Page 36 of Knox's Fate

Another pause, and then the voice replied, “Fine. Meet us at the camp.”

The rogue glanced up at Knox, and Knox nodded once, satisfied. He took the phone from the rogue’s hands, ending the call and pocketing it. The rogue shifted uncomfortably in his chair, watching Knox with a mixture of defiance and fear.

Knox leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper but laced with deadly intent. “If Ruby’s hurt, you won’t live to regret it. Understand?”

The rogue’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t respond. Knox straightened, casting a quick look at his men. “Secure him. Beck and I will take him to the meeting point. The rest of you will remain here and guard the compound. If this one, or the one we’re leaving here, tries anything…” He let the words hang, the promise of retribution clear in his tone.

The rogue’s shoulders slumped slightly, resignation settling over him as Knox’s men moved in, ensuring the restraints were secure in preparation of transporting him. Knox’s mind raced, a fierce protectiveness overtaking him as he prepared for whatever lay ahead. Ruby was out there, vulnerable, in danger, and he would be damned if he let anyone keep her from him.

“Let’s move,” he growled quietly, his voice cold and commanding as he led the way. His pulse thundered in his ears, every step bringing him closer to the confrontation he knew was inevitable.

As he climbed into one of the clan’s black SUVs, his mind flashed to Ruby—her determined eyes, her fierce spirit. He knew she wouldn’t give in easily, but the thought of her in danger sent a fresh surge of fury through him. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he sped toward the trail that would take them to the rendezvous point.

Beside him, the rogue was silent, his face set in grim determination. Knox glanced at him, his voice low and menacing. “If you’re lying, or if this is some kind of setup, you won’t survive the night. I promise you that.”

The rogue shifted, another flicker of unease crossing his face, but he remained silent. Knox clenched his jaw, focusing on the road ahead, his mind a storm of rage and determination.

As they neared the meeting spot, Knox took a steadying breath, his mind sharp and focused. He would get Ruby back, no matter what it took. He’d face down every last one of these rogues, burn the forest to the ground if he had to, but he would not rest until she was safe in his arms.

Turning to the rogue one last time, Knox gave him a final, chilling warning. “When we get there, you’re going to do exactly as I say. No sudden moves, no surprises. And if you try anything, I’ll end you.”

The rogue swallowed, giving a reluctant nod, his bravado finally beginning to crack under Knox’s relentless gaze.

Knox felt the tension coil in his muscles, his senses razor-sharp as they pulled into the clearing at the foot of the trail that led up the mountain. His eyes scanned the area, noting every shadow, every potential threat. He and Beckett stepped out of the SUV, pulling the rogue shifter who was ambulatory with them. Everything about Knox’s stance was commanding as he looked up the trail. His voice was cold and held a deadly promise as he spoke.

“All right,” he said, his gaze hardening as he leveled a glare at the rogue. “Let’s go find your people and talk about that treasure…”

CHAPTER 19

RUBY

Ruby trudged forward, her heart hammering in her chest, a string of curses running through her mind in a frantic, looping mantra:shit, shit, shit.She wasn’t sure how long or how far they had hiked, but it was now fully dark, and the uneven ground meant she kept stumbling. Each time she did, she tried to leave some kind of mark for Knox and his men to find.

She couldn’t believe she’d allowed herself to be caught. Her instincts had screamed at her to stay put, but had she listened? Hell no. She was so used to living in the city where she knew how things worked—always believing she could take care of herself.Good going, city girl. Just look at the mess you’ve gotten yourself into. If only she had listened to herself, she might still be back at Knox’s compound, safe and sound, instead of moving through the darkened woods with the cold muzzle of a gun pressed to her back.

But if I hadn’t gone back,she reminded herself bitterly,I wouldn’t have found the journals.Her aunt’s journal entries had revealed too much to ignore, secrets her aunt had guarded with her life. The cryptic warnings and tales of hidden treasure wereno longer some far-off mystery; they were right here, buried in this mess, and Ruby was knee-deep in it.

The forest was dark, the thick canopy blocking most of the light from the moon and stars. But still enough ethereal light made it through so that shadows danced around her, their shapes shifting with every step she took over roots and moss-covered ground. Her captor’s hand tugged at the lead rope around her wrists, forcing her to keep pace with him. She tripped again, biting back her irritation, reminding herself that anger wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Not yet, at least.

She and her captors had been hiking for what felt like hours, the forest around her swallowing up any sound beyond their footsteps and the occasional grumble from the man leading her. Her shoulders ached, and her muscles were sore from the strain of keeping up with his relentless pace. The weight of her situation bore down on her, making her wish she could turn back time, slip into a different version of this night where she was safe beside Knox. But no, she’d been too stubborn, too proud, too determined to face the truth head-on, and now she was caught in the thick of her aunt’s secrets, with no escape in sight. Secrets for which her aunt had been murdered.

And yet… she couldn’t stop thinking about escape. She glanced at the rope around her wrists, feeling the itch of defiance stirring inside her. She wasn’t some helpless pawn. She’d handled worse odds before and come out on top. The one man’s grip on her wasn’t exactly gentle, but he was focused ahead, oblivious to her mounting plan. A small, reckless hope sparked within her as she realized she might have a slim shot at freedom.

She slowed her steps, pretending to stumble yet again, letting her weight fall heavily onto the rope as if she’d tripped. Her captor cursed, yanking the rope, but her sudden drop threw him off balance. She felt the resistance in the rope snap taut, andwith a guttural yell, he tumbled forward, crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

This was her chance.

Ruby didn’t waste a second. She yanked the rope free of his momentarily loose grip and bolted, darting into the underbrush with the urgency of a hunted animal. Branches tore at her clothes, brambles scraping her skin, but she didn’t care. All she could think about was putting as much distance between them as possible.

Her heart pounded as she ran, her breath coming in sharp gasps as the cold night air burned in her lungs. She ducked beneath low-hanging branches, her feet moving instinctively, her senses heightened with the adrenaline of escape. She dared a glance over her shoulder but saw only shadows and darkness. For a moment, a fierce, fleeting moment, she thought she’d managed it—that she’d slipped out of his grasp, that freedom was just within reach.

But then, an angry roar echoed through the trees, a bone-chilling sound that stopped her dead in her tracks. The forest went silent, her own breath the only sound in the stillness, as if even the trees were waiting for what came next. She pressed herself against the trunk of a tree, hoping to blend in, willing her body to disappear into the shadows. But the low, menacing growls that followed told her she was out of luck. The shifters weren’t just following her; they were hunting her.

She broke into a run again, her mind racing, heart hammering, her instincts screaming to flee, to find some place to hide. But she wasn’t fast enough. Within moments, she heard the thunderous pound of heavy paws behind her, the unmistakable sounds of bears charging through the forest. She pushed herself faster, her muscles straining, lungs burning as she fought to stay ahead of them. But the roaring grew louder,and then, with terrifying speed, they flanked her from both sides, massive forms of fur and muscle closing in.

She stopped, skidding to a halt, her breath heaving as she faced the two grizzlies before her. Their eyes glowed with a dangerous intelligence, and in the dim light, she could see the powerful muscles rippling beneath their thick coats, each one poised to strike if she dared to run again. They towered over her, their hulking forms blocking any path of escape, their presence a wall of raw power and intimidation. Ruby swallowed hard, realizing with a sinking heart that there was no escaping them. Not now.

One of the bears took a step closer, the rumble in its chest a deep, resonant threat. Her whole body went rigid, every instinct telling her to run, but she forced herself to stay still, to keep from provoking them further. She could feel the anger in their gaze, a silent warning that she wouldn’t get a second chance if she tried to defy them again.

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