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“I’m going to make sure Ruby gets matched to a different pack before the day she ever gets handed over to Marrok,” he whispered harshly. “I love our daughter just as much as you.”
“Okay,” I said, my lips trembling with emotion. “I really hope your plan works.”
Deep down, I knew he wouldn’t be able to do much to prevent this from happening. Tears rolled down my face as I brushed Ruby’s dark locks with my hand. I would never get a day of rest until she was safe.
The once bright summer’s day had just turned into an awful stormcloud of emotions brewing within me that would last for the rest of my life.
1
Ruby
“Damn it, burnt another pancake,” said Julie, my father’s new omega they had brought into our family. I watched with amusement as she threw the second burnt pancake into the trash while I safely sipped my coffee without sugar.
My mother was sitting across from me at the dining room table, with a lost expression in her eyes, absentmindedly tracing imaginary patterns on the tabletop.
“Don’t worry the next pancake will turn out fine,” I encouraged as I observed her pour the batter into the pan. “Mom, you okay there?”
“Hmm, yes,” she answered, looking up and giving me a smile laced with sadness. My mom wasn’t always like this. As a child, I remembered her being present and lively. Over the years, she had become withdrawn and a shell of herself.
Henry ordered my father to take on Julie as a second omega since my mom was diagnosed with schizophrenia. His whole philosophy was making sure packs reproduced to make us the greatest wolf nation on the planet.
I thought it was ridiculous, and I hated Julie beinghere, but over a few months, I’d seen how she helped take care of my mom from her heart.
“Here you go, darling,” said Julie, her voice rough from smoking. She placed a plate of pancakes before her. “You need to eat and keep your strength up.”
Mom nodded dully, her gaze drifting aimlessly around the room as if searching for something that only she could see.
I was used to being her only caretaker apart from my three fathers, Benjamin, Oberon, and Quinton.
Now that Julie was here, I had a lot more free time, and I was grateful for the help.
“I’m going to head to the ranch now,” I said, finishing the rest of my coffee and rinsing the mug in the sink.
“Have fun,” said Julie as she prodded my mom to eat her pancakes.
“Thanks,” I said as I slipped on my riding boots at the door and adjusted my black shirt and leggings.
The sun outside was warm compared to the air-conditioned home. We lived on a sizeably massive property with my father’s ranch not too far from our house. My dad’s ranch held over a hundred horses that my fathers would sell to make a living.
I made a beeline to greet my favorite horse, Whisper, in his stall.
“Hey, Whisper,” I crooned as I approached his stall. His large dark eyes sparkled when he saw me, and I smiled as I reached out to stroke his sleek chestnut coat. “Did you miss me?”
He pressed his velvety muzzle against the palm of my hand, and his comforting presence made any stress I had melt away.
Grabbing a brush from the nearby rack, I set to work, brushing Whisper’s beautiful coat until it shone. Lost in our little world, I barely noticed the sound of approaching footsteps until a deep voice shattered the silence.
“Good morning, Ruby,” said a familiar drawl, and my heart fluttered in my chest.
I turned to find Jasper leaning againstthe barn door with a lopsided grin. His rugged charm was impossible to ignore, from the stubble that peppered his jaw to the way his worn denim hugged his muscular frame. He had short blond hair and an athletic body that I couldn’t stop looking at.
He was the hired rancher on our property and one of my closest friends.
“Hey Jasper,” I said, my heart racing as he neared me to drop a pile of hay at Whisper’s feet. Jasper was three years older than me. He was an alpha without a pack, which made him undesirable to all omegas and to my family if we ever dated. “How are you?”
“Better now,” he said with a crooked smile, and I could feel the heat rising in my face. “How about you?”
“I’m doing good,” I said, laying a hand on Whisper’s back. “I want to ride today.”
