Hello everyone! It's been a long time since this book was finished, but I wrote a new years image back in December and wanted to show you guys! Keep in mind this is a messy image, but it's a fun one. Thanks for all the attention this book has recently been getting, and please go and check out my other book, Bite Me, which you can find on my profile.

Thanks darlings!

Love,

Elle Kay

4 days before New Years

(1 year after 1st book)

"Connell is ignoring me," Ruby said, a sigh leaving her lips.

From her seat, Sara lifted her eyes to glance at her friend, before returning to her notebook. Her pencil-strokes didn't stop, instead they continued smoothly.

"What'd you do this time?" She asked. Ruby sighed once more, standing from the couch to walk to her friend.

"Well, I may have been mad..." Her voice trailed into a whisper, and she continued. "And I may have told him his performance is bad."

Sara paused, and she glanced up at Ruby. Lifting her eyebrow, a mischievous grin came to her lips.

"Is he?" She asked quietly, leaning forward.

"No!" Ruby said loudly, turning on her heel so she could pace to the other side of the room.

"I was just mad," she mumbled to herself, collapsing back onto the couch with another loud sigh.

Sara stopped drawing, setting her notebook on the counter so she could come and sit with Ruby. Ruby was sitting in the living room, that connected to the kitchen with a large French doors that were almost always pulled open.

It was Lewis's house, and was as clean as a whistle. Adorned with white walls and dark wooded floors, there was not a part in the house that wasn't up in order. Other than Sara's art room, which was covered in paint, the one thing Lewis had zero control over.

Connell and Ruby had visited for the holidays, having come up from Virginia after Christmas. Sara was her normal aloof self, whilst Lewis was almost always outside, chopping down wood or dealing with pack issues.

"Why am I so..." Ruby struggled to find the word.

"Detestable?" Sara offered.

Ruby frowned, her eyebrows furrowing. "I was going to say aggravating, but okay..."

Sara winced inwardly, but continued without a beat. "You just have anger issues," she said as gentle as she possible could.

Ruby quirked an eyebrow at her friend, silently thinking about the pot-calling-the-kettle-black situation, but said nothing. Casting her eyes to the ground, she mulled over the words.

"I'm quick tempered," Ruby said slowly, meeting Sara's eyes. Sara nodded slowly.

Then, like a lightbulb snapping on, Ruby realized what she had to do. Her brain began to churn, her ideas coming to the front.

"I've got it," She said with a grin, standing from the couch. Sara watched her, worry pitting in her stomach. Whenever Ruby had an idea, it never ended well.

"I'm going to put my anger behind me," Ruby said, excitement lacing her voice. "I'm going to put all my bad traits behind me."

Sara swallowed, looking at her friend. "That's you're bright idea?"

"It's New Years!" Ruby responded, as though that made it make sense. "It's the perfect time to start a-new."

Sara was starting to believe her friend was going nuts. Standing, she walked back to her seat at the kitchen counter, casting one glance outside before she sat down.

"Ruby, this sounds stupid," she said, picking up her pencil. "It is stupid. You really think you can just get rid of all your bad traits?"

Ruby liked a challenge, and a mischievous grin came to her face. "I bet you I could."

"You do what you want," Sara said, shaking her head. "Just don't come back to me when it backfires."

Ruby let out a deep chuckle. "How could it possible backfire?" She asked with a grin. "It's the perfect plan."

Sara watched as her friend left her sight, heading towards the stairs. Shaking her head, she silently wondered what this new change would bring.

✿✿✿

Ruby burst into Connell's office, which was really just one of Lewis's make-shift offices. It was small and cramped, but worked well enough for Connell. He could easily work on what he needed for his pack, which he was slowly building up from its time with his brother.

"Connell," Ruby exclaimed, before letting out a slow, shaky breath. She hadn't exercised since freshmen year, and she was really starting to feel it. It didn't help that Christmas had been food-filled.

Connell glanced up, and he slowed his writing. Pulling his glasses off, he motioned for Ruby to come in.

She was still panting when she came to his side, and she collapsed into his lap.

"I'm sorry," She said once she caught her breath. Connell lifted an eyebrow, unfamiliar with those words coming out of her mouth. Apologies were are foreign to her as a new language.

Still, he played coy. "Sorry for what?" He asked, deciding to push it.

Ruby let out a groan, resting her head on his chest. "You know for what," she said, not wanting to go any further. Connell let out a throaty laugh, pulling at one of Ruby's dark curls.

"Any reason for your sudden turn around?" He asked. Ruby grinned, pulling herself from his chest to sit up straight.

