A/N: So I've been super sad about the complete absence of our favourite werewolf, Ruby Lucas. Everyone is probably sick of me whinging about it, so I decided to get creative about it. Especially since Cruella De Vil is in it now, it just SCREAMS for Ruby's comeback. So if A&E won't do it, I'll just do it myself! All canon up to the start of season 4, where Ruby decides to take off on a little adventure to New York and return around the start of 4B! Obviously, we still don't know huge amounts about Cruella so I've taken liberty with her powers and stuff. Also taken liberty with the way the town line works.

Ruby was surprised that she missed Storybrooke but she did. New York had been interesting, sure, and she'd never really pegged herself for the homesick type but apparently she was. She'd missed the quaint town. She'd missed her Granny's quick wit, she'd even missed Snow's overly positive attitude. She'd missed Belle's book recommendations and even the snotty customers at the diner. So, now she was behind the wheel and heading home over a week earlier than she'd planned to. There was one thing she wanted to do though, before she headed back to Granny's to surprise her.

She pulled over a little outside of town; she figured she'd pick her car up in the morning. She hopped out and looked to the moon, smiling. She quickly made her way into the woods and shed her red cloak.

After stretching her paws out in front of her quickly and arching her spine, she once again looked to the sky and let out a long howl.

She heard a twig snap behind her and turned around on instinct.

"Well, what have we here?" the woman picked up the red cloak, "You must be the old bag in the diner's granddaughter."

Ruby didn't know what it was exactly about this woman, but she had an uneasy feeling. Perhaps it was the fur coat draped over her shoulders or the confidence in her voice. Perhaps it was the look in her eye or the fact that she didn't seem at all scared of the wolf before her.

Ruby growled lowly, a snarl curling her lips up to show sharp teeth.

The woman merely laughed and approached the wolf. Ruby held her ground; she wasn't going to back away from this ignorant woman, she could tear her throat out in an instant. Then the woman bent down and Ruby finally stepped backwards.

It was too late. A green haze was entering her nostrils and she felt dizzy. Her eyes slid out of focus and the last thing she saw was a smirk on that woman's face. Now she knew; she'd heard stories, myth's of a woman who could control animals with her breath who was a collector, it was her; Cruella De Vil.

Ruby awoke on cold stone. She felt something heavy on top of her, opening her eyes she saw it was her cloak. She held her head, still feeling a little light-headed. Sitting up slowly, she looked at her surroundings.

This wasn't good, she thought.

This was really her worst nightmare. Caged with no way out. There were stairs outside the cage; they must be underground. In a bunker, maybe.

"Awake, are we?"

Ruby snapped to attention, her eyes settling on that evil woman, "You can't keep me here," she said, her hands gripping the bars, "People will be looking for me."

"Really?" Cruella sounded amused, "I'm quite sure I heard your Granny say you weren't back until next week, darling."

Ruby's mouth went dry, "I called her this afternoon. She knows I'm back early."

Cruella laughed and leant forward, "Then why did she say that less an hour ago?"

"What the hell do you want?" Ruby growled.

"Where's the rest of your pack?" Cruella asked.

Ruby frowned, "Pack… there is no pack. Just me."

Cruella scrutinised the other woman's face finding no trace of a lie, "A lone wolf? No other came over in the curse?"

"No," Ruby shook her head, "Just me and Granny. But," she rushed quickly, "Granny doesn't turn anymore, she hasn't in – "

Cruella waved a hand dismissively, "I know, darling. So, you really are the only one here then," she mused to herself, "I suppose one coat is better than none, though I would have preferred to deck out my entire wardrobe. It is getting a little…1961," she ran her hands through her coat with a shrug.

Ruby practically snarled, "You're sick," she spat, "And the full moon's over. You should have skinned me when you had the chance."

"True, I should have," Cruella nodded, "My greed for more of that beautiful wolf-skin hasn't exactly paid off. Still, fashion is an art and they say art takes time."

Ruby sighed in frustration, "You call that fashion?" she sneered.

"Rude," Cruella rolled her eyes, "Clearly no fashion sense," she looked at Ruby's outfit, "Really, even for this world you – "

"Save it," Ruby interrupted, "I'm not taking fashion advice from someone like you."

The thought of the poor animals that went into making that hideous coat she wore so proudly made Ruby feel nauseous.

"Oh, your kind do stick together, don't they?" Cruella quirked an eyebrow, "Yet you have no pack… how sad for you," she took pleasure in the sadness of her prisoner's eyes.

Ruby growled, "I told you I'm not going to turn, so forget your stupid coat and let me go."

Cruella leant close to the bars, "You're not going anywhere."

"Wh – "

"There will be another full moon," Cruella shrugged, "And when that time comes, darling, you will turn and I will get my latest fashion accessory," she smirked before she turned on her heel and walked up the stairs.

Ruby slammed a fist into the bars and immediately regretted it. Cradling her fist, she ground her teeth to stop the tears spilling out. If she could transform, the wolf would at least have a chance but in human form, it was impossible. She could do nothing but wait. There were four weeks until the next full moon… and by the end of next week, hopefully Granny would notice she was missing.

She bundled her red cloak into her arms and sat in the corner with it pulled tight to her chest.

All she could do was hope.