The Legendary Red Wolf

Chapter 9

Flashback- Ruby's ten years old

CRASH!!

My back slams into the cupboards and I feel something snap but I don't make a sound as I take the assault. The man above me, Harry, kicks me repeatedly while I just lie there, curled in on myself, protecting my head mainly. After a few more minutes, he gets bored and leaves me on the kitchen floor, unable to move from the pain and injuries as I wait for them to heal a little. Footsteps approach the doorway and I know exactly who they belong to, Beta Rowan, he walks in before doing a double take at my figure and rushing to my side.

"Ruby, are you alright? Goddess, you're a mess!" he exclaims quietly, making sure no one in the other room can hear him.

"I'm fine, just regaining my strength. Please don't worry about me, you'll only get yourself into trouble," I say my voice rough with pain.

"I always worry about you, I know I've hurt you but I do care for you" he tells me sincerely, a line which is very often repeated.

"I know, Rowan" I sigh.

Carlson chooses that moment to appear in the doorway and Rowan slips into his façade, growling at me.

"You address me as Beta Rowan" he spits, slapping me.

"I'm so sorry, Beta. I accept the punishment you see fit" I say bowing my head.

"Leave her be Rowan, she's hurt. She slipped up. Forget it. Anyways she needs to make dinner" Carlson tells him, miraculously in a good mood.

I use the counter to pull myself up and I shake my body as if I was in wolf form to loosen my aching limbs, I return to making the dinner for the dozen odd wolves who are allowed in the pack house, everyone else was banned. I wonder why, I think sarcastically. Carlson walks out again and Rowan comes over, taking my shoulders and turning me towards him, he holds me at arm's length as he examines my body. If anyone else did this I would be creeped out but this is Rowan and I know he is just looking for injuries. Most have healed and so I turn out of his grip, ignoring the twinge in my back, I must have pulled a muscle. I continue making dinner with Rowan watching me from across the room.

As soon as I'm finished I slip out of the room as the wolves enter and disappear down to the basement, sitting on the bed. Rowan appears moments later and closes the door, locking it with the special glove they use to not be affected by the silver, which he drops on the bed, now no one but the Alpha can come in.

Rowan has been looking after me since the beginning, sure he hurt me at first but he had no other option, Carlson was making sure I didn't mess up and so he had no choice, which is why he was quick and used very little force. He's only gone as far as kissing me if someone enters to make it look more like he was, but it's all pretend. He's been protecting me as much as he can without getting caught. I'm grateful for the one person I have left. Rowan is 16, six years older than me. Carlson made him beta because he thought Rowan was best for the job as a young and driven boy, who could be easily convinced to his way of thinking, little did he know Rowan was not that easily goaded and he forgot the little detail that me and Rowan had been friends since I was little.

"I told Carlson that I've come down to fuck you as a small punishment for disrespecting me. But you know I won't touch you," Rowan offers his excuse for being down here.

We're both silent for a while and Rowan drops down onto the bed next to me. Sighing I decide I may as well tell him my plans.

"Rowan, if I was to try and escape. Would you help me?" I question quietly

"You can't escape you know that. The basement is coated in silver you can't touch the door." Rowan says not looking at me.

"I'm immune to silver" I tell him bluntly.