Chapter 9
9
RUBY
M y hands shake slightly as I type the message to my bartender, Ash.
Got caught in the storm up at Pine Peak. Long story, but I'm safe. Can you open the bar today? Will explain everything when I get back.
I pause, my thumb hovering over the send button. Should I mention Knox? Ash will want details if I mention a guy. The way Knox saved me last night, carrying me from the freezing darkness into warmth and safety? The way his scent wrapped around me, making me feel protected for the first time in years?
No. Just thinking about it makes me sound overdramatic, and Ash will never let me forget it. So, I add something else.
Some crazy stuff happened with the tour group. Tell you later.
The message sends, and I take a deep breath, letting my head rest against the bathroom wall as I stand there. The mirror shows me what a mess I am—hair barely contained in its messy ponytail, my extra sweater I brought with me in my backpack hanging off one shoulder, and my amber eyes too bright with leftover adrenaline and lingering fear from last night.
From downstairs, Knox's voice reaches me—deep and authoritative—yet I can't make out his words. Just the sound of him has my stomach bursting with butterflies, which is... inconvenient. A ridiculous reaction. The last thing I need is another Alpha complication in my life. Though the notion that perhaps he might be somehow able to help me with Marcus comes to mind… as does Garrett and our kiss, and I'm suddenly pacing from the door to the shower. How can I be drawn to two guys? Talk about making my life even more complicated. Or is this some kind of side effect from starting to experience initial signs of my heat?
I push those aside because, first, I have some bitches to deal with.
I straighten my shoulders, channeling Aunt Eve's steel-spine energy. In life, you need to stand up for yourself, she always said. No matter how uncomfortable, how terrifying it makes you. Because if you can't face your demons, honey, they'll eat you alive.
Downstairs, the main room falls quiet when I arrive. James is testing his ankle, grimacing but mobile, while Sarah and Mrs. Peterson hover nearby, ready to catch him. My attention locks onto Kym and Mia, huddled by the fireplace like they're trying to make themselves small.
Good. They should be afraid.
"The rescue team should be here in twenty," Knox announces, heading for the front door with James, Sarah, and Mrs. Peterson, who is waving at us. I assume she's decided to take a quick flight off the mountain. "I'll show them the best landing spot. The rest of you wait for my return."
"Well, look who survived the night." As soon as he's gone, Kym's fake-sweet voice cuts through the silence.
The mockery in her tone has my blood boiling, but I keep my voice steady.
"Funny you should ask about last night."
"Is it?" Mia examines her nails.
I step closer, arms tight at my side. "You don't remember locking me outside in a blizzard? Ignoring me while I pounded on the door?"
"Sounds like a bad dream." Kym's smile infuriates me.
"I know it was you two!"
"Do you have proof?"
"You mean besides Knox finding me half-frozen?" I watch their smug expressions falter slightly.
"Have you considered seeing a doctor? It sounds like you sleepwalk," Mia mutters, chin high.
"You could have killed me." My laugh sounds bitter even to my own ears. "But I guess that was the point, wasn't it? Can't have some Omega catching Knox's attention."
Kym's face twists with ugly jealousy. "What lies did you tell him about us?"
"Nothing he didn't figure out himself." I smile, sweet as poison. "You're not as clever as you think you are."
"Listen, bitch—" Kym starts forward, but Mia grabs her arm.
"Don't," she hisses. "Not here."
The door opens before Kym can respond, and Knox's presence fills the space. His gaze narrows on us as he strides toward us, something dangerous flickering in their depths.
"Everything okay here?" he asks, but his gaze is fixed on me.
"Perfect," I say, not breaking eye contact with Kym.
His jaw tightens. "Get your gear," he orders them. "We're heading down."
I move to gather my backpack, but he's suddenly there, close enough that I'm inhaling his scent, and my head spins.
"You good?" he asks quietly.
"Yeah, thanks." I nod, hyperaware of Kym and Mia's glares burning into my back.
His hand is on my lower back, and my body buzzes with adrenaline, with an excitement that startles me. When I glance up, we stare into each other's eyes, and he feels the connection, too.
