Ruin Me, Alpha-Chapter 15: I’d Help You Light The Match

I dragged myself out of bed still tasting him on my tongue. My thighs were sticky, my nipples sore, and every heartbeat reminded me that I had let Devon Warner eat me out until I screamed his name—twice—then kicked him out before he could bury himself inside me.

I hated him.

I hated that I still wanted him.

The Omega training field was already buzzing when I got there. Two dozen wolves in sports gear running laps, doing push-ups, throwing punches at pads. Devon’s new program. Everyone looked stronger, sharper, happier. It made me want to spit.

I scanned the edge of the field. Gideon stood near the water station, arms crossed, staring at nothing. Perfect.

I slipped between groups, keeping my head low. Gamma Harlan was prowling the far side—Andrea’s little lapdog now, I see—and the last thing I needed was him running to tattle that I was talking to the Beta. I waited until Harlan turned, then darted over.

"Gideon," I hissed, grabbing his sleeve.

He stiffened. Didn’t even look at me. "Not now, Irene."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I kept my voice low. "We need to talk. About last night—"

"I said not now." His eyes flicked to the side, nervous. "Harlan’s watching."

I followed his gaze. Harlan was definitely looking our way now.

"Fine," I snapped. "When?"

"There is no when." Gideon finally met my eyes, and the coldness there punched the air out of me. "Stay away from me. I mean it."

He walked off before I could answer.

I stood there, mouth open, heat crawling up my neck. Gideon—my father’s Beta, the man who swore he’d help me take Devon down—was cutting me loose. Just like that.

Someone cleared their throat behind me.

I spun. Beta Zane stood two feet away, silver hair catching the morning sun, arms folded like he owned the place.

"Alpha wants you," he said, voice flat.

"Tell your Alpha he can choke on—"

"Car’s waiting." Zane tilted his head toward the parking lot. "Now."

I opened my mouth to tell him exactly where he could shove that order. Then I pictured Devon finding another man to kill or threatened to kill if I refused in public again. I shut my mouth.

"Lead the way," I muttered.

Zane didn’t smirk, he never did, but I felt it anyway. He turned and walked. I followed, flipping off the entire training field with both middle fingers behind his back.

The black Mercedes SUV sat idling at the curb. Tinted windows, engine purring like a predator. Zane opened the back door and stepped aside.

I climbed in.

Devon was already there, taking up half the backseat, legs spread wide, black shirt unbuttoned at the throat. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing corded forearms. He didn’t look at me. Just stared out the window, jaw clenched so tight I could hear his teeth grinding.

Zane shut the door. The car pulled away.

I crossed my arms. "What is this, kidnapping? Again?"

Silence.

I rolled my eyes. "Let me guess. You woke up horny and decided the pack Alpha gets whatever the pack Alpha wants. Newsflash, asshole—"

"Irene." His voice cut through mine like a sharp object. Low. Tired. Broken.

That shut me up.

He still wouldn’t look at me. His hands rested on his thighs, fingers curled into fists. Knuckles white.

I frowned. "Devon?"

Nothing.

Something cold slid down my spine. I’d seen Devon angry, murderous, turned on, smug, cruel, never this.

I scooted closer without thinking. Reached out. My palm slid to the back of his neck, fingers threading into his dark hair. His skin was burning hot.

"Hey." I turned his head toward me. "What’s wrong?"

His eyes finally met mine, and the storm in them stole my breath. Grey turned almost black, wolf riding close to the surface.

"Talk to me," I said, softer.

He swallowed once. Hard.

"Border patrol found three bodies at dawn," he said, voice rough. "Silverclaw pups. Throats torn out. Message carved into their chests."

My hand froze in his hair.

"Message said..." He closed his eyes. "Tell Warner the North remembers."

I felt the blood leave my face. The North remembers. Old Ironfang battle cry. My father’s battle cry.

Devon opened his eyes again. "They were eight, Irene. Eight years old."

My throat closed.

He kept going, his words clipped and lethal. "I got the call right after you kicked me out last night. Zane had pictures. I made him drive me to the site. I carried one of them myself. Little girl. Red ribbon still in her hair."

His voice cracked on the last word.

I didn’t think. I just moved. Climbed into his lap, knees on either side of his hips, arms sliding around his neck. He let me. His big hands came up to grip my waist like he was drowning and I was the only thing keeping him afloat.

