Ruby awoke to a knock at her door.

Her eyes were burning behind her lids from lack of sleep, and she wanted to shove her head under her pillow and ignore whoever was out there.

The thing was, Ruby knew exactly who was out there.

When he didn't stop knocking, Ruby finally gave up and rolled out of bed. She didn't bother changing out of her sweats; if Atlas was offended by her pajamas, so be it. When she tore open the door, she wasn't expecting the lurch in her chest at the sight of him.

He was ready for the day in a suit. A suit. What landlord - slash - flower farmer needed a suit? His hair was combed back and wet. He wore sunglasses, inside like an asshole, but when she opened the door, he pulled them off. Slid them into his pocket. Let his eyes rove over her.

Ruby was suddenly aware she wasn't wearing a bra under her tank top. "Can I help you?"

"Have you not been sleeping? You have bags under your eyes." Atlas stepped forward, crowding her with the expectation that she would let him into her apartment. She conceded, stepping back enough so that Atlas could let the door shut behind him. He leaned against it and pulled out a rolled-up newspaper from his pocket. He offered it to her without taking his eyes off of her.

Ruby reached for it tentatively. "You're here to give me a newspaper?" She didn't look at it yet. "Are you insane?"

"Again I ask: are you not sleeping?"

She wasn't, but that wasn't Atlas's business. She had been haunted with nightmares, plagued with the notion that Kierson would sniff her all the way to her apartment, break down the door, and murder her in cold blood.

It had kept her awake, fitfully trying to sleep, oftentimes staring at her ceiling instead. Atlas had let her stay in the apartment for three days before he'd come to offer her this newspaper, and she hadn't slept since napping in the flower fields.

Ruby didn't tell Atlas this. It was too personal, too raw. Too real. Atlas didn't need to know the personal bits of her life, especially when she was sure he would rub them in her face with a sneer.

She unrolled the newspaper instead of answering him. The print was large on the front page: KIDNAPPED WOMAN FINALLY FOUND: RUBY CROWELL SAFE.

Under the headline was a picture of her - her work picture that belonged on her badge, the one she used to get into the event planning office. She was smiling, eyes bright and shining with the excitement of starting a job she really wanted.

She skimmed the article, heart in her throat. It didn't say much, only that her kidnappers were still at large and that police were searching for any tips and leads. She looked up from the article, mouth dropped open in surprise or shock. She wasn't sure which. "What is this?"

Atlas leaned casually against her door. "The news stations are running the story as well. Now, no one will think you no call, no showed from your jobs for over three months. Oh, and you can use this to dispute any missed payments that occurred, for your bills, that is. Give them a call, mention what happened, and things should even out. Go back to normal."

"You did this?" She waved the newspaper. "How? Why would they take this story without meeting with me?"

Atlas shrugged, his dark eyes tracking her movements. He was trying to gauge how pissed off she was. "Sweetheart, I own the city. I told you that."

"The newspaper? The television stations?"

His mouth tipped up into a lethal smile. "And the police."

A chill walked down her spine. He was being serious, Ruby realized. He owned the police. It wasn't possible. It wasn't real. Ruby took a step back as panic gripped her chest. If he owned the news outlets and the police, what couldn't Atlas do?

"How?" Her voice was a shaky whisper.

"Now now Ruby, you can make me out to be a villain all you want, but this is what you wanted, is it not? I just handled it for you. You're welcome."

"How do you own the police? Is there anything you don't own?" She wrapped a hand around her throat, feeling her pulse fluttering under the grip. He had full immunity in this city, it seemed. Ruby hadn't quite realized what he was saying to her the other day. Now, it was obvious.

"The police force are werewolves in my pack. The news outlets are werewolves in my pack. Hell, the city council belongs to me as well. What else are you wondering? I'll answer three questions about my job, and then I'll drive you to yours." His eyes looked down at what she was wearing, his gaze going slowly over the way her tank top hugged her chest and hips. "Although, I suggest you wear something else to get your jobs back."

Ruby blinked up at him, mouth dry with the opportunity. Three questions. Anything she wanted to know. "How did you become Alpha?" She knew loosely how it worked, but not enough to piece together how Atlas Langdon owned this entire city.

