Chapter 11 : Shadows and Trials
Ruby’s POV
The night air was cool against my skin as I sat by the window, staring at the moonlit city. A week ago, I had the best night of my life. A simple date—walking through the park, eating street food, laughing over nothing—but it felt real. It felt safe.
It felt like I belonged beside him.
But that was a lie, wasn’t it?
I pulled my knees to my chest, my fingers gripping the fabric of my sweatpants. I should’ve known better than to let myself get comfortable.
Alaric was… everything. The kind of man who could turn heads just by walking into a room. The kind of man who carried power without even trying. He had a company, influence, a future set in stone.
And me? I was just Ruby. A stray. A survivor. A man with nothing to offer but a past he didn’t