I'm trembling slightly, more to do with what he's doing to me, with how heat burns between my legs so quickly, it scares me.
My mother's words come to mind, a memory from that night she came home with bruises across her neck, tears tracking through her makeup.
" Don't ever let them fool you, Ruby. An Alpha's magnetism is nature's cruelest trick. Your body betrays you first—the heat, the need, the way your mind goes fuzzy around the edges. By the time you realize what's happening, it's too late. They take everything—your choice, your dignity, your soul—and they make you think you wanted it."
The words twist in my gut, bitter as bile. I remember how she'd gripped my shoulders, fingers desperate, eyes wild with a fear I didn't understand then. I was twelve, watching my beautiful, strong mother shatter into pieces.
" Promise me you'll be smarter than I was. Promise me you'll never let an Alpha make you forget yourself."
But here I am, my body singing with want for a man I barely know. My skin burns when he's near me, and part of me wants to lean into that fire, let it consume everything—my fears, my doubts that keep me awake at night. It would be so easy to give in.
And that terrifies me more than Marcus ever could.
Maybe I'm not fighting for the bar at all. Maybe I'm sabotaging myself, pushing away help, choosing failure over the risk of letting someone in. Maybe I'm so broken that I'd rather lose everything than trust an Alpha who looks at me like I'm something precious instead of something to be owned.
Another memory surfaces—Mom coming home after that last terrible fight, her eye swollen shut, lip split. But she still went back to my dad the next day. " He needs me," she'd whispered. " And when an Alpha needs you, it feels like breathing. Even when it's killing you ."
"Hey, are you okay?" Knox's voice is gentle as he touches my hand, tenderness lacing his words. "We don't have to leave the cabin right away. We can wait here a bit longer." The softness behind his words lulls me toward him, but Mom's voice keeps echoing, keeps warning.
"I'm here for you, you know that." His thumb traces circles on my palm.
"That's what I'm scared of," I whisper, the truth slipping out before I can catch it.
"You don't have to be," he says softly, but I'm already pulling away.
"We better go." I push all those thoughts down, locking away the emotions threatening to break free. My spine straightens as Mia and Kym watch from across the room.
"All right, let's do this," Knox announces, taking the attention away from me, thank goodness.
Outside, the morning sun sparkles off fresh snow. I spot sets of footprints leading away from the cabin, James' and Sarah's trail to their rescue pickup. Strange how peaceful it looks now, this place that nearly killed me.
I adjust my backpack straps as Knox locks up the cabin. Mia and Kym are already moving down the slope. Who would have thought a simple day trek could turn into a night of hypothermia and ghost stories or me unable to stop staring at Knox?
Then we're off. Knox positions himself between me and the others like a shield, his broad shoulders blocking their view of me. The gesture shouldn't make me so happy, shouldn't make me want to press closer to his warmth.
"So, Knox," Kym's voice breaks the quiet after about ten minutes. "We missed you last night. When we woke up, everyone was gone."
"Imagine that," he says flatly.
"Is there something going on?" Mia asks, her tone suggestive. "Between you and her?"
I can't help the sharp laugh that escapes me. "Seriously? After what you did?"
"Hey," Knox cuts in suddenly, his voice brightening with obviously fake enthusiasm. "Will you look at that? There's some mistletoe growing over there."
I follow his gaze to snow-covered bushes, confusion washing through me. I'm unsure what it is, but that's definitely not mistletoe, yet Kym and Mia hurry forward immediately.
"They say it brings luck if you gather it in winter," Knox continues. "The scent is incredible, too—unique to each person who touches it. Want to try?"
The girls practically trip over themselves, heading for the plants. I watch in disbelief as they strip off their gloves, breaking off branches and—oh my God—actually rubbing them on their skin.
"Can you smell it?" Kym asks breathily, pressing the leaves to her neck. Knox's hand finds mine, squeezing gently as I watch the girls being so dramatic, batting their eyes at Knox. He's already strolling forward and past them, me at his side.
We've been walking for at least half an hour, and my calves are burning from the descent, but I wouldn't dream of complaining—not when Knox keeps finding excuses to steady me with those ridiculously sexy and huge hands of his. Who even has hands that big? Every time he touches my elbow or lower back to guide me around a sketchy section of trail, my skin practically sizzles.
