Comfort Zone

Je t’adore by Eurielle

The cheese pizza sent warm tingles up her arm and its fresh smell drafted up her nose like it had been made in the kitchen. It didn’t taste as greasy as the pizzas from chain restaurants.

By the time she knew it, the sun began to set and Ruby had finished her stack of movies. She picked some more out but, feeling tired already from staring at the screen, Ruby headed back to her room. She cleaned her dishes in the kitchen and shut down the living room beforehand.

Pack members had filed into the dining room for dinner but Ruby grabbed herself an apple and headed upstairs. She didn’t feel very hungry at the moment, but in case she did, she could eat the apple.

Entering her room, Ruby set it aside on her dresser and dressed for bed. Locking her door and the balcony doors, she shut off her light and climbed into bed.

Brad hadn’t returned just yet, but Ruby didn’t feel endangered without someone she trusted nearby. She could hear the noise coming from the dining hall drift pass her bedroom door, and she felt reassured so many people gathered in the house and most likely would stick around somewhere. Rex and Luke, possibly even Lindsey, were just a few doors away. While the doctor and Lilac didn’t always stay inside the house, they had rooms close by as well.

They were werewolves, they had expert hearing well beyond hers and would sense danger should it be nearby. Basic animal instinct.

With those thoughts, Ruby drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, she nearly fell out of bed, dragging her feet to shower. Her eyes hurt from the lack of sleep but she turned the temperature all the way up, leaning against the wall and closing her eyes.

Ruby moved after a little while, nearly falling asleep. She hurried before sleep could convince her otherwise and toweled off. When she went to dress, Ruby looked through it all, not liking anything until she came across some sweats.

She didn’t hear anyone downstairs and looking at the clock, she woke several hours too early for breakfast. They usually served around nine. The red lights gleamed three o’clock in the morning.

Opening the door, she let out a cry at seeing someone fall back, almost hitting her. At her half scream, Brad, who had been caught off guard, quickly jumped up.

“How long have you been out there?!” Ruby pointed an accusing finger in his direction but dropped it at his tired eyes.

“Probably for a few hours by now.” He stretched and yawned, blinking some of the sleep from his eyes. “You locked your door, so Darz stayed and guarded you. I relieved him as soon as I got back this morning.”

Looking over him, Ruby noticed how dirty his clothes were and how disheveled he looked. She turned him around and pushed him down the hallway.

“You need to go to sleep.” He held up his hands weakly in surrender and led her to his room at the end of the hallway.

Brad grabbed her by the hand, pulling her into his side where his arm wound itself around her shoulders. At first, she didn’t respond to his touch, but she wrapped her own around his waist, getting comfortable with the stumbling walk.

Once there, Ruby pushed him inside and shooed him off to his room.

Unlike the other rooms, his was a suite completed with a master bedroom, bath, walk-in closet, kitchenette, and personal living room.

Ruby stood impressed by the modernly feel of everything from the sleek white kitchenette, leather couch, and red velvet sheets.

Brad returned from showering and dressing in his PJs. He collapsed on his bed, looking to the side where she stood. Huffing at him, Ruby pulled the covers over him and left him to sleep.

Downstairs, she made them both scrambled eggs, the number one thing a college student should know how to cook.

With the plates balanced on her arm, she managed the two glasses in her other hand. Waitress skills did come in handy most days.

Ruby headed back upstairs, stumbling under the dim lighting. Night lights glowed around the entire house, stuck inside the floors, walls, and ceilings to provide little light that may be needed to them. It seemed pointless to Ruby since they could see perfectly without it, but it became useful to her.

Back in his room, Ruby placed the plates on the little table. She sat down herself and dug in, letting him snooze for a few minutes.

The smell must have wafted over into his room because he came groggily out.

“Did you make this?” Brad plopped himself down next to her, grasping the fork loosely as he began to eat.

“Yeah. You know, I think I’m okay without a guard...” She stood, already finishing her plate. As she stood, she brushed her hands through his cool hair, impulsively. It tickled her palm as she did, sending tingles up her arm and down her spine.

