05 The boot

Ruby.

I took out my cell phone and called my brothers and father home. Once I had done it, I knew there was no going back. My life would change drastically, and it might not be for the better. I waited for them in the living room. I had been crying, so my eyes were swollen, and I was sad. Kevin was the first to arrive. He rushed to me when he saw me and held me to his chest. 

"What happened to you, Ruby? Why are you crying?" He asked me, and I looked at the concern in his eyes, and I broke down again. 

"Daddy isn't coming, so you have to tell me what the matter is," he said. I was relieved, but I knew that my brother was just as ruthless as my father, but he wouldn't beat my wolf. 

"I have failed this family?" I began, and he looked at me, surprised. 

"What are you talking about?" He asked, and I wiped away my tears. I braced myself up to tell the lie we had concocted. Kira kicked against it, but I had no choice. I needed to reduce the anger they would feel towards me. Besides, the guy was impossible to find. He will be safe. 

I braced myself and spoke. 

"The night we went clubbing with Racheal. A guy kept troubling me at the bar; I learned his name was Jasper. Racheal and I ignored him, and soon he left me alone. After I finished my drink, I became dizzy and felt drunk. It was just one drink, and it shouldn't have affected me, but it did. I felt sick, so I went to the back to throw up. When I didn't return, Racheal came to look for me. The guy troubling us at the bar had cornered me and taken advantage of me. He ran away when he saw Racheal, and we managed to hail a cab to get to her house. When we got there, my head hurt, and all the events were blurry in my mind. I passed out and woke up the next day," I said and looked at him. He was composed and angry, but he was controlling himself. 

"Is that all?" He asked me, and I shook my head. 

"While I was drying my hair with the drier. I saw something horrible. He claimed me." I said, and my brother stood up abruptly and went to punch the wall. The punch was either meant for Jasper or me. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked me, and I began to sob. 

"I was afraid. I couldn't tell you. I was afraid of what father would do. So I went to look for this guy," I said. 

"And did you find him?" he asked, and I shook my head. 

"He is a ghost, Kevin. He doesn't have a last name, a working phone number and only pays with cash," I said, and he punched the wall again. 

"What the fuck Ruby! How could you be so stupid?" He asked, and I began to stutter. 

"I was drugged. I did not know?" I said, and he balled his fist. 

"This is beyond me. What are we going to tell Randolph Hill? What will we tell his family?" He asked, and I could not say a word. I just cried. 

"You know how important this union is to the pack. Why would you do this, Ruby?" He asked, and I cried. 

"Let me see it," he finally said, and I looked at him, scared and confused. 

"Let me see it!" he yelled at me, and I shook with fear. I tugged on the neck of my sweater, and there it was. 

"An Alpha?" He asked, and I did not know what to say. 

"Those are Alpha teeth marks. Are you sure he is a ghost, Ruby?" He asked, and I nodded. 

"No one knows him, and no one remembers him. 

"We have to find him," he said, and I looked at him. 

"Randolph will be heartbroken. He was developing feelings for you, Ruby. What would we now tell him?" He asked me, and I did not know what to say. I went on my knees and begged. 

"Please protect me, Kevin. I am scared," I pleaded with my brother. My heart was in my mouth. 

"I will do anything, but please dont let daddy hurt me," I said to him, and I could see tears well up in his eyes. I wondered if he would have been this calm if I had told him the truth. 

"I do not know what to do," he confessed. 

"You were supposed to be Luna, But now I doubt if that would happen," he said, and he was already talking about the union in the past tense. 

"Please, Kevin. Please," I pleaded. 

"The pack will hate you for this, Ruby. How will Randolph have strong pups with a lesser wolf?" he said. It wasn't his question; it was the question that the pack members would ask. 

"I can do it as a mistress. He doesn't have to claim me." I said, and he shook his head. 

"It doesn't work that way, Ruby. The mark you bear is of another Alpha. Unless Randolph finds him and beats him to death, you remain untouchable by anyone. You are technically his property. Are you sure you do not know who this guy is?"He asked, and I shook my head still, crying. 

He sat down on the couch and asked me to sit next to him. 

"I have to tell father. I do not know what he would do. But I will try to protect you. As Randolph's friend, I know he will call off the joining not because he wants to but because he has no choice. " He said, and a tear rolled down his cheek. 

He took out his phone and called my father, and I knew my world had come to an end. 

My father returned angrily. Kevin stood between us, but he pushed him out of the way. 

"Let me see it!" he roared, and I showed him the mark. My spirit had left me. I was afraid and ready to die at the same time. 

"He forced himself on you?" he asked, and I nodded. He slapped me hard across the face, and I was dizzy before getting back my balance. 

"Do you know what your clubbing and reckless behaviour have cost this family and this pack?" He asked, and I cried. 

"I want you to go in there," he said, pointing towards my room, "Pack your things and leave my home. You no longer belong to this family or this pack. I will disown you before you bring shame to this family. 

"Father, that is extreme. Ruby needs support," Kevin protested and brought out his phone. He was calling Randolph. 

"Did I stutter?" My father asked me with hatred in his eyes, and I shook. 

"Please," I tried to plead with my father. I had nowhere else to go. 

"Now!" he yelled, and I ran to my room and began to pack my belongings. I did not move quickly because I was scared. I hoped Randolph would arrive and quench the fire. Soon I heard my father and Randolph. I left what I was doing and went outside to see him. He was angry too. I was truly fucked. How was I expecting someone that had no feelings for me to save me? 

"I am no longer interested in the joining. But you do not need to kick Ruby out for this. It wasn't her fault," He said, and I was hurt. I expected him to reject the union, but I hoped he would make an effort to find Jasper first, but he was giving up on me without even trying. 

"I want her out," my father said, and my heart broke. 

"At least let her spend the night. " Kevin pleaded with my father, but he shook his head. 

"It's Okay, Kevin," I said to my brother, "I will leave, daddy. " 

"Don't you ever call me that again," he said, and I was silent. I went to my room to get my stuff and headed out. 

"Ruby," Kevin stopped me at the door, feeling for his wallet. He pulled it out and gave me some money. 

"Find a safe place to rest your head tonight. Call me in the morning," he said, and I nodded in tears. I looked at Randolph. 

"I am sorry, Alpha. It wasn't intentional," and I looked at my father, who had rage in his eyes,

"Racheal is innocent in all of this. Leave her out of it, please. If anything, she saved me," I said so that my friend wouldn't get kicked out for my mistakes. The lies did not help either I still got the boot. 

I stepped out in the afternoon, and the sun was blazing when a call came through on my cellphone. The phone number I saw made me panic. I thought I was dreaming. I did not know how to feel. Jasper had finally called.