Page 13 of Bloodbane

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Masquerade of Indifference

{ T H A Y N E }

The beta stalks forward, eyes trained on Ruby. His lip curls in disgust. “What is she doing here?”

I reach back, signaling for Ruby to hold her position. I growl a warning, low and deep, and Arlo pauses, his face pinching tight. The air simmers with tension, a breath before boiling over. I shift my weight, bending into a slight crouch, assuming a defensive position should Arlo abandon reason and surrender to emotion.

“I think maybe you’ve mistaken me for—” Ruby starts, brushing against my hand as she stands.

I twist back to warn her, but the world tilts and falls away as Arlo slams into me. A sharp corner of the table slices into my cheek on the way to the floor.

The world turns red.

I find my feet quickly, twisting to fly at Arlo, catching his hands just as they wrap around Ruby’s throat. An elbow connects with my ribs, and I double over before pivoting and spiking my shoulder into Arlo’s sternum, sending him stumbling backward.

Ruby’s choking gasp fills the room behind me as I wipe the smirk from Arlo’s face with hard knuckles. Blood sprays the floor, filling the room with a metallic tang.

I drive Arlo back against the wall with a tight hand around his throat. He jabs a fist forward, but I catch it and lift it high, pinning it over the shorter man’s head. His free hand scrapes at the unyielding pressure on his neck as he struggles for breath.

It would be easy to use Command to make Arlo submit and slink from the room with his tail between his legs. But the roaring of blood in my ears and white-hot fury drowning out reason has me wild, the wrong side of feral. Without control of myself, I have no intention of exerting it over another. Besides, Arlo takes great pride in his small victories of defiance. He counts forced submission among them, foolishly believing the only way I can best him is through alpha biology. My lip curls up, another growl tearing from my throat. There will be no more blood-bowing. I’ll make this asshole hit his knees the old-fashioned way.

The beta thrashes in my hold as I tighten my grip—months of repressed rage and resentment burning through me unchecked.

“Thayne! Stop!”

Ruby’s hands tug at my arm, trying uselessly to break my hold. But her hoarse voice cuts through the bloodlust, and I loosen my stranglehold just enough for Arlo to draw a shuddering gasp.

“Let him go,” Ruby rasps. “ Please. ”

My head whips toward Ruby at the soft plea. My fingers twitch around Arlo’s neck—emotion and logic warring for control. But it’s the flicker of fear in Ruby’s eyes that makes my fingers finally relax.

The beta crumples to the floor.

The mouthful of blood Arlo spits splatters onto the carpet as he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Oh, you’re fucked now, Smith. Gonna press charges for that,” he wheezes, climbing to his feet and pulling out a phone from his back pocket. He flashes a red-stained grin. “Finally gonna have you gone.”

Ruby steps forward. I extend my arm, hovering it in front of her chest like a human boom gate, ready to shunt her away if Arlo decides to make another move.

“Small problem with your plan, buddy,” Ruby grinds out, voice scratchy. “Check the truck outside. See the Sheriff’s Department logo? That means that as much as I’d love to see Thayne in handcuffs, ideally the fur-lined kind, the only one in danger of seeing the inside of a cell today is you.”

Arlo glares daggers at Ruby. “Bullshit.”

I move closer to Ruby, positioning my whole body as a shield before hers.

Ruby’s head drops against my back as she mumbles, “I should have made Cooper come and do this shit.”

“She’s not lying. Ruby is here following up on Gage and Rob. And you just tried to kill her.”

“Didn’t try hard enough,” Arlo spits.

I tense, waiting for the second attack I can feel building. Ruby steps out from behind me as the beta cocks back, ready to spring. I twist, wrapping my arms around her and spinning her out of the way as Arlo launches forward, hands reaching for her throat.

“ Leave! ”

Arlo body checks me as he tears from the room, his roar of rage hanging in the air even after the back door slams shut.

“Are you hurt?” I pivot Ruby to face me, clamping hands over her shoulders.

“No. I’m just...” Ruby draws a jittery breath as her composure cracks. “That was just… that was… what was that?” The color drains from her face and she sags in my grip, tremors wracking her body.

“I think you’re going into shock.”

Ruby stares blankly up at me. “What? No, I’m f-fine.”

The rustle of fabric shadows my hands as they rub over Ruby’s arms. “We need to warm you up.”

Bending, I slip my arms around Ruby’s back and under her thighs and lift her without waiting for permission. After a few large strides, I ease her onto a chair beside the kitchen table. She wraps trembling arms around herself, and I resolutely ignore the pang of loss as I leave her to fill the kettle.

