Ruby’s POV
My eyes widened like saucers, utterly stunned.
My mind had been consumed with thoughts of my pack–the home I had left behind, the people I had abandoned- wondering if I would ever return. Yet, in just a few words, Killian had shattered all of that, offering me something I had never even dared to dream of. He was giving me back my birthright–my home.
I couldn’t comprehend why. I had assumed he would use me as a plaything, a pet, once this was over (and he had already started). But every time I braced myself for the worst, he acted… nothing like the monster I had imagined.
“Why?” I whispered.
His brows furrowed. “You’ll have to be more specific, little wolf.”
I swallowed hard, barely able to
his gaze. “Killian, why are you doing this for me? This is far beyond… our agreement.”
Killian tilted his head slightly, as if searching for the right words, his touch still lingering on my skin.
“Your father was a great Alpha,” he b
his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. “One of the few men who never cowered before me, even on my worst days. He was fearless. Stubborn. An absolute thorn in my side.”
His lips curved into something that almost resembled a smile. “But I respected him.”
I took a shaky breath. My father. A man I only remembered in fragmented memories–memories stolen from me when Nathaniel ripped me away from where I truly belonged. Hearing Killian speak of him like that, with something close to admiration, made my chest ache in a way I hadn’t been prepared for.
“I understand a thing or two about ownership,” Killian continued, his thumb grazing my cheekbone. “Seeing your pack, your legacy, stolen and renamed by a treacherous fool like Dominic… well, there’s only one solution. Erase him.”
“But I know,” he mused, as if discussing the weather, “simply erase him off the face of the earth without worldly punishment would be far too merciful.”
A disbelieving laugh escaped my lips. The honesty in his words, the casual way he spoke about such brutality–it should have horrified me. And yet, instead, it made me feel warm.
I was always the one who fought. No one had ever done it for me–I was always the one looking out for everyone else. It felt strange. But for the first time in years, someone was willing to fight for me.
And it was him. The most feared man in the world.
I didn’t realize I was crying until Killian’s expression become sour. His brows furrowed, a flicker of panic crossing his face.
“What now?” he grumbled, his hands gripping my shoulders as if I might faint.
“Why are you crying?”
I buried my face in my hands, shaking my head.
“I don’t–I don’t know,” I choked between sobs.
“No one has ever done something like this for me. I just… I don’t know how to handle it,” I admitted, trying–and failing–to stop the flow of these ridiculous tears.
Killian let out a frustrated sigh. “For god’s sake, Ruby, you’re being ridiculous.”
1/3
U9.31 Fr, 25 Apr
Chapter 64
I peeked at him through damp lashes, and to my surprise, a deep crease of concern marred kas sterwe were face But, of course, he still grumbled. Annoying man.
“Stop crying. You’re getting my clothes wet,” he groaned, as if he could simply command the emotions of
A weak laugh bubbled past my lips, though I was still hiccuping. I patted his arm.
“You’re incredibly rude. That’s not how you comfort someone who’s upset,” I shored
His lips twitched. “Yeah? And yet, you still threw yourself into my arms”
That only made me cry harder. Killian looked even more frustrated, the furrow of irritation at his temple deepening
Killian groaned, tugging at my cheek in exasperation. “Can you stop that? Goddamn, I’ve tortured people and fer les quiry than I do right now!”
He hesitated before pressing his lips to my forehead, his deep baritone softening “If I had known something this simple would break you, I would’ve done it sooner.”
I blinked up at him, my breath hitching at the quiet sincerity in his tone. He sighed again, running a hand through his hair “Do you want to hear about them? Your parents?”
I nodded immediately, clutching at his shirt.
“Please.”
Killian leaned back, his gaze distant as he spoke. “Your father was one of the few Alphas who endured during my rise to power. He was fierce–a true warrior–but he wasn’t reckless. He knew when to fight and when to retreat”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “And my mother?”
A strange expression flickered across his face. “Your mother… was different. Isabella. That was her old name, as I recall. before she chose to change it.”
I simply listened, hanging onto every word. My mother sounded incredible.
“She was a former healer. A woman with a heart far too soft for this world. And yet, she loved your father fiercely,” he scoffed, idly twirling a lock of my golden hair between his fingers. “I never understood how someone so gentle could fall for a beast like him.”
Then he smirked at me, something knowing flashing in those crimson eyes.
“But I suppose history does tend to repeat itself.”
I flushed. This bastard thought he could play games? I smacked his chest in annoying, glaring at him as if my stare alone could shoot arrows straight through him.
“Just keep talking, Your Majesty,” I huffed.
Both of his hands lifted in surrender, and I pouted, trying to hide my amusement at the tyrant’s ridiculous antics.
“Alright, alright. The point is, Isabella was the very definition of a kindhearted woman. Too kind, even. And your father knew it. He was fiercely protective, keeping her away from war, from anything that could taint her.”
He studied me for a moment before his thumb brushed against my lips. My skin burned under the intensity of his gaze. “I see a part of her in you. Her spirit. Her gentleness.”
My heart ached. “I wish I could remember her.”
09:31 Fri, 25 Apr
Chapter 64
Killian exhaled heavily. “I don’t have any pictures of them. But I can restore what they built
Tears welled up in my eyes again, but this time, I held them back.
“That’s enough,” I whispered.
His lips quirked. “Good. Because the restoration of The Winterdawn Pack has already begun.”
I stiffened. “What?”
Killian raised a brow at my reaction. “Did you think I would wait? It will take time, but I’ve already started moving things into place.”
Panic flared in me. “Why didn’t you tell me first?!”
He smirked, looking far too pleased with himself. “It was meant to be a small surprise before my bigger gift.”
I gaped at him.
“A bigger gift?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
My head spun wildly. This was too much. Too fast. I hadn’t even caught my breath to question if this was truly real.
I placed a hand on his chest, intending to push him away, but he caught my wrist and pulled me in–his mouth claiming mine in a deep, intoxicating kiss.
My protests vanished instantly as his fingers tangled into my hair, tilting my head back while he devoured me with a hunger that burned.
When we finally pulled apart, I was gasping for air, my skin flusheda mix of anger and embarrassment.
“Killian…
you shouldn’t have…”
The sudden tightness in my throat made it impossible to continue.
His
gaze
darkened. “Shouldn’t have what, little wolf?”
“Why are you doing all of this?” I bit my lip, tears welling at the corners of my eyes, burning. “Even my offer to you… it could never compare to what you’ve done for me.”
For the first time, Killian didn’t respond immediately. His crimson eyes locked onto mine unreadable, so intense. And then, finally, he spoke what I can’t expected.
“Because of you, Ruby Lucienne.”
田