Brad stopped eating his food and looked up at her, his eyes unreadable.

With a sudden quake that rocked her body at the look he gave, she pulled away, not liking what she had just done. Regretting it. Brad grabbed her hand as she pulled away, very gently, kissing each knuckle on her hand. Ruby blushed as he released her.

She took her plate and glass to the sink to wash them. Brad finished eating his food, just wolfing it down - excuse the pun. When Ruby grabbed his finished plate, he took hold of her hand once more.

“Thank you, Ruby.”

“Go back to bed, Brad. You're still lacking sleep.”

He tugged on her hand, “come with me?”

“Go to bed.” Kissing his cheek, Ruby broke free of his hold and washed his dishes.

He did as he was told, slandering his way over to his room where he snuggled back into bed. His curtains had been tightly closed thanks to Ruby and the door shut a few minutes later, leaving him in the dark.

Still early in the morning, Ruby sat on his couch, turning on the tv, and keeping the volume low so as to not disturb. She dozed off and on, not really paying attention as colorful lights flashed across her eyes.

It didn’t take long until the thumping of running feet came straight to his door. Luke burst through catching Ruby off guard. Before he could say a word, she practically tackled him out of the suite and closed the door very quietly.

“He’s sleeping, dumb-dumb.”

“I need him downstairs. There’s some-”

“He’s. Sleeping.” She stressed very syllable and went as slow as she could like talking to a child.

“Ruby-”

“No.” She stood in front of the door, arms crossed, her stubbornness kicking in.

“Please-”

“Tell them to come back later or tomorrow.” Standing firm, she waved her hands at him in a shooing motion.

Growling, he took a few steps forward and in a hushed whisper, “there are three very powerful alphas downstairs with their betas who want to speak with Brad. Right. Now. They’re the other three line of generals for the god we once served. They. Are. Important.”

“Did they previously arrange to come?” Very calmly, Ruby leaned across the doorframe and stared at him pointedly. She wanted to ask questions, but a history lesson just wasn’t appropriate at the moment.

“Well, no…” The wheels in his head turned, almost catching up to Ruby’s thoughts.

“Then, there you go. He cannot see someone who has not made prescheduled arrangements. Simple. Plus, it's four o’clock in the morning. The sun hasn’t even risen yet, Luke.” He blinked at her logic. She was practically made to be Brad’s mate.

There was a confidence around her, always. Despite her anti-socialness moments and the times she’d have a nightmare and creep everyone out with her behavior, she had warmed up considerably to those around her, standing as an individual among them.

“You go tell them.” Right like that, the old Ruby was back. She shook her head quickly and turned to hide back in Brad’s room. “No, no, no.” Luke pulled on her arm, keeping her from hiding.

“Luke, I don’t want to-”

“Please? Come on, you got all sassy at the Christmas party and just now, you sassed me off.” Smirking, Luke held open his hand, not really looking for no as an answer.

“Luke, I don’t want to… it isn’t my place. I’m only a guest. That be just rude to-” He chuckled, cutting her off to tug on her elbow.

“Either you go tell them or I wake up Brad. Your choice.” Grumbling under her breath, Ruby walked passed him and down the hallway.

Inside, butterflies turned about and she felt the need to hide in herself as she reached the bottom floor. Luke led the way to Brad’s office.

“Gentlemen, this is Ruby.” He held open the door for her, allowing her to step in first. By the look in her eyes, she didn’t want anything to do with them and for a moment, Luke feared he made a mistake. One that would cause him to be wolf skin on the carpet the minute Brad found out.

“I do believe we asked to speak with Alpha Brad.” One of the alphas stood, eyeing Luke and ignoring Ruby.

“He’s busy.” His eyes snapped furiously towards her.

“I don’t care!” Growling, he took several towards her before being cut off by Luke who growled low in warning.

“You can’t speak with him.” She gently pushed Luke out of the way, remembering how she survived in her cell and calling upon that to help her now.

Her face became a mask of indifference, completely stoic as she kept her back straight and chin up high. When she looked the older man in the eyes, he could feel the emotionless stare go right through him, not as if she saw into his soul, but as if she simply didn’t care enough about his presence being in front of her.