"My father was Alpha before I was. It was passed down to me, as it is my birth right. But I have to take credit for the city. My father didn't own it the way I do."

"Why do you want to own it?" What was Atlas even getting from being the leader here? Being in charge? How did he decide he wanted this empire?

"Kierson hides his pack away in the woods. Many packs do the same. But I, well, let's just say I don't care for the isolated feeling of hiding away. Humans have no right to push us to the fringe of society because they fear us. We deserve to hold down jobs, to own land, to have a say in how the world is run. Do we not?"

"I don't think the humans know you exist," Ruby countered. She wanted to look away from the heat of his gaze, but she couldn't seem to tear her eyes away. To stop the longing she was beginning to feel in her chest. She wouldn't ever allow herself to be attracted to Atlas. Ruby knew what a nightmare that would be.

"Last question, and then you get dressed." His voice was a growl as his eyes caught on her tank top. Ruby watched as Atlas crossed his arms tightly across his chest, holding himself away from her. She took a step back for extra safety.

"Why didn't you want to be mayor? You're content with being a landlord?"

Atlas didn't have to think about it. His answer was immediate: "I like to work behind the scenes. The Mayor, the entire city council, they answer to me. And yet, no human knows who I really am. I walk around the city eating at restaurants, delivering flowers, grocery shopping, and no one knows a damn thing. I'm invisible to them. And I like to keep it that way. It's not about humans knowing who is in charge, Sweetheart. It's about owning everyone and everything, and them not realizing just how much freedom they actually don't have."

That was it: her three questions were up. But, Atlas was being so open. He wasn't glaring at her. He wasn't snarling. Ruby found she wanted to know more. "Do you like being Alpha? Does it ever get... lonely?"

"Lonely?" Atlas barked out a laugh. "You assume I care about being alone. The truth is, Ruby, that Alpha's work best alone. With no weaknesses that other packs can extort. With no potential back stabbers. No one can hurt me if they aren't close enough to twist the knife."

Her mouth dropped open. That couldn't be true. It would be so very sad if it were. Ruby found herself swallowing the lump in her throat, and she remembered her own rules for herself: no boys. She had set that rule for herself, so she could focus on her career. Was Atlas not doing the same exact thing?

"What about the mate thing? Your uh, Luna?"

Ruby watched as Atlas's face went dark and closed off. She saw the twist of his mouth, the flare of his nostrils. Hope popped in her chest like a balloon: her questioning had come to an end.

"I do not have a Luna, and I never will. Go get dressed." His voice was a distant, cold demand. He turned from her and wrenched open the door. "You have ten minutes."

Ruby felt like she had been slapped as she walked into her bedroom. It was like the topic had completely destroyed whatever openness Atlas had been entertaining. Now, Ruby had gone and opened her mouth and reminded Atlas of who she was: nothing more than a pain in his ass.

Ruby felt sullen as she pulled on a pair of her nice work pants and a blouse. Something she had worn to the office many times before. Her mind though spun to Atlas. Maybe his change in attitude was because he didn't have a mate, and he was bitter about it.

Or, Ruby thought, maybe he had had a mate, and she had died. The thought made her feel sick to her stomach. She couldn't imagine Atlas loving anyone, but the sudden image of him smiling down at a woman made Ruby's stomach sour.

You have no right, she reminded herself. No right to be jealous.

When she stepped out into the hall, Atlas was glaring down at her. He had gone back to his old self so fast, and Ruby felt her throat closing with emotion. She had been the fool who had asked, but how was she supposed to know Atlas would have such an adverse reaction?

He led her outside to the sleek car that sat on the curb. No bike today, and Ruby felt glad for it. The car itself was something Ruby would expect to see from an action movie. She was almost surprised that Atlas could own something like it, but she reminded herself of who he was.

He owned the city. He owned the city. Her stomach cramped with the realization that no matter where she lived in this city, it would be nothing more than a large cage. She hadn't won by leaving Kierson, and it struck her with such misery.

As they drove to her event management building, Ruby knew that deep down, she couldn't stay here. She would have to get another job elsewhere. Run away again and never look back. As if Atlas could hear her thoughts, he cut a steely look her way.

