Ruby: A Retelling of Red-Ridinghood (Thistle Grove Tales Book Book 3) Read online

  Tarron began pacing around the healing chamber. His energy grew angry and full of vengeance. His hands fisted as he stalked the room, and for a minute, Ruby was convinced he was losing control of his shift.

  “Calm yourself or leave,” Goldie ordered, her silvery eyes returning to their previous shade of blue. “You are not helping, Tarron.”

  On the table, Oberon whimpered and thrashed about as his soul walked around outside of his body. His small hands grasped at the air while he moaned in pain.

  Tarron set his chin mulishly. “I’m not going anywhere, and you cannot make me.”

  “Don’t push me, Bear,” Goldie chided, lifting one eyebrow ominously. “Healers are not to be trifled with.”

  Tarron sighed but nodded. He expelled a breath and rolled his shoulders. The air around him discharged as he relaxed.

  Goldie lit a bundle of dried sage and lavender and let the fragrance fill the room. “Come home, little bear. Your human half needs you.”

  “Come back,” Ruby called, hoping she was doing the right thing.

  “We need you,” Wolfe implored.

  Ruby was surprised to see the sheriff’s eyes full of tears. She leaned over and kissed him lightly on his lean cheeks. He startled for just a moment before smiling at her.

  “Come back,” Tarron called, his voice breaking with the distress his son was feeling.

  Oberon thrashed in response as his body fought Mathilda’s toxins. His lips turned blue, and the skin under his eyes darkened into purple circle-shaped bruises.

  Goldie passed the burning bundle of herbs over the boy’s body. Ruby inhaled, feeling her own soul respond to the repeated calls as whatever remaining toxins still pulsed beneath the surface.

  Suddenly, Oberon gasped. He sat bolt upright, his eyes wide open but unseeing. “Barret? Papa? Mama?”

  “Right here.” Barret elbowed his way a little closer to his brother and sat down beside him on the pile of blankets. He curled spoon-like around his twin, cradling him and whimpered.

  “I’m with you, too.” Tarron also sat on the pile of blankets and held both of his sons.

  “Where’s Mama?” Oberon’s voice was a plaintive wail as he reached out for the mother who had died so many years ago.

  Tarron looked helplessly at Goldie. Her face softened. The healer was still there but more reserved. “Right here, sweet baby boy. I’m right here.” She joined the family on the pallet.

  They made a striking sight, Ruby thought. Arms around each other and the boys between them. Goldie’s blonde curls and near-delicate body were cradled in Tarron’s arms, and yet the strength in her gaze was resolute.

  “I’m here, too,” Ruby said, joining the cuddle puddle.

  Wolfe hesitated only a minute before adding his love and power into the dynamic. Within seconds of them touching him, Oberon began to breathe easily. His choppy breath soothed out until finally, he slept comfortably against his father’s chest.

  “They’re reunited,” Goldie whispered. “Boy and bear live within him again.”

  Tarron freed one hand to lift some of Goldie’s hair, which had gotten tangled in her eyelashes. “You saved my son’s life. That’s a gift I can never repay.”

  Goldie’s smile was poignant. “We saved his life,” she demurred. Her eyes hardened, once more becoming the healer. She turned to Ruby. “And now it’s your turn.”

  Wolfe

  While Tarron moved Oberon to a spare bedroom to rest, Ruby argued with Goldie. “I reunited with my wolf. I’m fine. Now we need to contact Baron Knox and alert him about Mathilda.”

  Goldie only smiled serenely as she changed out the blankets on the pallet. “There will be time for all that later. Right now, we need to make sure you have expelled the last of Mathilda’s poison. For it to work for so many years, she has been using it continuously. Possibly for decades.”

  Ruby shook her head. “That can’t be true. I would have known.”

  “She must be a very skilled potions mistress to separate a child from their animal protector,” Goldie chided gently. “Now, lay down and let me heal you.”

  Ruby swallowed. “It’s too much work. You’ll need to wash a second set of sheets.”

  Wolfe took her hand and led her to one corner of the room to allow for the semblance of privacy. “Why are you fighting this?”