"It's the new year," she explained. "It's a new me!"

Connell blinked, wondering if she was going to continue. "So you're what... going to apologize now?" He asked.

"I'm cleansing myself of all my bad traits," Ruby said, smiling. Connell wasn't sure how to react, his gentle strokes on her leg pausing.

"I see," he said slowly. Somewhat, he was worried. Most of her traits were bad, which wasn't necessarily bad in itself. It's just who she is.

But maybe, this could be a good thing. Still, he was unsure.

"This is going to be interesting," He mumbled to himself, looking down into Ruby's excited eyes. She nodded, before burrowing herself into his embrace once more.

✿✿✿

The day melted into another, and though the sun shone brightly and everyone seemed to be in a good mood, Ruby knew something was off.

Pulling her hair into a ponytail, Ruby looked down in distaste at her clothes. They were wrinkled and covered in paint- a product of helping Sara with a project.

Sara hadn't told Lewis yet, and most likely wouldn't, but she was repainting one of his rooms. She said it was for artistic expression, and that she wanted to put a few murals in the room, because her own art room was too full of them.

"I'm a mess," Ruby mumbled to herself, rubbing her blue-hands all over her shirt. Sara glanced up, a smirk on her face.

"What was that?" She asked, trying to peg negativity out of her friend. If anything, the whole situation was amusing.

"Nothing," Ruby said with a forced grin, grabbing the paintbrush from the can she had left it in. Sara looked away slowly, her lips still turned in a smile.

Just as Ruby was about to start painting again, the doorbell rang. Willing to do anything to get away from the paint, Ruby offered herself to go and open the door.

"Be quick," Sara yelled after her, squinting at her missing figure when she realized that Ruby might not come back at all.

Ruby rushed downstairs, past Connell's office. She found herself at the front door, coated in a thin layer of paint, wearing clothes not suitable for below-freezing temperatures.

Shrugging, Ruby unlocked the door and opened it. She nearly stopped in surprise as she met eyes with the person behind the door. Not because she knew them, but because they were so... different.

It was a woman, only a few inches taller than Ruby. She was staring ahead with a tight smile, her lips coated in a cherry-red lipstick, and her flaxen hair cut into a pixie-cut. It was fashionable, and paired with her skin-tight black dress- one more suitable for a party than everyday wear.

Ruby suddenly became conscious of her messy hair, which was falling out of its scrunchy, and her tiny shorts that most people never got a chance to see.

"Hello," The woman said, her grey eyes looking Ruby up and down. Ruby crossed her arms, smiling.

"Is there something you need?" She asked. Somewhere in her heart she hoped the woman had just wandered up and needed directions, but Ruby knew that no woman looking like that would just wander up someplace.

"Yes," the woman ran a hand through her hair. "I've heard that Connell Wood is staying here?"

Ruby could feel her blood run cold as she looked at the woman. Perhaps it was wrong, but jealousy immediately coursed through her veins at the idea of a woman that look like that knowing her mate.

"Yeah," Ruby said, her voice hesitant. "Do you need him?"

"He's an old friend of mine," the woman smirked. "I just want to talk to him again."

That didn't fill Ruby with confidence, if anything it filled her with dread. Before she could respond, she heard a familiar voice from behind her.

"Cecile?" Connell asked, coming up behind Ruby. Ruby glanced behind at her mate, trying to mask her panic.

"Con!" the woman said in excitement, pushing passed Ruby to hug Connell. Ruby blinked, stepping out onto the porch as to avoid the woman.

Connell seemed as unsure as Ruby. Cecile wrapped her arms around Connell, her thin fingers clenching into his jacket.

Unwrapping her arms, Connell let out a shaky laugh. "Cecile," he said. "What are you doing here?"

Cecile smoothed out the hair around her ears, grinning. "I just thought I'd come to see you since I was in the area!" she said with a chuckle. "I heard all of the commotion that went on with your pack, I must say, it's all very exciting."

Ruby wouldn't call it that, but she was still standing silent, watching from afar. Connell listened patiently, but his eyes darted behind Cecile at Ruby.

As soon as she was done talking, Connell started. "Right, well it's been nice seeing you."

Cecile wasn't happy with that. Grinning, she hit him one the shoulder.

"Con, you simply have to let me stay the night. It's far too late to find a hotel now!" she said exaggeratedly, as though there weren't plenty of hotels in the main town she could stay at.

Ruby looked out towards the sky- which was just starting to be bathed in a sunset. Rolling her eyes, she looked back towards Cecile.

