A/N This is an au for Wolf Lake. Ruby isn't dragged back to her home town. Instead she willingly returns.

Ruby's POV

The journey back to Wolf Lake was a long one. Ruby chose not to use her other half in case hunters were close by. Years of being away from the clan made it difficult her to sense them.

The hardest part about the journey was not returning to the town. Instead it was leaving the Kanin behind. His question however was what prompted her to leave.

He asked Ruby to marry him. Just as Tyler had done years prior. It made her mind go to the pack she had left behind.

From the brief contacts she made with Lucas she knew her father was ill. That he was slowly dying of cancer. There was an ache in her chest at the thought.

John Kanin's question coupled together with the ache was what prompted her to leave. All she took with her was a small bag and some clothes.

The weather was cold well below freezing. Despite denying herself the chance to change she was still far warmer than regular humans. She still had to wear a grey sweatshirt and blue jeans. On top of the sweatshirt she wore a black jacket.

It took almost two weeks of hitchhiking but she finally arrived at Wolf Lake. The late hour was showed by the moon that was always full. No matter what it was anywhere else; here it was full.

Raising her head into the wind she scented the air. There were more human scents in town than when she left. Unsurprisingly she could scent Matthew Donner at the diner. The older man always looked after the humans. Even when no one else would.

He had been like an uncle to her. It killed her to leave without saying anything to him. In the end it had been for the best.

Slowly Ruby made her way through the town. She was careful to hide her presence. If someone saw her they would no doubt alert the entire clan. She wanted to speak to her father first then deal with the clan.

It took time but eventually she made it to the house in the woods. It was three stories and filled with more rooms than they could ever need. It was the first place she ever called home. It felt odd to return after so long but she squared her shoulders and opened the door.

No one in this town knocked. Even the humans were used to coming and going as they pleased. The only time one knocked was going into a room.

Once inside the house Ruby could hear voices. It seemed that her father had guests and they were in the sitting room. One was a familiar calming voice of Sherman Blackstone. That man was impossible to get rid. He claimed to be a seven hundred year old science teacher. Somehow she didn't doubt it.

Outside the door to the sitting room she hesitated. This was her last chance. She could turn around and run again. They would never know that she was there.

The draw to become part of the pack again was too much. She could not leave again. Not when she was so close to her family.

So lost in her inner battle she didn't notice the door opening. Not until she heard a gasp and arms encircled her. They were warm arms and a scent of gentle pine wafted over her nose. Her father's scent calmed her mind.

Looking up she met the gentle grey eyes of Willard Cates. His eyes were taking in everything about her appearance. It was as if to make sure it was really her.

Her father whispered disbelieving, "Ruby..."

That caused movement from inside the room. The words weren't just spoken aloud, she realized. They were spoken across the pack bond. It was limited currently to those nearby.

Vivian Cates looked at her with surprise. She was the first to come through the door at her father's word. Their green eyes clashed briefly until she looked back into the room and stepped aside.

Ruby thought that Lucas would be the next to come through. She was not expecting to see a familiar dirty blond haired man with piercing blue eyes come through. He was wearing an expensive suit that was tailored to fit the man perfectly. The scent of a fire on an open plain was nearly overwhelming as he moved closer to her.

Willard said turning her so that they could walk into tbe sitting room, "Come let us sit down. Then you can tell us how and why you have returned."

If she was in her wolf, her ears would be flat against her head. This was not a conversation she was looking forward to.

Ruby was pushed onto the long couch. Willard and Vivian took seats across from her. Their eyes showing rare emotions. Tyler hovered by the couch his eyes solely on her. Then after a long moment he sat next to her. It took all of her self control not to react negatively.

She could feel them communicating with each other. Ruby's connection to the the pack was all but gone. Her time away made it impossible for her to hear or feel what was being said.

Her connection to her own wolf was tenuous at best. She had not changed since she left. Few could last a week without the change. Even fewer could last the number of years that she had.

Willard asked his voice soft and soothing, "What brought you back, Ruby? We were sure that you wouldn't come back willingly."

Ruby sighed. She knew they wouldn't just let her go. It wasn't the style of the pack. They needed to know that she wasn't betraying them with her return. Not that she would. They were her family even after she left.

"I was tired of running," she whispered, "I was asked a question that reminded me that I was still hunted. That one day you would catch up with me."

Her father replied softly, "We heard you were in Seattle. The hunters had just arrived when you disappeared once more. To come here it seems."

Ruby bowed her head. She could feel the alpha's question. No matter how diminished the bond between wolf and human was. They could feel the command.

She said, "I could have loved him but it would always be a lie. The truth as it always has lies here. At Wolf Lake."