Secrets Within

Chapter 4

“Will Haven be safe with the coven? She is important to Ruby. How do you know she is your mate?” Dez looks slightly puzzled.

I took a breath, “Haven is in a vulnerable state, she is extremely lonely and open to finding her mate. So she accepted me instantly. I can see you are worried, do you have any concerns?”

“I am not sure what I am supposed to feel. I know that I would do anything for Ruby.” Dez said with confidence.

“That is what you are supposed to feel. When she fully accepts you, there will be an electric pull and you will be able to find her wherever she may be.” Dez looked down. “Dezmond, from my understanding Ruby has been through a lot in her short life. She is more guarded but I see the love in her eyes when she looks at you. She needs time.”

“You are right. I know she trusts me, I know she loves me. I don’t understand what is holding her back.” Dez said softly.

“Be there for her. I know she will accept you. Her heart already has, she is already yours.”

**Ruby**

“Ruby try to relax. Close your eyes and picture your human form.” Haven said calmly. I followed her instructions. “Breathe in, and breathe out,” Haven said. Nothing happened. How did I turn into this? What is going on with me? Why can’t I do this? “Ruby. You have to focus. Oh! I have an idea, follow me. I followed her to the bathroom. “Look at yourself.” Wow. I really am a lion. I always loved lions. I have one tattooed on my back, actually, I look almost identical to the tattoo. “Now look into your eyes, breathe and picture yourself as a human again.” This time I felt my skin ripping and it burned. “It’s working just let it happen, you got this.” I took another breath and closed my eyes and let go. “See you should listen to me more.” Haven laughed. I opened my eyes and I was myself again. Haven tossed me some clothes and left the room while I got dressed.

“Thanks, Haven. I was terrified.” I said, I couldn’t look into her eyes I was mortified.

“You’re welcome, it’s really nothing to be embarrassed about. My first shift I was stuck as a mouse for a month.” Haven was being honest I could sense that.

“You have to tell me about that.”Haven smiled at me

“My mom used to call me her little mouse. So mice were special to me.” Haven hadn’t really talked to me about her mom.

“What is your mom like? Does she know what happened to you?” I was genuinely curious.

**Haven**

I let Ruby think that my mother was alive. I can’t keep lying to her. I have to come clean about everything. “My Mom passed away when I was young.”

“But you told me that your mom called you home and that’s why you had to leave,” Ruby said calmly.

“I know. That was really my aunt. She was the closest thing I had to a mother.” That's true, she wasn’t very protective of me but she wasn’t as mean as Uncle. “She homeschooled me so i could get into college with you. She helped train me for my mission.”

“What was your mission?” Ruby looked hurt.

“You were.” I couldn’t look her in the eyes while I said that. “The biggest reason I got called him was that I stopped reporting a while ago and I had to go because they threatened to come to drag us both out of school.”

“So you left to protect me?” I still couldn’t look at Ruby. I felt disgusting.

**Ruby**

She has to be on my side now even if she wasn’t before. I still feel like I can trust her more now than I ever did.

“Yes,” Haven said looking at her feet. There was a knock on the door. Ruby opened it, and Viktor was standing there.

“Hello, ladies. I was coming to see if Haven was about ready to leave.” Oh yeah, I forgot they were leaving.

“I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” Haven said finally looking at me. “Ruby, you are my best friend and I love you. Please forgive me.” Haven was tearing up.

“I will always forgive you.” I hugged Haven. She really is my best friend.