Page 37 of Knox's Fate

Then, with a smooth, practiced ease, both bears began to shift. One after the other, their forms were surrounded by a swirling mist that seemed to contain thunder and lightning as they reshaped into tall, powerful men. Their dark eyes held a predatory glint, and the faintest hint of a smirk played on one of their lips as he retrieved the clothing they had discarded nearby, slipping into it with calm precision. The other one kept his gaze trained on her, his expression unreadable but undeniably hostile.

“Nice try, sweetheart,” one of them said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he fastened the buttons on his shirt. “But I’d give up any more thoughts of running if I were you. It’s not gonna end well.”

“Yeah, you can still talk with a broken ankle,” threatened the other.

Ruby clenched her fists, anger flaring up in her as she met his gaze defiantly. “Let me go. You don’t need me for whatever it is you’re after. I don’t know anything.”

The second man chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Oh, but we do need you, Ruby. And until we get what we want, you’re not going anywhere.”

Her jaw tightened as she looked between them, her mind racing for some way, any way, to turn this around, to regain some control. The rope was tightened around her wrists, made more secure, as if they had learned from her brief escape.

The man who had spoken first leaned close, his eyes gleaming with a dark satisfaction. “Don’t make us carry you, either,” he warned, his voice low and menacing. “We can be civil about this, or we can do it the hard way. Your choice.”

Ruby took a steadying breath, swallowing down the anger and fear that threatened to bubble over. She knew she was outmatched. For now, she’d have to play along, at least until she could find another opening. Knox would come for her. She had to believe that. And until then, she’d survive.

Without another word, they resumed their march, her captors leading her deeper into the woods, the darkness swallowing them up as they moved forward. She kept her head high, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter, but every step took her further from Knox, further from safety.

The forest seemed to close in around them, the branches overhead blocking out the sky, casting the ground in shadows that made every step treacherous. She stumbled over roots and rocks, her body aching, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to show any weakness. The grizzlies flanked her like guards, their silent, watchful presence a constant reminder of the power they held over her.

After what felt like hours, Ruby’s legs burned, her wrists sore from the constant tug of the lead rope, but her resolve hadn’twavered. She was bruised and battered, but not broken. She could endure this. She would find a way out.

But even as she held onto that fragile hope, she couldn’t shake the sense of dread that settled in her chest, a dark certainty that whatever lay at the end of this journey would change everything.

Exhaustion clawed at Ruby's limbs as the jagged peaks of the high mountains loomed, a stark silhouette against the sky. They had been on the move since they’d taken her from the lodge, ascending the treacherous path that led to Silver Falls. The air was thin here, and each breath she took seemed to rasp in her throat, mingling with the cold that bit through her clothes.

As they crested the final ridge, what she supposed was their camp came into view: a haphazard collection of tents and makeshift shelters scattered across a rocky plateau. Her heart pounded a staccato rhythm, echoing the crunch of ice and rock beneath their feet. Ruby's gaze swept the desolate encampment, noting the way the men moved with a purpose that suggested they were no strangers to the harshness of this hidden place.

Suddenly, another man emerged from the largest tent, his presence commanding immediate attention. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a bearing that spoke of unchallenged authority. His eyes locked onto Ruby, and even from a distance, she could see the calculating gleam within them; it was the look of a predator who had just sighted prey.

"Bring her," he commanded, his voice carrying across the clearing. The men around her tightened their grip, ushering her forward with a rough nudge.

Ruby stumbled, her boots slipping on loose rocks, but she regained her footing. She tried to steady her breathing, aware that any sign of weakness might be exploited. As they approached, the man stepped back into the tent, disappearinginto the shadows that danced with the flicker of a lantern hung by the entrance.

"Move," one of the men grunted, pushing her toward the open flap. The fabric brushed against her skin, cool and damp like the mist that rose from the falls.

Inside, the tent was larger than it had appeared from the outside, the interior lit by the warm glow of several lanterns. The ground was covered with heavy rugs that muffled their footsteps. Shelves lined with maps and various artifacts hinted at long hours spent planning whatever venture had brought these men to this unforgiving wilderness.

"Sit," the man ordered, gesturing to a wooden chair in the center of the space. His voice was devoid of warmth, and it echoed slightly, bouncing off the canvas walls.

Ruby obeyed, lowering herself onto the seat, the wood creaking under her weight. She kept her head high, refusing to let fear seep into her posture. She met the man's gaze squarely, searching for any telltale sign of his intentions, but his face remained an unreadable mask.

"Who are you?" Ruby asked, her voice steady despite the tremor she felt inside.

"Questions are my privilege," he replied, his tone sharp as flint. "You'll answer mine."

She clenched her hands in her lap to stop them from shaking, reminding herself to breathe. The suspense of what was to come wrapped around her like the cold mountain air, threatening, oppressive. But Ruby was determined to show no cracks in her armor, even as the silence stretched taut between them, poised to snap.

"Where is it, Ruby?" The man leaned in, his breath a mix of tobacco and impatience. Each word was a hammer, each question designed to chip away at her resolve.

"I don't know," she replied, her voice unwavering even as the cold knot of fear in her stomach tightened.

The man backhanded her, rattling her teeth. “I don’t believe you. Where is it?”

"I swear—I didn't even know about any treasure until I came here."

"Your aunt," he pressed on, the words sharp and probing, "the shifter. She must have told you something."

"No. I swear. Until a few days ago, I hadn't known she was different… you know, not human," Ruby countered, the stubborn set of her jaw reflecting the steadfast denial in her heart. The revelation of her aunt's secret identity had upended everything she thought she knew, but this man wouldn't pry that upheaval from her lips.

---