by M. Ekman
Realizing that she’d been lost in her own thoughts while Doctor Michael was waiting for a response Ruth blurted out, “Oh, um…well, yeah. I’ll see you around Doc.” She nodded to the doctor and made her escape, not waiting for a response.
As she headed back towards the mess hall to grab a snack, Ruth bumped into Violet. “So, gorgeous, how did doctoring go?”
Ruth smiled and gave a small shrug, “As well as can be expected I guess.”
Violet’s heels hit the ground, as she seemed to deflate a little bit, “What does that mean?”
“Well, no patients came, so there was little to do. It’s great that Doctor Michael is super passionate about what herb has this property or whatever, but I just don’t have any interest. Except for the tips he gave me about poisons that can be used on the battlefield to incapacitate the enemy.”
Both girls stared at each other for a beat before they broke out in uncontrollable laughter. Violet was the first to recover, “He certainly is something isn’t he?”
“Yeah.” Was all Ruth could get out since she was still gasping for air.
“Okay well then we can safely cross him off on the list. Who’s next?”
Ruth drew the sign up sheet from her pocket and unfolded it. “I believe that would be Bobby. I wonder who talked him into that, Vi?”
Violet said nothing, but morphed her face into an innocent expression. Ruth rolled her eyes and glanced back down at the paper, “It says he owns the art supply store. Violet, I don’t know the first thing about painting.”
“Oh, tut tut. You can’t knock it ‘til you try it. Now get your little booty over there,” Violet said with a giddy shove.
“Fine, but don’t you come crying to me if I burn the whole place down,” Ruth joked as she walked backwards towards the pack door.
Violet’s eyes flashed in panic, but it happened so fast that Ruth was unsure if she was seeing things. What was there for Violet to panic about?
“You know, Ruthie most people don’t have eyes in the back of their heads. You might want to—”
The insincere warning came too late as Ruth rammed straight into someone. Immediately upon impact, she knew who was behind her. Goosebumps broke out along her flesh as two muscular arms came around and caught her.
Ruth whirled around coming practically nose-to-nose with the man who’d occupied her thoughts for most of the day. “Sorry Tyler, I…” she trailed off.
Tyler looked absolutely terrible, his clothes were torn in places and it looked like he was getting a black eye. Ruth drew closer to inspect his injury, which caused Tyler to take a step back. The movement caused a twinge in Ruth’s chest, but it didn’t deter her.
“What’s going on. First you aren’t sleeping and now you are getting in fights,” she shot at him.
“Please. Don’t,” Tyler closed his eyes with his hands fisted at his sides.
Ruth ignored the command and stepped closer. She lowered her voice to a murmur, “Let me be there for you. Tell me what is going on with you. Tell me so we can move forward. I don’t want you to be hurt, or for us to be distant like this.”
Tyler’s eyes flew open and their chocolaty brown depths gave Ruth a dark glare, “I said, don’t. This distance is for the best. You have no idea what I am capable of.”
Ruth matched his glare with one of her own, “If you would just tell me I could make that decision for myself.”
“Even if I told you everything it wouldn’t matter. We can never be. Never.” Tyler’s chest was heaving in anger.
Ruth reeled as if she had been slapped. Taking a step back Ruth bowed her head, “Forgive me, Alpha. I spoke out of turn.”
With her eyes downward, Ruth didn’t see Tyler’s reaction. She didn’t hear him leave, but she knew the second that he was gone. She could feel it in a way that shouldn’t be possible, or rather that shouldn’t be possible with anyone but her mate.
Not wanting to see what Violet’s reaction to the exchange was, Ruth continued out the pack door to the art supply store. Maybe Violet’s mate, Bobby, would have a better distraction for Ruth than the doc so she wouldn’t agonize over what had just happened.
CHAPTER 16
Ruth was surprised to find that there wasn’t anyone out on the streets of town, unlike earlier. Sure it was later in the afternoon, but definitely not late enough for the entire territory to be so quiet. Fortunately, Bobby’s shop was the first building on main street, so Ruth didn’t have to remain outside in the odd quietness for long.
