Page 56 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

Then, slowly, he pulled his hand away from Serena’s.

He lifted his head to look at her.

“I cannot take you as my mate, Serena,” he said, his voice steady but firm.

Gasps echoed through the quarters. Shock rippled through the pack, with members exchanging bewildered glances and murmurs breaking out like wildfire.

Serena’s expression faltered, her eyes flickering with disbelief. “What?” she whispered.

But Damian wasn’t looking at her anymore.

He was looking at me.

Chapter 22

Tala

At first, there was silence, complete, utter pin-drop silence. It lasted for a few seconds, then the murmurs followed. If I strained my ears enough, I’d hear what most, if not all, of the guests were saying. Did Alpha Damian just stop his own wedding because of her?

Damian wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that he was staring at me. Heads swiveled in my direction, following his gaze. The air around us became thick, and tension was palpable in the atmosphere. A moment ago, I’d been hoping Damian wasn’t mating Serena, that maybe we’d get a shot to be together again with our daughter. But now that it actually happened, at least the first part of that, I suddenly couldn’t breathe.

Everyone knew he had practically said “I don’t” at the altar, and now, everybody knew that it had something to do with me.

“What the hell is going on, Tala?”

Kael’s voice cut through the haze. I turned to see the raw anger dripping from his face. He looked visibly pissed, but there was also a strain of confusion in his expression.

I turned away from him. My throat was tight, the air too thick tobreathe. And everybody was staring at me. It felt like I was suffocating, drowning in the weight of their stares. I needed to get out of here.

I pushed back my chair, stood, and barreled through the crowd as Kael’s voice calling me back faded into the distance.

The garden was a few steps away, just beyond the towering doors leading to the courtyard. I rushed outside, the cool night air hitting my face, but it didn’t help. My chest still felt tight, each breath coming out too fast and shallow.

I stumbled forward, gripping the stone railing of the fountain at the center of the garden. My fingers curled over the cold surface as I squeezed my eyes shut. Breathe, Tala. Just breathe.

But I couldn’t. My thoughts were spiraling.

Damian had actually stopped his wedding. Because of me.

A part of me had wanted this and hoped for it in some small, buried way. But not like this. Not in front of everyone. Not with the entire pack staring at me, knowing exactly why.

The weight of their gazes, the whispers, the judgment, it was suffocating. My name would be on everyone’s lips by morning. The rejected mate who ruined the Alpha’s wedding.

And Kael—

My stomach twisted. What will he think? Would he see this as a betrayal? Everything was unraveling too fast. Too sudden. Too much.

I pressed a hand against my chest as if that could steady the frantic beat of my heart. My vision blurred. My entire body felt too hot and too cold at the same time. I didn’t know how long I stood there, gripping the fountain like it was the only thing keeping me upright. I didn’t even notice when the footsteps approached.

“Tala.”

Damian’s voice cut through my panic, and I turned to see him coming towards me. I started to back away.

“Damian, don’t,” I said, holding out an arm between us as if that could keep him away, even when all that stood between us was air. “You shouldn’t have done that to Serena. And we…we shouldn’t have—” My voice broke. “We shouldn’t have slept together last night.”

His jaw tightened. “All I ever hear from you is ‘we shouldn’t.’” Hisvoice rose, raw with frustration. “We shouldn’t do this. We shouldn’t do that. But I think we should, Tala.”

“I’m never going to be happy with anyone else. And I sure as hell won’t sit back and watch you walk away next week.” His voice dropped. “So, no. I’m done listening to you tell me we shouldn’t.

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