Ruin Me, Alpha-Chapter 38: He Died Waiting For Me

The cold hit me like a slap, yanking me from the penthouse floor straight into that frozen Binding Hall. Statues of wolves and guests loomed, mid-snarl, mid-cheer, time locked in ice. My heart raced—Devon. He’d pulled me through. I scrambled up, spinning, calling out. "Devon! I’m here! I came back!"

Silence. No growl, no arms crushing me close. Just echoing emptiness. "Devon?" I bolted down the hall, feet pounding on the marble. "Where are you? I chose you!"

A door creaked open ahead. Molly stepped out, her ghostly form flickering, eyes sad. "Irene. You made it."

I grabbed her arms. "Where’s Devon? He called me—pulled me. I need him now."

She shook her head, pulling me inside a dim chamber. "Come. You have to see."

Thelma stood by a coffin, Astrid hovering nearby, and a guy I didn’t know—tall, shadowy, must be Christopher—guarding the door. My stomach dropped. "What is this?"

Molly nodded at the coffin. "Look."

I shoved past her, hands trembling as I lifted the lid. Devon. Pale, still, eyes closed like sleep. But no breath. No pulse. "No." I touched his cheek—cold as stone. "Devon, wake up!" I shook him, claws extending on instinct. "This isn’t funny! Get up!"

Astrid pulled me back. "He’s gone, Irene. Permanently."

I whirled on her. "What do you mean gone? He was just here—built this world for me!"

Molly sighed, closing the lid gently. "He was meant to die. Bringing a living human like you into the frozen world... it takes from your lifespan and adds to theirs. Devon poured everything into pulling you here. Used up every last day."

My throat tightened, words sticking. "What happened? Exactly. Tell me."

"He collapsed right after you left last time," Thelma said, voice low. "We found him in the hall, barely breathing. Whispered your name, then... nothing."

Astrid stepped forward, eyes wet. "The twenty-seven days? All a lie. Those were his remaining days to live. He hoped you’d come back one last time before they ran out. But it hit earlier. The pull on his life force—too much."

I staggered back, knees buckling. "A lie? He begged me to return, said he’d wait forever..." Tears burned hot, spilling over. I sank to the floor, sobs ripping out. "Devon, you idiot! Why didn’t you tell me? I love you—gods, I love you so much it hurts. Your obsession, your madness... I need it. Come back!"

Molly knelt beside me, hand on my shoulder. "We all felt it. He rebuilt this place for you, sacrificed everything."

I wiped my face, pushing up. No time for breaking. "Then we bring him back. Now. How?"

Christopher crossed his arms. "Not that easy. He’s not just dead—erased from the veil."

Thelma nodded. "Only one way. Bring a witch from the real world. Perform a revival ritual right here, on his body. Tie his soul back."

I nodded, fire igniting. "Fine. Send me back. I’ll find one."

Astrid frowned. "You sure? The portal’s unstable now without him."

"I don’t care." I grabbed Thelma’s hand. "Open it. We’re doing this—for him."

They exchanged looks, then Thelma chanted, hands glowing. A rift tore open, swirling blue. "Go. But hurry. Without Devon, this world crumbles in days."

I stepped through, cold fading to warmth. Back in the penthouse, Gideon lunged at me. "Irene! What the hell— you collapsed, you vanished!"

I shoved him off. "Not now. I need to go."

Brielle grabbed my arm. "Go where? You were gone minutes—muttering about Devon again."

"Real world’s falling apart without me fixing this." I bolted for the door. "Stay out of my way!"

Gideon blocked it. "No! You’re not running to some ghost delusion. We’re marrying tomorrow!"

I snarled, wolf surging. "Move, or I make you."

He stepped aside, hurt flashing. "This is madness."

"Madness is loving him—but I do." I ran out, hailing a cab. "To Ironfang Pack. Now!"

The drive blurred, my mind on Devon—his grey eyes pleading, hands pinning me with that obsessive fire. "Hold on, love. I’m coming."

I went to Yolanda. My aunt and the only woman I know is connected to a witch.

Yolanda answered the door, elegant as ever, but eyes narrowed. "Irene Harvey. Killer of the great Alpha Warner. What do you want?"

I pushed inside. "A witch. You know one—the one you have used before. You helped my father in that ritual, using that witch. I need her."

She laughed bitterly, slamming the door. "Dead. Long gone. Why?"

"Please, I know you don’t want to use her since that ritual failed but I need you to save Devon. Devon needs me."

Yolanda froze, then grabbed my wrist. "What do you know about Devon and his death?"

"Everything. The frozen world, his obsession... I love him, Yolanda. Please."

She dragged me to the study, pouring whiskey. "Sit. You think you killed him? Wrong."

I stared. "What?"

"Baron—your brother—killed Devon first. And his mate."

My world tilted. "Baron? No—Devon killed Baron!"

Yolanda shook her head. "Twist of fate. Years ago, border skirmish. Baron ambushed Devon and his mate, slit their throats for territory. Devon died hating your family."

I gripped the chair. "But he came back..."

"Yes. Dragged to the frozen world—ghost realm. Met the witch there. Begged for a second chance. Revenge on the Harveys."

"And she gave it?"