She found Bobby standing behind the cash register with an overly bright smile on his face. Ruth rolled her eyes, “What did Violet say to you?”
Bobby gave a chuckle and thankfully dropped the painted on expression. Before he could speak, Ruth rushed to request, “Please, can we just pretend like nothing happened? You don’t need to act differently just because—wait, is that why no one is outside? Does everyone know what happened?”
Rubbing the back of his neck Bobby responded, “Unfortunately, you guys weren’t exactly quiet towards the end and there were a few people who overheard in the mess hall. If it had just been Violet who’d overheard no one else would know, but…”
“Ugh,” Ruth put her head into her hand, “oh just forget it. You big bunch of gossips.”
Even though Ruth was frustrated about everyone knowing her business, she wasn’t really mad at anyone. In such a small pack it would be impossible for people not latch onto a snippet of any sort of gossip and spread it like wildfire. Every incident would be blown out of proportion, at least, if the cleared out town were anything to go by.
“They don’t mean to be,” Bobby apologized.
Ruth forced a smile, “Don’t worry about it. Let’s just start working on something. A diversion would be welcome.”
Bobby came out from behind the counter and, with a smirk on his face, gave Ruth a heavy pat on the back. “Thata girl. I actually could use a woman’s touch. I need to set up a display…”
Bobby led Ruth to the center of the store where a series of boxes were sitting around a squat white table that had a large indentation in the center. A shipment of new paints had come in that were supposed to be the best money could buy, so he wanted them shown off.
Ruth had no idea what would show off a bunch of cans of paint, but she figured she could stack them in a pyramid pattern so that they would have no chance of being missed. When Ruth glanced back to ask Bobby’s opinion she saw that he was already back behind the front counter.
‘Oh, well,’ she thought.
The display wouldn’t be unique but with as many boxes of paint Ruth had to go through it would definitely be big. For the next hour or so Ruth worked in silence opening boxes and stacking cans, only pausing once to ask Bobby for a ladder. When she was finished Ruth called him over to make sure she’d done an okay job.
She assumed Bobby would release her since the sign on his shop stated that it was already passed closing time. However, instead the wolfman took Ruth through the various isles explaining what each tool or paint-type was used for. She tried harder to pay attention than Ruth had with Doctor Michael, but still felt most of the information going in one ear and out the other.
“Okay, okay Bobby. I think I’m good. I haven’t had dinner yet and it’s nearly nine.”
He gave an awkward snort, “Geez Ruth, nothing is keeping you here. You can leave anytime.”
She squinted at her best friends mate before turning on her heel to make a swift exit. With her hand on the doorknob Ruth look back, “Bobby, tell Violet you are a terrible liar.”
The sheepish wolf muttered, “She knows.”
Chuckling, Ruth gave a mock salute and headed back to the pack house. Hopefully someone in the kitchen had left out some food for her to pilfer. Ruth’s stomach was painfully reminding her that she’d not had much to eat since breakfast. The streets were no longer as quiet as they had been, which was good, but people kept throwing Ruth pitying looks that felt worse than the earlier silence.
&
nbsp; She finally made it to her destination and threw open the front door, but was stopped from entering when someone flew at her, nearly bowling Ruth over. She looked down, surprised to see Summer clutching her close. “Um, Summer what are you doing?”
“Mommy gives hugs when I sad. I don’t want you be sad.”
Ruth looked down in astonishment at this young child who hardly knew her. How did this little girl care so much about the feelings of an adult she’d met once?
Her surprise melted to a tender glow when Summer whispered, “Feel better?”
“Oh, of course, Sweetie. Thank you.”
She sprang back and yelled, “I did it Mommy! I a big girl. I make boo boo all better.”
The small pup grabbed Ruth’s hand and ran to the end of the hall through a set of large double doors. Inside were ten she-wolves milling around chatting with one another.
Violet emerged from behind a massive sofa that sat against the wall, “It’s all plugged in. Oh, Ruth you’re here. Thanks Summer!”
