Chapter 8
RUBY DOUGLAS
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Gavin stood unnaturally still with his eyes glued solely on me but the opulent interior of the restaurant vastly distracted me from whatever reasons why he chose to act this ultra weird.
Dumbstruck by the overwhelming beauty before me, my mind traveled every corner in awe. Only wealthy folks dined here, it felt like living in one of those TV shows.
“Welcome, Your Majesty!”
The maître d’hôtel in a nicely tailored suit bowed stiffly, this hauled Gavin out of whatever dazed him. His red eyes squinted at the older man before us, watching him turn, leading us to a table.
“I don’t have any money to pay for meals here.” I voiced my concerns when our server disappeared from the table, not minding how my ice–cold fingers trembled from just meeting his peered brows.
Gavin said nothing to that, held me in scrutiny with his mind visibly processing whatever opinions he built from just watching me.
“I’m sorry I took your things, I’m going to return them. If you spare me this one time and also if you’re kind enough to buy me something really nice, a steak, giant lobster, or maybe…,” I paused mid–rambles, scanned my brain, and swallowed hard, “I heard red wines taste like ethanol? Evelyn thinks they’re just overrated…”
“Ruby Douglas,” he intercepted, sounding a little husky, met my uneasy gaze and held it, the butterflies in my stomach doing a real number on me. His phone beeped, disrupting whatever he had to say.
Just then, the maître d’hôtel who happened to be our server for the night returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
My interest bounced off Gavin to the wine our server poured into the glasses for us.
“I’m nineteen, legal to drink.” I chuckled, happy to finally get to have a taste of something good.
Gavin’s attention dropped on his phone when I took the first sip–gulp of the wine.
Shoot!
Evelyn was wrong. This tasted better than anything.
Two more gulps and my glass was empty. I helped myself to more from the bottle in the absence of the server who courteously left the table.
Gavin must’ve been a regular here because the server seemed to know just what to offer him and how he appreciated his steaks. I sneaked glances his way the entire time I forked my meal to my mouth and soon dinner was over.
We passed on dessert because he just wanted to leave, which was completely cool by me.
He turned at the traffic intersection and headed straight towards his mansion. My heart raced at the very thought of going back there. Heated thoughts of how things had gone between us earlier in his bedroom haunted my mind.
He led me in, paused in the living area, and turned to regard me, his hand stretched out towards me for the backpack in my possession.
Quickly, my fingers fished into it retrieving the things I took from his closet. Hoping he didn’t notice I still had the little dog
statue.
“You’re not going unpunished. Stealing is an offense.”
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Chapter 8
“I’d do anything but please don’t give me out to Alpha Nathan. He hates me.”
He handed over the items to Hannah and the housekeeper shot me the I–knew–it look but lacked the boldness to say the words out. Quietly, she crept from the living area.
Gavin snatched the backpack off my hand and retrieved the last item.
“You dare take anything else around here, anywhere, going forward then I fuckin‘ swear to… He caught himself and momentarily fought the rage gleaming in his eyes. “Go get some rest.”
His steely features softened.
Staying here would be as fair as leaving a moth by the flame. I’d get drawn regardless of the pain.
“I don’t want to stay here.”
Gavin certainly wasn’t used to people going against his order because his softened features clamped instantly. I had the right to decide where I wanted to be. Staying away from the tempting things in this mansion was the only way to stay alive.
He edged closer to me, I backed away.
“This is an order.” He growled.
“I’m just going to make the same mistakes all over again. It’s best I stay away, far away from here.” I sucked in a breath, “All I want is to get away from here, and I’m never going to stop trying especially with all these possibilities stretched out before me.”
He considered me for a while, “You stole a burger because you needed to get away?”
“I was hungry, okay? Life’s not easy for those on this end of the rope.”
“There’s no justification for stealing, and I’m yet to decide on the actions to take.”
I dropped to my knees, “It’s never going to happen ever again. I beg your mercy, Your Majesty.”
“I can forgive this sin on two conditions,” he moved away from the living area. I followed him to the kitchen. He took out a bottle of water and poured it into a glass, sipped, and regarded me, “No matter the excuse, you’re never going to take what’s
not yours.”
“I swear.” Anything to save my life.
“You’re going to make the vow, yourself.” He put the glass of water away. Waiting for what I had to say.
“I hereby vow never to take what’s not mine.” I mentally rolled my eyes.
“If I do, at any point, I face the law.” He added, a far–off glint in his eyes.
I repeated after him and shrugged.
“You’re going to move into the mansion.” He said in finality.
What? No.
It was supposed to have been a great offer for me, but I couldn’t trust myself around here. Not after I just vowed to never steal again.
“I need the entire team huddled together, I need to know who and what not to trust.”
“You’re very tempting.” I mumbled honestly, “I’m just an Omega.”
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Chapter 8
“It’s either you agree to these two conditions or I play fair in the eyes of the goddess,”
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Stealing was an unending swirl for me. If this vow was going to be a challenge to myself, a reminder of what could happen, what King Gavin could do if I stole then it was worth it.
“Fine. At least I get to be fed good food and wine and live in this beautiful place while playing Syzygy Pack’s hero.”