Connell looked behind Cecile towards Ruby, a grim look on his face. "It's really Lewis's decision," he said slowly.

"Oh Lewis, you've mentioned him!" Cecile said. She was already walking inside, looking around.

Ruby stayed position at the door, her arms still cross. Connell looked behind him at the woman who was starting to pick apart the art on the wall, and sighed.

"Come here," he said to Ruby. "You'll get sick if you stay out in the cold."

Ruby didn't need to be told twice. Shutting the door, she moved so that she was next to Connell. He wrapped his arm around her, his thumb rubbing that back of her shoulder gently.

Cecile was just starting to talk about how much she disliked the black granite counters, when she noticed Ruby, who was cuddled into Connell's side, a blank look on her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" Cecile said with a pause. "You are?"

"None of your business!" Dottie responded angrily. Ruby just smile softly, a nasty-response stuck on her tongue.

No! She tried to convince herself. No bad responses- all positive!

"Ruby," she answered. "Connell's mate."

Somewhere inside her, Ruby felt insane pleasure in the fact that Cecile's smile dropped for a split second.

"I see," Cecile gave them a pearly smile, but it conflicted with her eyes. "That's great!"

Ruby felt her fingers tighten around Connell's shirt protectively. Cecile looked at them back and forth, and the same smile she had before came to her lips.

"I suppose you don't have pinot grigio?" Cecile asked.

Ruby and Connell glanced at each other; it was 4 pm.

✿✿✿

Lewis, though normally very smart to almost an extreme, was very irritated. He had come across Sara's new project, and after an extravagant fight, had no energy to care about who Cecile was, or why she wanted to stay.

So, without another glance, he said okay to Cecile staying for a few days. Much to Ruby's anguish, and Connell's complete disapproval.

Ruby took a shower, trying to wash the paint from her skin, and failing miserably to do so. She sat in front of their mirror, running a comb through her tangled curls.

"Ruby," Connell asked once he found Ruby. "Are you alright?"

Ruby exhaled for a long time, before turning to Connell with a chipper smile. "Perfectly fine!" She responded. "Never better."

Ruby kept trying to say it – "New Year, New Me!", but it was becoming increasingly hard. Of course, some old conquest of Connell's just had to show up.

Connell leaned down, his lips tracing Ruby's collarbone. She continued to comb her hair, but her movements became sluggish.

"Why don't we skip dinner," he suggested, kissing her collarbone gently. Ruby swallowed, her fingers reaching for Connell's hand.

"Why don't you tell me who she is," Ruby said back, leaning into another soft kiss from Connell. Connell looked at her in the mirror, his blue eyes tracing her caramel skin.

"A lone wolf," Connell finally answered, picking up Ruby so that he could sit down, instead placing her on his lap. "From when I was younger."

"Because 27 is so old," Ruby rolled her eyes, but her curiosity was still piqued.

"I knew her when I was travelling," Connell said. His fingers began to move down Ruby's stomach, dipping into her soft robe. She leaned her head on his shoulder, watching him silently.

Ruby reached for his hand, looking towards the mirror again.

"That's all?" She asked, her voice calm and steady.

"That's all," Connell repeated, his voice utterly serious.

Ruby exhaled slowly, looking at herself in the mirror, before letting go of Connell's hand, and undoing her robe...

✿✿✿

"You weren't at dinner last night!"

Ruby tensed, and glanced towards her right. Cecile's voice was a pitch too high, and not what she wanted to hear at 8 am.

"Yeah," Ruby answered. "We got sort of busy."

If you could call it that. Ruby put down her phone to look fully at Cecile, who seemed to have nothing better to do but bother her.

"What do you think of my dress?" Cecile asked, pointing at her dress. Ruby lifted an eyebrow, looking it over.

"It's hideous," she thought to herself. It was a strange brown-green color, and had cuts it strange places. It was so tight that it made even Ruby uncomfortable, who was down for almost everything.

"It looks great!" She said instead with a smile. It was nearly painful, but she got it out.

Cecile's eyes drifted down towards Ruby's dress, and she quirked an eyebrow herself. Ruby's dress was loose-fitting, and was a light peach color. Ruby herself could admit it was ugly, but she did that consciously.

"Your dress is just darling," Cecile said with a forced grin, before she returned to silence.

Ruby had to shut her mouth from saying something she would regret, and she turned back to her phone with a rough sigh.

Only one more day till New Years.

"Ruby darling," Connell called out as he walked into the living room. He paused when he saw Cecile, who was sitting on the couch with a thin smile. Blinking, he continued forward.