  “I don’t know,” she whispered. Her eyes met his and Wolfe’s heart at the fear and confusion he saw in the green depths. Ruby’s breath caught, and she burrowed into his chest, seeking comfort.

  “I got you. Nothing bad will hurt you.” Wolfe wrapped his arms around her and let his body heat become hers. “We have you.”

  “But why? I was able to shift. I didn’t even know I could, and I did.”

  “You heard Goldie. You may still have remnants of Mathilda’s toxins still in you. Let us help you get them out.”

  “I’m scared,” she finally admitted. Ruby closed her eyes, hiding her face.

  “Of what?” Wolfe felt like he was traversing a landmine and didn’t know what to say or do or if anything he said or did would be right.

  “What if I lose her again? I didn’t even know I had a wolf soul. I have human memories. I shouldn’t have a wolf, too. I just found her. I don’t want to lose her so soon.”

  Wolfe didn’t know why she had human memories of her childhood while still having an animal totem. “We’ll figure that out in the future,” he vowed. “But for now, let Goldie heal you.”

  “Come,” Goldie invited them both. The bed of blankets was arranged, there was fresh wood on the fire and the rocks within sizzled with heat. “Let’s rid you of the last vestiges of Mathilda’s control.”

  Trembling, Ruby reclined on the pillows and blankets. Her vulnerability shone like a beacon in the warmth of the room.

  As she had with Oberon, Goldie began with a chant. Wolfe repeated her words, soothing Ruby. Soon, the red-haired woman was in a trancelike state, her breathing deep and heavy.

  Goldie pulled a selection of herbs from her stores and tossed them in the fire. Flames sputtered and grew, and Wolfe felt his eyes growing heavy with whatever she was using. Wolfe fought the sleepiness as he continued with his intonations.

  Ruby jerked on the bed, her cheeks growing sallow as whatever Mathilda had used churned within her body. Sweat beaded on her forehead and rolled down her temples in rapid succession. She kicked off the blankets, but Goldie put them back on.

  “She’s obviously too hot,” Wolfe said, brow furrowed in concern for his mate.

  “Whatever is inside of her needs to burn up or come out. A little or a lot, sweat is a good thing.”

  “Let me go,” Ruby moaned as she tried to sit up.

  Goldie placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Rest, sweet Ruby. We have you.”

  Ruby continued to jerk as though having a seizure. Wolfe wanted to howl with pain just watching her. He had no idea how she must be feeling within her skin. He pressed his hands against her cheeks, shocked at how warm she was.

  He opened his mouth to question Goldie again, but her hair billowed around her shoulders, and her eyes had taken on their silver cast. Now was not the time to interrupt.

  The thrashing continued until one final, heart-wrenching moment where Ruby gasped…and never exhaled. “What’s happening?”

  Goldie sobbed. “It’s Mathilda.”

  Wolfe expanded his senses. “She’s here?”

  “No. There are safeguards within Ruby’s mind. Things Mathilda has used to guard against Ruby fully reuniting with her soul. Fully being one with her body.”

  Anger burned within Wolfe. He felt his teeth begin to push against his jaw as his inner animal strove for dominance. Everything within Wolfe wanted to rip and tear and rend, but his mind knew this wasn’t the time.

  Following Barret’s lead earlier, Wolfe lay beside Ruby and pulled her precious body into his. Gently spooning her, he rubbed her arm, her back, her hip. Any part of her within reach was his. “We love you, Ruby. Don’t let
that old crone win.”

  Wolfe kissed her forehead and cheek. His voice begged, almost whined, as he faced his greatest fear. He couldn’t lose the woman he loved. He just couldn’t.

  Taking a pinch of dried dandelion and burdock, Goldie threw them into the rocks along with a ladleful of water. Instantly, a hiss of steam surrounded them. Ruby began choking on her breath.

  Her movements still calm, Goldie got a bucket. “Let it out, sweet Ruby. Let it all out.”

  Body shaking, Ruby’s will capitulated. She expelled the waste from her body and into the bucket. Each time her body heaved, she cried out with a loud, retching sound that filled the small chamber. When finally, her body collapsed in a sweaty pile of blankets, Wolfe knew it had been done.

  She was whole.

  “Ruby? His voice was hesitant as he reached out to touch her. She felt cold and clammy beneath his hands.