A moment of silence fell over the room as they noticed her eyes and how peculiar they were. She was human, completely human as far as they could tell, but her eyes told a different story. The eyes of a wolf, rarely found even in their own community unless they were shifted, but even then, that was a rarity. Their human and wolf irises closely resembled each other’s, barely changing between shifts.

“You come into his home, without invitation, rudely bark at one of his guests,” she low key pointed to herself, “and dismiss his second in command,” she jabbed a thumb in Luke’s direction, “like it was nothing. Has Brad, Luke, or any member of this pack, ever treated you so lowly?”

When none of them answered, she looked pointed to Luke.

“Yes?” He audibly gulped at the sudden attention, especially from such an expressionless face, but her eyes, just like Brad figured out from the beginning, always gave her away. They flared in anger, but it did nothing to contort her features.

How long did it take her to master that? A few days? Weeks? Was it something new before she managed to escape?

“What's Brad’s schedule for tomorrow?”

“He should be free after lunch if I remember.” Luke looked between the two parties. The alpha still fumed but otherwise remained silent, if not a bit shocked by her demeanor.

“If you agree, you can come back tomorrow and have lunch. There are some nice hotels in town, aren’t there?” Ruby looked to Luke for confirmation once more.

“Yes, just by the highway, an hour or two away, but yes.” Luke hesitantly looked towards the group. Two of the alphas nodded in approval but the temperamental one looked ready to explode.

“Okay, then. Did you have a car bring you here or would you like us to escort you to the hotel?”

One of the alphas stood up then, making his way towards her.

“Miss Ruby, that would absolutely be lovely.” His southern accent echoed throughout the room, making her feel more at ease. “I do need an escort as I had Greg over here,” he nodded towards the big, angry fella, “drive me over. I’m Patrick and the other alpha, still rudely sitting, is Drake.” He glared pointedly over his shoulder at his comrade who quickly stood up.

She shook their hands, plastering the best smile she could. A fake emotion contouring her features, like an invisible sculpture making last minute changes. The coldness still radiated from her and they all knew it.

Luke quickly called in a few pack members, ordering several cars to take the alphas to the hotels.

“Brad will see you tomorrow for lunch. Luke, please make note of it somewhere.” Ruby looked over her shoulder, to where he stood by the door. “One more thing: please don’t arrive at four in the morning again. Sleep is as important as breathing. Good day, gentlemen.” With a slight bow of her head, something they returned, she rushed out of the room and back upstairs like a bat out of hell.

Luke had turned to follow, leaving a wolf behind to escort them to the prepared vehicles, when Patrick stopped him.

“Beta Luke, forgive our rudeness in our sudden appearance. We do have urgent matters to discuss. Please send word to your alpha.” Coming to stand beside him, looking down the hallway, he added in a hushed tone, “is that who I think that is?”

“Yes, sir.”

Drake gave a low whistle, “she’s fierce.”

“Most definitely a keeper,” Patrick added with a nod.

“Well, she’s actually quiet most of the time.”

“They usually are son until you rile them up just like ol’ Greg did.” At the mention of his name, the alpha growled but remained silent.

“Now, alphas, I need to let you in on one very important thing. She’s a guest and under our protection from the cult up north.” At the mention of the northern wolves, they collectively sucked in their breaths.

“She survived up there?”

“Yes, sir.” Greg’s eyes grew wide with surprise.

“An entire year, too.” The wolf beside him piped up. “However, I don’t think Alpha Brad likes gossip in the house.” He opened the door a bit wider, for them to leave.

“Of course, of course. We’ll leave that up to Brad and not interfere.” Patrick clapped Luke on the back.

With those words the alphas left, their betas in tow.

The hallways remained empty, several lights turning off as the alphas were escorted out and to the nearest hotel.

He returned upstairs finding Ruby curled up on Brad’s sofa, obviously distressed. He scratched his head unsure of what to do as Brad’s bedroom door opened. He looked to Luke and then to the woman who currently was stressing out on his couch.