When he pulled up to the curb, Ruby unbuckled and then turned to face him. "I'm sorry. I didn't know asking that would upset you." She closed her eyes and breathed hard from her nose in an exhale. "I can walk back home from here."

The walk home would give her time to think. Give the two of them much needed space, given how angry he was with her.

"I'll be here when you finish. I'm not letting you walk home."

"Why? I walked home every day before. It's not a dangerous walk." Her tone suggested that she felt Atlas was treating her like a child.

"Ruby, I may be able to keep Kierson from crossing into this city, but there are other issues. You've seen firsthand the rabid wolves. While we're working on that, I don't want you walking alone."

His voice was tense. He wouldn't look at her, but Ruby could see the whites of his knuckles as he gripped the steering wheel. She could see the way his mouth was flat, holding in other words he clearly wanted to say.

"Why do you need to keep me alive, Atlas? I'm just a human."

He didn't look at her still. "You'll have to believe me when I tell you it's confidential."

"Confidential from me?"

"Especially from you. Now go talk with your boss."

Ruby found herself on the sidewalk, up the stairs, and entering the building. She found her chest was tight with nerves and her stomach full of butterflies. She may be plastered on newspapers and the early morning news, but that didn't mean her boss knew what had happened.

That didn't mean she would get her job back.

She got into the elevator. Pressed the button to her floor. Waited as the elevator hummed its ascent, then walked stiffly out. She passed by the door that she could enter with her badge; she left it at home. Instead, she walked to the reception where guests entered.

The receptionist gave her a wide eye look. "Ruby?" Then, she was leaning back in her chair, yelling to the coworkers behind her. "It's Ruby!"

Ruby felt her cheeks go pink and her mouth forgot how to form a pleasant smile. She blinked and watched as coworkers filled the small window where Ruby could see into her old office.

"Ruby! We all heard about what happened!" There was concerned chatter, but Ruby didn't know what to say. She felt her eyes burn with the sudden need to cry. She didn't want to remember what had happened, or how it had all gone down. She didn't want to answer any questions. She didn't want to hash out the details with her old coworkers.

But before she could say anything, her old boss was stepping up to the receptionist window. "Ruby? My oh my, come in! I'll buzz you in right away!"

When the door buzzed, Ruby felt herself heading out back, narrowly avoiding hugs and questions from the others as her boss nudged her back to the office. And Ruby felt a little bit rude for ignoring them, but she felt in a daze as she moved robotically into her boss's office.

When the door shut behind her, it was just breaking the surface; she could breathe again.

"Ruby, we saw the news. Heard about what happened." Her boss's face softened. "Take a seat."

Ruby did as she was asked. She fidgeted slightly in her chair. "I just wanted to apologize. I know what it must have looked like. I just... disappeared. Dropped off of the face of the Earth for months. And I... I'm so sorry."

Her boss was shaking her head. "Do not apologize! You were kidnapped! Can I give you a hug?"

Ruby felt herself nodding, because she did want a hug. The only other person she had hugged was Atlas, in his own bed, and she had been sobbing into the warm skin of his neck. He had felt so warm and reassuring beneath her. He had wrapped his arms around her and made Ruby feel safe for the first time in a long time.

Not just since she had been kidnapped, but perhaps since before she had ever left her father's house.

And he had taken that all away with his possessive words. With his trapping her in the city with no where to go, and a vague threat about her running off.

She didn't feel the same from the hug from her boss. Old boss. The hug was warm and comforting, but it felt a lot like hugging someone and consoling them instead of the other way around. It felt a lot like when her mother died.

That day had been dark. Bleak. The funeral had been almost worse. Family members and family friends were there, and they were crying all over Ruby. Hugging her tightly. Saying things like, "We will all miss her so much," and "I just can't believe she's gone."

They had lined up to hug Ruby, but they weren't there to console Ruby. No, they had hugged Ruby for their own selfish benefit.

They cried into her hair, into a child's hair, and told Ruby about their own pain. Had expected Ruby to understand why strangers were hugging and crying all over her.

And of course, her father never came. Maybe he never even knew.

