Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
RUBY
T he trip back home was made much easier when both Knox and Beckett stripped naked, bundled their clothing and shifted. Beckett picked up the bundles and Knox knelt down so Ruby could mount his massive frame. They galloped down the side of the mountain and made short work of returning to the compound.
Once they’d arrived, Ruby watched, her pulse quickening, as Knox shifted and redressed before striding with authority toward the compound's holding cell and medical facility. The prisoner, weak but conscious, was hauled to his feet by two men. Though his form was unsteady, his eyes burned with a defiance that sent a shiver down Ruby's spine.
"Handle him carefully," Knox commanded, his voice a low rumble that resonated through the crisp evening air. "He's stable now, but I don’t want to take any chances."
“Will do,” said Beckett helping the cuffed prisoner into the back of his patrol SUV. “I’ll let you know when we’ve handed him off to his brother.”
“Be careful,” said Knox.
“Always,” replied Beckett with a grin.
There was something about the way Knox took control that stirred something primal within Ruby. She knew she should be focused on the gravity of the situation, yet her body seemed to hum with a desire that had nothing to do with the scene unfolding before her.
"Ruby." The sound of her name spoken by a familiar, deep voice snapped her attention away from the prisoner exchange. Knox was watching her intently, his gaze piercing and knowing. "You seem distracted."
"Am I not allowed a moment's reprieve?" she countered, feigning nonchalance. Her efforts were futile; the arousal in her voice betrayed her true state.
"Reprieve?" Knox stepped closer, his presence enveloping her. "Or is it anticipation?"
"Perhaps both," she whispered, her breath catching as he reached out and traced a calloused finger along her jawline. The contact was electric, igniting a fire that threatened to consume her.
"Let's not keep you waiting, then," Knox murmured, his lips grazing her earlobe, sending shivers cascading down her body.
Without another word, he scooped her up over his shoulder in a swift, fluid motion. Ruby gasped, her world upending as she found herself carried away from the scene outside in the compound and into the privacy of their room. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, each step Knox took amplifying the heat pooling in her belly.
Once behind closed doors, Knox set her down gently. His hands roamed over her curves with proprietary eagerness, peeling away layers of clothing with an urgency that matched the throbbing pulse between her thighs.
"Knox," she breathed out, her voice laced with need. His name was both a plea and an invocation as he pressed her back against the softness of their bed.
"Ruby," he answered, a growl underlying his words. He captured her lips in a kiss that seared straight to her soul, full of promise and possession. His tongue delved into her mouth, tangling with hers in a dance as old as time itself.
Their bodies melded together seamlessly, a perfect alignment of desire and intent. Every touch from Knox was a revelation, each caress a journey deeper into the throes of passion. Ruby arched beneath him, a keening moan escaping her as he lavished attention upon her sensitive flesh.
“Mine,” he growled as he thrust into her.
He thrust with a savagery Ruby had never experienced before, joining them together in a primal dance of lust and desire. She cried out, her nails digging into his back as she clutched him to her, desperate for him to fuck her harder than ever before. But instead of complying, he kissed her with a fierce, yet tender passion, easing out of her body before plunging back in again with an intensity that left her gasping for breath.
"Yours," she gasped, the word torn from her in the midst of their coupling.
"Always," he affirmed, his movements becoming more insistent, driving them both toward the precipice of ecstasy.
Together, they climbed higher, chasing the explosive release that hovered just within reach. When it came, it was all-consuming, a tempest of sensation that left them clinging to each other as they rode out the waves of pleasure.
Every sigh that escaped her lips, every touch of her hand on his skin, only fueled the fire between them. It was a connection unlike anything she'd ever felt before, a raw and carnal bond that transcended physical pleasure. And when she tightened around him and screamed his name, it was as if he could no longer hold back the animalistic urges coursing through his veins. He pounded into her with a primal fury that consumed them both, unleashing a wave of overwhelming ecstasy that left them both trembling in its wake.
In the aftermath, as their breathing slowed and their limbs entwined, Ruby felt a profound connection to the man beside her. They were bonded now, in body and spirit, and no matter what lay ahead, this moment was a testament to their unity.
Back at the compound, the transfer of the prisoner signaled a turning point. But here, in the sanctuary of Knox's arms, Ruby found a different kind of resolution—one forged in the heat of shared passion and whispered promises as dawn crept across the sky.
The following afternoon, bathed in the golden hue of twilight, Ruby watched as Knox's silhouette merged with the dimming sky. His shoulders had borne the weight of turmoil and triumph, yet they remained unbowed. His resilience, that unwavering command of every situation, left her awestruck.