  “I’ll prepare a bath for her,” Goldie said, her own breathing labored. “And then we need to let her sleep.” She paused for a moment at the doorway, and Wolfe had a moment of pity for the young healer. The process had taken so much out of her, and Goldie looked as though the slightest breeze would knock her over.

  Ruby’s eyes opened slightly as the door closed behind Goldie. “I’m tired,” she whispered.

  “I’ve got you. I will always have you,” Wolfe vowed.

  “Did I get rid of it all?”

  Wolfe nodded. “I sure hope so. Goldie is getting a bath ready for you, and then you need to sleep, yeah?”

  Ruby nodded, her eyes drifting shut. “I feel like I could sleep for a month.”

  “Rest,” Wolfe crooned, brushing kisses across her forehead. “Sleep and heal.”

  Ruby mumbled something that could have been an affirmative sound before drifting off to sleep.

  Chapter 9 – A Meeting

  Ruby

  The Baron’s estate always made Ruby a little nervous. With his multiple tiers of guards and watchmen, the building heightened Ruby’s senses and made her aware of just how powerful her friend’s husband was.

  “The children have been found?” Baron asked as he strode into his bower. Power wafted off the bear-shifter as though it were leaves from a frost-kissed tree.

  “They have, sir. They’re with their father and Goldie.”

  The baron paused and smiled. “She has healed him?”

  “The boy is still struggling. Goldie felt it was best to stay with them for a few days or a week until she was certain all traces of Mathilda and her poison was gone.”

  “I’m sorry the boy is still fighting the after-effects but Goldie will help him. She’s the best healer we have.” With a wave of his hand, the Baron called his Master-at-Arms closer.

  “There has been a breach, and a Wicked Witch may still be within our borders. Increase the sentry patrols, hire more if you need to, and keep an eye out for Mathilda.”

  “Yes, sir. Anything else?”

  “Alert Red’s bodyguard first. I don’t want my wife wandering headlong into any more trouble. Especially not now.”

  “Her specialty is poisons and potions,” Ruby offered.

  “Hire additional tasters for the kitchen,” the baron ordered.

  The Master-at-Arms nodded before asking. “Should we alert your cousin, sir?”

  Ruby frowned. The baron had a cousin? She stilled so she could listen more intently.

  “Aye, alert Charming she may be on the run. Witches hate children, both Fable and Mundie alike, so we need to observe and be aware.”

  “Do you think the other witches will attack?” Wolfe asked.

  “I don’t know. Parlaying with them is difficult. It’s difficult to build trust when they hire their minions to use magic to keep me in bear form and unable to shift.”

  “Could we send in a message? A neutral messenger, maybe. This is a violation of their treaty.” Ruby didn’t understand how Paulina’s coven could get away with this behavior. It was wrong!

  “And what? What threat do we have? What power do we utilize? We’re just a small community that wishes to be left alone. And while I don’t believe Paulina wishes a second war, I hold no illusions on the ugliness of the battles. Is that really what you want?”

  “No.” Ruby shuddered at the thought of another war. They’d learned to live out of The Woodlands. Why couldn’t the witches just let them be alone?

  The baron aged a decade before Ruby’s eyes. His face took on an ashy cast, and his eyes were haunted with memories. “Thank you for this information, friends. I need to be alone to plan our strategy.” The dismissal was obvious.

  “Good health to you and yours,” Wolfe said with a slight bow. Ruby repeated the gesture as the baron shook their hands.”

  Spring was back in the air as they left the extravagant home. “Feeling better?” Wolfe asked as Ruby slid her red cape on her shoulders. It was too warm for the hood, but it rested against her back.

  “I am. Now that I know my wolf lives within me, everything has changed. I can’t believe I didn’t know about her before.”

  “I’ve suspected for some time,” Wolfe said with a smug smile.

  “You did not,” Ruby scoffed. “How in the world did you know when I didn’t even know?”

  “Instincts.”

  Ruby wanted to explore Wolfe’s instincts in great detail but resisted the urge. Later, she thought with an inner smile.

  “Ooh, that look. I’d like to know what that means.” Wolfe’s brown eyes lit with an inner glow.

