Alphas Ruby

This Pain is the Hardest

The truck ride back to the pack lands was steeped in an uncomfortable silence, the tension thick enough to slice with a knife. Ruby refused to let go of Cole, her grip on him tight, her body trembling slightly as if seeking solace in his presence. Jackson sat in the passenger seat next to Aiden, his mind racing with worry, guilt, and anger at how everything had unfolded. They had gotten her back, but at what cost?

As they arrived at the small hospital nestled on the pack lands, Jackson's heart raced. The building was unassuming—one story, with a handful of rooms that seemed to barely contain the weight of their urgency. Jackson felt a knot tighten in his stomach as they hurried Ruby inside. She was still pale, her bruises stark against her skin, and Jackson could only imagine the pain she must have felt.

Hours passed. The doctor—a familiar face —had been treating Ruby, and as the minutes dragged on, the atmosphere felt suffocating. Jackson paced outside the room, anxiety coiling tighter within him. Finally, the doctor emerged, and his expression was unreadable.

"She asked for him," he said, nodding toward Cole, who stood slightly behind Jackson, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why?" Jackson asked, his voice low and strained.

The doctor shrugged, glancing between them. "She said she had questions." Jackson's heart raced with fear, thinking of how fragile Ruby was, both physically and emotionally. What questions? The silence between them felt deafening as they exchanged worried glances.

Inside the room, Ruby lay on the bed, an IV drip slowly feeding her fluids. The harsh fluorescent lights illuminated her bruised face, and Jackson felt a pang of guilt stab at him. He had failed her. "Cole," Ruby said softly, her voice strained. "Why didn't he tell me?"

Cole shifted uneasily, not sure how to respond. "I'm not the one with the answers. He is," he said, glancing back toward the door where Jackson lingered. "But you're human... and well, we sorta are not. There are things you wouldn't understand."

Ruby's brow furrowed as she processed his words, a mixture of confusion and frustration crossing her features. "How long have you known him?" she asked, the vulnerability in her eyes striking him. "Not long," Cole admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor. "He and I are both Alpha's But that doesn't answer your questions."

Ruby looked back at him, her expression earnest. "Do you trust him?" The question hung heavy in the air, and Cole hesitated, feeling the weight of her expectations. "I trust him with my life, but that's not what you need to hear right now." He paused, trying to gauge where she stood. "What about you? Do you trust him?"

"Then why does it feel like I have to ask you the same questions?" Ruby pressed, frustration seeping into her voice. "Can you send Aiden in here?" Cole nodded, feeling a bit bewildered by the sudden shift in her demands. He stepped to the door and motioned for Aiden to enter. Jackson, still hovering just outside, tensed at the prospect of Ruby wanting to speak to Aiden instead of him.

"Ruby wants you," Cole said simply, watching as Aiden stepped into the room, his demeanor calm and collected, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling inside Jackson. "What do you want to know?" Aiden asked, his voice steady as he approached Ruby's bedside. Ruby looked between Cole and Aiden, then focused on Aiden, her voice barely a whisper. "Why didn't Jackson tell me about his wolf form? About what he really is?"

Aiden met her gaze, his expression serious. "Jackson struggles with that. He didn't want to scare you, and he thought it was better to protect you by not burdening you with that knowledge. But you deserve to know the truth." Jackson's heart sank as he heard Aiden's words from outside the room. He should have told her, should have been honest from the beginning.