Ruby by Ashlynn Monroe Page A

as he glared at Isser. “Don’t be getting Sol’s balls cut off. You know the pup is foolish enough to follow you straight to hell.”
    Sol bared his fangs. “I’m not a kid anymore. Isser’s lead is solid. You worry about your pups and let me worry about my balls for a change.”
    Makis glared but said nothing.
    Rion stood. “We hunt together, or we don’t hunt,” he declared with authority. Rion wasn’t the alpha, but his bond with Makis gave him an unusual equality with the pack alpha.
    The door to the bedroom pushed open a little wider, and Boon came toddling in. They all turned as the dark-haired boy wobbled toward the bed. Boon’s little blanket was clutched in his hand. He rubbed his sleepy eyes. Sol’s throat ached with emotion as he realized this boy would be just as motherless as they’d all been. He didn’t want Boon to endure the loss. They needed money to keep all three cubs warm and safe. Sol couldn’t draw in a deep breath as the magnitude of his responsibility to the people he loved weighed on him.
    “So you woke up from your nap,” Rion said softly as he crouched down and held his hands out for his son. The little boy moved into his father’s arms. He remained content for a moment after Rion picked him up, but soon the child reached for his mother.
    “Mama!” The little boy’s thoughts wailed through the group’s telepathy. They all chuckled as Rion set his son on the bed. The little boy crawled over and curled up next to his mother. She kept her nursing daughter close with one arm while she rubbed the toddler’s back with her free hand. The love she radiated toward her children filled the small space. Sol had to turn away for a moment. The power of her love served as a reminder of what the pack stood to lose.
    Sol glanced over at Isser and noticed the deep furrow of his brother’s brow. “We can’t lose her.” Isser sent the thought to Sol privately.
    “Agreed. We leave tonight. We’re big boys and don’t need permission. When we come back with money, they’ll deal with it,” Sol replied.
    Sol looked at the older wolves. They didn’t pay any attention as he and Isser began to leave. Their faces were etched with worry.

Chapter One
    Sol gripped the shuttle’s comm and turned it off. They didn’t want any ships to hail them. He set the coordinates in the computer to take them to the planet Atala. “I wish we were closer. Every second counts, and I want to earn this bounty and get back home. Linus Lilymann—huh, he’s such a crook. You know we’re probably looking for stolen, stolen property,” Sol complained.
    “I know, but Lilymann has plenty of money. This is important to him if he’s willing to contract professional bounty hunters. He doesn’t get the goods until we get paid.”
    “Fair enough. You were the one to get the details. What exactly are we hunting?” Sol asked. His eyebrow rose.
    “His ruby was stolen,” Isser replied.
    “His ruby? As in singular? One gem?”
    “That’s what he said. He said it’s the ruby he’s always wanted, and he needs it back before the full moon. A woman took it. We’re not supposed to take the gem from her. He wants us to bring the woman instead. He said she has it, without a doubt, and just to bring her back to him, alive, and that’s it. He gave me this bit of fabric. It bears her scent. She smells a bit strange, but I can’t put my finger on it.”
    Sol took the scrap of pale material and pressed it to his nose. He inhaled sharply.
    “You’re right. This scent isn’t quite human. Even the most mutated human wouldn’t smell like this. It’s not like anything I’ve encountered before. It’s almost wolf, but different. Strange.” He sighed and shrugged as he handed the clue back to Isser. “I hate hunting women, even thieves. Makis would never have accepted this job…” Sol paused and rubbed his tired eyes. “If Jewel and her pups die, the pack will never be home again. I doubt Rion and Makis would even