This hug from her boss felt a lot like that. Like Ruby was sixteen again and unsure of what to do or say. Unsure of how to explain that the hug was making her feel uncomfortable and awkward, and she really actually didn't want a hug at all.

When her boss released Ruby, she was frowning. A worried little line between her eyebrows set in. She placed her hands on Ruby's shoulders softly. "I'm so glad you're alive and safe. So glad. But Ruby, if you're here about your job, we've given it to someone else. And your clients have also been moved over. I hope you can understand."

Ruby understood. She nodded like she understood. She let her boss squeeze her one last time into a hug, and then Ruby let her boss shuffle her back through the office. Her old coworkers wanted to talk, wanted to hug her themselves, but Ruby wasn't really there.

She was dissociating. She was in her own head. She could hear the blood roaring in her ears as she said her goodbyes and walked back to the elevator. She pressed the button, stepped inside, and promptly began to cry.

Not only because she lost her job. Not only because she had been kidnapped and had lost three months of her life. Not only because she was suddenly thinking of her mother and the death. Her mother telling her to never leave, to never go to college, to just stay at home. To stay safe.

Your father could be anywhere, Ruby. You can't let him find you. Leaving, well, I think he'll want to find you.

Ruby never understood that. Still didn't understand. Her father had never come for her, not after that fourteenth birthday. He hadn't come to the funeral. Hadn't called Ruby to ask her how she was doing.

When her mother passed, Ruby had been pushed into the foster system when none of her family members stepped up to adopt her, or to take her in. She hadn't really known a lot of them, wasn't close to any aunts, uncles, or grandparents. And she didn't know anyone on her father's side of the family.

Running to the East Coast after she graduated college had been the right move. Especially after the experience she had as a teenager in foster care.

But it was too much. The kidnapping. Losing her job. Thinking about her mom.

She stayed in the elevator for far too long. She didn't want Atlas to know she'd been crying. She didn't want to see the look on his face, the way his lips would pull back in a sneer, the way he'd give her that flat look. He wouldn't console her.

But he wouldn't ask her to console him, either.

The elevator door finally did open, when someone tried to go up, and Ruby had no choice. She left the building with her tail tucked between her legs. And when she climbed into the car, of course Atlas could tell she had been crying.

She blamed it on her job. "They had given my position away to someone else."

Ruby would never share anything else with Atlas. And why would she? Why would he care about her mother, or her father, or the hugs at the funeral that had messed up Ruby for years afterwards?

Why would he care about the foster system? About what Ruby had sacrificed to move across the country for this job. The only job she had gotten when she had applied for anywhere and everywhere outside of South Dakota?

And now she didn't even have that.

"Okay." Atlas was working his jaw. "Let's stop by the restaurant."

Ruby shook her head. Shoved her hands under her thighs. "I... can't. They'll ask about the kidnapping, and I can't do it. I can't talk about it with them." She could hear the tears in her voice, and for a moment, she felt self conscious about it.

But then Ruby thought, fuck it. And fuck Atlas Langdon too. She didn't have to care about what he thought.

But Atlas didn't fight her on it. He shared a long look with her, and when she broke eye contact first, he pulled away from the curb. Let his mouth twist and his eyes narrow. Ruby knew he was stewing about something - about wasting his time on this drive, perhaps - and she closed her eyes. Felt the utter exhaustion that came with not sleeping for four days in a row catch up with her. And she fell asleep for the second time in Atlas's presence.

When Ruby opened her eyes, it was dark. She flung her arm out, feeling the bed around her. Not mine, she noted. She felt the heaviness of the weighted blanket around her. The multiple pillows that surrounded her head.

She sat up, rubbing at her eyes. She could hear talking, and it was soft enough that it hadn't woken her up, but she could make out a little of what was being said.

She recognized Atlas's voice. "Fuck if I know. She admitted to him beating her. I'm sure that has something to do with it."

"Beating her? I told you we should have gotten her. The moment we realized she was missing-"

"I'm not having this argument with you again Brody."

Ruby got out of the bed, her head swimming. So Atlas had known. She had suspected it, but hearing the truth outloud did make her feel sad. A little betrayed. She stepped to the door, deciding whether or not she should continue to listen. She decided against that, opening the door.

