A Hooked Wolf (1)

Chapter 7

My eyes fluttered open, a burning feeling filling them. I sat up in the bed, in my bed. My right cheek stung and when I went to the mirror, I could see the healing gash across it. Also I had been crying that night, dry tears still stuck to my jaw. I was wearing the same thing as last night, only now there was a long tear in the left side of my shirt. A tear that can only be formed by an animal, or a hook.

Tears spilled down my stinging, blue eyes and it became harder to breathe. I quivered as I quietly spoke.

"He's gone. Hook left me."

I grabbed the first thing my fingers could touch and I flung it to the ground in a spill of glass. The picture frame smashed into the floor, glass flying everywhere as it shattered. Still crying I reached down into the shards and pulled out the ripped, yellowing picture. Twenty five years ago I took this picture, the first day in StoryBrooke. A smiling Mary Margret had her arms wrapped around me, who was laughing. She looked beautiful, as she always did, we were at the diner and I had just gotten down working.

I began to cry harder and when I jerked my hand it caught into the glass. I became quiet. Granny ran in and everything went slow. Salty water poured into my mouth and down my cheeks and I yelled out to the walls. Granny pulled me into a hug, rubbing my back.

"Why does everything have to be so damn hard!" I screamed, looking over at my mirror, Hook had forced me into his life and left a piece of him with me. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"It's alright Red," she coaxed.

My lips silenced and my fingers became numb. The only sound left was a quiet whimper that escaped from my chest. I eyed the red liquid as it licked the glass as a sea does the shore. The crimson was smeared across the wooden floor and my slender fingers.

"I'm alright now Granny," I sighed, standing up. "I shouldn't act like this."

"You have every right Ruby Lucas," she gave me a kind, old smile. "Go back to bed girl you have a mighty fever," she told me pressing a hand to my head. I nodded and slipped back into bed.

"Granny?"

"Yes dear?"

"Did you bring me here?"

"I did," Granny answered.

"Why? How? When?"

"Well." She sat on the edge of my bed and took a deep breath.

Granny's POV

Red was still gone and night arrived. I scurried out into the black of the sky, no stars to light it.

"Ruby!" I called fiercely, turning to every corner.

Her faint trail ran along to the decks of StoryBrooke, where the waves were alive and mingled with the sandy edges and carved away at the salty wood of the deck. The stench of fish rotted the cool air as the moon shimmered against the dark water. The rain had long stopped but it left its mark on the long deck, soaking it with cold puddles.

There she laid, her eyes closed. A deep cut damaged her face and soaked her cheek in blood. Ruby's clothes were torn and she was panting like a dog. I scooped her up into my arms and began to carry Ruby home.

"Where is he Granny?" She whispered softly. "Where is he?"

"Where is who Red?" I replied.

"He left didn't he?"

"Who?"

She sighed. "Doesn't matter now I guess." Her face was cover in tears, sweat and blood yet my granddaughter remained calm. "Who cares anyway."

"It matters to me girl." I held her tighter. "I'll just ask in the morning."

"Ok." Then Ruby's breath became even and quiet as she began to fall asleep.

Ruby's POV

Well, Dr. Whale told me I was sick...again. Lately I had been getting sick a lot. My head felt like fire and It seemed like hammers were pounding on it. David came in once, not really saying much. Much later, a breeze came through the window and the smell of salt filled the room. I folded my arms over my chest and frowned before coughing.

"You look sick love," Hook stated, running his fingers across my jaw. "I'm sorry about that night."

"I am," I said with a sneeze. He staggered closer to me. "And it's alright."

His face became only inches from mine, his breath fanning against my face. "Well good thing I don't mind getting a little sick." Hook's lips pressed against my cold ones. he placed an arm on ether side of my skinny form and leaned in more. I took a handful of his soft hair in my hand. I let this pirate blindly into my life, still not sure if it was a good idea or not.

I trusted Hook with my life but I could never tell him my secret. He was kind but I didn't lean on him. He was broken like me but I didn't know if I should let him fix me. I was a twisted person that made no since. Ruby Lucas was a strange person, me. I am Ruby Lucas, Red Riding Hood, the wolf.

His blood smelled wonderful as it pumped quickly through all his veins then I realized what I had just thought. His blood smelled wonderful. A full moon was in the sky, I could feel it. Hook pulled away, looking confused.

"Something wrong Red?"

"I..." I turned to the window, watching the moon shine through the glass. I pushed myself aggressively back into his face as a low growl began to form in my throat. My right leg curled over his thick back. My eyes began to water.

"Red!" Hook gasped as his eyes widened. "Your eyes are...yellow."

"Oh shoot." I stood up and began digging through my closet. When my fingers ran down the soft fabric of the cloak I ripped it out and tugged it around me. Instantly the burning stopped."

"Red, what's going on?" Hook asked.

"Killian...I," I paused. "I'm a werewolf."