Behind us, the bitches are whispering to each other and scratching while still carrying those damn twigs they snapped off the bush. They are so desperate to please Knox, they'll do anything he says. Not that I'm paying them any attention. I learned my lesson. Let them stew in their bitchy juice. I've got better things to focus on, like how Knox somehow makes hiking feel like a walk in the park.
"Careful here," he murmurs, and I swear his voice has dropped an octave since we started down the mountain. The sun's doing this unfair thing where it catches his jaw just right, highlighting a day's worth of light stubble that makes my fingers itch to touch it. He towers over me like some mountain god, all broad shoulders and quiet strength. Yeah, I totally get why Omegas lose their minds around him. I'm not exactly keeping my sanity intact, either.
"See that peak?" He points to a jagged monster of a mountain piercing through the clouds. His sleeve rides up, revealing a forearm that belongs in a rock-climbing calendar. "That's where I had my worst accident. Broke my leg in three places last year."
I almost trip over my own feet. "Three places? Jesus, Knox. Were you trying to wrestle a mountain lion up there or something?"
His laugh rumbles through the air between us, and I swear I feel it in my chest.
"Nothing that exciting. Just got cocky, didn't respect the mountain. Spent six weeks laid up, reading every climbing manual I could find. Nothing like a broken leg to teach you humility."
More furious scratching from behind us, followed by what sounds suspiciously like cursing. Knox's fingers find mine as we navigate a steep section of rocks and snow, and my heart does this embarrassing flutter-skip thing. His hand practically engulfs mine, and it's way too distracting for someone trying not to faceplant on a mountain trail.
Kym makes this weird, strangled sound behind us, and I glance back to see her clawing at her wrists, which are turning an angry shade of red. She catches me looking and turns away so fast, I'm surprised she doesn't give herself whiplash. Whatever. If she wants to be over the top, that's her business. I've got a gorgeous view ahead of me—and the mountains aren't bad, either.
Knox is moving again, those long legs of his eating up the trail.
"It's so... tingly," Kym murmurs.
"Tingly, huh? That'll be the urushiol oil." Knox is glancing behind him at the girls, itching like mad now.
"The what?" Mia's already clawing at her wrist.
"From the poison oak you're currently covering yourselves in."
The silence that follows is absolutely beautiful.
"Poison... what?" Kym stares at the branches in her hands like they might bite her.
"Oak," Knox says helpfully. "Causes quite a nasty rash. Especially when you rub it directly on your skin like that."
The branches hit the snow as both girls start frantically wiping at their necks and arms. But it's too late—red patches are already blooming across their skin.
"You told us it was mistletoe!" Mia shrieks, scratching frantically.
"Did I?" Knox's voice is all innocent confusion. "Pretty sure I just pointed out some interesting plants. Not my fault you didn't check what you were grabbing and went to the wrong shrubs."
"We need help!" Kym's voice rises hysterically as the rash spreads up her arm as she pulls her sleeve up. "Call the rescue team back!"
"For poison oak?" Knox shrugs. "Not really an emergency. You'll just have to tough it out for the walk down. Actions have consequences, after all."
Understanding dawns on their faces as they look between us. Kym's expression turns murderous despite the red blotches covering her neck.
"You bastard," she hisses. "You did this on purpose."
"Let's get moving," Knox mutters without a hint of sympathy. Hell, I adore him at that moment for making them suffer.
He winks at me, and my knees actually go weak. The gesture shouldn't be so attractive, yet it is. Watching him defend me, orchestrate such perfect karmic justice… I might be swooning! No Alpha has ever stood up for me before.
He takes my hand like we're taking a casual stroll rather than hiking down a mountain with two itchy, furious Omegas trailing alongside us.
I hold on to him, trying to ignore how right it feels to touch him.
The rest of the descent passes in a blur of Kym's and Mia's complaints and increasingly desperate scratching. Knox keeps up a steady stream of conversation with me about everything and nothing—favorite hiking trails, best local restaurants, the way the mountains look different in every season. It's easy, natural, as if we've known each other for years instead of hours.
