Ruby's POV
Our departure was set for early morning. I had barely managed to throw together a small bag the night before. Elias would accompany me to the facility, though he'd need to return within days for the ongoing summit and his responsibilities with the other Alphas.
Sleep had been impossible. I spent the entire night staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with fears about what lay ahead.
Before sunrise, I dragged myself from bed, grabbed my hastily packed bag, and met Elias downstairs.
Kate was waiting in the foyer, which caught me completely off guard.
The moment she spotted us, she shot to her feet, tension radiating from every line of her body. "I wanted to see Ruby before she left."
Elias's expression hardened, but I touched his arm gently. "Could we have a moment alone?"
Without a word, he collected my bag and stepped outside onto the porch.
