Bought by the ruthless lycan king (Ruby and Killian) novel Chapter 15

Morning sunlight filtered through the thick curtains, casting golden streaks across the room. I sat by the window, my chair tilted back slightly as I puffed on wisps of smoke from my cigar. A rich, earthy aroma filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of leather and wood that always seemed to linger in this place. My shirt was open at the chest, its thin fabric uncovered and revealing the stars etched into my skin–marks of battles won and lost, a testament to the centuries. I had lived

The rage that had burned through me the night before finally subsided, leaving only a burning frustration. My thoughts continued to be on her. Ruby Lucienne.

That woman had taken up too much space in my mind. I wasn’t usually so preoccupied, yet here I was, repeating every word she said, every defunt look she gave me.

A lot of women have come and gone. They would taste sweet but then become tasteless. They lacked and were hard to remember for me. There was no impression. But that woman was different. What was wrong here?

This was beyond my control and 1 hated it every time.

With a flick of my wrist, I tapped the cigar ash into the tray and gestured towards the door.

“Get Leonidas,” I told the guard outside.

The man nodded, then disappeared down the hallway. A few moments later, Leonidas entered. His demeanor was as calm and quiet as ever, though I could see a faint tension in his shoulder–s–a realization of how much I had almost lost my temper the night before. He bowed slightly before taking a position near the center of the room.

“Report” 1 ordered.

Leonidas straightened his body. “As expected, Nathaniel’s schemes run deep. He has been consolidating power and wealth for years, using Ruby as a pawn to maintain control.”

My eyebrows raised as I heard the words slide into my ears. Leonidas continued, “Dominic is involved, though his loyalties oscillate between greed and incompetence. The pack’s heirlooms remain in their hands, but are closely guarded. They are fully aware of how much you are interested and know you will not retreat.”

“So, is this answering my question all along?”

“Yes, Your Majesty

I smoked the cigar, the flame at the end smoldering. Only a fool could not discern how similar the woman was to the pack’s previous phenomenal panner. The glory of the Ravenhold Pack had begun to regress ever since losing the lead mate. Their death is a mystery and a loss to me. The previous alpha was so good that Killian was always between wanting to use him but still wanting to be something called a friend.

The only thing keeping this pack from falling in the mud is because of Ruby Lucienne. Or should I say their daughter?

Her resemblance to her mother is striking, especially Ruby’s beauty extends even beyond her mother. There was a strength in her that transcended her physique, a toughness that drew me in. She was a challenge, and I… I was a man who liked challenges.

Killian looked at the green ground beyond. It was not unusual for family members to kill each other for high positions in the pack. But for Nathaniel in particular, the man had lost half of his brain. He’d forgotten the position that he was only a adopted son in Lucienne’s extended family. Such a shame.

I leaned back in my chair, considering predictable at this point.

ring his words. All right, I told myself,

dd myself, there was nothing surprising. Nathaniel’s next betrayal was almost

“And the woman!” 1 asked, my tone calmer. “Her inental state?”

Leonidas hesitated for a moment. “She is fragile but resilient. The betrayal she experienced has caught her off guard, but there is strength beneath the surface. She…. may be what you expected, Your Majesty

ker woman would have been

I exhaled another plume of smoke, the corners of my mouth tugging into a faint smirk. Of course she wasn’t. A weaker woman boken right now, but not Ruby. That stubbornness, her spirit… only made me want her more.

“Do you think she’ll come to me?” asked

Leonidas nodded without hesitation. “Yes, he’s wary, but he’s also pragmatic. He knows you are his best option.”

I let the cigar vest on the edge of the tray, my gaze murning to the window. The day stretched out before me, and i found myself almost impatiently

moment when she would walk through the door of this room, her spirit and spirit of resistance blazing