I’d Condemn Myself For No Other

Je t’adore by Eurielle

“That would be something reckless!” Frustrated and a bit moody, Ruby hit his chest in anger.

“Ruby-”

“No, I’m not going to spur something on so reckless and stupid.” Throwing herself away from him, she paced around the tree. She cursed him and his stupidity under her breath as she tried to think of something. Anything at this point.

“Ruby, listen to me. I’m not going alone. I’ll have my fighters backing me up.” Grabbing her in a fierce hold, he trapped her in his arms. “Do you really want them to stick around? To hurt more people? To come back and hurt you?”

“No, but…” Her furrowed brows relaxed and the anger faded from her eyes, replaced with a worry and sadness that kicked his gut at the same time it sent his heart soaring.

“But what?”

“What if you get hurt?” Brad cupped the back of her head in his hand, laying it against his shoulder while he swayed in a comforting manner. “If anyone gets hurt…”

“I’m not going to get hurt, baby. No one should ever be hurt by him.” Ruby nodded into his shoulder, one of her hands snaking its way up to his hair. “Don’t get me wrong, love. Even if you weren’t my mate, I’d take the bastard down.”

With her hand still gripping his hair tightly, Ruby pulled back to catch his fury glazed eyes. Before she could speak, he continued.

“However, only for my mate would I ever condemn myself to kill another. I know it's not something to take lightly and this time, it's not like we’re in the middle of an attack and on the defensive. I know what I’m doing and what I’m going to do.”

“You’ll come back?”

“Always, love.” Her eyes downcast, she slowly nodded. Tilting her chin upward, Brad leaned forward and with the lightness of a feather, touched their lips together.

It wasn’t demanding, rough, or even very passionate. It kept its innocence and sweetness, even as he cupped her face and pulled her impossibly forward. Even as her other hand skimmed his jawline until it tangled itself in his hair, he kept it ever so sweet and kind. Never pushing.

Pulling away, only by a fraction of centimeter, their breaths mingled in the small space between them.

“Does this mean you will accept me?” His eyes lit up, making his dark olive eyes seem brighter. The streaks of hazel faded from his eyes.

How strange…

Ruby searched his eyes which slowly morphed into an emerald green. His eyes danced, searching her own, and Ruby couldn’t resist or find an excuse.

Taking both of his hands in her own, she held them to her chest, above her heart, “Brad, whose last name I don’t know, I will accept you.”

He laughed, kissing her once more, this time a little less innocent.

“Earnharst, madame, Brad Earnharst,” kneeling down on the ground like a chivalrous knight, he bowed his head, “at your service.”

“I thought you were a wolf, not a knight.” Ruby grinned as she teased him, the playful air around them much more welcoming compared to before.

“Can I not be both?” Brad stood to rub their noses lovingly together. He cupped her face in his hands, giving them some warmth.

“Why yes you can, Sir Wolf.” Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Brad led her back to the house.

“Alright, I lied. I want to know two things: his name and where you were kept.” Ruby kept silent as they made their way through the house and back to his room.

They shed off their winter clothes, sitting down on the couch to cuddle and warm up.

“Brad-”

“I do prefer Sir Wolf…” His light tease did little to bring back the happy atmosphere from their time in the forest.

“Derek.” She muffled the name into his shoulder, tensing as she did so.

“Where did you stay?” Brad rubbed circles on her back, prompting her to continue.

“I don’t want you to see where I was.” Ruby knew he’d push for it and she was only delaying the inevitable. “But, I had been kept in the basement. I had been referred to as s115 by the others there.”

“You are not a number.” Growling low in his throat, Brad tightened his grip on her hand. She squeezed back, a good sign if he ever saw one.

“I know.” She smiled up at him. “I don’t think my cell was marked or anything. Please don’t take some stupid detour to figure this out. It's not important.”

Brad didn’t respond but continued with his next question, “tell me your real name, Ruby. I swear to never use it. Is that why you don’t like it? He used it?”

Ruby shook her head, taking a deep breath and sitting up straighter.

“Why is this so important?”

“Because I want to know. I want to know everything.” She squirmed in her seat, thinking his words over.

“Brad, I don’t think I can recount everything for you, I just don’t. My name is Rubella Magee but he called me Rubels.” Brad snorted at the mention of Derek’s nickname for her.