And that's the problem.
I'm starting to like Knox way too much. Like the way he smiles, the dimple in his chin, and the protective rumble in his voice when he talks about keeping people safe on the mountain. Like how he can be both ruthlessly clever and unfailingly kind.
It's dangerous. Terrifying. Everything I swore I'd be careful of.
"Hey," Knox says suddenly, breaking through my thoughts. "Why did the mountain climber bring dental floss on his expedition?"
I eye him suspiciously. "I'm afraid to ask."
"In case he got stuck between two peaks." He grins, looking absurdly pleased with himself.
A startled laugh escapes me before I can stop it. "That's terrible. Like, genuinely awful."
"You laughed, though." His dimple makes an appearance again, and my heart does a somersault.
"How can you possibly be joking right now?" Kym snarls from near us, scratching furiously at her arms. "We're literally dying here!"
"Seriously," Mia chimes in as she claws at her neck. "This is hell. Actual hell. And you, our guide, are doing nothing to help us."
"Right now, my priority is getting everyone safely down before that storm system returns," Knox says, his tone light but firm. "Poison oak's uncomfortable, but hypothermia's worse." He flashes them a smile. "All part of the authentic wilderness experience."
They don't say much more for the rest of the trip… well, not to us, anyway. And that brings me all kinds of joy.
Before long, we're all in Knox's store, where I booked my trekking yesterday morning.
I pretend to be fascinated by the rental return form, but my attention is completely focused on Knox pulling Kym and Mia into the corner of the office. Their faces already show fear.
"What you did?" Knox's voice drops to that dangerous tone that makes my skin prickle. "Wasn't just stupid. It was attempted murder." He takes a step closer to them, shoulders lifting, and even from across the long room, I can tell he's barely holding himself back.
"We didn't—" Kym starts, her voice trembling.
"Shut. Up," he commands. "You think this is a joke? You locked someone outside in subzero temperatures during a snowstorm. Do you have any idea what hypothermia does to a person?" His hands clench at his sides. "Their blood literally freezes. Their organs shut down. They suffer before they die."
Mia starts crying, but Knox shows no mercy.
"You're lucky I'm not pressing charges. Though Ruby might, and trust me, I'll support her every step of the way. That shit you pulled showed exactly who you are." He leans in closer, and both girls shrink back. "You're banned from Pine Peak Adventures. Forever. And if I see either of you anywhere near this place, near me, or God help you, anywhere near Ruby, I'll show you exactly how it feels to be left in the cold."
I risk a glance. Their faces are ghost white. I quickly look away when Kym's gaze finds mine, and I fight back a satisfied smirk as I hand over my borrowed gear.
"Have an amazing time?" the clerk asks cheerfully, oblivious to the tension.
"Oh, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Won't forget it. Ever." I can't keep the sarcasm from my voice.
Knox materializes beside me, his presence warm and solid. "I'm walking you back." The protective gesture shouldn't make my heart flutter, but it does.
Outside, Whispering Grove is a Christmas wonderland more than usual. They seem to have added more decorations. Every lamppost now wears a garland crown, and every window sparkles with twinkling lights. The morning sun catches the fresh snow, making the whole street glitter.
"You okay?" Knox asks softly as we walk. "Really okay?"
I consider lying, but something in his voice makes me honest. "I'm getting there. Last night was... intense."
"Those bitches had no right!" His shoulder brushes mine as we dodge a group of tourists. "I still can't believe they—" He stops himself, jaw clenching.
"Hey," I nudge him gently. "I'm alive. Thanks to you."
He shakes his head. "You shouldn't have needed saving in the first place."
Holiday music drifts from hidden speakers, Santa Clause is Coming to Town mixing with the chatter of shoppers.
"This town loves Christmas a bit too much," he chuckles, falling back in step with me. "I've traveled everywhere—Nepal, Switzerland, even Alaska—but nowhere's quite like Whispering Grove."
"Really? I would love to travel the world one day." I try to ignore how his arm keeps brushing mine, how each touch sends little sparks through me.
We pass Mason's Bakery, and the scent of fresh pastries makes us both stop mid-sentence.
"God, their apple turnovers," I groan, inhaling deeply.