"I’m sorry," I whispered against his jaw. "I’m so sorry."

His forehead dropped to my shoulder. A shudder ran through him, his hand securing my waist, tightly.

"They think it was me," he rasped into my skin. "Half my pack thinks I ordered it to punish dissenters. The other half thinks Ironfang did it to punish me for merging the packs. Either way, I’ve got a war brewing before breakfast."

I pulled back just enough to cup his face. Forced him to look at me.

"You didn’t do this," I said fiercely.

"I know that. You know that. Doesn’t matter." His thumbs pressed into my hips, hard enough to bruise. "Blood’s been spilled. Someone’s going to demand more."

I kissed him.

Not soft. Not sweet. I crushed my mouth to his like I could pour strength straight down his throat. He groaned, hands sliding up my back, fisting my shirt. His tongue met mine, angry and desperate.

I broke it only to speak against his lips. "You’re not alone in this."

He coughed out a laugh, dark and bitter. "Everyone’s alone when they’re Alpha."

"Not you." I bit his bottom lip. "Not anymore."

His eyes flared silver. "Careful, baby. That sounded like loyalty."

"Shut up," I hissed, and kissed him again.

The car kept moving, but we didn’t care. His hands shoved under my sports bra, palms rough against my breasts. I arched into him with a gasp. He swallowed the sound, kissing me deeper, hips rolling up. I felt him hard beneath me and ground down on instinct.

"Fuck," he growled. "You’re gonna kill me."

"Good," I panted. "Die happy."

He yanked my bra up, mouth closing over one nipple. I cried out, fingers digging into his shoulders. The partition was up—Zane couldn’t see—but I didn’t care if the whole damn pack watched at this point.

Devon pulled off with a wet pop. "Tell me to stop."

"No."

His hand slid into my leggings, fingers finding me soaked. He cursed reverently. "This for me?"

"Always," I admitted before I could stop myself.

His eyes went full wolf. Two fingers pushed inside me without warning. I bit his shoulder to muffle the scream.

"That’s it," he rasped, pumping slow and deep. "Take what you need."

I rode his hand shamelessly, forehead pressed to his, breath coming in ragged moans. His thumb circled my clit and I shattered in under a minute, clenching around his fingers, his name is like a broken prayer on my lips.

He kept moving, drawing it out until I was shaking. Only then did he pull his hand free and lick his fingers clean while staring straight into my eyes.

"Mine," he said simply.

I collapsed against his chest, heart hammering against his. "Over my dead body."

"When will you stop being in denial?"

"Maybe never? Cos I’ll kill you before then."

He chuckled.

I pulled away, staring into his glassy orbs. "I’m serious. My plan to kill you is still intact. No one messes with my family and go scot free."

"I know you still plan on killing me and that’s what makes it better. Picture my body coated in blood as I reach my last moment on earth while I let you ride and bounce on my dick. I’ll whisper your name in a sweet moan as I take my last breath, baby."

I leaned into him again. "Final moment and final orgasm on earth. That sounds quite the catch."

He chuckled.

After a minute, I felt his lips brush my temple. "Thank you."

"For the orgasm?" I mumbled into his shirt.

"For not letting me fall apart alone."

I closed my eyes. "Don’t get used to it."

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through me. "Too late."

The car slowed. I glanced out the window—we were back at the compound, pulling up to the private garage under the penthouse.

Devon fixed my bra, smoothed my shirt down like he hadn’t just finger-fucked me into another dimension.

"Zane will take you to training," he said, voice steady again, Alpha mask sliding back into place. "After, you come to me. We’re ending this today."

"Ending what?"

"Whoever did this." His eyes went cold. Deadly. "I’m done playing nice."

I nodded once.

He cupped my chin, thumb brushing my swollen lips. "And Irene?"

"Yeah?"

"If anyone touches you because of this—if anyone so much as looks at you wrong—I’ll burn the whole fucking pack down. Understand?"

I leaned in and kissed him soft and slow.

"I’d help you light the match," I whispered. "Then, I will throw you into the fire."

His smile was terrifying. Beautiful.

"That’s my girl."

Zane opened the door. I climbed out on shaky legs.

Devon didn’t follow. Just watched me go, grey eyes promising violence and devotion in equal measure.

I walked back into the sunlight knowing one thing for certain.

Whatever came next—war, blood, chaos—I wasn’t facing it without him anymore.

And that scared me more than anything else ever had.