Alpha Ruby

Xander "Wipe that look off your face before we go in." Gabby elbows me, almost making me drop the tray of breakfast in my hands. "What look?" She rolls her eyes at me and I already dread the words that she's going to say. I hate hearing them, yet we always find ourselves having this conversation. "Look, we all know you love Ruby, but she's waiting for her mate. Respect that and move on already. It's been three years since you guys discovered that you're not fated to one another. If she is happy just being friends, why can't you be?" My wolf whines and I feel the same way. We both love Ruby and her wolf and wish she could just choose us as a chosen mate. She's turning 21 today and still has no luck with finding her true mate. I know it's selfish, but I hope she never finds him. "Hello? Earth to Xander!" Gabby is waving her hands in front of my face and I let out a humorless chuckle. "I'm fine, let's go." Using a sharp claw to pick the lock, Gabby quietly opens Ruby's bedroom door. We both realize she's not in her bed once we approach it. "Ah, what the hell!?" Walking out of her bathroom with just a towel on, I lower the tray I'm holding in an attempt to hide my boner. How could one person be so beautiful? I want her to be mine forever. I just wish she would stop being so stubborn and allow herself to be happy and in love with me like we once were. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Gabby shouts out, and Ruby lets out a laugh that I could listen to all day. "Thank you, but could you guys turn around for a moment?" I didn't notice Gabby turning around until Ruby remained still with her arms crossed and raised an eyebrow at me. Still not moving, Gabby elbows me once my in my side. "f**k! Why do you keep doing that?" I hiss and they both start laughing. "Turn around, i***t!" Oh. I can feel myself blush and quickly turn around to give Ruby her privacy to get dressed. Not like I haven't seen her naked before. s**t. I need to stop thinking about her like that or this boner won't ever go away. "I thought you said you were fine." Gabby links me with her voice laced with annoyance. It's not my fault that I love her. Those feelings don't just disappear. "I am." Was my simple reply to her. After that she didn't say anything. Not that she had to. I know damn well she doesn't believe me, which is understandable considering I am lying. How could I ever be fine when the woman I love doesn't want me? "Okay, you guys can turn around." I walk up to her and place a kiss on her cheek. "Happy birthday, Ruby." I hand her the tray of her favorite breakfast foods and she smiles brightly. "Thank you! Please, join me." Gabby and I sit with Ruby on her bed and talk about anything and everything. The three of us have been best friends since we were pups and I couldn't ask for better people in my life. "Remember when we ate her out on this bed?" My wolf asks me and replays that memory in my head. "STOP!" I meant to say that in my head, but accidentally shouted it out loud, causing both women to jump from being startled. "Sorry. I was talking to my wolf." They both looked confused. "Why are you yelling at him? Your wolf is such a sweetheart?" Ruby curiously asked. "I'll be right back you guys." Gabby excused herself and rushed out the room. She was obviously just leaving to give me and Ruby some privacy to talk. She'll be back, just not as quickly as she said. "Talk to me Xander. What's going on?" When she grabbed my hand, I was praying that by some miracle we would feel the sparks from a mate bond, but nothing. "I love you, Ruby." She smiles softly at me, "I love you too, Xander." My heart flutters, but my brain is quick to tell me that it's just as friends. "Then why won't you choose me as your mate? I promise to love and protect you forever. Please. It kills me to remember everything we shared and how you easily stopped what we had simply because the moon goddess says we aren't meant to be mates. We love each other, doesn't that mean anything to you?" Letting out a deep sigh, she leaned her face closer to me and placed a short, but sweet kiss on my lips. I wanted more, so much more. My wolf was begging me to just take her, but I'm not stupid. She doesn't want me to take her virginity and if I even attempted to make a move like that, she would never talk to me again. "Xander. It wouldn't be fair to your mate or mine if we continued our relationship. It would just cause more pain for us and I don't want that. I love you and our friendship. Why can't that be enough for you? You will always have a place in my heart. You were my first love and nothing will change that." "Rejection." That was the only word I could think of. "What?" "I would reject my mate in a heartbeat if it meant I could be with you." She shakes her head, "You don't mean that. We have all heard and seen how the mate bond affects us wolves. Promise me you won't reject your mate when you meet her?" She asked me, but it sounded more like a demand. I could never say no to this woman, but in this circumstance, I want to. "Xander. Please. It's my birthday and that would be the greatest gift you could promise me." Damn it. Using her birthday against me. "I promise. On one condition." I stated with a smirk.