"With a curse. ’Live again, Alpha. But fall in love—and you vanish. From real world, from frozen. Forever.’"

I whispered, "So when I ’killed’ him..."

"You sent him back to frozen. But he loved you by then—obsessed, twisted love. So he disappeared there too. Erased."

Tears stung again. "He knew? The whole time?"

Yolanda nodded. "Warned me before vanishing. ’If I love her, Yolanda... it’s over.’ But he couldn’t stop."

I stood, pacing. "He rebuilt that world again, for me. Lied about the days—just to see me one last time." My chest ached, romantic fire burning. "His hands on me, possessive, like I was his universe. I need him back, Yolanda. There has to be another witch."

She sighed. "The witch died after the deal. Burned her life force. No others know that ritual."

"No!" I slammed the table. "Then I’ll find one. Scour the packs—"

"Stop." Yolanda grabbed my shoulders. "He’s gone, girl. Accept it."

"I can’t." I shoved free. "I’ll tear realms apart to see him again if I have to."

She eyed me. "Love him that much?"

"More. His obsession? Mine now."

My time in the real world soon expired...

Back through the portal—Thelma yanked me in. "Well?"

"Witch’s dead." I paced the chamber, Devon’s coffin mocking me. "But we improvise."

Molly frowned. "How? Ritual needs her magic."

Christopher leaned in. "Maybe not. I’m half-witch blood—ghost side. We combine forces."

Astrid nodded. "Irene’s bond to him—use it as anchor."

Thelma lit candles around the coffin. "Risky. Could pull us all under."

"Do it." I opened the lid, touching Devon’s face. "For you, love. Come back."

We linked hands, Thelma and Christopher chanting. Power surged, my wolf howling inside. Visions flashed—Devon’s smile, his bite claiming me. "I love you," I whispered. "Don’t leave me."

The coffin glowed—but flickered out. Nothing.

"Again!" I shouted.

Second try—stronger. Wind whipped. Devon’s finger twitched?

"No," Molly gasped. "It’s fading."

"Push!" Christopher yelled.

I poured everything—my love, longing. "Devon! Fight!"

A crack—then silence. He stayed still.

Thelma collapsed. "Failed. He’s too far."

I screamed, pounding the coffin. "No! You promised forever!"

Astrid hugged me. "We try tomorrow. Rest."

But I couldn’t. Curled by his side all night, whispering. "Your grey eyes... your madness. I crave it. Please."

By dawn, the portal hummed. Thelma did the spell to take me back to the real world.

"Go back," Molly said. "Live. For him."

I shook my head. "Not without a plan."

Christopher snapped fingers. "Another witch—hunt in real world archives. Yolanda might have lied."

I bolted up. "Yolanda—my aunt. She knows more."

Back to the real world—Gideon waiting outside Yolanda’s cottage. "Irene! Where were you?"

"Ignoring you." I shoved past, banging on Yolanda’s door. "Open! We talk again."

She yanked it open. "Persistent."

"The witch is dead how? Give me details."

"Burned out. But... her grimoire remains hidden."

"Where?"

Yolanda hesitated. "My vault. But it is dangerous."

"Give it."

She led me down, unlocking. "Here. The ritual pages are marked."

I grabbed the book. "This brings him?"

"Maybe. Needs your blood—lover’s tie."

Portal time. I went back to the frozen world. I raced back, book clutched.

"My magic is becoming weak. The spell will soon expire. Very soon, you would be unable to return to the real world."

"I have a grimoire!"

Thelma scanned. "Yes! This works." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

We prepped—my blood on his chest. Chants rose.

Power exploded. Coffin shook.

"Did it?" Astrid gasped.

Lid creaked. But empty? No—wait.

Nothing. Still gone.

"What?" I clawed inside. "Where is he?"

Molly paled. "The curse... love erased him fully. No ritual beats that."

"No. We find a loophole."

Christopher nodded. "Witch villages—real world. Go there. We keep searching until we find the best witch to bring him back. After this, you have two more chances of going back to the real world."

I stood. "Then that’s next. I won’t stop."

Portal opened. Real world—Gideon grabbed me. "Enough! Marry me or—"

I punched him. "Get out of my way and stop stalking me!"

Brielle was there, too. Gideon must have called her.

Brielle pulled him back. "Let her."

To witch village—knocking on huts. "Need a curse breaker!"

An old crone answered. "For what?"

"Love curse. Vanish on falling in love."

She cackled. "Irreversible. Accept loss."

"No!" I slammed fist. "Devon deserves life."

She shut door.

Next hut—same.

Third: "Perhaps... sacrifice."

"What?"

"Your love. Erase it—to pull him back."

I froze. "Forget him? No."

"Not that. Erase the love he has for you. Once he comes back alive, reincarnated as a different person, he forgets you totally."

"But..."

"Only way."

Back to frozen. Team waited. "Well?"

"Sacrifice my feelings."

Astrid gasped. "Don’t."

But for him... "Do it."

Ritual—pain ripped. Memories fading. His touch, kisses—gone?

No—held on. "I love you too much."

I went back one last time, brought back the witch that told me to erase me from his memory. After much hesitation, I agreed for her to wipe off his memory of me, she performed the ritual and everywhere glimmered. I fainted. The last thing I see is Devon opening his eyes.