Ruby's POV
Of course I recognized him. Everyone did.
I had encountered him at the Zenith corporate gala a while ago. His photograph graced every business magazine cover, and whenever the television flickered on, there he was, entangled in fresh gossip with some starlet or fashion model.
But there was absolutely no chance he would remember who I was.
"I... Hello, Alpha Elias," I managed to stutter.
He shifted his attention away from me and addressed a security guard standing nearby. "Remove Ms. Ross from the premises."
"Understood, Alpha."
The guards moved forward without hesitation, extending their arms as though I carried some infectious disease that might contaminate Elias's immaculate designer suit.
"Hold on. You're not going to address what happened to my shirt?" The fabric was destroyed beyond salvaging and left my chest completely exposed.
He stopped moving. Only for the briefest moment. Then tossed something down near my feet.
I looked down. A blank check lay on the marble floor.
"I need clothing that will provide coverage. Not your guilt money." I spoke through gritted teeth, humiliation burning in my throat.
But he never looked back and simply walked away.
"Unbelievable," I whispered under my breath.
Could anyone believe these wealthy jerks?
They assumed money could purchase absolutely everything.
The surrounding crowd had begun staring, whispering behind their hands. I attempted to shield my chest while gathering my belongings to flee, but managing everything with only two hands proved impossible.
"Oh my goodness... Ruby Ross?"
Three women pushed through the murmuring spectators. I glanced at them once and internally groaned.
Perfect. As if this day couldn't deteriorate further.
"Hello, Mable, Sienna, Naia," I said flatly.
I had previously worked alongside these women in the same department at Zenith. They had all reported to Stanley.
These women worshipped Stanley. They devoted more energy flirting with him near the coffee station than completing actual work. Which meant I ended up handling most of their responsibilities.
After my termination, when word of my secret romance with Stanley spread, they branded me their primary enemy.
"What are you even doing here, Ruby? Attempting to reclaim your ex-boyfriend at his wedding? That's pathetic even by your standards," Mable sneered.
"I'm not here to reclaim anyone." I tried pushing past them.
But they formed a barrier.
"What happened to your shirt?" Naia snickered. "Did you actually enter wearing just your bra? Is this some bargain-basement fashion choice?"
They erupted in collective laughter.
"You could strip completely naked and Stanley still wouldn't care," Sienna shrieked. "Because he's marrying Lady Kate. THE Kate Karl! Cameron Pack's princess. And you... well, you're just some broke small-town nobody."
I stopped walking and fixed them with an icy stare. "Oh really? Well at least this small-town nobody actually dated Stanley. While you three got absolutely nothing. Do you want to know how many times I listened to him complain about your annoying voices and cheap perfume after we went home? Apparently he preferred being with me over any of you."
Their mouths fell open.
"Stanley would never say such things!" Naia shrieked.
"And my perfume isn't cheap!" Sienna screamed.
"Word for word," I rolled my eyes. "Now move. Or I'm running this suitcase over your designer skirts."
They looked like agitated birds, but they stepped aside. I quickly pushed my battered luggage forward like a shield and stormed from the church.
Wealthy people were complete jerks.
Elias, Stanley, and their entire crew of followers.
I wrestled my suitcase down the stone steps, and once I reached the sidewalk, frigid wind struck my face.
Night was approaching. But I had nowhere to go.
I could sleep at the hospital with my grandmother, but that would trigger too many questions. Like why I hadn't brought Stanley around lately, or why I wasn't staying at my apartment. I didn't want my grandmother discovering how badly everything had fallen apart.
I considered the park. Sleeping on a bench. But in a torn shirt that exposed my entire front?
Terrible plan.
So I texted my closest friend, Cloe, requesting to stay at her place for several days. Cloe was my anchor. If the entire world abandoned me, at least I still had Cloe.
Cloe responded immediately, welcoming me over.
Pulling my suitcase across the street toward the bus stop, I reminded myself everything would work out. This awful day would eventually end.
Then I heard them.
"Hey, nice shirt!"
A pack of street wolves was hanging around near the stop.
I hugged myself tighter and hunched on the bench, hoping they would lose interest and leave.
"Come on sweetheart, drop those hands. Let us see what you're hiding."
Please leave. Please leave. Please leave.
"You tear that shirt yourself? Damn that's crazy. I appreciate that in a woman." One of them stepped closer, reaching toward my shoulder.
"Go to hell!" I snapped, my voice trembling.
But it only encouraged them.
"Oh, aggressive. Show us those tits!"
They seized my wrists, forcing my arms down. My shirt gaped open completely, exposing my lace bra. The cold air made my skin tighten. They laughed even harder.
I fought and screamed. My wolf snarled with fury.
Shifting in the city was forbidden... but right now, I had no other option...
Suddenly. Blinding headlights. Followed by squealing tires.
A silver vehicle skidded to a halt inches away.
The door burst open. A deep voice roared:
"Get in."
I was too stunned to think twice and complied. The car sped away the moment I slammed the door.
"My suitcase!" I cried.
"Someone will retrieve it," he said darkly. "Address."
I gave the driver Cloe's location, my body still trembling. Then he pressed a button. A privacy screen rose between the front and back seats, enclosing us in the rear.
That's when he turned toward me and leaned forward.
Like a predator preparing to strike.
His scent overwhelmed me. Sharp pine mixed with cold steel.
My head began spinning.
"Walking the streets in that shirt was foolish," he said darkly.
"It got damaged because of you," I mumbled.
He snorted.
Then came the sound of rustling fabric. A heavy jacket dropped across my shoulders. It was still warm from his body and carried his scent.
I held my breath.
Wearing his coat almost felt like... he was enveloping me.
"Alpha Elias... do you know me?" I whispered.
My instincts told me he would never do this for a random woman. But if he knew who I was, he must know I was his brother-in-law's ex. That didn't explain why he would help.
"We've met," he said simply.
I stared at him, searching those icy gray eyes. He was staring back too, with those cold, hungry, possessive eyes. I felt completely exposed before him.
"Ruby," he warned, voice thick and rough.
But I couldn't control myself.
I was leaning forward.
Damn. Why was my body acting so strange?
My skin was burning. My underwear was soaked. All I craved was more of his scent. More of his heat.
The next moment his lips crashed onto mine. Hard.
Rough.
I gasped and parted my lips for him. His tongue slipped inside and explored every corner of my mouth, making me shiver. His hands pushed into my torn shirt and cupped my breast. I couldn't suppress my moan when he touched my bare skin.
This... This was insane.
He was a stranger, and more importantly, my ex's brother-in-law.
And I was making out with him in the back of his car.
The crazy part was I didn't want to stop.
He lifted me onto his lap like I weighed nothing. I straddled his thighs and tugged at his tie as he bit my collarbone.
Then, suddenly, the car stopped.
"Alpha, we've arrived," the driver announced behind the screen.
That's when everything froze.
His lips stopped at my neck. I was still moving on his lap, flushed and aching. But he pushed me away.
"We can't do this," he said coldly.