The pain stretched on for days, and yet Ruby never shifted. She was bedridden, moaning in desperation, all alone in the quiet of her bedroom. No one was in there with her this time; her father had abandoned her after the second day. Every morning and every night, Blake would check in, but Ruby was in such pain, such misery, that she barely even noticed his comings and goings.

That morning, she finally felt the pain break the surface. Her body could slowly stretch out again, her limbs no longer locked and paralyzed by the aches. She blinked wearily, wondering why nothing had happened.

She knew her father must have been beside himself with anger. His experiment had done nothing more than send Ruby into the worst week of her life. She wished she could go home so badly, that she tried to close her eyes and transport back to Atlas's house. She would do anything to stand in his kitchen and drink his coffee.

"Ah, and she awakens," came a voice from the door. Ruby had anticipated Blake, or even her father, but was shocked to find Hannah standing there. She had her arms crossed and was smirking at Ruby as if she enjoyed the pain the human was suffering. She probably did. "You're in big trouble." Her voice came out in a song, as if she found this idea hilarious.

"Trouble?" The sinking feeling in her gut made Ruby stiffen against the pillows.

"You were supposed to shift into a wolf. And you didn't. Rodrick was right about you."

Ruby could practically hear her father's words in her head, calling her a failure. Saying she wasn't good enough. It made her bite the inside of her cheek, the hollowness of her childhood stinging her chest.

"If I could bear my own pups, they wouldn't be useless like you turned out to be. It was that human mother of yours. She destroyed Rodrick's bloodline. You know, I'm glad she's dead."

The pain of Hannah's words was a knife to Ruby's gut. She felt the tears burn in her eyes, but refused to give her step mother that satisfaction. Hannah wanted her to cry. Wanted Ruby to feel upset, or perhaps angry, but Ruby had had enough of bullies in her life.

She tilted her chin up and steeled herself for whatever else Hannah would throw her way. She would not cry.

"And Atlas being your mate is the only useful thing about you. You know what else is great about that coupling?" Hannah's voice was delighted. There was a lightness in her voice that made Ruby's stomach twist. When Ruby didn't answer, the woman let out a cackling laugh. "Well, I'll tell you then. After Atlas takes you in, he'll probably kill you. You know that, right? Atlas Langdon is known for being a ruthless killer. You think he'd put up with a human for a mate? No, no, Atlas Langdon would rather murder you than keep you."

Realistically, Ruby knew this wasn't true. Atlas would rather ignore her to the ends of the Earth instead. But she didn't make that comment, didn't suggest that Atlas wouldn't be coming to save her, wouldn't take care of her when she was returned, if she was returned.

"Hannah, what are you doing in here?"

Ruby never thought she would be excited to hear Blake's voice interrupting. She nearly wept with relief that maybe Hannah would be booted from her room entirely. Just seeing the blood drain from the woman's face was relief enough.

"Blake! I'm just checking in. She didn't shift!" Hannah's voice was panicky, a tinge of worry lining her tone. She gave the other wolf a shaky smile, and it occurred to Ruby for the first time that Hannah was not only afraid of her father, but his Beta as well.

"I see." Blake's eyes moved over to Ruby from above Hannah's head. "Interesting indeed. That just means we'll have to up the dosage."

Ruby flinched at his words. "Please, no! Let's give it some time, it could change-"

"It won't. Our other subjects transitioned that same day. And you've been bedridden for a week. I'll alert Rodrick that you're finally doing better."

Ruby scrambled out of bed, sweat sliding down the back of her neck. "No! Please, please, no. I can't go through that again-"

"You don't have a choice, you worm," Hannah seethed. Rodrick is going to give you what you deserve."

"I'll do anything. Anything else. Please."

"You don't get to argue with us!" Hannah's palm connected with Ruby's cheek, the slap echoing in the room. It immediately burned and stung, and Ruby let out a loud, wild gasp. She covered her throbbing cheek with her hand, tears in her eyes. "I am in charge. I am the Luna in this house, and you are nothing but a bastard child, do you hear me? You have no claim to this pack, or this household."

"I don't want this pack or this household!" Ruby shouted. "I don't want to be here at all!"

"Not an option. Your father insists that you're here. If it were up to me..."

"And it's not." Blake reminded Hannah. "Ruby, you'll be coming with me."

Ruby didn't want to go anywhere with Blake. She wanted nothing to do with Blake. But it was reprieve from standing in front of Hannah, her cheek burning with a welt. She stepped towards Blake, despite her growing concerns, face drawn.

Hannah blocked her way. "No. Rodrick wants her in bed."

"I am taking her to Rodrick now." Blake's voice held a level of authority that even Hannah couldn't muster. The Luna blinked at Blake, trying to decide whether to fight him on this decision or not. There was a silent back and forth, both holding their own, before Hannah bowed her head and stepped back.

A private conversation clearly had in their own pack link. Ruby's eyes bounced between the two, but the look Blake gave her made it obvious who was in charge, and who she should follow. She did so, with very little qualms, and followed Blake through the hallway and down the stairs leading to Rodrick's study.

