Twenty eighg

I sat in my office, tapping my foot impatiently as I waited for the council's decision. Ruby's fate hung in the balance, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing her. I had never felt such a strong connection to anyone before, and the idea of her being taken away from me was unbearable.

My beta, Marcus, stood in the corner of the room, watching me carefully. I knew he could sense my anxiety, but there was nothing he could do to ease my mind. All we could do was wait.

Finally, there was a knock at the door, and Marcus rushed to answer it. He returned a few moments later, followed by two members of the council.

I stood to greet them, trying to appear calm and composed. "Thank you for coming," I said, gesturing for them to take a seat.

They sat down across from me, and I could feel their eyes on me as they prepared to deliver their verdict. "Tyler, we have reached a decision," the elder witch said. "After much debate, we have decided that Ruby will not be executed."

I breathed a sigh of relief, but the elder witch continued, "However, her actions cannot go unpunished. We have decided to banish her from our community."

My heart sank. Banishment was almost as bad as death. Ruby would be forced to leave everything she knew behind and start a new life on her own. I couldn't bear the thought of her going through that, but there was nothing I could do to change the council's decision.

"When will she be leaving?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"She will have twenty-four hours to gather her belongings and say her goodbyes," the elder witch replied. "After that, she will be escorted out of the community by our guards."

I nodded, feeling numb. The council members stood to leave, and I walked them to the door, thanking them for their time. Once they were gone, I slumped back into my chair, feeling defeated.

Marcus cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "What are we going to do?" he asked.

I shook my head, feeling lost. "I don't know," I said. "I can't let her go, Marcus. I can't lose her."

He put a hand on my shoulder, trying to offer comfort. "We'll figure something out," he said. "We'll find a way to keep her safe."

I nodded, grateful for his support. But deep down, I knew it would be difficult to protect Ruby once she was banished. She would be vulnerable and alone, and there would be nothing I could do to help her.

I stood up, pacing back and forth across the room. "I have to see her," I said suddenly. "I need to talk to her before she leaves."

Marcus looked at me, concern etched on his face. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm not sure. But I can't just let her go without saying goodbye."

He nodded, understanding my need to see her one last time. "I'll come with you," he said. "In case anything happens."

I nodded, grateful for his support. Together, we left the office and headed towards Ruby's house.

As we walked, I couldn't help but think about all the times Ruby and I had spent together. She had become such an important part of my life, and the thought of losing her was devastating.

When we arrived at her house, I knocked on the door hesitantly. After a moment, Ruby answered, looking surprised to see me there.

"Tyler?" she said, her voice filled with confusion. "What are you doing here?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Ruby, I couldn't let you go without saying goodbye," I said. "I know this is hard, but please know that I'll always be here for you."

Tears welled up in Ruby's eyes as she looked at me. "Tyler, I don't want to leave," she said, her voice trembling. "I don't want to be alone."

I reached out and gently took her hand. "You're not alone, Ruby. We'll find a way to be together again, I promise."

She nodded, a mixture of sadness and hope in her eyes. "Thank you, Tyler," she whispered.

We stood there for a few moments, holding each other's gaze, before Ruby pulled me into a tight embrace. I held her close, savoring the warmth of her presence, knowing that this might be the last time I could hold her like this.

***