“Rubella is a very pretty name.” He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger, making her smile at his flirtation.

“I prefer Ruby.”

“And so I will continue to call you. What did you do to make him so angry? To make him bite you?” Ruby took another deep breath, suppressing her urge to laugh.

“I cut my hair with a knife I managed to sneak into my room.” She grinned his way, laughing as she spoke.

“Proud of that are you?” She only nodded, her grin not fading at what she had done. Such a simple act had sent him over the edge and allowed her to escape.

Brad dropped the subject, unwilling to dive any further. Soon, he’d be able to put the pieces back himself. He’d never be able to look at things the same but a whole new wave of appreciation would wash over him, he was certain, about her ability to survive.

He distracted her from the harsh past she carried with teasing, movies, and food. Ruby smiled and laughed, freer in those moments than he’d ever seen before.

“Let's eat dinner downstairs. You know, socialize some.” Brad elbowed her gently in the ribs before taking both her hands and pulling her out of the room.

People had begun to conjugate in the dining hall, grabbing plates and filling them with food. This time, Ruby accompanied Brad to the food line, making her own plate.

They greeted her kindly, even offering for her to cut in front of them but she stayed behind Brad, getting her food fairly. The little girl from before was already seated with her father and mother. She waved excitedly at seeing Ruby once more.

This time, Brad sat at the head of the table as everyone else filed in. Luke and Lindsey sat to his left, freeing space for Ruby to be at his right. Brad reached out, holding her hand with his as she joined him at the table.

Everyone around the room noticed, whispering excitedly among each other. Lindsey held in a squeal, but her happiness never left, a grin permanently on her face. Luke held his mate’s hand, kissing her knuckles before he grinned Ruby’s way.

Looked to be by morning, everyone would know.

As soon as everyone seated themselves, and while the entire pack wasn’t present, Luke stood with his glass in hand. Lindsey followed suit, holding her glass up as well and they waited until everyone stood with them.

Ruby looked to Brad in confusion but he just smiled her way and motioned for her to remain seated.

“To the Alpha, our Patriarch, and his mate, our new Matriarch!”

“May they both prosper!” Linsdey joined in her mate’s toast, lifting her glass further into the air as the room cheered.

Still confused, Ruby looked to Brad for answers.

“Being the mate of the alpha, me, your main title is now Matriarch. The term Matriarch is used so as not to confuse who they are specifically addressing, because they will refer to you as Alpha as well.” Her mouth forming a small ‘o’, she returned her gaze back to the occupants to the room who chanted to their success in life.

Once the room settled down, the wolves dug into their meals, chatting and occasionally approaching to congratulate them.

“This has been very eventful.” Brad chuckled, whispering in her ear. Ruby agreed with a smile of her own, not quite able to laugh under the anxiety.

Several of the women disappeared early during the dinner, only to return an hour later with several large cakes. One cake, which had been made specifically for them, was decorated in white with red edges and light blue snowflakes to match the mountain-y weather outside.

The snow had been off and on, sometimes not even sticking to the ground.

After their celebration with promises of another for the following weekend, Brad led her away from the crowd and back up to their room. He insisted she stay with him, no point in keeping separate at this point.

“I may not be here when you wake up you know. I do have that meeting to attend to at lunch.” Brad winked her way, grinning at the thought of the alphas bowing down to her.

“Hardy, har har. Just go to bed.” She pushed him to the bathroom to change. Ruby had changed when getting her stuff from her room. They hadn’t moved everything, just a few things she’d need in the morning.

Brad left for the bathroom, leaving her to snuggle into his sheets. When he returned, he came quite strangely.

Jumping onto the bed, he startled Ruby into an upright position only to be greeted by the purest, emerald eyes she’s ever seen.

“Brad?” The lights had been dimmed low, making it harder to see him fully.

As a response, he nuzzled against her chest before laying down by her side. Ruby let her eyes adjust, feeling the soft coat he had. Red gleamed in a strange dark-ish way under the small lights.

“I’m going to turn off the lights if you're staying in this form.” Since he made no move to get up or change back, Ruby left the comfort of the bed to turn off the lights completely.

She stumbled on her way back, eventually being led by Brad’s snout to where the pillows were laid. As soon as she had snuggled her way back in, he plopped down by her side, letting her hands tangle themselves into his fur as she slept.