Page 101 of Big Bad Wolf

“Rafe.” Her voice was soft, imploring. “Sit.”

He obeyed, lowering into the chair next to Ruby’s. “I wasn’t expecting to feel so … conflicted.”

Ruby took his hand and traced the lines of his palm with her finger. The touch sent tingles through his whole body. “Going home is always hard.”

“I thought I hated all of this and all of them.” He lowered his voice even though he was sure everyone’s ears were perked up and listening. He didn’t give a shit what they heard. “But being back here is more complicated than that.”

“I get it.”

He turned to look at her, and the sight of Ruby at his old home added to his tangled emotions. “You do?”

“Sure. Maybe not to the same extent, but right before we left, Lena basically told me she thinks I’m a ridiculous person who makes up scary stories to get off, and yet here I am, trying to save her ass. So, yeah. I get how families are complicated.”

Rafe brought their entwined hands to his mouth and ran his lips over her knuckles. “It was a stupid idea to bring you, but I’m glad I did.”

A realization settled in his gut as Ruby smiled at him. He wanted her to want him, not because of some fated paranormal bullshit reason, but because she actually just wanted him. For him.

It was as simple and complicated as that.

“Ruby, there’s something you need to know.”

She leaned toward him, giving him her full attention, but he didn’t get to tell her everything that was on his mind. It would have to wait.

Knox was back.

Chapter Forty-One

The man that strolled into the campsite was obviously Rafe’s brother. They had the same dark brown hair, the same eerie eyes, and the same murderous expression etched into their features. But where Rafe’s hair was long and tied back at his nape, Knox’s was short with silver at the temples. He’d allowed his beard to grow fully while Rafe kept his to a delightfully scratchy stubble. Both men were large, but Rafe had at least a few inches on his older brother.

Rafe stood and Ruby followed, keeping hold of his hand. Knox stopped in front of them, his cool gaze sliding from Rafe to Ruby and back again.

“Rafe.”

“Knox.”

The men greeted each other with a terse nod. Ruby could swear the entire pack went still around them. Goosebumps broke out across her arms.

“It’s been a long time.” Knox’s voice was deep and smooth, lacking Rafe’s rough edges. It was the voice of a leader, demanding yet comforting all at once. Under other circumstances, Ruby could imagine herself liking this man.

Rafe shrugged. “Didn’t seem worth coming back.”

Knox narrowed his eyes. “And yet, here you are.”

Tension rippled through Rafe’s body and into Ruby through their linked hands. “We need your help.” How he got the words past his clenched teeth Ruby would never know.

Knox smirked. “I haven’t seen you in a year and now you want my help?” He let out a low laugh. “Rafe who always thought he was better than us has come crawling home.”

“Don’t repeat Devon’s bullshit. I never thought that.”

Knox’s eyes slid to Ruby, and a chill ran up her spine. “You always preferred humans to us.”

Rafe growled, taking a step in front of Ruby, shielding her with his body. “I didn’t want to fight you then and I don’t want to fight you now.”

Knox sneered, his handsome face turning ugly with the expression.

Rafe went on, “You got what you wanted, Knox. You’re the Alpha. Nothing left to prove.”

Something shifted in Knox’s face, a flash of regret before he schooled his features. “It’s been a year. What makes you think you can walk back in here now?”