"What do you think of this color," he asked, showing her a paint swatch. Ruby plucked it from his hand, putting it up to the light so she could see it.

Connell had only just become instated as his packs Alpha, and was now in the long process of refurbishing the pack house. It was outdated and gloomy, and since Ruby had fun with the project, he decided to let her change whatever she wanted.

"Ugly," she decided, handing it back to Connell without a second guess. Then, as though she remembered her complete positive proposition, looked back. "-but cute."

Connell let out a small hum, before tucking the paint sample into his pocket. She was becoming harder to read as she became more kind.

He almost missed her brute honesty- and the fact that she knew when to lie. Although sometimes, she got the timing completely wrong. Sara knew only complete honestly, which was much too in like with Lewis. They were both constantly telling each other the truth, and it was almost detrimental.

"Con," Cecile said, motioning for Connell to come over. Ruby rolled her eyes at the terrible nickname, turning so she could watch them.

Connell walked over hesitantly.

"I don't bite," Cecile said with a grin and how hesitant Connell was. "You know that."

Ruby ignored the double meaning. Standing, she walked towards the kitchen, but zoned in on their conversation with her werewolf hearing.

"It's been ages," Cecile said next, patting the cushion next to her so he could sit. "You left so suddenly, didn't even say anything."

Ruby leaned against the kitchen counter, closing her eyes so she could focus.

"I had to," Connell responded. "to go, I mean."

"I could have gone with you," Cecile said back, her voice a bit higher pitched. "We always had so much fun together."

Ruby exhaled, grinding her teeth together. Still, she continued to listen.

"It was never going to work," Connell said in a low voice, though he knew Ruby had to be listening. "Us, it didn't mix."

She could hear a shift, the sound of clothes touching each other. "I'd say we mixed pretty well."

Ruby stopped a predatory growl from leaving her chest, and stopped listening. Snapping from her concentration, she opened her eyes to the kitchen.

She could feel jealously burn in her, stronger than she had ever felt. No passerby glances by girls or stray touches could match up to what she was feeling.

Walking towards the fridge, she opened it and pulled out a beer. Pulling open a drawer with a loud slam, she grabbed the bottle top opener and cracked the bottle open.

She hated the taste of beer, but drank it anyways. She hated the taste of a lot of things, but it was almost addicting. This time, she wasn't do it to have Connell scold her, or for the thrill of knowing she shouldn't do it. She was doing it because if she didn't, she would throw all of her resolutions out of the window.

✿✿✿

Ruby hated how smug Cecile was, like she had some kind of secret that she didn't know. They all sat around the dining table, Sara and Lewis on opposite sides- glaring at each other because of whatever they were fighting about, Connell and Ruby on one side, and Cecile on the other.

Ruby was also hung-over, which didn't help the irritation she was feeling. One beer turned in to a few, and at 10 am, she feel asleep. She didn't wake up feeling great, but something in her was still lit with the same fire she had felt before.

Connell didn't say anything at her downing a few drinks, silently wishing he could do the same, but making a mental note that he probably shouldn't have let her do it. Placing a hand on her thigh, he gave her a gentle squeeze, forcing her to look away from Cecile.

"This house is just adorable," Cecile said, looking around. The dining room was on the other side of the house, and also counted as a sun room. They had heating, which almost helped with the cold the was seeping into their bones. Almost.

Sara said nothing, looking away from Lewis to look at Cecile. She didn't like her, but that wasn't a surprise. Sara didn't like most people, and had no problem showing that.

"I'm sure your house is nice too," Cecile said, before a impish smile came across her face. "Perhaps I can visit it?"

"No!" Ruby said before Connell could react. It was a knee jerk reaction, and everyone looked at her with big eyes.

"No," she said again, a bit more quiet. "It's under construction right now, no place to stay."

Positive thoughts. Ruby was nearly drowning from all the positivity.

Cecile exhaled, picking up her wine glass with a shrug. "Of course," she responded, but she didn't sound pleased.

The table was quiet again, and Ruby tried to relax. She reached for Connell's glass of wine, but was shot down with a shake of his head. It was most likely a good decision.

The dinner went painfully slow after that. Cecile was horrible at small talk, because she was incredibly good at always making it about her and Connell. Sara seemed uninterested in her, leaving as soon as she finished her food to go and work on her art.

Ruby left as soon as her aggravation reached its breaking point, leaving to go to her room.

Connell reached her soon after, looking tired and worn out. Ruby pulled the clips from her hair that had been holding it together, letting it fall into a curly mess. Clenching her fists, she looked at Connell.

