamming him down on the ground. Aiden didn't have the time to react before Noah landed a kick on his side. The powerful assault made him double over in pain as blood splattered out of his mouth.

Ruby watched the violent glint sparkle in Noah's eyes as they turned black. He grabbed onto Aiden's neck before slamming his fist on his face. The latter clawed at him, but that didn't stop Noah from reeling back and then pounding his face again.

And again…and again…and again.

The sound of bone breaking and choking on blood filled the still air. Cries and whimpers erupted in the pack as they watched their Alpha succumb to Noah's madness.

Ruby was glued to her spot, gazing in awe at the man who would do anything to keep her safe, ripped apart a wolf—his brother—for her.

A scream echoed from Aiden as Noah slammed him on the ground before continuing his assault. He pounded on his face, kicked his shin, and clawed at his chest. The brown soil around them was covered in crimson red, and Ruby didn't move to stop Noah.

Aiden hardly fought back as he was barely alive. His body swayed from side to side as he paid the price for all he had done. Noah was insatiable.

Noah? Ruby thought. No, that was the Rogue King. The Hellhound.

The snarls escaping him told everyone who watched somberly that he wanted more.

More blood… he wanted to inflict so much more pain.

His title didn't seem farfetched to her anymore as he lifted an almost-dead Aiden in the air. Red fluid was sprayed all over his body, and he looked like the spawn of hell.

"This is your Alpha!" Noah yelled. His voice was dark. "Let it be known to anyone who would dare provoke me. This shall be your fate."

Ruby watched Aiden's eyes open weakly to meet hers before a ripping sound filled the air. His eyes rolled to the back of his skull, and his body hunched limp. Noah tossed him to the ground along with the spine he had ripped from the base of his neck.

Ruby stared with her mouth agape. A pained cry echoed from George, but he was silenced as Isaac wrung his neck before dropping him to the ground beside his Alpha.

A ringing sound echoed in her ears as the whole pack fell pin-drop silent. He was dead. Aiden was dead. The monster that had haunted her both physically and mentally was no more.

Ruby waited to feel pain or hurt for the literal spineless man on the ground. She waited to feel disgust and hatred for the bloodied man who now stood inches away from her. But she felt neither, only fleeting love for the monster of a man who had killed for her. The man who had journeyed to the land he swore never to visit because she was taken away from him. The man who tore his brother apart because he had touched her.

She stepped forward to close the distance and lifted her hand to his face. Noah's hand shot forward, wrapping around her wrist as he shook from his still-raging emotions. From the corner of her eye, she could see Isaac walking cautiously towards them to intervene if Noah's angry haze prevailed.

Ruby shifted all her attention to the man who watched her, waiting for her next move. Lifting her other hand, she palmed the side of his face before wiping Aiden's blood. A soft purr rumbled from his throat as his eyes, although still black, softened. He slowly relieved his grip on her wrist but did not let her go. Noah lowered his head, burying it in the crook of her neck, and inhaled deeply.

His damp hair tickled the side of her face as his heartbeat slowed, falling in tune with hers. Ruby ran her fingers through his hair, making him groan softly.

"Ruby…" he mumbled before pressing his forehead against hers. She shivered at the darkness embedded in his eyes but didn't look away. "Only mine?"

Ruby let the tears trail down the side of her face as she nodded frantically. "Yours alone."

Noah shut his eyes before lifting her in his arms. Ruby wrapped her arms around him. The dead bodies of the Redmoon Alpha and Beta were forgotten as he wordlessly carried her back to his car.