The room itself was dark. Thick, heavy curtains were drawn, completely omitting any light. The wood flooring was dark wood, as well as the desk and bookshelves that lined the walls. A small, thin lamp was turned on in the corner, but it produced only a tiny glow that made it impossible to see much if you weren't sitting in the chair that resided under the lamp.

Rodrick was at his desk, pen in hand. When Blake opened the door, his eyes seemed to eat up Ruby entirely. The twist of his mouth was familiar to her, as were the feelings of dread that sunk in her stomach at the sight of it.

"Take a seat, Ruby. We have much to discuss."

She was in trouble. Though, not about a missing homework assignment, or a bad quiz grade. This was something else entirely, and not knowing her father's intentions made Ruby tremble as she lowered herself into the leather chair across from him. She didn't look back at Blake; he would not save her here.

She watched as Rodrick capped his pen. "I see the medicine did not work on you."

Ruby scratched at her knee despite it not being itchy. She tried to swallow, but it got stuck in her throat. "No sir."

"You were supposed to be a wolf by now."

What could Ruby say to that? She fidgeted under his heavy gaze, disappointment lining his eyes.

"I suppose you will do nothing right. It's always been that way, so I shouldn't be surprised." A long sigh. "Blake, bring in the medicine. We'll do it right this time."

"Dad, please. Don't do this. I don't want to be a wolf. I don't want any of this-"

"Silence." He didn't slap her like Hannah had, but his voice was slap enough. She felt it down to her toes. The same voice he used on her time and time again as a child. "You owe me this, Ruby. You are my child, and this is your destiny."

"It's not," she protested, even when Blake backed out of the study to grab the medicine. The sound of the door shutting, leaving her alone with her father, wasn't enough to deter her. "I was born human, and that is my destiny."

Her father stood, his hands pressed into his desk. He leaned towards her, his dark eyes seeming to suck any light from the room entirely. "You will not fight me on this, Ruby. I have spent years searching for a way to make you my true heir. It is your destiny to carry on my legacy."

"Then have a child with someone else!" Ruby's voice sounded shrill, even to her own ears. She knew she was losing control. "If Hannah cannot give you an heir, find another wolf. Find any other wolf. Raise the child to be your own mini me. But I am not your precious wolf heir. I'm human, and I want to stay human."

"Enough!" Rodrick's voice was louder. "You will be defiant no more. You will do this. If you want to be with Atlas, you will do this. He won't take a human for a mate. He won't accept you until you are perfect. Isn't that what you want?" There was madness in his tone, a certain unraveling that had Ruby up and out of her chair. She was shaking, almost violently, but this wasn't right. This wasn't what she wanted.

"I don't care what Atlas wants. If he doesn't want me as a human, then he doesn't get to have me!"

"Nonsense!" Rodrick was rounding his desk, approaching her far too quickly. "You are bound to him. You will submit to him, like Hannah has done with me. You will become his Luna, and you will tear his pack apart from the inside out!"

Ruby felt like she couldn't breathe as she stumbled back, hitting the door. "I will do no such thing! Even if I accepted Atlas as my mate, because it is a two way street, then I wouldn't tear them apart. I wouldn't do anything for you."

Rodrick gripped her neck, his hand squeezing her throat hard enough to block her airflow. She tried to squirm, but she couldn't break free of his grasp. "You belong to me. I own you."

Ruby felt immediate fear grip her chest. Everything in her began to panic, and she wondered if this was finally it: the moment where her abusive father killed her. She stared into his eyes, remembering the man who had raised her. His presence lurking around every corner of her childhood, waiting to punish her. Waiting for her to mess up. Waiting to yell and hurl insults whenever things got bad.

When Rodrick didn't let up on his grip, and Ruby could feel her lungs beginning to burn, she let her eyes drift close. Please save me, Atlas. Please.

She wasn't typically a beggar. But if there was any chance he could hear her, any chance they were connected, she wanted to at least try. Because like it or not, he was the only one who knew where she was, and just how much danger she was in.

I'll never bother you again, she promised him. I'll pretend we aren't mates, and I'll just disappear from your life, just the way you want it.

The door behind her opened, and instead of relief at potentially being saved, Ruby felt unbridled fear squeeze her heart tightly. Then, she felt the pinch of a needle in her arm, the sting burning straight to her bones. She would scream, but there was no oxygen left in her lungs to even muster a sound.

"I think you're killing her," Blake's voice drifted through Ruby's ears, but the chemicals moved through her quickly, forcing Ruby's eyes to close drowsily. She had no energy to fight back as her soul seemed to float from her body, detaching completely.

"She's better off dead," Rodrick snarled, his claws puncturing her delicate skin. "But I suppose you're right. We do need Atlas Langdon on our side."

Her body hit the ground, but Ruby was too far gone to feel any pain. Too far gone to even breathe. Her limp body lay there, unmoving, and both Rodrick and Blake stared at it. At her. "Damn, Rodrick."

"Move her to the bedroom. Strap her in. When she wakes..." Rodrick scoffed, turning from Ruby's body. He sat back down at his desk, leaning back as a sigh blew through his nose. "What a fucking mess."