For the Love of The Guardian

Ruby Red

The smell of gasoline and oil filled the large space. Several vehicles sat suspended on lifts as workers moved beneath them. The ringing sound of metal and the hum of the air compressor filled the air. A few mutterings could be heard as the door opened, but everyone fell silent as the woman entered.

“Coming in late from the ball?” One of the guys beneath a jeep shouted to her.

“Very funny, back to work Robert.” Sarah shrugged off the jokes as she stepped into the office. It was mostly hers now, as her father slowly shifted the tasks from his hands. Her desk was organized, aside from a large box that stood atop it. A yellow note was taped over the top, clearly written by her father’s hand.

Sarah,

Please look over this carburetor. If need be, rebuild. Alpha Jaroth would like to not replace it if possible.

Thank you,

Dad

Sarah let out a sigh as she set the note aside and opened the flaps. Inside the carburetor was covered in the usual grime and sat in a pile of newspaper to absorb the grease. Resolved to tackling this last, she removed her over shirt and pulled her cover alls over her tank top. They were a little loose but very comfortable. The thud of her boots across the open shop always told the others where she was. She had a habit of walking with heavy feet, and it didn’t matter to her if people knew she was there.

Her eyes moved up and down the black vehicle before her. “Miss Ruby.” She spoke politely to the vehicle. “We are going to have a quite the morning. It’s time to get you ready to go home.” She pulled her clipboard from the bay file and looked over what still needed done. Everest was trusting her to take care of this gem of his, and she would not let him down.

The morning dragged on as she checked off her remaining list of things to do for the large beast of a vehicle. Once satisfied that all was done, and checking it over a third time, she moved on to address the carburetor that was left in her care. When it came to machinery, she was a perfectionist. She sat the heavy machinery on the table and began to methodically disassemble the part. Each piece was inspected and inventoried. Before replacing any pieces, she wanted to confirm where the original error occurred. Sometimes just wear and tear would cause flaws, but sometimes a flawed part would be installed that would cause it to malfunction.

She picked up her clipboard one more time, inventorying the last few pieces and marking off their integrity and replacement level. It was just as she made the final mark, the bell above the shop door chimed. Her eyes flitted to the entryway and then back to her clipboard.

“Over here, Everest.” Her voice called out before the others, her eyes scanning her board carefully.

“Hey sunshine!” His voice was cheery and his demeanor as happy as ever. “How’s my girl doin?”

“Oh I’m fine,” Sarah smiled and winked to the older man.

The pair exchanged a warm laugh as Sarah moved out from behind the table.

“Ruby was already in good shape. An oil change and some spark plugs was all I did.” They walked together toward the large bay that held his vehicle. “You really didn’t need to bring her in.”

“I wanted to make sure she got a pair of fresh eyes on her. I tend to look her over a lot and can miss stuff easily.”

“Fair enough.” Sarah handed him his keys, “She’s all set for ya.”

“Awesome. How’s your Amethyst Beast?” Everest’s brows danced as he spoke about the machinery.

“She’s nearly done. I have a custom gas tank coming in today or tomorrow and then it’s just assembly.” Sarah couldn’t hide the excitement in her voice or the joy on her face. Everest and her father had helped her design her own motorcycle. It could easily get up to about 200 mph, by their calculations. Yet hidden away in the body were secrets for defense and traversing different terrain. The only thing that could hold this baby back was water and going airborne.

“I can’t wait to see it. You’ll have to drive it out to the farm when your done, we can do some speed tests.”

Sarah smiled as she watched Everest’s eyes light up, he was excited as she was about this bike. “I’ll be sure to take you up on that.” Sarah moved to lift the garage door.

“I’m gonna hold you to it.” Everest hugged the young woman briefly, then turned to climb into the driver seat.

Ruby roared to life, the deep rumble of the new HEMI engine igniting a crowd around the shop. Sarah smirked as she watched everyone’s eyes turn to the large mechanical work of art. Sarah had heard the stories, that this vehicle is what saved her life. Knowing she was now working on it brought a sense of honor to the sad situation behind it. There was always a small twinge of pain as she watched Everest roll out with Ruby. She loved working on her and at times she new that vehicle better than her creator.

“Pfft.” A huff came from beyond the garage door as Everest had finished backing out and was shifting gears. The smooth sounds of changing gears and the roar of life as they drove away filled her heart. Sarah turned to see Zane leaning against a nearby tree. Sarah groaned and moved inside the shop, unzipping her coveralls as she moved.

“James!” Sarah hollered out as she stepped out of the coveralls and tossed them into the office.

“What’s up?” James came over, a clipboard in his calloused hands.

“I have to leave the shop early today, meetings and all that jazz.” She took the clipboard from James and signed off of the order. “Can you make sure no one messes with the carburetor of here. It’s a personal rebuild project and I don’t want anyone jacking with things.”

“Of course.” James gave her one of his bright eyed smiles. He was the second in command around the shop and worked harder then the others. He was worth his weight in gold, and judging by his small beer gut there was some heft to him.

Sarah smiled and clasped his shoulder. “Can you get the door for me?” She walked over to the garage door that Ruby had just left through.

“Sure thing. Enjoy your meetings.” James smirked.

Sarah gave a thumbs up and a feigned laugh as she waved to him. Zane still sat nestled against a tree, waiting for her.

