From Chosen To Fated

Chapter 2 - Their Beginning

While Torben and Ruby were not fated mates, blessed by Serena the Moon Goddess, their love was no less real. Torben was technically a rogue, discovered by her Alpha father’s border patrol. Upon learning Torben's approximate age, Alpha Jack ordered the patrol to bring the rogue to his office for questioning before any further plans were made. Ruby was there that day, helping her dad with things a typical 10-year-old could do; like rearrange the furniture in his office for "a new look" or just distracting and getting in her father's way. She distinctly remembers Torben coming in in silver handcuffs, shaking from head to toe, but with what looked like attempted bravery on his young face. Torben sat across from my father at his desk, taking in his surroundings when his gaze fell on the young Ruby.

“What is your name?” Her father asked, forcing Torben to break eye contact.

“Torben Peake.”

“Do you know who I am?” Jack asked, not unkindly.

Torben nodded his head, “Alpha Jack Jensen of the Crystal River pack.” Torben looked again at Ruby, as if searching for reassurance. She answered with a smile.

“That’s correct.” Jack replied. “Do you know why you’re here in my office?”

“Border patrol caught me and brought me here. Um... I-I'm sorry, Alpha sir. I promise I didn’t know I was in your territory. Torben pleaded but stopped when Ruby’s father held up a hand. Ruby noticed that the faux bravery had mildly melted away, but he still had his head held high.

“Just tell me your story,” Jack said.

Torben began. It was the most heartbreaking story Ruby ever heard. Torben’s former pack, The Opal Moon pack was ambushed by Mimics, shifters of the worst kind. Shifters could shift into anything, a cruel mutation of the werespecies. They were not as powerful as what they turned into - especially werewolves - but they were unpredictable and indiscernible from the original, which made them hard to defend from. Their mission being to rule or eliminate the rest of the shifter kind.

Torben escaped, but his parents stayed and fought as they were both warriors of their Alpha. Before they left to battle, they instructed Torben on where to meet and how long to wait. Torben admitted to defying his parents’ last wish and waited longer than he was supposed to at the designated meeting place, but once he saw the flames and heard the unfamiliar victory cries, he knew he had to make a run for it. He prayed to the Moon Goddess that his family would be reunited later, but did not look back at his former pack and home. After a week of running was when he met the border patrol of the Crystal River pack. At this point, Torben was holding and blinking back tears, unable to continue.

Alpha Jack was silent for a moment. Ruby watched him anxiously. She liked and trusted this strange boy and she wanted her father to give him a chance after all that he had been through. Finally, Alpha Jack sighed, stood from his chair, and walked around his desk to sit on the tabletop in front of Torben's chair. Torben stared up at her father, hesitation apparent on his round face. To Ruby’s surprise, Jack pulled a small key from his pocket and unlocked the cuffs binding the small boy’s wrists. The relief that spread on Torben’s face was contagious and Ruby let out a breath she did not realize she was holding. It was when the shackles were off that Ruby noticed just how haggard Torben looked. Dark circles lingered below his blue eyes, which were also swollen from exhaustion and sadness. His auburn hair looked dry and brittle from the elements and his clothes were ripped and filthy. Suddenly, her father’s baritone made Ruby jump and she focused back to the situation unfolding in front of her.

“Torben, I am deeply sorry to hear about your pack and your parents, but I thank you for telling me so that I may prepare my own warriors for an impending attack.” Jack said softly. Ruby’s heart clenched and a pit started to bubble in her stomach. She had not considered that the Mimics would come to their pack, her home. “I must send scouts to verify what you shared with me today. Until then, I will have to keep you isolated in our quarantine area.”

“Wait!” Ruby exclaimed, before she could stop herself. Her father and Torben looked around at Ruby, surprise apparent on their faces, as was her own.

“Yes, Ruby?” Jack asked.

“Can’t he stay with us? Or Uncle Baron? Anyone? He just lost his entire world!” Ruby wailed, tears burning her eyes.

Jack's face relaxed into a smile, but surprise was still written on Torben’s features.

“I’m sorry darling, but he can’t.” He turned back to Torben and continued, “You will stay in quarantine until my scouts can confirm what you shared with us, but I assure you that you will not be uncomfortable. You will stay in one of the empty houses, guarded by a couple of wolves. You will get meals three times a day, or more if you need. Will you be needing exercise?”

“E-Exercise, sir?”

“For your wolf, have you met him yet?”

“No, sir. I’m only 10. I suppose I’ll meet him next year.”

“Same as my Ruby. She is only ten as well.” Jack gestured towards his daughter. Ruby smiled awkwardly at Torben. Finally, Torben smiled back.

Jack mind linked the patrol team that brought Torben in and filled them in on what was to happen with the young boy. He then mind linked Baron to set up a meeting with their best scouts and warriors. A knock on the office door told the trio that the patrol was back. Torben held out his wrists, waiting to be handcuffed again. The corners of Jack’s mouth turned up to a sad smile as the patrol team walked in.

