Page 32 of Knox's Fate

Her eyes flashed with a rebellious spirit, her lips parting as if to challenge his decree. But in a moment of silent understanding, she pressed her lips together, nodding once, acquiescing to the gravity of the situation. Ruby stood on her tiptoes, brushing her lips against his before turning back to the others, laughing at another jest. Knox's mind spun with the knowledge of what lay ahead. The dangers outside these walls were closing in, and the need to protect his clan—and Ruby—tightened its grip around his heart. With every beat, his heart whispered a vow: he would stand between her and the danger he could feel in his bones was coming, no matter the cost.

Standing on the edge of the room, half-shadowed by the early morning light that streamed through the wide windows, his stance was rigid and his jaw tense. His thoughts drifted, unbidden, to the rogue shifter they had released into the wilds—a decision that now seemed hasty, even impulsive. Could there have been secrets the man knew? Insights into the looming threat and had Knox let him slip through his fingers like sand?

With a lingering look that spoke volumes more than words ever could, Knox left the warmth of his clan's embrace and headed for his office. Standing in the doorway, he turned and allowed himself another moment to observe Ruby. Her silken locks cascaded over her shoulders, a stark contrast to the soft cream of her blouse that clung to her curves in all the right places. As if sensing his gaze, she turned, locking eyes with him across the room. Time seemed to slow, the ambient noises fading into insignificance as their gazes held. The intensity between them crackled, an electric charge in the still air.

Knox strode into the dimly lit room where his men had gathered, the early morning light filtering through the windows casting elongated shadows across their faces. The air was thick with anticipation, every pair of eyes turning towards him as he took his place at the head of the table. His presence commanded silence, a silent storm brewing in the tense space between them.

"Listen up," Knox's voice cut through the stillness, "I let one of the rogues slip through my fingers, and that mistake falls on me and me alone." His gaze swept over them, finding nods of agreement among the sea of grim faces. "We can't afford any more slip-ups.”

Knox continued, the weight of command settling around him like a cloak. "We'll get to the bottom of this threat, by tooth and claw if necessary."

As the meeting dispersed, each man moving with purpose, Knox looked up to find Ruby standing in the doorway, her eyes fixed on him, a question lingering in their depths. He approached her, aware of the pulse that thrummed beneath his skin at her proximity. Her scent enveloped him—a mix of wildflowers and the faintest hint of danger.

"Ruby," he began, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Her chin lifted ever so slightly, a silent acknowledgment of his concern mingling with the frustration in her eyes. But she nodded, the unspoken words hanging heavy between them.

As Knox turned to leave, the image of Ruby standing in the shadow-dappled room imprinted itself on his mind. The desire to wrap her in his arms and shield her from the unseen threats clashed with the necessity of his departure. But duty called, mingled with the echo of Ruby's silent acquiescenceintermingling with the tension that would not be quickly or easily resolved.

Knox and his men made their way through the dense underbrush in their shifted grizzly forms, their senses heightened and alert to every rustle in the verdant foliage. The earthy scent of the forest floor mingled with the sharp tang of pine as he led his group of men deeper into the territory where danger lurked unseen but palpably present.

The day wore on, a muted symphony of nature's whispers accompanying their stealthy advance. Shadows played tricks on their eyes, and the breeze carried murmurs of movements just beyond sight.

Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered. Two rogues emerged from behind a copse of trees, their intentions clear in their feral stances. With a roar that ripped through the serenity, Knox launched himself at the nearest adversary. Claws clashed against claws, a dance of dominance and survival unfolding amidst the snapping of fallen branches and crackling undergrowth.

His men engaged the second rogue, a ballet of brutality that left the second assailant wounded, blood seeping into the thirsty soil. Grunts and growls punctuated the air, a primal soundtrack to the struggle that ended with both intruders down. Knox’s adversary hadn’t fared much better. He lay still on the ground—unconscious but alive.

"Secure them," Knox commanded as soon as he shifted back to his human form, his voice a low growl that vibrated with authority. One look at the captives' defiant eyes, and he knewthere were secrets cloaked in silence, answers hidden within their snarls.

"Whatever you're planning," he said, his gaze piercing through the haze of pain and hatred emanating from the wounded rogues, "it ends now."

