Ruin Me, Alpha-Chapter 32: “Miss Me, My Love?”

The morning light pierced through the curtains like claws. Deep claws, like the one of an Alpha. I lay still, throat raw, thigh pulsing with every heartbeat, the burn having a strange pulse. I didn’t move when the door opened. Didn’t speak.

Simon stepped in, already dressed in black, hair slicked back like he was heading to a coronation instead of checking on the wife his family had half-killed.

"Tonight," he said without greeting. "The Alpha will see us. The sealing happens at moon-high. You’ll finally be mine in the pack bonds."

I stared at the ceiling. Didn’t blink. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of a single word.

He waited. When I said nothing, he exhaled through his nose.

"Get some rest. You’ll need it."

The door shut behind him. I kept staring at nothing.

Hours bled away. I drifted in and out of fevered sleep, the burn eating at me, the bruises on my throat suffocating darker. When the door opened again, I didn’t bother turning my head.

"Oh my goddess, look at you!" A woman burst in, voice bright and loud like shattering glass. "Astrid said it was bad, but this, this is criminal! Scoot over, sweetheart, let Doctor Aliyah work her magic."

She was short, curvy, with wild black curls barely tamed by a clip and eyes the color of storm clouds. She smelled like eucalyptus and antiseptic. Astrid hovered behind her, wringing her hands.

Aliyah dropped a heavy medical bag on the foot of the bed and snapped on gloves. "On your side, thigh up. Let’s see the damage."

I rolled slowly. Pain flared white-hot. She hissed through her teeth.

"Clara Lawson did this?" She didn’t wait for an answer. "That woman has always been a vicious bitch. Hold still."

Cool ointment, then fresh bandages. Her hands were quick, gentle, but she never stopped talking.

"So you’re the famous Irene Harvey. Everyone’s whispering about the Omega who snagged our Gamma. Gotta say, you’re prettier than the rumors. That hair—goddess, I’d kill for that color. Okay, throat next. Tilt your chin."

She dabbed something that stung like nettles. I finally spoke, voice like gravel.

"What happens at a bond sealing?"

Aliyah froze mid-motion. "Come again?"

"The ceremony. The Alpha seals the bond. Between Gamma and Gamma-Luna. What is it?"

She blinked. Laughed, confused. "Sweetie, there’s no such thing. Bond sealing is strictly Alpha and Luna. The old Alpha bites the new one, transfers power, makes it official. Gammas just get a party and a toast, which had already held."

Astrid cleared her throat from the doorway. "When you asked me yesterday, Gamma-Luna, I thought you were joking. Everyone knows only the Alpha pair gets sealed."

My blood went colder than it already was.

Simon lied.

Why?

Aliyah kept chatting as she packed up. "Anyway, you’ll heal slower because the pack still reads you as Omega. Once the Alpha accepts you—well, if he ever does—you’ll bounce back faster. Until then, try not to let Clara near any more teapots, yeah?"

She patted my good leg and bustled out, still talking to Astrid about salves and gossip.

I stared at the door long after it closed.

Why would Simon lie about something the entire pack would know doesn’t exist?

Evening crawled in. The burn had dulled to a steady throb. I was sitting up, picking at the bandage, when Simon returned.

He took one look at my face and stopped. "What?"

"You lied," I said. My voice was still wrecked, but the words cut clean. "There is no bond sealing for Gammas."

His brows drew together. "Who told you that?"

"Doesn’t matter. Why did you make it up?"

"I didn’t make anything up." He stepped closer. "The Alpha requested us tonight. We’re going. Get dressed."

"Your mother said the same thing. She told me the Alpha would seal us." I met his eyes. "Is she lying too?"

Something flickered across his face, too fast to name. "Mother wouldn’t lie. Stop stalling. We leave in thirty minutes."

He pulled a crimson envelope from his jacket and slapped it on the bedside table. Thick paper, black wax seal shaped like a snarling wolf.

"Official invitation. Read it if you don’t believe me."

He walked out.

I stared at the envelope like it might bite. Then I tore it open.

The card inside was heavy, blood-red, lettering embossed in black:

Gamma Simon Lawson and Gamma-Luna Irene Harvey,

you have been summoned to the Binding Hall

for the final stage of your bond—

the Breeding Stage.

Where the Alpha shall taste the bond

and confirm your status as mates in the Pack.

— Alpha Damon

My stomach turned to ice. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Breeding Stage.

Taste the bond.

I crushed the card in my fist.

When Simon came back, I was already dressed.

The black mini-dress barely skimmed mid-thigh, back completely open, the burn scar on my shoulder blade on full display. No bra. No panties. The fabric clung like a second skin.

Simon stopped dead in the doorway. "You’re not wearing that."

"I am."

"Irene—"

"I’m wearing it." I slipped into the only heels Astrid had brought—strappy, sky-high—and walked past him. "Let’s go."

He grabbed my arm. "My mother sees you like this, she’ll—"

"Then tell her to close her eyes."

I yanked free and headed for the elevator. After a beat, his footsteps followed.

The drive was silent. The Binding Hall sat on the edge of pack territory, an ancient stone building half-carved into the mountainside, all pillars and torches and shadows. Wolves in formal black lined the steps. They bowed as Simon passed. They stared at me.

Whispers trailed us like the air.

Inside, the air was filled with incense and anticipation. Rows of benches stretched back into gloom, packed with pack members—high-ranked mostly, but some warriors too. All here to watch.

I halted just past the double doors.

Rows and rows of faces turned toward us.

"Why are they here?" I asked quietly.

Simon didn’t slow. "The Alpha decided last minute. He wants witnesses. Said it’s a beautiful thing, watching a bond seal."

My skin crawled.

I walked forward anyway. Heads swiveled. Eyes judged. Some looked confused, like they couldn’t believe the Gamma had brought an Omega whore to a sacred rite. Others looked disgusted. A few looked hungry.

I kept my chin high and my gaze forward.

The podium was raised, draped in black velvet. An officiant in silver robes waited, hands folded. Torches flickered. The scent of pine and blood lingered in the hall.

Simon stepped up first. I followed.

We turned to face each other. The chatters behind us died instantly.

Minutes bled. My pulse hammered in my ears.

Then the doors at the far end boomed open.

Every wolf in the room rose as one. Heads bowed low.

it must be the Alpha...

I started to dip, like a sort of habit, until I heard the footsteps.

Slow. Deliberate. Familiar in a way that clawed my stomach.

A hand slammed between my shoulder blades—hard.

I flew forward, airborne for a heartbeat, then crashed into the stone wall on the far side. Pain exploded across my ribs. I slid down, gasping.

Not a single wolf moved to help. Not even Simon.

I pushed up on shaking arms, looked toward the podium—

And the world tilted.

Devon stood where Simon had been.

Black suit tailored to every lethal line of him. Black shirt beneath, top buttons undone, throat marked with the faint white scar I’d given him months ago. Hair darker than sin, icy grey eyes locked on me like I was the only creature alive.

He smirked.

"Miss me, my love?"