Page 26 of Knox's Fate

"Seems so," Knox agreed, glancing up at her with a softness in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. "Not just here, but in everything."

Her interactions with the clan were initially met with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. The adults watched her with guarded expressions, their whispers like rustling leaves in the wind. But the children were drawn to her, their innocence and laughter bridging gaps she hadn't realized needed crossing.

"Miss Ruby, will you tell us another city story?" a young shifter asked one evening as she sat in Knox’s lap on the porch, the setting sun casting long shadows over the yard.

"Of course, little one," Ruby replied, winking at Knox who was disinclined to have her move. He wrapped his arms more tightly around her, but didn’t try to prevent her from rising.

When she stood up, Coco was beaming at her. “They adore you.”

“Of course, they do,” Ruby laughed. “I bake them cookies. All kids love those who feed them fresh-baked cookies.”

From that time forward, Coco became her unwavering advocate. Ruby often overheard her weaving stories of Ruby's strength and kindness. Gradually, the clan's wariness thawed, replaced by nods of respect and offers of help.

"Seems you're winning hearts and minds faster than I thought possible," Knox said, joining her one evening as she handed out homemade cookies to a group of eager young shifters.

"Maybe," Ruby laughed, "or maybe they just really like my baking."

"Or maybe," Knox said, pulling her close, "they see what I see."

His lips brushed against her forehead in a promise that spoke of shared tomorrows and whispered secrets. He might have said more were it not for the ringing of his cell phone. He glancedat the caller ID and placed the call on speaker. “I have you on speaker. What do you want, Beck?”

“The town council wants to have a meeting tomorrow night. You should know they want to know what your plans are about Ruby and if you think the attack on your place was an isolated incident or the prelude to something bigger.”

“We’ll be there to discuss the attack and to talk more about Lorraine’s murder. My plans for Ruby are not up for discussion. That falls under clan business.” There was a general and audible grumble in support of Ruby, which made Knox grin.

“It’s not that simple, Knox, and you know it,” Beckett said. “She’s human. Her knowing about our secret is a threat to us all.”

CHAPTER 14

KNOX

The air in the Silver Falls town hall was heavy with tension, dust motes swirling through the shafts of light that cut across the darkened room. Knox took his place at the back of the room, his broad shoulders tense as he surveyed the council members convening before him. The scent of unease mingled with the earthy aroma of the shifters gathered around—bears, wolves, lynxes, and the like—all united under the same wary atmosphere. At the front of the room on the raised dais were the four council members and the sheriff, who acted as the deciding vote in a tie.

"Order!" The voice of the council's chair boomed out, and silence spread like a wave through the chamber.

Ruby sat off to one side with the grizzly-shifters who had been adamant that her place was among them. She surveyed the room with her keen, intelligent eyes. Knox suppressed a grin. If his fellow townsfolk thought they would intimidate Ruby, they had another thought coming. Her posture was relaxed but poised, an island of calm defiance in a sea of uncertainty.

"Today we face a matter concerning the safety and future of our town," the chair continued. "It has come to our attention that Ruby Edwards...” He paused, glancing toward where shesat, "—is human and could be at the center of events that could endanger us all."

Murmurs rippled through the room, but Knox's people—the grizzly-shifters of his clan—remained silent, their support for Ruby as solid as the earth beneath their feet. Those who had yet to form their own opinion after spending time with her trusted Knox, and if he believed in Ruby, then so would they. Those who’d had the chance to get to know her believed she was already one of them.

"Let it be known that my clan stands behind Ruby," Knox's voice cut through the chatter, deep and resonant, commanding immediate attention. "Whatever comes our way, be it from outside of Silver Falls or within, we will face it together. She is under my protection."

Suspense hung thickly in the air, every shifter present aware of the dangers lurking beyond the town's borders. The rival bear-shifters' recent attack on Knox's clan was still fresh in everyone's minds, the memory of it like a shadow that refused to fade.

"Knox Wilder speaks true," came a supporting call from amongst his ranks. "We protect our own, and Ruby is one of our own."

Ruby gave Knox a fleeting look, a mix of gratitude and stubborn resolve etched onto her features. It was clear she wasn't used to relying on others, but this was more than a personal issue—it was about the welfare of all shifters in Silver Falls.

"Very well," the chair acknowledged, though his expression remained unreadable. "But let us not forget the potential threats we face. We must remain vigilant."

Knox stood firm, his muscular frame like a fortress against the rising tide of whispers and wary glances that swept through the council chamber. His eyes, usually calm and unyielding, now burned with an intensity that silenced the room.

"Let me state again so those up front can hear me… Ruby is clan business," he stated, his voice a low growl echoing against the stone walls. "And if anyone here thinks to interfere, they can go straight to hell."

The council members exchanged uneasy looks, their discomfort tangible in the charged atmosphere.

Knox's bold words were matched by the firm determination etched into his strong, chiseled features.

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