Ruby's POV
"Good. You're trusting him now," my wolf murmured.
I rolled my eyes. It's not trust it's knowing I can get away with calling a god a jackass.
"Um… would you like to go shopping now, Luna?" Courtney asked carefully, her tone polite but clearly on edge.
I looked down at the sleek black card in my hand, the one Zaliver had so graciously handed over. A slow, wicked grin spread across my face before I could stop it.
"Oh no," Johnson groaned behind me. "I know that look. My little sister makes that face right before she drains my account out of spite."
I glanced up at the guards posted in front of me. My smile only widened creepy and unapologetic.
"I don't usually like spending other people's money," I said sweetly, "but who am I to turn down a gift?"
Mila leaned closer to Johnson and whispered, "Why do I get the feeling we're not making it out of today alive?"
"Because we probably aren't," he muttered with a sigh.
I laughed, the kind of laugh that came from deep in my chest. Zaliver had no idea what he'd just done.
He'd handed me power. And for the first time since I got here, I felt free.
"When Alpha said shopping, I really don't think he meant this kind," Luke said for the hundredth time, his voice teetering between panic and resignation. "Please don't buy a boat."
I waved him off, not even sparing him a glance. He groaned and started tugging on his hair, mumbling under his breath like he was already writing his eulogy.
Zaliver won't actually kill them, I told myself. Probably.
The old man showing me the boat looked delighted. "This one's the best in stock, little lady. You won't find anything swifter than this beauty."
I stared at the vessel. It was compact, enough for two people, painted in a light shade of red with bold yellow letters on the side spelling Freedom. It was too on the nose to be a coincidence.
Maybe this was the universe giving me a sign.
After dragging the guards with me to the docks under the excuse of wanting a change of scenery, I'd been shocked to see that the island wasn't some hidden jungle fortress. It had paved streets, neat houses, stores, and people walking around like we were in a sleepy town somewhere in the States. The only difference was the occasional wolf trotting through the crowd like it belonged.
When we arrived at the docks, I insisted on seeing the smallest boats. That's when things got suspicious for my guards. Luke started getting jumpy. Courtney and Mila stuck to the edges, their eyes scanning constantly. Johnson? He'd vanished the moment I said docks.
Smart wolf.
"So how much?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. I had no idea how much money Zaliver had on his card though, six hundred years was a long time to build up a fortune.
The old man looked me over and grinned. "Fifteen thousand for a pretty smile like yours. How 'bout it?"
I had no idea if that was a deal or a ripoff. I also didn't care.
"Deal," I said quickly.
Luke let out a strangled sound behind me and began pacing like a caged animal.
"Luna," he said, voice low and serious, "I'm sorry, but I can't let you go through with this. I know what this is. Alpha needs to know "
"No, it's not, I promi "
But before I could finish, both Luke and the old man blinked. Their eyes turned silver.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Ruby," they said in unison.
A chill crawled up my spine, even as curiosity sparked in my wolf. I knew that voice. It didn't matter what body carried it.
"Zaliver," I whispered, stiffening.
"What do you think you're doing?" His voice was sharp and cold disembodied but suffocating. I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, suddenly aware of everything.
"I-I was just "
"Not thinking," he cut me off. "That's what you were doing. Did you really believe I'd assign you four guards and not keep an eye on you beyond that? You're being watched, Ruby. Every move."
I glanced around frantically, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There was no shadowy figure in a trench coat lurking behind crates or some obvious spy nearby. My jaw tightened.
"Don't you have work to do?" I snapped.
It made perfect sense to try escaping why wouldn't he expect that? But spying on me? That felt like a betrayal.
"Yes, I do," he answered coolly. "But you keep pulling my attention. I'd like to get through tonight's meeting without being mind-linked that my mate is trying to buy a boat from Old Kenny. So do me a favor and behave. Shop. But don't cause trouble. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," I muttered, cheeks burning as if he were here in person and not speaking through someone else's body.
Then, just as quickly, the silver drained from Luke and the old man's eyes. They blinked, confusion settling over their faces.
Luke touched his forehead. "Whoa. I've only heard of him doing that. Never thought I'd experience it."
The old man looked pale, his hand pressed to his chest like he'd just come back from the dead. I reached toward him, worried.
He flinched and stepped away.
Guess I wouldn't be buying Freedom after all.
"I I'm so sorry, Luna. I didn't know who you were. I swear I meant no disrespect. Please forgive me. But the Alpha gave strict orders... I can't sell the boat. I I'm really sorry." The man's voice shook as badly as his hands. He looked like he was ready to throw himself at my feet, terrified I might accuse him of something worse. Kicking me in the face, maybe?
The funny thing was, hearing him call me Luna didn't unsettle me like I expected. It didn't feel foreign or heavy it felt… natural, like he was just calling me by name.