“I’m sorry about the heating in here, or the lack of it, more to the point. It’s abysmal, I know. We all run a little hot so we tend not to notice, but it’s not helping you at the minute.”

Each word slides over my tongue, leaving the unfamiliar taste of fear in its wake. Seeing Arlo with his hands around Ruby’s throat triggered something inside me. Something I should absolutely not be feeling for a human.

I shut off the water and place the kettle on the stove, lighting the burner before looking back at the woman shivering at my kitchen table. Just a few minutes and the tea will be ready. Ruby will drink it, warm up, and she’ll be fine.

But that’s a few minutes too long.

Unable to stop myself, I grasp the small, trembling hands in mine and gently urge Ruby to her feet. The zipper on the puffer jacket slides down easily, revealing ugly red marks bracketing her neck. Rage seethes inside me as I trace the burgeoning bruises lightly with a finger.

“I’m so sorry.”

I unfurl the scarf from around my neck and wrap it around Ruby’s. Soft fabric rubs against my palms as I slide my hands under the puffy coat and pull Ruby against my chest.

“Uh, I’m f-fine, really, just— oh . How are you so w-warm?” Ruby snakes shivering arms around my back, locking us together.

“It’s a family thing. This is the first time I’ve been glad for it.”

Ruby melts against me and I tighten my grip, trying to ignore the way her breasts crush against me, shifting my focus to the soft, grapefruit-scented strands of hair fanning out over my shirt as she rests her head against my chest.

“ Mmm . ’M glad, too,” Ruby agrees on a sigh.

The sour scent of fear fades as Ruby’s racing pulse slows to match mine. The shivering subsides as she accepts my warmth, and her labored breathing gradually becomes deep and steady.

I should step back. I know I should… but I can’t make myself move. Her small body slots so perfectly against mine, and yearning spreads thick like molasses, filling those dark, neglected places inside me.

This draw I feel to Ruby is as intangible as it is impossible. I should be fighting it, not leaning into it, but the thought of having Ruby turn and walk out of my life forever sends a shock of ice through my wolf-warm blood. There has to be a way to avoid severing ties completely. I can ignore the desire she stirs in me.... The thought cuts at me immediately. Okay, so maybe I can’t ignore it, but I can choose not to act on it.

Ruby nuzzles lazily against my throat, and I narrowly suppress my groan. The universe is already testing my resolve.

“God, you smell amazing.”

The shrill whistle of the kettle rips through the fog of lust building in my body and saves me from trying to form a response. Carefully, I step out of the embrace.

“I, um, shit. Sorry. That was wildly inappropriate.” Ruby’s eyes lock on mine before dropping to her feet.

“My kin just tried to kill you. I think it’s me who owes you the apology,” I say with a tight smile before turning back to the stove.

I use the time it takes to shut off the burner and move the kettle to scramble for some semblance of control. After not more than an hour in her company, I’m already struggling to keep myself in check. It doesn’t bode well for the future. I can only hope my self-control increases with time. With nothing left to tend to, I force lightness into my tone as I turn back to Ruby.

“Head injury, strangulation, and now shock. You’re not having the best week, are you?”

“Yours isn’t looking so great, either.” Ruby motions to my face. “I can clean that up for you if you’d like.”

Caught up in the twin whirlwinds of chaos and desire, I’d forgotten about the gash on my cheek.

“It’s just a scratch. Thank you, though.” I barely resist swiping at it with the back of my hand. The cut will have already healed, and the blood mask will save me from an impossible explanation.

Ruby raises an eyebrow—a dark arch of disagreement—but she nods and doesn’t press the point. “Y’know, it’s weird… I thought coming out here would answer all my questions, but right now I’m more confused than ever.”

I hesitate, feeling the same way but unsure of how to reply. I settle for motioning toward the kettle.

“Tea?”

“Oh, no. Thanks,” Ruby murmurs, a small grin quirking the corners of her lips. “I’m plenty warm enough now.” She draws distracted patterns over my scarf. “So, Arlo. Is he also a Smith? And his face is that courtesy of you?”

“Not a Smith.” Thank fuck. I stare down at my hands. Dried red stains shift and crack as I flex my fingers. I should feel bad at the sting of my bloody knuckles, but there’s nothing but relief that Arlo is gone and Ruby is safe. “Arlo Pretorius. And it’s been a long time coming, but today is the first time I’ve laid hands on him. So the nose? Not my handiwork. Finding himself in fights is a bad habit that he can’t seem to shake.”

Ruby’s spine snaps straight as she leans forward. “Is there any chance he was with Gage and Rob out on the lake?”

Stalling for time, I shove my shirt sleeves up, letting them bunch at my elbows before crossing my arms over my chest. Not wanting to lie to Ruby more than necessary, I side-step.

