RUBY
Today was the day, and even though I tried to play it down as something that I deserved, it still felt surreal, like a fever dream I was yet to wake up from.
A million and one emotions were swirling through me all at once, and even though a good percent were positive thoughts, I couldn't shake off the nagging voice threatening to break free.
I told myself that over and over as I stood outside the venue, fingers trembling as I smoothed the fabric of my dress for the hundredth time. Prior to this moment, I'd fixed up my makeup, and I just knew Troy and the entire hall would swoon the moment they laid their eyes on me.
Today, Troy and I would finally be official. We were going to be accepted as mates, bonded, and be engaged in the eyes of the pack. Today, my family would have no choice but to see that I didn't need them. That I could be chosen and loved not because of what I could do, but simply because I existed.
I had spent hours preparing. Every curl placed just right, every trace of makeup carefully applied to hide the exhaustion and the quiet fear that always lived behind my eyes. I wanted to be perfect for him, for us.
"You can do this Ruby" I muttered to myself. "You're ready for your forever."
Before I could think up the thoughts of second guessing myself, I inhaled, lifted my chin, and pushed the doors open. Perhaps if I had known what waited for me on the other side, I wouldn't have done that.
The blinding lights from the chandelier caught my eyes first. The gems glittered all around, as it cast its light all around, and that's when I saw it. Or more specifically, them.
The flowers slipped from my hands before my mind could fully understand what my eyes were seeing. I blinked back a million times, but absolutely nothing changed.
Troy was on one knee, but it wasn't in front of me. He was kneeling in front of Alana.
What?" My heart hammered in my throat at the sight. I gave myself a few seconds, a minute at max, but nothing changed. Troy was still on one knee, with a wide grin on his face and muttering words I was sure was a love confession.
I was going to get sick.
My sister stood there in a soft laugh, her hands clasped over her mouth as Troy held out a ring that I recognized instantly. I had helped choose it. He had told me it symbolized our future, but now, he was giving it to Alana?
No, no way. There was no way this was possible. My heart slammed so hard against my ribs it stole the air from my lungs, but somehow i managed to push the words past my lips.
"Troy?" My voice cracked as I said his name. "What's going on here? What are you doing?"
He didn't look at me right away. He was smiling up at her, my sister, like she was the center of his world.
"Yes," Alana breathed, crushing my world all over again. "I'll marry you."
"What…what are you doing?" I asked. The room tilted, as I stumbled forward, but I didn't care. "This is our mating ceremony. How could you propose to her today of all days? It's supposed to be me. Not her. Alana…."
Troy finally turned to me and smirked, and I hated that he'd cut my rant mid session.
"This engagement was never for you, Ruby," he said calmly, as if he weren't tearing my soul apart piece by piece.
"I guess we should have told you earlier." Alana turned toward me then, her smile sweet and sharp all at once. "Thank you for planning such a beautiful surprise, sister. I never imagined you'd be so… generous."
"No. No, that's not true." I shook my head violently. For now,I didn't want to focus on Alana because chances were, she had probably banged her head on a wall on her way here, and she was still recovering. "Troy, I'm your true mate. We've been together for a year. You marked me."
"I know, you don't have to remind me." His expression hardened. "And I made a mistake. The fact that I just have to see your face just to remember isn't exactly easy on me."
The words hit harder than any slap ever could.
"You're unfit to be Luna," he continued coldly, and as he did, I almost didn't recognize the man in front of me "You're weak, emotional and practically useless. The pack needs someone stronger."
As he said it, he slid his arm around Alana's waist, pulling her into him possessively.
Something inside my chest shattered when she rested her head on his shoulder, before reaching to kiss him, one in which he returned.
My parents stepped forward then, faces stern. Relief and disgust sat prettily on their faces, but I didn't need to think too much to figure out who owns which reaction
"Accept the rejection, Ruby," my mother urged. Up until this moment, I hadn't even realized they were standing there. "Don't embarrass us."
