Ruin Me, Alpha-Chapter 22: The Alpha’s Bloody Claim

Morning came too fast.

My eyes snapped open to the dim light leaking through the thin curtains of the Omegas’ quarters. The mattress under me felt too small, the air too cold, and my heartbeat too loud.

I was still trembling.

Everything I’d seen in that safe—everything Devon had done—echoed like a nightmare that refused to end.

I pushed myself up, rubbed my arms, and tried to steady my breath.

A soft knock sounded.

"Rene? It’s me."

I rushed to the door and pulled Gideon inside before anyone saw him. Brielle slipped in too, and I locked the door behind us.

Gideon lifted a brow. "Why do you look like you haven’t slept?"

"I didn’t," I muttered. "Laptop?"

He handed it over, along with a small pouch that would hold the USB. I shoved them on my bed and plugged in the drive I had gotten from his penthouse with shaking hands.

Brielle perched beside me. "Did you copy everything?"

"All of it." I clicked through folders until I found the file that made my stomach twist. "There’s something I need you both to hear."

The screen flashed with an old video interview, grainy footage, timestamps reading 2021.

A former Beta of Silverclaw sat stiffly in a wooden chair. His voice was shaky, but the pack insignia behind him confirmed the authenticity.

Gideon leaned in. "Hit play."

I did.

A man, likely the interviewer, spoke first. "State your involvement in the Northern war."

The witness swallowed hard. "I... I was part of the frontline team. Alpha Devon—he... he gave direct orders." His gaze darted off-camera, fear obvious even through old pixels.

"What orders?" the interviewer pressed.

The man’s jaw clenched. "To clear the North. By any means necessary."

"Meaning?"

He shut his eyes. "Slaughter. Every allied pack. Every wolf. Anyone who resisted. He sent patrols like they were disposable. Men died by the dozens. Whole pack villages were burned because he said we needed to ’make room.’"

Brielle gasped softly.

The witness continued, voice cracking, "People begged for mercy. Mothers... children... Alpha Devon didn’t care. He wanted the North. He said the land was wasted on ’weak leadership.’ He wanted it all."

The interviewer’s voice went flatter. "You’re claiming Alpha Devon orchestrated the war?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Yes." The witness nodded frantically. "He—he even killed our own men who refused orders. Said loyalty was the law. Said he’d wipe out anyone who stood in his way. People feared him more than they feared death."

I paused the video.

Silence weighed down the room.

Gideon let out a low whistle. "That’s it. That’s the bullet. This can bring him down."

Brielle nodded quickly. "This is more than enough to expose him. We drop it today. Before he can react."

They started talking over each other—plans, distribution channels, which packs to alert.

I stood slowly.

"No."

Both heads snapped toward me.

Gideon frowned. "No? Irene, this is the chance—"

"We’re not exposing him today."

"Why?" Brielle asked. "Irene, this is the proof we’ve been praying for."

"I just—" I unplugged the USB, shoved it into Gideon’s hand. "Keep it safe."

"Rene—"

"I said keep it." I stood, grabbed the doorknob.

"Where are you going?" Brielle asked.

I didn’t answer.

I walked out of the bungalow, barefoot, wearing nothing but a tank top and bumshorts. My hair was a messy bun slipping apart. I didn’t care.

Devon was going to look at me like this.

Let him.

The penthouse loomed like a dark shadow over Ironfang grounds. Soldiers flinched when they saw me barreling toward the elevator, but not one dared stop me.

The doors opened to the top floor, and I marched straight to his office. Voices spilled from inside, voices of male, serious, businesslike.

I pushed the door open hard.

Two men sat in front of his mahogany desk. They both turned sharply, brows raised, confusion radiating off them.

But I barely saw them.

Devon leaned back in his chair, sleeves rolled up, vest fitted perfectly across his chest, icy eyes locked on me the second I entered.

His stare didn’t waver. Not for a second.

One of the men stuttered, "Alpha, should we—"

"Out," Devon said without looking at them.

They scrambled up so fast their chairs screeched. They squeezed past me, whispering in confusion as they left.

The door clicked shut.

Devon rose slowly from his chair, slow, deliberate, like he had hours to waste. He didn’t speak. Didn’t greet me. Didn’t ask why I was there barefoot and glaring at him.

He walked to the center table, grabbed a glass, and poured dark liquor half-full.

"You stole from me." His voice was low, quiet, dangerous.

I ignored the accusation. "You stalked me."

He took a slow sip, jaw working. "Because it was fun. And because you’re... intriguing."

A smile—cold, crooked—tugged at his mouth.

He sat on the leather couch, one arm sprawled over the back, glass raised lazily as he watched me.

"Watching you is my favorite thing, Irene."

My stomach tightened. My skin heated. My anger flared. Everything inside me battled everything else.

But I didn’t stop.

"It was because of me, wasn’t it?" I asked.

His brow lifted just slightly. "Be specific."

"You started the war in the North..." My voice shook. "Because of me."

He took another lazy sip, eyes glinting.

"I’d hoped you wouldn’t find out from hacking into my safe."

My breath stuttered. "I was supposed to be married to Alpha Voltage. King of the North. Our engagement ended when he was arrested for the massacre YOU caused. It was all you, right?" My voice rose. "You framed him?"

Devon didn’t blink.

"Yes," he said simply. "I did."

The room went silent.

My heart hammered.

His voice lowered, deeper than I’d ever heard it.

"And you..." He pointed the rim of his glass toward me, eyes burning with something molten and terrifying. "You have no idea how much blood stain lies in my palm just to make sure you are mine."

Air left my lungs.

He didn’t move.

He didn’t look away.

He just watched me absorb the truth that shattered everything I thought I knew.

He had destroyed the North.

Killed hundreds.

Framed a king.

Ended alliances.

Started a war—

For me.

And the worst part?

His obsession rolled off him in waves so thick, so scorching, that my knees actually weakened.

Devon’s stare pinned me in place.

I wasn’t running from a monster.

I was standing in front of the man who had torn apart the world just to claim me.