“You think that he’s responsible for their deaths?”

“Not necessarily.” She picks the words out carefully. “Maybe whoever killed your cousins is the one who did the number on his face. If he was there and saw something, he could help find whoever is responsible.”

“He’s not exactly the helpful type.”

“You know, I sensed that,” Ruby says dryly. “But all the same…”

“He’ll probably spend the night licking his wounds somewhere that’s not here. When he returns tomorrow, I’ll do my best to convince him to accompany me to the station.”

“You’ll use your words to convince him, right? Not your fists?”

I smile and pull out the chair beside Ruby. I drop onto it and lean back, trying to look more relaxed than I feel. I scratch a nail over the red stains splashed across my thigh: Arlo’s blood soiling perfectly good denim.

“Maybe you should come back to supervise. And bring those fur-lined cuffs, just in case.”

Ruby’s shaky laugh is drowned out by a loud ringing. Fumbling fingers pull the phone from her pocket, and she frowns down at the screen. “Sorry, I have to take this.”

I nod and turn away, feigning disinterest, trying to avoid looking like I’m eavesdropping even though the voice on the other end reaches my ear easily.

“ Something went wrong, Ruby. You have to get back here, now. ”

“What went wrong?” Ruby jumps to her feet.

On impulse, I reach out, catching the chair before it topples backward. The masquerade of indifference falls away as I rise, allowing my concerned gaze to settle openly on her. I don’t like the way the blood has drained from her face again, nor the slight shake in her fingers as they bloom white around the phone.

“ I’m not sure. I did what you asked and cleaned the wound, but… It isn’t looking good. I don’t know if he’s going to—look, get back here as soon as you can. Just in case. ”

“I’m on my way.” Ruby clicks the phone off and shoves it back in her pocket, tripping over her feet and stumbling as she backtracks toward the door. “I’m so sorry, there’s been an emergency. I need to—”

“I understand. Go.”

Ruby closes the distance to the door in three quick strides. Right behind her, I reach above her head to push the heavy door open. She pauses briefly, throwing a last look up at me before she disappears over the threshold.

I watch her go, listening to snow crushing under hurried feet: the sound of her rushing away from me. No, running to someone else. Intent aside, the result is the same, and I can’t find it in myself to be grateful the universe is intervening and pulling Ruby away before I’m made to push her aside.

The rumble of the truck’s engine has long since faded before I amble back to the chair. The rollercoaster of emotion that has been riding my body for the past few hours—anger, anxiety, shock, grief, desire, aggression, panic, and hope—comes to a shuddering halt in exhaustion. I fold my arms over the table and drop my head onto them with a grunt.

Beautiful, dissimilar eyes dance through my mind. I wonder what I did to piss off the universe for it to punish me like this. To put such an incredible creature within arm’s reach when she’s so completely out of my grasp. If only she wasn’t off limits...

The minutes tick by, but I don’t care—I’m lost in a blissful state of silent stasis, my mind reveling in delicious what ifs .

I don’t lift my head at the sound of two sets of feet flying up the stairs and into the house. I’ve done my duty for the day, and all my spoons of responsibility are empty and bent.

“Whatever it is, it can wait.”

“ Thayne! ” Ash snaps, rattling my shoulder.

Unable to ignore the vibrations rocking through me, I surrender with a sigh, though keeping my eyes firmly closed.

“What is it?”

“Arlo’s gone.”

Finally lifting my face, I unfold my arms and prop a fist under my chin. Ash is staring down at me with stormy eyes, and behind her, a slight young woman shuffles on the spot, gaze locked on her feet. I turn my tired eyes back to Ash.

“I know.”

“What do you mean you know?”

“We had a few words with our fists. I Commanded him to fuck off and cool down.” Though he should be cooling his heels in a cell.

Ash turns and wraps a hand around the slender wrist of the woman behind her and tugs her forward.

Layla Diaz is one of the newest members of the pack, having shown up with her twin brother, Landon, not three months ago. Just barely turned, she’s a sweet kid. Shy and soft-spoken, the strawberry-blonde beta wilts under Ash’s agitated attention.

“Tell him what you told me.”

“I was heading into town when Arlo pushed past me,” Layla mumbles as she twists her fingers, still not meeting my gaze. “He knocked me down—”

“Sorry, Layla,” I interrupt wearily. “He’s angry at me, but he shouldn’t have taken that out on you. I’ll have a word with him when he gets back.”

“No! Jesus, Thayne, listen . You’re not getting it—he’s gone and not coming back. He’s gone gone,” Ash insists, shaking her head. “And he’s taken half of the pack with him.”