Page 8 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

“Tonight, we honor the strength and unity of the Stonehart Pack,” Alpha Thorne’s deep voice echoed through the silence, commanding attention. “For a hundred years, our ancestors have bled, sacrificed, and fought to protect the legacy of this great pack. They have conquered rivals, crushed enemies, and ensured that our name would be whispered in fear and awe across these lands. It is their sacrifices that we stand upon, and it is my leadership that guarantees we will never fall.

“We are not a pack of equals. We are a pack of purpose,” he continued, his tone growing arrogant with each word. “My duty is to ensure that every choice and every sacrifice is made for the future of our pack. The weak serve the strong, and the strong ensure our survival.”

His voice boomed, filling the setting as he declared, “So tonight, we don’t simply toast to the past. We toast to me, the Alpha who carries this legacy forward. To strength. To dominance. To Stonehart!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, but the weight of his words settled over me like a dark cloud. To him, we weren’t equals. We were mere tools, expendable pieces in his quest for power. And yet, despite the harsh truth of his words, no one dared challenge him.

The chatter resumed, and while everyone at my table was engrossed in bragging about the accomplishments of their fathers, I slipped away to go in search of Damian. My instincts led me to the pack house, right across from the pack headquarters. I figured if he wasn’t in the quarters, he’d be at the house. I don’t know what I was doing, trying to sneak into the Alpha’s domain, but there was no better opportunity to do so since everyone was engrossed in the celebration.I needed to see Damian. I felt suffocated in the crowd, like I couldn’t breathe, surrounded by all those eyes.

As I passed through the courtyard, I caught sight of Alpha Thorne barking orders at a few servants. Panicked, I ducked behind a pillar, hoping he hadn’t noticed me. But I had a sinking feeling that he did. My heart raced in my chest, and I braced myself, expecting him to walk over and expose me. What was the punishment for sneaking into the Alpha’s house? I didn’t know much about the pack laws, but I imagined it could not be good.

But to my greatest surprise, Alpha Thorne turned and walked away. Confusion settled over me, but I dismissed it, convincing myself that he hadn’t seen me and I was just being paranoid. I ventured further into the house, not sure where I was going, until I stumbled upon the garden. There, I saw him. Damian stood with his back to me, gazing up at the fountain.

Instantly, I felt relief wash over me, like sinking into a soft bed after a long day. I couldn’t help but smile. With a newfound sense of confidence, I stepped forward into the garden, no longer afraid of being caught in the pack house with him.

I had only taken a few steps forward when Damian turned. And the moment I saw his face, I knew something was wrong.

“Tala,” he said, his voice filled with surprise. “H–how…you shouldn’t be here.”

The smile on my face faltered, an unsettling feeling creeping through me. I had grown accustomed to the way Damian reacted when he saw me. First, his face would break into a smile, and he’d come toward me, wrapping me in a hug, burying his face in my neck to breathe in my scent. When he pulled back, he’d kiss my cheek, his touch warm and affectionate. But none of that happened now. Instead, Damian stood there, hands shoved in his pockets, staring at me with a mixture of surprise and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“I–I…” I stuttered, not sure of the right words to say at this moment. But I eventually managed, “I searched for you at the party.”

When he didn’t say anything, I continued. “I just…I thought you might be here. That’s why I came.”

Damian’s head dropped briefly before his eyes lifted, and whenthey met mine again, everything in him had changed. His expression was blank, empty even, as if he were a stranger standing in front of me.

He spoke quietly, his voice devoid of warmth. “It’s good you’re here, Tala. I need to tell you something.”

“Okay…” I nodded slowly. “What is it?”

Damian took a deep breath before he spoke again. “The last few weeks have been wonderful, but we both knew it couldn’t last.”

My heart broke. No, that was an understatement. My heart shattered into a pile of dust. That very statement knocked the air out of my lungs.

“Today has reminded me of my responsibility,” he continued. “I have a legacy to uphold, and I would be doing you, as well as my ancestors, a disservice if I kept…whatever this was between us.”

His words hit me like a physical blow. Whatever this was between us. I blinked back the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. The knot in my throat tightened, and I fought to keep my composure. The past few weeks had been the happiest of my life, yet he dismissed it all as if it meant nothing.

“When I become Alpha,” he said, his tone hardening. “I’ll need a Luna. Someone worthy of the title.”

He didn’t need to say the next words. I knew it. I was an Omega, and there was no way I could ever be worthy enough to wield the title of Luna.

“The best thing is to let you go, Tala,” Damian continued, his voice like ice. “You deserve someone special, someone like you. So, I reject the mate bond. You’re free to be with whoever you want now.”

I couldn’t speak. His words numbed me, leaving me speechless. And when he was done, without waiting for a single response from me, he turned away. As he walked past me, he muttered, “You should leave before someone sees you.”

The moment Damian left my presence, my wolf howled in agony. Her pain mirrored my own, but it was deeper and more primal. It was as if his rejection didn’t just break my heart, it shattered her very spirit. I stumbled backward, clutching my chest as though I could physically hold the pieces of myself together. It felt like a part of me had beentorn away, the part that was supposed to complete me and make me whole.

I gathered my dress in my hand and turned on my heel, sprinting out of the pack house and away from the celebration. I didn’t care who saw me or what they thought. I didn’t care about anything other than escaping the way my heart was trembling in an agony foreign to me. My wolf wailed in despair, clawing at the edges of my mind. Her anguish mirrored mine and amplified it until I could barely breathe. She stirred restlessly, furious and hurt. She wanted to burst free, to let out a mournful howl that would shatter the trees. But I held her back, barely.

The cold wind bit my skin as I ran blindly into the woods. Hot, relentless tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. Damian’s words echoed in my mind, louder with each step I took, slicing me open over and over again. Soon, my legs gave out, and I stumbled to a stop near a small clearing and sank to the damp ground, sobbing.

How could I have been so stupid? I should have known better than to believe in something as fragile as hope. Damian had made me feel seen and like I was more. But the same man had, tonight, reminded me of the truth, the harsh reality of what I was—what I am.

My chest ached with a pain so deep it felt like it might tear me apart. I was wheezing furiously, trying to catch a breath amidst the downpour of tears. Pressing a hand to my chest, I tried to hold myself together. But as I sat there, gasping for air, I realized the ache wasn’t just in my chest. It was lower, an odd sensation deep in my stomach. Not painful, but different.

I frowned and leaned back against a tree, trying to steady my racing thoughts. My body had felt strange for weeks now. I’d thought it was the stress of trying to prove myself or living under the constant weight of judgment—circumstances of life I was unfamiliar with. I hadn’t even noticed how tired I’d been or how my sense of smell had sharpened even more than usual.

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