“The cuffs won’t be necessary,” the Alpha told the group, but did not look away from Torben. Torben thanked him silently with a small smile and a nod.

“Are you hungry, Torben?” Ruby asked him for the first time.

Torben looked at Jack before answering nervously, “Um, yeah.”

“Daddy, can I ask Matilda to make him a sandwich?”

“I don’t see why not, but he needs to go to his quarantine house immediately. You and I can take it to him together when I’m finished with the warriors and Uncle Baron, okay?” Jack replied. Ruby nodded to show she understood. When her eyes fell on Torben again, she found him staring at Ruby with an expression of gratitude and something else she could not quite place swirling in his eyes.

***

About an hour later, Ruby and her father were making their way to the house that Torben was staying at, hands full with the meal that Matilda had prepared for him. Matilda was the head chef at the packhouse and was unbelievably kind-hearted. Once Ruby had finished her story to Matilda on what she learned about Torben, what was supposed to be a simple sandwich and chips, turned into a gourmet French dip with au-jus sauce, a buttery baked potato, steamed cheesy broccoli, freshly baked bread, and a pitcher of Matilda’s famous lemonade. Ruby was smiling ear to ear and could not wait to see the look on Torben’s face when she presented him with the delicious food. Jack noticed her excitement and grinned.

“You seem to care greatly for this boy,” Jack stated.

“I just want him to feel as welcome as possible. He just lost his family and his pack and now he must be quarantined.”

“Do you know why he must be quarantined?” Jack asked.

“Yes, daddy.” And she did. A quarantine was required for any rogue wolf to ensure that they did not have anything from nefarious plans to communicable diseases.

“Good. You would have been a great Alpha, Ruby.”

“Gross.” Ruby giggled.

Once her younger brother was born, Ruby was no longer in line to become Alpha. This did not bother Ruby though. She had other plans like travelling, finding her mate, and maybe even becoming a Luna someday like her mother.

They approached the house that was selected to quarantine Torben. It looked the same as all the other housing reserved for non-ranked pack members. Red brick, with white trim and garage, a large porch, and large windows for natural light. Jack knocked on the door rhythmically.

“It’s Alpha Jack,” he called. The door opened slightly and one of the warriors tasked to keep guard answered with his claws and canines elongated. Ruby gasped, but Jack remained calm, as if he were expecting it.

“Tell me something only Alpha Jack would know.” The warrior growled, eyes glowing green.

“I have three children that my wife, Melody – sometimes I call her Mel – and I named after precious stones. I did this for two reasons. One, my children are children of the Crystal River pack, so I thought that precious stone names would fit quite nicely. Two, they are and always will be the most precious to me. Even more precious than the stones they are named after and beyond.” Jack answered, as if this was an everyday conversation. Ruby was suddenly extremely impressed with her father and a blush crept to her cheeks at the answer regarding her and her siblings' names.

The warrior visibly relaxed. His eyes returned to his normal chocolate brown, his claws disappeared, and his canines shrank.

“Come in, Alpha.”

“Thank you, James. You did an excellent job with that exercise. Keep it up.”

“Thank you, Alpha.” The warrior looked pleased.

The house was already furnished, as are all the houses that new families move into. They walked through the living room, into the hallway, and found Jack in one of the small bedrooms. Ruby wondered to herself why he did not pick the master bedroom. She wondered, with sadness creeping into her heart, if it reminded him of his lost parents. She decided not to wonder aloud.

“Hello, Alpha Jack. Hello, Ruby.” greeted Torben, with a bow. Ruby noticed how hungrily he looked at the food.

“Hello, Torben.” Ruby and Jack answered in unison.

“Torben, we don’t want to bother you and we must be getting back to our home where our family are waiting. While you eat,” he shot Ruby a look that told her to hand over the food, which she obeyed, “I must briefly go over the quarantine rules.

“First, you are to stay here and not leave this house for at least ten days. I will personally let you know when you are free to roam around the territory.

“Second, should you need anything, please let your guard on duty know. They can quickly mind link me and get permission. This includes any medical care. As you know, quarantine is to verify you don’t have any illnesses that can spread through the pack.

“Third, should for any reason I discover any deception on your part, you will be punished.” Jack finished.

Ruby gulped. She had heard of such punishments and knew that they usually ended in death or exile. She watched Torben slowly chew his food. His eyes never left the Alpha when he was speaking to him, “Yes, Alpha.”

Jack smiled kindly, “You’re a good kid, Torben. I have a good feeling about you. Don’t disappoint me.” He turned to leave, and Ruby followed suit. She turned back around to get another look at Torben and waved.

“Goodbye, Torben.” she said.

“Goodbye, Ruby.” he answered.