Ruin Me, Alpha-Chapter 41: Champagne, Blood, Reset

The world snapped back into place with a violent lurch.

Noise crashed into me first. Laughter. Music. Clinking glasses. Wolves talking over one another like it was the most normal thing in existence.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

The time loop restarting.

Again.

My heels were planted on polished marble. My fingers were wrapped around a cold bottle of champagne again. My hair—black, sleek, unfamiliar—fell over my shoulders. The dress clung to me like it hated modesty. Short. Thin straps. Too tight in places it wanted attention.

I closed my eyes.

When I opened them, the scene was already mocking me. The exact same thing playing out just like the last time. The slow music in the background stopping at the exact time a server passes by me. The soft laugh of a woman behind me. Then, Brielle appearing by the far corner.

Brielle stood a few steps away, hand resting on a very visible baby bump, smiling like she hadn’t survived hell beside me in another life. Zane leaned in, murmuring something, then pressed a kiss to her temple. She laughed.

I felt nothing.

Not this time. Not surprise, not shock, just irritation. I can’t believe she actually married Zane.

I lifted the bottle and took a long sip.

Burning. Bitter. Useless.

"Irene."

Molly’s voice came from somewhere to my right again. I didn’t turn.

I took another sip.

Devon’s presence hit the room like gravity. I didn’t need to look to know where he was. The crowd shifted, straightened, hushed, just like last time.

He climbed the podium with the same aura as last time.

Again.

"To another year of unity," Devon said, voice smooth, practiced, bored of its own power.

Cheers erupted.

Glasses lifted.

I rolled my eyes.

"Charismatic bastard," I muttered, tipping the glass back.

He stepped down to mingle. Smiles. Handshakes. Patting backs. Playing Alpha like he’d been born with the crown welded to his skull.

I walked away.

Molly and Christopher were by a side table, exactly where they’d been last time. She wore red. He stood behind her, arms crossed.

"Irene!" Molly beamed. "There you are. Christopher and I were wondering where you wandered off to."

I didn’t answer this time.

I lifted the bottle and drank again.

Christopher leaned forward. "You good?"

I swallowed, then looked past them—straight at Devon.

"Yeah," I said flatly. "My current mood is dying to murder that bastard in cold blood."

Molly laughed like I’d told a joke and looped her arm through mine. "Same old Irene. Come on, our table’s this way. Devon’s speech was killer, right? Man’s got charisma for days."

I let her pull me.

I glanced back once.

Devon’s eyes flicked over the crowd again, sliding past me like I didn’t exist.

"So," Molly continued, lowering her voice, "what’s the plan for tonight? Are we still going with it?"

"Yes," I said immediately.

Christopher nodded. "Devon seems really occupied. He might retire to his wing very late, so we shift our operation to late night."

Molly’s gaze darkened. "Perfect."

Christopher frowned at me. "Don’t tell me you’re giving up—" he began to say again... just like last time.

"I’m not," I snapped. "I want him dead more than anything."

He exhaled in relief. "Good. Because Devon must pay for the pain he’s caused us. We must not give up—"

"And there go the traitors," Molly cut in.

I followed her stare without freezing this time.

Astrid.

On Devon’s arm.

Her dress screamed Luna. Her smile was soft. Her grip on him was possessive.

"I can’t believe that bitch betrayed us just to marry Devon," Molly muttered.

I checked Christopher’s wristwatch.

The time loop was only one hour event.

Fifteen minutes had gone.

I stepped away.

"I’m going," I said.

Molly blinked. "Already?"

"I’ll handle it."

I walked through the crowd.

Everything repeated itself just like last time. Someone laughing near me. Someone whispering.

"Alpha Devon’s been handling the North pack for ten years now. Best Alpha we’ve had."

Ten years.

Anniversary.

I caught sight of Devon pressing a gentle kiss to Astrid’s cheek.

I didn’t stop walking.

By the time I reached his floor, another fifteen minutes had bled out of existence.

I flicked on the bedroom light.

Strolled.

Touched nothing.

Then I sat on the edge of his bed, legs crossed, hands resting on my knees.

Waiting.

The door opened.

Devon halted.

His eyes swept over the room, landed on me, hardened instantly.

"I don’t have time for this," he said coolly. "Or for your many attempts at murdering me. Get out."

I stood.

"Oh, shut your goddamn mouth before I do that myself."

He shut the door behind him anyway. Dropped his wallet on the table. His keys followed. He started removing his watch.

"I’ve come here to do this."

I lunged.

He moved faster.

Hands locked around me. I was airborne for half a second before I slammed into the wall.

Pain exploded.

I pushed off immediately.

He glared. "You really don’t know how to quit."

He stepped closer. "Leave. Before I decide I’m done tolerating you."

I laughed. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

It tasted like blood.

I walked toward him slowly. "No ’baby’? No ’love’? No ’Irene’ with that smooth little drawl you always added?"

He frowned. "I don’t know what you’re—"

I struck.

My claws drove into his chest.

Deep.

My arm plunged through flesh and bone until my fingers closed around something that pulsed once... then stuttered. His heart.

I grabbed his shoulder to steady him.

His face was inches from mine.

Color drained from his skin.

His lips parted.

I leaned in and whispered, "This is boring without the fucking. I liked it better when I bounced on your dick and killed you thereafter."

Then I pulled back.

My hand came free.

His heart was in my grip.

Devon collapsed.

The sound was dull.

Final.

I stared down at him.

At the empty space in his chest.

I smirked.

"Huh," I said softly, examining the heart. "Pretty. Explains a lot."

I licked the blood from my fingers.

Set the heart gently on his bedside table.

Then I sat back down on the bed, palms soaked red.

The door burst open.

Astrid ran in.

Her scream shattered the room.

She stared at Devon’s body. At the blood. At me.

Then she ran.

Boots thundered minutes later.

North Pack soldiers flooded the room.

Weapons raised.

Orders barked.

They rushed toward me.

I didn’t move.

I didn’t fight.

The air cracked.

The world tore.

Everything folded inward—

—and the time loop rebooted.