  “Why don’t you ask your instincts?” she teased with a playful wrinkle of her nose.

  “You doubt my innate ability as sheriff of Thistle Grove?”

  “The same instincts that told you the Hamm brothers were up to something?”

  “I’m still not convinced those pig shifters aren’t up to something. After all, they built that prison cottage for Mathilda with no questions asked.”

  “They're boars, not pigs, and they haven’t done anything wrong,” Ruby reminds him.

  “Yet. And if you say so.”

  “You need to get over your irrational suspicion of them. They’re just three brothers. Homebuilders. They’re fine.” Her words were firm, but Wolfe didn’t look impressed by them.

  “Yes, dear.”

  Ruby couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up within her. As they walked through the center of town, it struck Ruby how right their bond felt. The security of it surrounded her like a baby’s blanket, cozy, and constant. As he said, he was a medium-sized, grumpy wolf. And he was hers.

  They paused under a cherry blossom tree. Bright little flowers swirled around them and caught in her hair. Her own instincts clamored within her, and Ruby knew precisely what to do.

  “Be my mate?” She tried to imbue her voice with as much confidence as she felt but feared the vulnerability she heard. A band tightened around her chest, and she swallowed. She’d declared herself and put the ball in his court.

  His smile was hesitant but pure. “Isn’t that my job to do the asking,” he teased as he pulled her into a light embrace. Their bodies touched, and awareness lit in his eyes.

  “Says who? Besides, you were taking too long.”

  Wolfe cradled her face and brushed a kiss across her nose. “It’s been less than a day, you know. I had this whole thing planned.”

  The band loosened, and Ruby felt her breathing return to almost normal. “Is that a yes?”

  “Of course, it’s a yes!”

  Wolfe

  Her smile nearly blinded him. She glowed with happiness. Wolfe picked her up and spun her around as joy overflowed within him. “I had an entire proposal planned out, you know.”

  Ruby tilted her head back as he spun, and the long strands of auburn hair flew around them. “So? What’s stopping you?”

  He placed her down, and they began walking. He wasn’t sure where. He had no destination in mind. “The wind is out of those sails. We already agreed.”

  Ruby stopped suddenly and faced him, hands p
lanted on her hips. “You already knew I would say yes before, too. You have no excuse. Let’s do all the things you wanted to do.”

  Wolfe was humbled. Here was a woman strong enough to take the lead but exquisitely loving to need him in return. “It was going to start off with a run.”

  “My first run as a wolf?”

  He nodded. “I wanted to share that with you.”

  Her eyes filled with love, and Wolfe’s resolve strengthened. “There’s a brook I like to splash in. Annoy the fish.”

  “Of course, you do,” she said with a droll smile.

  “And there’s this place in the hollows where we can sit and watch the world spin by. It’s my favorite place.”

  “I’d love to see anything that means that much to you.”

  “Good. Because.” Hesitation bit at him, but he forged ahead. “Because once you’re there, too, it will always be our special spot.”

  Ruby kissed him impulsively, and Wolfe felt like he was king of the world. He had everything he ever could have wanted right here, right now, and within his arms.

  “Once we had exhausted ourselves playing, I thought we could go to town for dinner.”

  “I like dinner.”

  He grinned. “I thought you might. And then, with candlelight flickering over our dinner and reflecting off the water goblets, I would ask you to be both my mate and wife.”

  “So, what’s stopping us?” Ruby challenged.

  “Not a damn thing. Let’s go.”

  After a quick stop at his house to leave their things, they shifted and ran freely into the woods surrounding their home. Wolfe ran, enjoying the sensation of his legs and spine stretch with each ebb and flow of his muscles. The wind tore at his fur, and little tufts of his winter coat lifted into the air. Fresh spring scents danced around him, and he wanted to explore every single one.

  But most of all, he wanted to explore them with Ruby.

  Ruby’s wolf was beautiful. All reds and golds that glinted in the spring sun. She ran from flower to rock and from tree to stream as though trying to absorb the entire Cambric explosion into one inhalation.

  He envied her this first spring day as a wolf. He’d been shifting since he was a boy. He couldn’t even remember his first spring. He contented himself with watching her child-like glee in every new scent, sight, and experience.