"You, too?" His eyes light up with genuine delight. "My favorite."
"Oh my God, same! My homemade snickerdoodles are to die for, though, too." I shake my head dramatically.
"Snickerdoodles, huh? Bold claim."
"I sense doubt?"
"Let's just say I've been disappointed before." His eyes twinkle with challenge. "I'll have to judge for myself sometime."
"Is that an official request for cookies, Mountain Man?"
"That depends. Is that an official offer, Cookie Queen?"
I chuckle just as we pass Flour & Fable Bakery, and I spot my best friend, Lily, inside, serving a customer. Her eyes go saucer-wide at the sight of me and Knox, and she starts immediately making exaggerated kissing faces in my direction. Horror floods through me as Knox begins to turn—I grab his hand and tug him away.
"Oh, I'm just over there!" I point across the street to my bar, probably too quickly to be casual.
He lets me pull him along, but I swear I see a knowing smirk play on his lips. We stop in front of my bar door, which has a new Christmas garland I can only assume was put there by Ash. Knox studies the building, then glances down at me with a captivating smile.
"So, this is your brewery, huh? I'm impressed. How long have you owned it?"
"It was my aunt's," I say softly.
Something in his expression shifts, becomes more intense. "Family legacy. That's rare these days."
"Yeah, well..." I swallow hard. "Want to come in for a drink? On the house? Least I can do after last night."
He sighs, looking genuinely regretful. "I wish I could, but I've got rescue paperwork to file and need to check on James." He takes my hand, his grip gentle but sure, thumb brushing over my knuckles. "But I promise to make it up to you. Deal?"
I soften under his intense stare. There's something almost predatory in the way he looks at me, but it doesn't frighten me. It thrills me. And with it comes my trepidation, my mom's warnings, and all the reasons why I am still unmated at age twenty-five.
"Tonight, then. I'll pick you up and we'll do something fun," he says with a grin, stepping closer, and that turns my insides to jelly.
The warmth of his grin collides with the ice in my veins as memories crash through me. Mom sprawled on our kitchen floor, blood streaming from her nose, mascara tracking down her cheeks. " They're all the same, Ruby. Every Alpha. No matter how sweet they seem at first..."
"I'm quite busy," I manage to Knox, the words tasting like ash. "Maybe not now."
Knox studies me, and I see the moment he recognizes my retreat for what it is. The concern in his eyes makes it worse somehow. Gentleness has always been more dangerous than anger.
Dad's voice echoes in my head, sharp with contempt. " Useless Omegas, both of you. Can't even take a simple correction without crying."
My throat thickens. This is why I'll end up alone. Why I'll probably lose the bar. I can't take a simple risk, can't trust a genuine smile, can't stop seeing Mom's bruises every time an Alpha shows interest. I'm so fucking tired of being broken.
"How about you think about it?" Knox says softly, taking my hand. The touch is gentle, but my pulse still spikes. He pulls a pen from his pocket and starts writing on my palm. "If you change your mind, message me."
He winks, and God help me, I melt all over again. Yet, I'm exhausted from fighting this constant war between want and fear, trapped in my own cage. The key is right there, but my hands shake too much to use it.
"They'll charm you first." Mom's voice whispers in my memory. " Make you feel special, wanted. Then they own you."
"Of course," I finally answer Knox, forcing brightness into my tone. The numbers on my palm seem to burn.
"Well, I better let you go." His smile hasn't dimmed. "I hope to hear from you."
He strolls back down the street, winter sunlight catching on his hair, making him look like something out of a dream. A fucking great dream. The kind I'm not allowing myself to have.
"What is wrong with you?" I whisper once he's out of sight. The answer is right here, walking away, and I'm still frozen in place, still hearing Mom's warnings, still feeling phantom pain from wounds that aren't even mine.
I push through the familiar bar door, and the bell's jingle is loud.
There, perched on a barstool as if he owns it, is Marcus. His smile spreads slow and cruel when he spots me.
Dread drops through me. All the warmth from my walk with Knox vanishes in an instant.
I recall Knox's story about the Snow Woman, thinking that sometimes, the monsters aren't in the mountains at all.