Summer beamed up at Violet before releasing Ruth’s hand and running into her mother's waiting arms. Violet stood in front of a massive TV screen that took up nearly all the wall space. Ruth’s face must have shown her confusion at being led to the entertainment room because she suddenly found herself wrapped in a tight hug.
“A couple of the she-wolves and I decided to have a chick flick night.”
Ruth gave her friend a crooked smile, “You just decided out of the blue, did you?”
Violet’s mother entered with two bowls full of chips and cut off her daughter’s reply. “Don’t pay her any mind Ruth. Goodness knows I don’t.”
“Mother!” Violet whined as she released Ruth.
Maggie just laughed along with the other females in the room. Violet stuck her noise in the air, “For your information I was going to tell Ruth that we do this every time one of our fellow she-wolves is feeling down.”
“Oh really, is that what happened last week when—” another chimed in before Violet cut her off.
“Fine, fine. We do it anytime one of us wants, okay? Anyways, I’ve got everything all set up but I’m not sure which movie to pick.” Violet dragged Ruth over to one of the large bookshelves next to the TV where a pile of movies was haphazardly stacked.
“Uh, well, I…to be honest Vi, I haven’t watched movies since I was a little kid.”
Violet’s mouth made a popping sound as it opened in shock. “Haven’t watched...But how is that possible!? Never mind, I will pick for you.”
A loud collective groan could be heard from behind them, which made Ruth chuckle. Violet shot a dirty look over her shoulder before she plucked the top most movie up and placed it in the DVD player. In a huff she stomped over to an empty loveseat and sat down with a thump.
Violet furrowed her brow, “Ruth, sit.”
“Pfft” Ruth rolled her eyes, “you keep interrupting all of my meal times, and it looks like your mom made tons of snacks.”
A few she-wolves chuckled as Ruth went over to a Ping-Pong table that had four bowls of chips, three cheese and meat trays, and a variety of fried foods covering its surface. After Ruth, and a few other she-wolves, filled up their plates, everyone claimed a seat and the film began.
It had been so long that Ruth had forgotten what it was like to sit in a dimly lit room and laugh at imaginary characters in made up situations. She sat forward watching intently through the first movie not wanting to miss anything, but all too soon the novelty wore off. Ruth made it through part of the next show before she started to struggle to keep her eyes open.
She was abruptly shocked awake as a cold shiver slid down her spine. She popped up out of the loveseat she’d shared with Violet to find the room completely dark and void of the other she-wolves. There was something off and it was putting Ruth on edge. She started to turn towards the double doors when she heard a menacing growl behind her, freezing Ruth in place.
As slowly as she could, Ruth turned her head to see two blood red orbs glowering at her in the inky gloom. The wolf must have had an ebony coat because Ruth couldn’t see any other part of him in the darkened room.
“Tyler,” Ruth mindlinked.
Ruth didn’t hear any response, which probably meant that the dumb alpha was blocking her. If you didn’t want to talk to another member of the pack you could create a kind of shield in your mind. It behaved like a door where you could hear knocking and knew who was trying to get through, but you could simply decline them admittance.
Oddly enough, Ruth didn’t feel this barrier in Tyler’s mind, it was as if there simply wasn’t anything there. Before Ruth could figure out what was going on with Tyler’s mindlink the strange wolf leapt towards her.
Ruth sprinted from the room but he was too close for her to shift, and she couldn’t tell his size to see if she could take him in her human form. On instinct Ruth made her way up the stairs and sprinted towards Alpha Office where she was sure Tyler would be. She could feel the hot breath of the rogue wolf on her heels the whole way.
Flinging the door open, Ruth was blinded by the brightly lit room. When vision returned she let out a bloodcurdling scream at the sight before her. Lying strewn across his desk with claw marks marring every inch of his beautiful flesh was Tyler.
“No.” Ruth reluctantly walked towards him afraid to reach out, to make his death real.