"Ruby…" Troy called out my name one more time and I just knew what was coming.
"No, no." I shook my head furiously, like that could change his mind. Tears blurred the corner of my eyes, threatening to fall, but I didn't care. "No Troy. You can't do this to me. We're in love. I love you, you love me too. If there's anything I can do to…."
"I don't care about all of that." Troy snapped, cutting me off. "I reject you, Ruby. I, Troy Kaden formally renounce you as my mate."
I barely had any second to speak before a searing pain echoed in my chest. It bloomed all around me in a matter of seconds, the excruciating pain bringing me straight to my knees.
I tried to stop it, I tried to get a grip on myself, but it was useless.
"Don't fight it, sister." Alana called. Her voice was sweet and soft, but her eyes burned with a fury so hot it was tearing at my skin just staring at her. "it would be best that way."
I couldn't even come up with an answer for her, not when the pain was tearing through my wolf like claws ripping flesh. I cried out, my nails clawing at my chest as the connection snapped violently.
"I accept," I whispered, because they demanded it, because I had no one.
"Go home," my father said coldly, his eyes devoid of every emotion I thought I knew as a child. "You don't belong here anymore. Don't ruin your sister's engagement."
"Yes," Alana added softly, her hand resting over Troy's chest. "Your presence is making me uncomfortable."
I turned away before they could see me break completely. The pain didn't stop when I left. If anything, it intensified.
I wanted to leave, truly, but I just couldn't bring myself to do so. It felt like my knees had been stapled into the ground forever and if I tried to move, I was going to break. I guess Troy must have read my mind, because the sound of his footsteps echoing towards me reached my ears next.
"Get up." He growled in my ear, pulling me up by the arm. I tried to fight him off, but he was just too strong. "Now leave."
Troy didn't let me breathe. In a second, he was heading towards the door, the same one I had just walked into. In one swift motion, he pushed me out of the hall, and the door slammed shut before I could so much as speak.
I blinked back a couple of times, not wanting to believe my eyes. I was stunned, beyond that, but it didn't last long because a sharp cramp tore through my abdomen at that moment. I gasped, doubling over as another wave followed. I was still trying to figure out what it was when I felt warmth pooling in between my legs. It was too warm, and I figured it was blood.
No.
"No… no, please," I sobbed, pounding on the door. Despite all the noise I was making, I didn't miss the sound of chatter coming from the other side. They could hear me, but they chose to ignore me. "Help me! Please! I'm bleeding. Help!"
No matter how hard I knocked though, no one came. The door stayed shut, and in all my life, I hadn't felt more urged to cry.
I banged against the door over and over again, but no one answered. I was pregnant and bleeding, and I had no one to come to my aid.
A month ago, I had discovered two impossible truths, I carried a child, and something ancient and powerful stirred inside me. After a series of checks, I realized no one else had gotten that in the. I had kept both secrets, waiting for tonight. Waiting to surprise Troy, now I was bleeding alone on the doorstep.
Another wave of painful cramps rocked through me, and I almost lost it. Swallowing my screams, I forced myself up and staggered toward the pack clinic, every step agony, every breath a prayer. Luckily for me, I got there in time, but the look on the doctor's face was grave as he examined me.
"The baby can still be saved," he said carefully. Hope flared for half a heartbeat, but it didn't last long when he added. "But only if your mate stays with you. Your wolf needs his presence. It's the only way."
My hands shook as I dialed Troy's number, and there was no answer. I tried again and again, as long as I could. Finally, the call connected, but it wasn't his voice.
"Hello, Ruby." Alana laughed softly on the other end. "What can I do for you?"
"Please," I begged, sobbing openly now. "Tell Troy I need him. I'm pregnant. I'm losing the baby."
"Hmmm." There was a pause. Then she said, sweet as poison, "How does it feel to have everything that's yours taken away from you?"
Her words echoed loud in my head, but before I could make sense of it, or plead for a chance, the line went dead, and so did something inside me.