CHAPTER 23: RUBY

ALPHA BRIMSTONE'S POV

"What? Ruby? Why?" I asked, shock evident in my voice. How could she return like this? I've always known she would be back soon, but not this soon and I knew how troublesome Ruby could be, especially when I had never told her about my new mate. "Yes, My Lord. I wasn't expecting her to come so soon but she just called and told me that she would like to return to the pack and might not return anytime soon. I keep wondering why but she told me she would explain when she returned. She is very happy talking about this~" Elder Trak explained excitedly. He seemed to be very excited about the return of his only daughter who had left home for so many years.

Ruby was my childhood friend, we've been friends since I couldn't remember and we've always shared our secrets until she suddenly informed me she wanted to leave the pack to study more outside. She was a healer, a competent one at that but she wasn't satisfied with the power she had and in the thirst to get stronger, she decided to leave the pack for a foreign country where she could learn more about her ability and broaden her knowledge about it. I was against it at first as I was worried about her but she told me she was determined and wouldn't change her mind so I let her go. A few years after she left, we continued talking through phone calls, video calls, Mind links, and letters but later, I became so busy that I could no longer reply to her messages or her calls or letters, and later, she forgot about me too and we started living our separate lives. I had never thought about her once since then until her father mentioned her and for some reason, I felt guilty for neglecting her all these years.

I let out a deep breath and nodded my head. "This is great," I replied and Elders Trak frowned. "Don't tell me she didn't tell you? I thought you guys talked a lot, did she not tell you?" He asked and my eyes twitched. How could I tell him that I stopped replying to her after she left? It would sound too arrogant and I didn't want that. I was still thinking about what I was supposed to say as a reply to him when he slapped his forehead and cried "Oh No! Was she trying to surprise you with her presence? Argh! I've spoiled her plan, I better not let her know! Can you please not tell her anything? Act as if you have no idea she is coming at all when next you two talk. Can you?" He asked and I smiled, I felt relieved. I couldn't have given a better excuse than that and I was glad he bailed me out~ "Yeah, I can surely do that. She must be trying to surprise me and I will make sure to act quite surprised when I see her." I replied to him and we both laughed.

It was funny lying to someone like this but he was probably the only one who could make me feel this way and that was because he was the father of my female friend whom I cherished a lot. I downed my wine in one go and dropped the cup "I should return to my study now. I have something I need to do before night." I said to him, he looked to be a little disappointed but I was sure he understood me and he knew more than anyone how busy I was. He stood up, bowed, and nodded his head "Okay, My Lord. I wish there was something I could do to relieve you of this job but there is little I can do because what you do is not something a mere wolf like me can do." He said and I smiled humbly "You are funny. The work I do is much but not tiring at all and they are normal jobs everyone can do." I replied although I knew what I said was a big lie.

"Oh! You're too humble, My Lord. You should go now, I don't want to keep you waiting for too long." He said and I nodded my head. "Okay. See you later then. Don't forget about the things I asked you to report in a week, I will be waiting for you." I said to him and he bowed as a reply after which I nodded and walked away. My mind was a mess, I felt unsettled for some unknown reason but I knew I shouldn't overthink it because it was probably because of the guilt I felt toward Ruby. I walked over to my study and opened the door "Bring those files to me. They are on the wine shelf, I dropped them there a few days back." I said to one of the men in front of my study and he quickly walked away. I looked at the rest and frowned "Did Luna come here?" I asked "No, My Lord. We haven't seen her at all." One of them replied after glancing at the rest probably to inquire if they saw Monica but it seemed none of them did.

Seeing that, I entered my study and sat down. "I should talk to Monica, she needs to know about Ruby," I said to Zac whom I knew was already in the room but was hiding. He appeared beside me and frowned "What do you mean? What's up about Ruby?" He asked with a big frown and a questioning look on his face. He and Ruby had never been close before, they had always hated each other and would bicker at every given chance. I asked them several times but none of them opened up to me so I gave up and let them be. I sighed "Ruby is coming back and will be staying in the mansion. Remember she had already lived here before she left to study and now that she's returning, she wants to stay again." I replied and I saw Zac's face darkened.