The Red Patch

The Morning

Ruby stirred just as the first pale light of dawn slipped through the curtains. Her body was sore, her head heavy, but she became aware of warmth pressing against her, of strong hands roaming over her waist, her thigh, her chest. She blinked her eyes open in confusion, and there he was.

The man from the night before. A man whose name she still doesn't know, his hand trailed along her side, his touch both tender and deliberate. She knew she should be alarmed, slap his hand away and demand her clothes, but her body had other ideas. Instead of pulling away, she found herself tilting her hips and leaning into his touch.

"Morning sunshine," he said with a silly grin, but didn't stop what he was doing or even slow down, and Ruby consumed by a building desire could only answer with a soft moan.

​The night before had been a blur of reckless courage, a haze of alcohol, but now she was acutely aware of every touch, the sensation sharp and vivid. A dull ache between her thighs was a constant reminder of exactly what she'd been up to. She felt him shift, his body heavy and warm over hers. Before she could fully register what was happening, he was inside her, thrusting hard and deep.

​The initial shock of his entry gave way to a wave of pleasure. Instead of getting angry, she let herself get lost in the moment. With every thrust, she followed his rhythm, her own body responding with a forgotten language of want. He groaned low in his throat, her sudden response driving him harder. “That’s it,” he muttered, almost to himself, “just like that.”

This time, there was no alcohol to numb the feeling, only the raw, undeniable sensation of his body against hers, and her own, surprisingly eager, reaction.

The first time had been wild, messy, and unrestrained, Ruby had been drunk, she remembered giggling, kissing him until her head spun, then the sharp sting followed by the intoxicating wave of pleasure that had left her trembling in his arms.

Ruby shut her eyes, her mind a tangle of questions she didn’t want to ask. All she knew was that it felt good. Too good. Every thrust sent sparks dancing through her nerves, every touch of his lips to her neck made her toes curl. She wasn’t drunk now, there was no liquid courage fogging her judgment, this was her, awake, fully aware and choosing not to stop him.

When she finally cried out, the sound echoed in the vast penthouse room, a raw and uninhibited release. Ethan followed moments later, collapsing over her, his breath ragged, his lips brushing that same spot on her neck that had already been marred the night before. Ruby lay still beneath him, her heart racing.

“That was so fucking good,” Ethan groaned, stretching before rolling onto his back. For once, he didn’t immediately crave more, and that in itself was strange. Her body had satisfied him in ways others hadn’t.

Ruby only smiled and nodded, her lips pressed tightly together. Inside, her thoughts were running wild. What did I just do? A part of her was proud, smug even. She’d finally done it. She wasn’t Whitney’s naive little friend anymore. She had crossed the line, and slept with a stranger, not just once but twice.

And now reality was beginning to creep in.

“Do you have plans today?” Ethan asked casually as he got up, stretching his long, muscled frame, heading toward the bathroom like this was the most ordinary morning after in the world.

Ruby froze. “Yes, unfortunately I am swamped,” she replied quickly, already tasting the lie on her tongue. She could never tell him she had nothing to do. She wanted to run and hide where no one would see what she had done.

Ethan gave a small, almost disappointed smirk. “What a shame,” he murmured, before disappearing into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the silence.

That was her moment.

Ruby’s heart raced as she scanned the room. Her dress was on the floor, her heels kicked off carelessly near the door. She scrambled quietly, pulling her clothes back on with shaky hands. She didn’t even bother checking her hair or the mark on her neck, too consumed by the urgency to flee.

By the time Ethan was washing the steam from his body, his little lady had slipped out. The door clicked shut behind her, unnoticed over the hiss of the shower.

Ruby walked quickly through the hotel lobby, her face flushed crimson. Every pair of eyes that landed on her made her skin crawl. They can see it, they know. She tugged her dress lower, adjusted her hair forward to hide her face. Guilt, shame, exhilaration was all written across her features like an open book.

The fresh morning air hit her hard as she finally stepped outside. She drew in a shaky breath, hugging herself. She quickly waved a taxi and broke into a smile when she settled in, Whitney would be super proud of her.

***

Ethan stepped out of the bathroom, running a towel through his damp hair.

“You’re awfully quiet,” he called out, his voice carrying through the suite. “Don’t tell me you fell back asleep—”

He frowned, dropping the towel around his neck. The bed was empty. Sheets still rumpled, but the little lady was gone. No dress, no shoes, only a faint perfume trail was left behind. She had vanished.

Ethan smirked, shaking his head. “Well, well. The first to ever run off after a night with me.” He was almost offended. Usually, women clung to him, demanding for more, status, money, another round. But this one had slipped away without a word.

He felt amused.

Then his gaze caught something on the sheet. A faint stain near where she’d lain. Red.

Ethan’s amusement evaporated. He stepped closer, staring down at it, his chest tightening as realization dawned. He let out a long, shaky breath.

“I’ll be damned,” he muttered, raking a hand through his hair. Her first time… and he—

Before he could finish the thought, a voice rang in his head through the pack link.

‘Alpha, are you busy?’ Liam’s mocking drawl oozed through the connection.

Ethan clenched his jaw. ‘What is it?’

‘We found Joshua. But if you’re busy…’

Jason’s snicker echoed faintly in the background.

Ethan growled low. ‘Shut it. I’m on my way.’

He grabbed a fresh set of clothes, pulling them on with sharp movements. The red patch still lingered at the edge of his vision. For the first time in a long while, Ethan felt something unsettled coil in his chest.

When he left the hotel behind, sliding into the back of his sleek black car where Jason and Liam were already waiting. His mind still wandered briefly to the girl, and the red patch she left behind but he pushed it down. Now wasn’t the time.

“Where is he?” Ethan asked, his tone sharp.

Jason leaned back lazily. “Old mill, just outside the northern border. Word is, he’s been meeting with rogues and mercenaries.”

Liam added, more serious, “He’s stirring up trouble again, Alpha. Same pattern as before—hits on patrols, supply thefts, harassment of the humans around here. He wants you to notice him.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. Joshua. The man was more parasite than wolf feeding on chaos, manipulating rogues, pushing crime through the territories like a poison. He had been a thorn in Ethan’s side for far too long.

“Then he has my attention,” Ethan muttered.

He cracked his knuckles, already imagining the confrontation. If Joshua had a reason, one Ethan could accept, then maybe they’d talk. But if not? If he was just being a selfish bastard risking innocent lives for greed and power?

Ethan smirked coldly. “Then I’ll end him. Problem solved.”

The car rolled through the hot afternoon sun, and as they neared the decrepit mill, Jason glanced at his Alpha, a glint of excitement in his eyes. “You think he’ll fight or beg?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Ethan said simply. “Either way, everything ends today with me standing.”