"It's all right, really," I said softly, offering a half-smile to ease his nerves. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I'm just going to go now. Have a good day."
Luke walked beside me as we backed away from the docks, and the second we were clear, a scowl tugged at my lips. Mila, Courtney, and Johnson stood waiting at the edge of the sidewalk. All three of them stared at the ground like guilty pups.
I sighed. "Where did you run off to?" I asked Johnson, raising a brow at him.
He gave me a sheepish grin. "My sister needed help with something nearby. Sorry I didn't ask directly."
I crossed my arms. "And what exactly is there to do in the Bermuda Triangle?"
That made them all glance at each other, eyes glittering with mischief. Mila stepped forward, a devilish grin spreading across her face. "Follow us, Luna."
Something told me I was about to regret asking.
"Beat her ass, man!"
"C'mon, bitch! Show me what you got!"
"Is that booty even moving? I see nothing shaking!"
"Mine's bigger than yours, Court! You better hush before I embarrass you!"
"I'm gonna win!"
"You gonna win these nuts!"
The ridiculous trash-talk echoed around us as Shake It by Metro Station blasted through the arcade speakers. Johnson and I were locked in an intense Wii dance battle, going at it like our lives depended on it. For a solid hour, we had been spinning, flailing, and yelling, caught up in the rhythm and the rush of friendly rivalry.
Turns out, Johnson and I were both way too competitive when it came to dancing. The foul language? Just part of the charm. Mila, Court, and Luke had parked themselves on the sidelines, cheering, laughing, and occasionally throwing popcorn at us.
They'd taken me to an arcade called Gamers Brawl, and honestly? I hadn't laughed this hard in ages. The tension between us from earlier seemed to melt with each dance round, replaced with lighthearted fun. We'd even drawn a crowd whether because of our shouting or our sick moves, I wasn't sure. Probably both.
When "WINNER" flashed across the screen under my avatar, Johnson dropped to his knees in dramatic defeat, cursing at the floor like it had betrayed him. Mila and Court were practically in tears laughing. Luke chuckled quietly, patting Johnson on the back with an amused smirk.
"Good game, Viv. Even if I'm still convinced you cheated," Johnson said, brushing off his pants as he stood. He reached over and gave me a playful pat on the head before strutting toward Mila with a smirk. "Hey Milaaa."
I rolled my eyes. The on-and-off flirty tension between those two explained a lot. No wonder they were always teasing each other.
Courtney handed me a bottle of water while I wiped sweat from my forehead. "That was awesome. No one's beat him in weeks. You knocked him down a peg."
"Thanks," I said, still catching my breath. "Winning wasn't the goal, but I couldn't pass up the chance to see Johnny the Giant shake his butt."
We both looked over just as Luke tried and failed to steer Johnson away from Mila, who was pretending not to notice him.
"So… your brother," I started, but trailed off as everyone exchanged odd looks.
"What? What is it?" I asked, eyeing their suddenly blank expressions.
Luke stepped forward, his voice calm and serious. "Alpha is ready for you. The meeting begins once you arrive."
The playfulness in his tone was gone. The others stood straighter, their smirks fading. The mood shifted so fast, I almost got whiplash. I could feel something heavy in the air, something I couldn't quite name.
"What meeting?" I asked, my heart starting to thump in my chest. "Are we heading there now?"
Johnson nodded, tugging at one of his blond curls. "We're taking you to the Zephyros Temple grounds. It's time to meet the pack."
The words didn't fully register until I saw everyone turning and walking toward the edge of the arcade, heading straight into the woods. My feet followed instinctively, but my mind screamed.
"W-Wait! You mean now-now?" My voice cracked slightly.
I wasn't ready. Not even close. I wasn't even in clothes I picked out myself still wearing whatever had been handed to me earlier. I should've gone shopping like Zaliver suggested. Now I was going to meet a whole pack looking like a tired raccoon.
"Yup. All of them," Johnson said. "Alpha wants to introduce you properly."
My heart pounded harder. This was it. Reality crashed into me like a rogue wave. I wasn't just Zaliver's… something. I was his mate. His Luna. And Zaliver wasn't just some Alpha. He was a god.
A god.
Holy. Shit.
Was I dreaming? Was this really my life? What did I do to deserve someone like him? Was I even good enough? There were thousands of women more beautiful, more graceful more everything than me.
"Do not put yourself down," my wolf snapped in my mind. "We are exactly who we need to be."
"Yeah," I whispered, even though I wasn't convinced. "But what if they hate me? What if I disappoint him?"
"We're here," Luke said, stopping abruptly.
"Ah shit," I muttered.
Because what stood in front of me… left me utterly breathless.