"You can't keep staring at me like that," Knox said as he reached her, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through Ruby's bones. "Time to decide, Ruby. Are you with me or not?"
She hesitated, caught in the gravity of his gaze. "With you?" The words felt small in the expanse of their meaning.
"Completely," he clarified, the annoyance from earlier still lining his tone. "You can't straddle the line between your old life and what I'm offering. You'll be my mate, through and through. And with that bond, you'll inherit the power to shift at will."
The idea of such freedom, to run on four paws or stand on two legs, ignited something primal within her. To be claimed by Knox, to truly belong with him—it was both a risk and a promise.
"Okay," she whispered, her decision solidifying like the earth beneath her feet. "I choose this. Us."
Nods of approval rippled through the gathered crowd as they moved to the heart of the compound where the elders awaited. In the center stood an ancient figure, his eyes glowing with the wisdom of countless moons. He motioned them forward to the sacred stone that bore the marks of generations.
"Offer your hands," the elder instructed, his voice threaded with the power of tradition.
Ruby extended her arm, palm up, feeling the cool kiss of evening air against her skin before Knox's warm hand clasped hers. The blade he held glinted briefly before it bit into her flesh—a sting, then warmth as her blood welled up to mingle with his.
"By blood and spirit," Knox intoned, his eyes locked with hers.
"Bound for eternity," the elder echoed, wrapping a ceremonial scarf—a tapestry of their people's history—around their joined hands. Tendrils of ruby red and midnight blue snaked around their wrists, sealing the pact.
The scarf tightened, knitting their wounds and destinies together. A hush fell over the assembly as the elder spoke ancient words, binding their lives in the eyes of the clan and the spirits of the forest.
Ruby felt a kind of shift inside her, a stirring of power that resonated with Knox's energy. Her heart beat in time with his, a drum call to the wildness that awaited. She was his, utterly and irrevocably, and in that moment, she understood the true depth of their connection.
The celebration pulsed all around them like the heartbeat of the forest, alive and vibrant. The clan seemed to be genuinely happy for them both. Laughter danced on the air, mingling with the scent of pine and the rich aroma of roasted meats. Ruby felt their approval, their curiosity, their silent blessings for the union that had just been sealed.
Knox moved through the throng with an authority that made space where there was none, his hand possessive at the small of her back. The thrum of the music resonated within her, echoing the tumultuous arousal that Knox's proximity always elicited. And then, without warning or word, he swept her up in his arms, cradling her to his chest as he strode toward their lodge.
"Knox!" she protested with a laugh that betrayed her anticipation, her hands smacking playfully against his powerful chest.
"Time to claim my mate," he threw back over his shoulder, his voice thick with promise, as their clan laughed and applauded.
Upstairs, away from the revelry, the door closed behind them with a definitive click. The silence was sudden, intimate—a stark contrast to the noise below. Knox set her down, and Ruby turned to face him, her breath catching at the intensity in his gaze.
“I love you,” she offered, knowing it was true.
"I love you more. Are you ready?" he asked, the question holding more than one meaning.
"Aren’t I always?" she quipped, feeling the magnetic pull between them.
The raw hunger in his eyes ignited her own desire. Clothes became trivial barriers, discarded hastily, as skin met skin with a desperate urgency. Their bodies entwined, a carnal dance that knew only the rhythm of primal need. Knox worshipped her flesh with a fervor that left no room for doubt or past grievances—only the searing pleasure of their joining.
Ruby was lost in the sensation, in the claiming and surrendering that bound them more tightly than any scarf. Each thrust was a word in the language of their bodies, each caress a sentence of undying intent. Knox took her to the edge and beyond, time and again, until they lay spent, a tangle of limbs and satiated lust, breaths mingling in the quiet aftermath.
As dawn's light crept across the sky, painting the room in hues of gold and pink, Ruby nestled closer to Knox, her head resting on his chest. His heart beat strong under her ear, a reassuring drum that spoke of forever.
"Knox," she murmured, her voice soft but certain. "I found something at the bed and breakfast. It might be a clue to the treasure."
He shifted beneath her, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at her. His expression was tender yet serious, the mantle of leadership never far from his thoughts.
"Even if the silver exists," he said, brushing a lock of hair from her forehead, "we have found a greater treasure here together."
Ruby's heart swelled with love, understanding dawning with the morning light. This man, this connection, the life they would build—it surpassed any fabled riches.
"Let someone else chase legends," Knox continued, his kiss sealing the sentiment. "We'll renovate the bed and breakfast and make it our haven."
Ruby smiled against his lips, filled with a newfound purpose. Together, they would create something more precious than any treasure—a home, a family, a legacy intertwined with love.