As his men dragged the captives away, Knox shifted back and followed, his mind already sifting through interrogation methods. There would be no room for mercy until every shred of information was extracted. He would unravel their plans thread by thread, ensuring that whatever storm they intended to unleash would dissipate into nothingness before it could touch Ruby or his clan.

CHAPTER 17

RUBY

Ruby paced the length of the kitchen, her fingers dusted with flour from her latest attempt at staying busy. The smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air, but even the warmth of the kitchen couldn't ease the chill that had settled in her chest since Knox left. She’d tried everything she could think of to quiet her mind: baking, playing with the kids, even chatting with Coco, who, bless her heart, had tried to lighten Ruby’s mood with an endless stream of gossip. But nothing worked. The restlessness gnawed at her, persistent, insistent, as if some unseen force was tugging her toward a decision she didn’t fully understand.

It was the voice of the rogue shifter Knox had battled that wouldn’t leave her. His face and the way he had looked at her, demanding she tell him something she didn't even know. The memory of his words sent a shiver down her spine. He had stood so close, his eyes piercing as he’d insisted that she knew something about the silver treasure, but she didn’t. She hadn’t even known anything like that existed until Knox had mentioned it the other day, and when he’d hinted that her aunt might have been murdered for it, she hadn’t wanted to know. But there wassomething in that man’s desperation that had lingered, haunting her with its intensity.

She brushed her hands on her apron, looking around the kitchen, hoping something in the room could distract her. But her gaze drifted back toward the window, to the woods just beyond. Her aunt’s lodge, now hers, lay beyond those trees, tucked away like a secret. So many rooms she hadn’t yet explored, so many memories and objects left behind, pieces of her aunt’s life she hadn’t brought herself to look through yet. The thought sent a fresh wave of curiosity washing over her. What if that man wasn’t wrong? What if the answer to the mystery he seemed so desperate to uncover was hidden in her aunt’s old house?

A rational part of her argued that she was just feeding her own fears, letting herself get wrapped up in something that didn’t need to concern her. She had more important things to worry about. The lodge renovation, for starters. That was supposed to be her priority—she had guests to plan for, spaces to design, repairs to make. She looked down at her phone, thumb hovering over her notes app where she’d written the ever-expanding list of things that needed to be done. But the moment her eyes drifted back to that list, her mind pulled her back to the woods, to her aunt’s house and the questions that felt like they were waiting for her there.

What if there’s something in the house?Her heartbeat quickened at the thought, a thrill of excitement mingling with apprehension.What if there’s something hidden there that I need to see?

She wrestled with the idea, trying to convince herself it was silly, not to mention potentially dangerous. Going there alone was reckless. The memory of the man’s voice, his insistence that she had some key to a mystery he wanted to unlock, echoed in her mind. She could hear it like he was right next to her.

The lodge was supposed to be her sanctuary, her chance to build something for herself, but suddenly, she felt as though she were living in a place with walls made of paper, fragile and transparent. Everything felt exposed. Vulnerable.

The nervous energy bubbling up in her was unbearable now. She needed answers, or at the very least, some peace of mind. And the only way she’d get either was to check her aunt’s house herself.

The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. Yes, the man’s insistence had shaken her, but that didn’t mean there was anything to worry about—not really. She’d just go over there, look around, maybe find something that could give her a bit of closure, a reason to put all these crazy notions to rest. She’d lock the doors, make sure she was safe. She had the shotgun and ammo and knew how to use them. She’d text Knox later, once she was there and knew there was nothing to worry about. There was no need to bother him with this just yet.

The decision made, she moved quickly, as if she might lose her nerve if she paused to think about it. She pulled off her apron and grabbed her coat from the hook by the door. Her fingers trembled slightly as she slipped on her boots, her mind already racing with all the places she might look once she was there. Her aunt had always said that the house held secrets; now Ruby was ready to find them.

Grabbing Knox’s keys, she slipped out of his lodge and into his truck. Surely driving on the roads would be safer than walking. Besides, she had no desire to run into another of the rogues while alone in the woods. But even the quiet roads seemed darker, more watchful somehow. Her heart beat faster with each mile, but she told herself it was just her mind playing tricks. There was nothing here that could hurt her.

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