"You still going with that whole new years resolution thing?" Connell asked, knowing that Ruby was brooding with anger. Giving him a curt nod, Ruby fell back onto the bed, shutting her eyes tight.

Connell pulled his jacket off, walking over to the side of the bed. Grabbing her foot tightly, he pulled her to him with a jolt. She was straddling his pelvis, and her eyes snapped open.

"I love you Ruby," He said gently, his hands travelling down her thighs.

Ruby stopped a sigh in her throat, and smiled. "I know," she responded, and she meant it.

Connell smiled back, his wolf, and him, utterly pleased.

His hands dipped under her dress, and as a short squeal left her mouth, he fell onto the bed.

✿✿✿

It was New Years, and Ruby was trying to be positive. Her night with Connell had been tiring, but she woke up fresh and feeling excited- and the prospect that Cecile would most likely be leaving in the coming days made her even more excited.

Cecile hadn't explicitly said when she was leaving, and everyone but Connell and Ruby seemed to uninterested to care. Sara remained locked up in her studio, working, and Lewis was walking the pack, talking with people.

It only all came crashing down in the afternoon, when Connell and Lewis were talking about pack politics in the living room.

Ruby left the living room as they started to get heated about the formalities between the Vampires and the Werewolves, and went to go to her room.

Instead, she nearly ran into Cecile, who was frowning. Cecile stopped short though, but she didn't try to hide how un-amused she was.

"Cecile," Ruby said, her voice rough.

"Ruby," Cecile said back. Her voice had a nasty bite to it, and Cecile seemed dead-set on making sure that Ruby knew why.

Cecile's grey eyes looking into Ruby's, and she tilted her head.

"You know I've slept with him right?" She asked. Her face was red, and she was breathing deeply. She was angry, angry because he was completely uncaring to her.

Ruby looked at her, eerily calm. "I don't care," she responded. Her blood was hot, and she wanted to rip her head off, but some part of her also didn't care.

Ruby leaned forward, her canines peaking out from her lips. "He's mine," she growled deeply, her voice vibrating through the walls. She wasn't a pure-blood Alpha, but she could fake it.

"I-," Cecile was about to fight back, but Ruby wasn't having it. Growling again, Ruby silenced Cecile.

"I'm done with this stupid ass New Years!" Ruby growled. "I hate you, and I don't care how bad of me it is!"

Cecile's eyes widened a fraction, but Ruby wasn't done. "You're going to leave this house, and if you don't, I will drag you out!"

Cecile was still willing to fight. Her eyes flashed with an attempt at dominance, and she crossed her arms.

"Lewis decides if I stay or go," She said, as though Lewis cared any bit about her. He didn't even remember her name.

"Actually," a voice quipped from behind them. "Lewis does whatever I say, and I say you go."

Both girls turned to see Sara, who looked extremely irritated. The noise must have drawn her out of her cave. She didn't look pleased, and if she was willing to use the Lewis card, it was serious.

Cecile looked back and forth between them, before letting out an irritated shriek. Turning, she walked back to her room, and gathered all her belongings.

"I'm going to have to burn those sheets," Sara said, watching as Cecile packed.

"I would burn the room, just for safe measure," Ruby whispered back.

"Maybe even the house, just in case." Sara said, a grin now on her lips. She stayed put as Cecile forced her way past, a look of pure hatred on her face.

The followed Cecile downstairs, back to where Connell and Lewis were still arguing, unaware of anything that had happened. Connell stopped when he saw all of them come downstairs. He lifted an eyebrow at Cecil, who looked simply pissed.

"Connell-," Cecile started, but Ruby quickly interjected.

"Goodbye," Ruby said forcefully, jerking her head towards the front door. Connell looked between them, unsure of what to say.

Cecile was grinding her teeth as she walked towards the door. She looked back as she pulled open the door, about to say something, but quickly dropped the idea at Ruby's death glare.

The door slammed shut, and left all of them looked after. When everything had quieted again, they all looked at each other.

Then, they were all laughing. Connell wrapped his arms around Ruby, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"I hate that bitch," Ruby said to Connell, pulling him down to her level. He had a smile on his face, happy that the old Ruby was finally starting to come back.

"How did your resolutions go?" he asked.

"Great," Ruby responded with a grin.

Connell didn't need to tell Ruby that she didn't need to change anything, she knew now. The change to begin with was a silly one, because without her snappy remarks and bad judgement, Ruby wouldn't be Ruby.

He leaned down, his soft lips meeting hers, and his fingers curling into her waistband.