The voices got quiet. She padded down the hallway, then down the stairs. She wasn't surprised when Atlas met her at the bottom, his face observant and open. "You're awake," he stated like Ruby might not have known.

"You didn't bring me back to my apartment?" She yawned again, still feeling tired, but nowhere near what she had been feeling earlier. "You could have dropped me off."

Atlas pressed a hand to her forehead, and Ruby was so surprised by it that she let him do it. Let him cluck his tongue when he removed his hand. "You're not hot, so no fever. Why aren't you sleeping?"

She avoided the question when Brody stepped into view. He looked a little worried for her in a way Ruby appreciated. But then, a woman stepped beside Brody, her gaze curious and searching. She looked at Atlas, then back to Ruby. Her mouth twitched.

"A human?" The question made Ruby startle.

Atlas didn't take his eyes off of Ruby. "A human," he confirmed. Then, he moved to usher her back up the stairs. "You need more sleep."

Ruby was stubborn, shaking her head. "I need to go back to my apartment."

The woman cleared her throat. "I'll take her. I'm heading that way right now." She stepped forward, placing a hand on Atlas's arm to push him out of the way. Ruby tracked the movement, the way this woman was comfortable enough to touch Atlas, the way Atlas let her, and she felt herself frowning.

For no reason at all. Ruby settled on that, refusing to admit what was the truth: she was attracted to Atlas.

"I'm Clarice. We live in the same building."

Ruby looked at Clarice, taking in her perfectly coiled blonde hair. Taking in her sharp manicure. Taking in her wide, green eyes.

Ruby swallowed her jealousy. It wasn't fair to take it out on Clarice just because she had touched Atlas's arm. Ruby offered her a small smile. "You're a werewolf I take it?"

Clarice stared at Ruby, then turned to look at Atlas. "Have you told her nothing?"

"I've told her plenty. And I'd appreciate it if you stuck to that." He shot Clarice a meaningful look. Ruby interpreted it as a threat. Then, he turned to Ruby. "You can stay here. It isn't any trouble. And Clarice can be a terrible driver."

Clarice rolled her eyes at that statement. "Oh fuck off, Atlas. One accident and suddenly I'm a bad driver." She smiled at Ruby. "I won't kill you in a car crash, don't worry."

Ruby looked between all three of them. "Brody can take me home." He was the only one she really knew and trusted. And when he smiled, Ruby took that as a yes, he would drive her then. Problem solved.

Except, problem not solved. Atlas snarled at her, "Brody is not taking you home. Or anywhere, for that matter." His eyes flashed yellow, and Ruby swore his teeth sharpened when he bared them at her.

Her heart plummeted in her chest in fear as she took a step back up the stairs, hand gripping the banister. If he saw how suddenly terrified she was, Atlas didn't notice as he leaned forward towards her. His pupils were growing, suddenly blown out, and Ruby took another step back.

Clarice yanked Atlas back a step, her hand gripping the back of his shirt. When he snarled at the blonde, she gave it right back. "You're fucking scaring the shit out of her, Atlas. I'll bring her home. Stop being such a nasty alpha male."

Atlas twisted to look at Brody. "I don't want you anywhere near her-"

Brody had his hands up, stepping back into whatever room they had been in, out of view of Ruby. When Atlas was satisfied, he turned back to Ruby, but Clarice yanked him back another step. "Go for a run and burn this off, Atlas. She'll never want to come back here if you shift right in front of her. I don't think she's quite ready for that, do you?"

Atlas wasn't looking at Clarice, but he listened well enough. He gave Ruby one last lingering look. "I'll see you tomorrow." And then he stormed through the front door and let it slam behind him. In the silence after the slam, Ruby stared at the closed door, her mind swirling with what had just happened.

"C'mon. I'll bring you home before Atlas loses it." Clarice moved towards the same front door that Atlas just went through, and Ruby hesitated. And Clarice noticed right as she opened the door, hand on the knob, eyes catching the concern there.

"Ruby. You're not in danger. Not from me, and definitely not from Atlas."