“Can I help you?” Sarah starts to move away from the egotistical male.

“Wolves shouldn’t be helping humans, it’s a disgrace to us.” Zane spat out. “Can’t trust them.”

Sarah whirled on the male, her eyes dancing with purple light as she glared at the vial boy; would be man. “You would do yourself the safety net of not disrespecting our guests in our home.”

Zane’s lips curled in a disgusting grin. His hands were on her quickly, pushing her flush against the shop wall. “You would do best to learn your place, woman.” His lips tickled at her ears and his hot breath ran down her neck.

Sarah felt his chest pressed against hers and she had to decide how to deal with this male. She felt his knee move between her legs and the weight of his body on hers.

“By the time I am done, you will be begging for more of me.” He ran his tongue up her neck to just below her ear. “I know you want it.”

Sarah growled low in her chest, wanting to let Scarlet out to shred this male to pieces. Suddenly cold washed over her body as the heat of the male pressing on her body was gone. Her eyes opened to find Liam hovering over Zane. His large boot quickly coming into contact with Zane’s abdomen.

“You lay a finger on her again and I will ensure you will never see your hands again. Am I clear?” His voice was a deep growl and sweat was pooling at the base of back, turning his white shirt translucent. “Grow up!”

Zane rolled to his back and coughed. “You don’t own her, little brother.” Zane spit to the side and eyed up tall male before him.

Liam looked back to Sarah, the shock of the situation slowly leaving her eyes. Her feet moved slowly to come along side the strong male, her arm moving to wrap about his.

“No one owns me Zane. I am not a prize to win, or a treasure to horde. I am a living being, and next time I won’t play nice.” Her eyes danced purple in warning. “I will make sure you never father a litter and your father will never announce you as Alpha.”

Liam growled at his older brother once more as the pair turned and walked away. Sarah kept her arm about his, though it was obvious he was unsure of the interaction. In silence they walked the woods that filled behind the pack house, enjoying the quiet and leisurely stroll.

“We should probably talk.” Sarah broke the silence, her voice soft. A contact high of tingles and blood rushing through from holding his arm made her light headed. She didn’t dare let him go, for fear of falling.

“What would you like to talk about?” Liam’s deep voice was smooth as butter as it washed over her.

“How did you get to be the nice one?” Sarah laughed, looking up to him.

Liam let out a deep chuckle. “Father never thought I would amount to anything, so I was sent off to boarding school. My older brother’s learned pack business and politics while I learned world business and politics.” Liam smiled to her, “Turns out the world isn’t as pampering as the pack.”

“I’ll say.”

“Being at school taught me a lot more then the pack could about interactions.”

“Like how to not be a douche?” Sarah quipped.

“Pretty much.” Liam laughed, his right hand coming up to rest on her hand. “Sarah,” Liam stopped walking. “Can I ask you something?” Chocolate brown eyes searched her gray orbs and his long finger ran down her jaw.

“Of course,” she couldn’t explain how in that moment she trusted him with her life or how all she wanted was for him to kiss her.

“Do you feel different, when I’m around?” Liam’s voice became a whisper.

Sarah nodded, her throat suddenly very dry and her head swimming.

“Good, I feel different around you too.” His eyes moved from her orbs to her luscious lips, watching as she licked them slowly. He could see her breathing quicken as her chest rose slowly and deeply. He leaned in close to her, “I would like to kiss you.” A statement of desire, not a question for permission, Sarah could do nothing but nod.

His lips moved against hers slowly. Sarah had never been kissed before, but it felt like fireworks in her brain. Scarlet howled in the back of her mind and she felt the excitement rush over her. She let her fingers move to slide up his chest and rest on his shoulders, as his hand came to hold her jaw close to him. His left hand moved to come about her waist and draw her impossibly closer. He licked her lips for permission and she parted them happily. Their tongues dancing like dragonflies on a hot summer day.

When they pulled their lips from each other, Sarah felt her lungs burn from needing air. She knew he could smell her arousal and for the first time, she didn’t care.

“Sarah,” Liam whispered slowly, his voice hoarse and needy, “we should get back, before we take this too far.”

“Is there such a thing?” Sarah kissed his chin and let her teeth nibble at him. Taking pleasure from the groan that left his throat.

“I would love to take you deep in the woods right now,” Liam lifted his head and took in a deep breath, “but I need to ask your father for permission to court you first.”

Sarah froze, how could he kiss like that and be such a gentleman still. She watched his pupils dilate as he took in a deep breath through his nose. “It would not be good for me to return in this condition.” She whimpered, her voice betraying her need for him.

“Let’s walk some more then. Maybe get to know each other better?” Liam stood tall, swallowing hard, he offered the she-wolf his arm.

Sarah smiled and looped her arm through his, and let him walk her through the woods back to the house. She learned that he worked on the construction of the new lecture hall at Koshen University and that he currently owned a construction business. They traveled a lot, his team did, but he was home mostly now dealing with the foreman at the sites.

Sarah shared her love for cars and how she was finishing her last year in school. She promised to show him the Amethyst Beast and he said they could go ride together, as he had his own. They found common ground in things they both enjoyed, like hunting, running and eating. Yet they found subtle differences in how they felt about pack alliances, the curse and the troubles that were rising among the packs.

The could both agree on thing though, neither of them trusted the elders.