RUBY
I always told myself that nothing got to me now. It hadn't always been like that, but after everything that I'd been through, it was a skill I had to learn. I'd stripped my heart from my sleeve after that night in my former pack, and I never looked back since then. With how badly they'd treated me, I could swear that our paths were never going to cross again, but apparently, I was wrong.
Very, very wrong.
I blinked back a couple of times, willing the thoughts to go away, but no matter how hard I tried, they just seemed to find their way back. It had been hours since Troy and that man left, but the memory was still fresh in my mind. I hated to admit it, but I wasn't going to be forgetting their visit any time soon.
"Are you okay?" I startled back to the present at the sound of the voice by my side. I turned, just in time to see Austin as he took the seat beside me.
Something in his eyes flickered, and I just knew for a fact he knew something was eating at me. Usually, this was where others leaned into someone else for comfort, but he didn't touch me. He never did unless I asked, and that was one of the many reasons I trusted him.
He continued to stare at me even after a minute's worth of silence had passed between us, but I didn't answer. What was I going to tell him?
"You don't have to work with him if you don't want to." He sighed softly, finally breaking the quiet. "I'll handle it. Like I always do."
"I know," I said finally, my voice flat. "…but I don't think there's a need for that. I already set a price they won't agree to. The council will shut it down. He won't be coming back again." I hope.
"Ruby..." Austin frowned adjusting in his seat. "I don't like this." I don't either. I wanted to say. "I could've stepped in." I glanced at him as he spoke. "Acted like I was in charge around here, and he wouldn't even have to see you."
"Don't sound like this is my company alone, Austin. It is as much yours as it is mine. Plus, they caught us off guard," I said gently. "You didn't know he was coming. None of us knew."
"You're right," he admitted, shaking his head slowly "We didn't."
We fell into a comfortable silence after that. We might have reassured each other that Troy bursting in here wasn't any of our fault and that he would never return, but deep down I knew it wasn't true. Troy was a stubborn man, and even if he had met Austin, I wouldn't be surprised if he had pushed past till he realized I was the one in charge.
Right now, we could only hope that our plan had worked, but even as the days went by, that hope I felt when they'd walked away, kept on dwindling, and that was the problem.
Two days passed after Troy's visit. We got no message, no demands and no more sudden appearances, and even though it didn't feel like much, I could breathe again.
The council must've refused if they hadn't shown up by now, and that simply meant Troy wouldn't be back. The universe, for once, had chosen to leave me alone. Life could go back to normal, quiet, predictable, and safe again.
But I was wrong.
"Ruby?" I was packing up for the day when Austin called from the hallway. He had left me alone after our conversation to finish up some work while I did mine. "What so you say about dinner? Just the two of us."
"I don't know…." I drawled as I straightened up. "I had a long day today and…."
"That's all the more reason to step out." He finished up for me, a small smile on his lips. "I'll pick the restaurant and everything else, and you don't have to worry because I know your favorites. It'll just be a calm relaxing evening, just the thing you need to de-stress after a long day."
"Okay." I smiled faintly after a couple of seconds. "Give me five minutes."
Troy mirrored my smile before stepping out again. I was reaching for my jacket when the noise started. The raised voices came first, followed by shuffling feet. I was a good distance away from where the violence was going on, but you just had to believe I wasn't exaggerating when I said I could feel that anger thick in the air.
"What in the world?" I murmured underneath my breath. I had barely taken a couple of steps towards the commotion when I froze.
Like all of that wasn't traumatizing enough, I heard his voice.
Troy was here. Oh no, oh no, oh no. The words chanted in my head. This was bad.
I didn't waste so much as another second after that. I stepped outside, I practically sprinted out to the front and my chest tightened instantly.
Troy and Austin stood face to face, fury etched into both their expressions. Men surrounded them, hands gripping arms, holding them back like coiled springs ready to snap. Right now, they looked two ferocious tigers about to pounce on the other one if whatever tension between them didn't snap immediately.
Austin's jaw was clenched, his body rigid and tensed. He's going to shift. Troy looked the same as the first day he came here. His aura was dangerous and entitled, exactly as I remembered.