Her pursuer forgotten, Ruth slowly stopped beside her alpha. As much as her mind rebelled against it, she had to confirm what she already knew to be true. Ruth managed to maneuver Tyler backward until he was slumped in his chair, but before she could look at his lifeless face she heard a threatening snarl. This one was different than the red-eyed wolf’s.
This roar she recognized. “Tyler?”
Abruptly Ruth felt her eyes fly open to find that she was still on the loveseat in the entertainment room, but this time she wasn’t alone. Balanced above her with his fur grazing her skin was Tyler. If he was here then that meant...it had been a dream!
Ruth threw her arms around his furry neck and began weeping. She had not felt such terrible grief and loss since her mother's death and the emotions overwhelmed her. Ruth couldn’t rein in her tears even if she wanted to. She just hoped they wouldn’t scare her wolf-man away.
Realizing that there was no immediate danger Tyler stopped growing and dropped his head down grazing her face with his nose. “Here, Mine. Here,” he mindlinked.
Often when someone’s wolf form fully took over, it was hard to communicate even through the mindlink. Speaking human sentences was too complex for their minds within those heated moments.
“Please...Don’t leave,” Ruth begged between sobs.
Tyler licked her forehead and maneuvered so that he could squish his large body between Ruth and the backrest of the couch. “Never, Mine...” Tyler continued saying silted but soothing words through their mindlink.
Mine was a nickname that many dominant wolves used with their mates. Even though Ruth should have been bothered that Tyler was essentially declaring her his; she wasn’t. All that mattered was that he stayed where he was, preferably breathing.
Ruth stuttered through her tears, “You...you were dead. You le—left me.”
Tyler’s wolf growled low at her words, and used a foreleg to gently pull her impossibly closer, “No leave. Mine.”
“Tyler,” she felt him make a sound similar to a cat's purr as he put his nose to her temple. Her words fell away as Tyler gave her small licks, the wolf equivalent of kisses, everywhere his large wolf head could reach. All too soon, Ruth found herself drifting off again, but this time she wasn’t afraid. Tyler was here with her and he was alive. She snuggled her face into the fur that lined his neck and chest so that they were completely curled towards each other.
CHAPTER 17
Tyler’s eyes slowly cracked open as the sunlight from an uncovered window fell across his face. He felt like a groggy mess, what had happened last night? Tyler tried to raise his hand to his face to rub away
the sleep, but stopped when he felt something, or rather someone, shift.
Slowly moving his eyes downward he saw a head of silver hair. His nose also registered the strong smell of mint with an overwhelming cinnamon scent mixed in. The sweet second layer to her scent almost overpowered her natural minty odor, which was weird. What had caused this sudden change?
He wracked his brain trying to remember how exactly he’d become smushed on a couch with Ruth, and what happened that would’ve changed in her scent. Suddenly it hit Tyler like a truck to the chest. All at once he remembered everything that from the night before.
He passed out at his desk in the middle of working on a report when he was jolted awake by Ruth shouting his name through their mindlink. Tyler immediately felt through his Alpha Link, but he couldn’t sense anything wrong with anyone else. Instead of listening to the thoughts of their entire pack, alphas could get a feel for everyone’s emotions as a whole through their Alpha Link.
Shaking his head in confusion Tyler tried mindlinking Ruth back, but he couldn’t get through. After several more fruitless attempts he opened his senses to her more and discovered that the she-wolf was sleeping. When a wolf was unconscious attempting to talk to them through the mindlink was like trying to grasp onto a wisp of smoke because they weren’t having cohesive thoughts to connect to.
How Ruth had been able to reach him in his slumber was a mystery. Perhaps it was simply because she was trying to alert him of danger, albeit a bogus one, which could have set his alpha senses off.
Knowing that she was physically fine and merely having some kind of weird dream was a relief. Although a short lived one as the next thing he heard was Ruth wailing in his mind, “No, no, no. Please, no.”
Before he could even attempt to control himself Tyler’s wolf took over, shifting in an instant. He remembered finding Ruth and, after his wolf calmed enough to realize that there was no real threat, staying with her.