"How do you know?" Ruby's voice was a broken whisper. "He's angry-"

"Not at you. He's mad at himself, trust me." Clarice shut the door, moving back towards Ruby on the stairs. "Here's the thing about Atlas. He doesn't like to tell others when he's upset. Usually, he'll go be moody by himself and refuse visitors. Another thing about Atlas? He likes to be in control at all times."

Ruby snorted. She knew that was true.

"Right now, Atlas is upset, and he's not in control of a few moving pieces. You happen to be one of them. He's not mad at you, and he won't harm a hair on your head. If anything, he'll avoid you completely."

Ruby twisted her fingers together. "How do you know Atlas?"

Clarice gave her a warm smile, but it held a hint of mischief. "I could tell you on the drive home."

That was how Clarice got Ruby out of the house. By the time they were safely in the car, no Atlas in sight, Ruby felt her shoulders loosen. She felt her heart slowing down to a normal speed. She looked back to Clarice.

"I'm his third in command. Brody is his Beta, so his second. You may not have known that. And as for me, Atlas and I grew up together as kids. We were close friends, and when he was named Alpha, Atlas didn't hesitate to bring me into his circle. Brody handles a lot, but I'm Atlas's spymaster." Clarice's teeth shone in the darkness; she was proud of this position.

"And you're not afraid of him?" Ruby shifted uncomfortably. "You don't... hate him?"

Clarice let out a howl of laughter. She fiddled with the radio station before she turned it off completely. "No. Atlas doesn't harm those in his pack unless he has a reason. And Atlas doesn't take to snakes very well, so that can get bloody. But Atlas wouldn't touch any of us. We're his family."

"You trust him?"

Clarice winked at Ruby. "With my life. And he trusts me, too. If he didn't, you wouldn't be here."

She opened and closed her mouth. Clarice seemed so normal in comparison to Atlas. She seemed so well adjusted. "Why does he hate me then? Why does he even bother with this whole charade? I'd think it'd be easier for him just to let me get killed."

Ruby could feel the tone in the car go serious in a second. Clarice slowed the car down, not quite going under the speed limit, but definitely not speeding anymore. "Ruby, Atlas has his reasons for keeping secrets. Not that I agree with them, but you need to understand that Atlas doesn't hate you." Clarice gave a little bit of a snort and a chuckle. "Actually, I think he hates that he doesn't hate you."

"So tonight..."

"Tonight he was jealous of Brody. Let that sink in." Clarice pulled up to their apartment building, cruising into the parking lot smoothly. She parked in a corner spot, turning off the car and unbuckling.

Ruby followed suit, but didn't get out. Didn't move at all as she processed that information. "You're saying that he likes me."

"I'm saying, Ruby, that Atlas wants you to be a part of this family. I'm saying that he wants you to want this. He wants you to choose this."

Anger burned suddenly hot in her chest, eating up the fear she had once held in his house. "Well, then maybe he shouldn't be such a prick!" Ruby opened the door and threw herself out of the car. "I don't understand what that even means. Choose this? Choose what? Living in his apartment? He hasn't really given me much of a choice!"

Clarice followed her out of the car. "You're right, Atlas is a prick. And he'll want to steamroll you." She shrugged, picking at her nails. "You get to decide whether or not you like a man who wants to take charge, or if you like a man who you can control. And after you figure out which you prefer, then decide if you'll stay or leave."

Ruby let her mouth drop open. She hadn't ever considered it, not really. Most men she had dated in the past had been more or less her equal in that sense. She'd never controlled her boyfriend, and they never controlled her.

Did she want to control Atlas? Did she want him to steamroll her?

"What about you?"

Clarice gave her a feral grin. "Oh babe, you know I like to walk them like a dog. Collar and all." She gave a playful wink. "I love controlling men. Bossing them around. Seeing them on their knees for me. Atlas is definitely not that sort of man. It's why we never dated."

An answer to a question Ruby didn't even realize she wanted to ask. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. So dry. Sex was never a topic she talked about with past friends. "And what if I don't want to stay? Will Atlas ever let me leave?"

Clarice lifted her chin. Twirled her car keys around her finger. "If you decide you want to leave, I'll help you get out of here. Fuck what Atlas wants. You need an ally? You need a friend? I'm your girl. It doesn't matter that I'm his third in command. I'll get you out."