As my gaze drifted between both men, I couldn't help but do a little trip down memory lane. Austin and his father had saved my life.
He had found me when I had nowhere to go, he'd stood up for me when no one else did, and he had been my shield since then, my family and my brother in every way that mattered.
I had a biological one once, but he was never a brother. Austin was, would always be, and now, just like always, he was standing up for me.
Whatever had sparked this, I didn't need details to know the truth.
Troy was at fault. He always was.
He had made sure I knew my place back then. Why wouldn't he know his now? This wasn't his territory where he could just burst in and make sure everyone bowed to his every whim.
My wolf stirred faintly at the thought, then retreated again, silent as she'd been for years. Like she didn't exist, and it was his fault. She'd disappeared all because of him, and I would be a liar if I said I didn't resent him for it.
I pushed forward, ignoring the tension crackling in the air.
"Austin," I said urgently, and totally ignoring Troy. "Are you okay?"
His eyes softened and his muscled relaxed when he saw me. "I'm fine. He showed up uninvited and wouldn't leave."
"Alpha Troy, what is the meaning of this?" I turned to Troy, fury simmering just beneath my skin. "May I remind you that this isn't your territory…"
"You can ask him because he caused it." He glared past me at Austin. "He wouldn't let me in."
"And why should he?" I snapped. "What right do you think you have to just barge in here like you own the place?" My voice was a little higher than I intended but that was because him being here was doing things to me and not in a good way.
"Between he and I…" He looked at me then, really looked at me. "I have every right, sand you know it."
"Really?" I laughed sharply, folding my arms across my chest. "As what?"
He stilled for a second before recovering. "As someone with business to discuss." for a moment, his answer actually threw me off guard, but as usual, Austin came to my rescue.
"That's where you're wrong." Austin stepped closer to me. "She's not interested. We're.." Austin swirled his finger in the air. "..not interested in doing business with you. So leave before I'm forced to throw you out."
"He doesn't speak for you," Troy growled. "Tell him to back down." There it is, the arrogance I hate.
"He does, actually," I said coolly. "As the owner of this company."
Troy's jaw tightened and I swear I saw something flash in his eyes I couldn't quite place a finger on. "Fine, but you and I need to talk, Ruby. Alone."
There was no way in hell I was going to allow that. "No, if you want to talk business, then talk here" I said without hesitation.
"This is important." His eyes darkened. "The council wants to speak to you about a long-term partnership."
I stilled. The council? Why?
"They need the tech for more than a year," Troy continued. "Alpha Leo has become a problem. They're willing to pay upfront, but only if you meet them face to face." Okay, this is getting to much for my liking.
"Why?" I studied him carefully. "You told them about me being here that's why they want to see me, didn't you?" This had to be why. And my guess was that they wanted to talk me into either reducing the price or doing it for free. I knew that pack too well. "Or is it because they know that you can't make this decision alone, Alpha Troy?"
"The council insisted on knowing who the spokesperson was." came Troy's response after a long silence, and I almost rolled my eyes in frustration. Of course they did.
"Ruby, no." Austin shook his head. "This is a trap. Don't do it. You can't agree to it."
"I know," I said quietly facing him.
Troy's gaze flicked between us. I could feel his heated gaze but I didn't care. "Again, you don't fucking speak for her…" he almost pulled me away from Austin but I was faster, I moved away before he could touch me with the hands that must have caressed Alana.
"Again, he does." I exhaled sharply before facing Austin. "It's okay. I can't say no to business just because it's them."
"What?" Austin's head snapped toward me. "Ruby..."
"It's okay," I said, meeting his eyes. "I won't be going alone. I want you to come with me."
"No," Troy said immediately. Austin's frown loosened and he plastered a small smile on his lips. "He's not coming with you."
"Fine, then I'm not going as well." I turned to him, my patience gone. "Your pack can burn in hell for all I care."
Silence fell, and his jaw worked as he weighed his options. He then nodded. "Fine," he bit out after what seemed like forevern "But we leave today. Right now," he added. "Grab what you need for the shield and let's go."