The Bully Alpha’s Redemption

My Mate

Scarlet

The day was finally here…

The mansion was alive with a golden glow, the chandeliers glittering like stars, their light reflecting off the endless sea of black and gold décor I had painstakingly arranged. Damien’s 18th birthday party wasn’t just a celebration—it was a spectacle. No expense spared, no detail left untouched.

Golden silk drapes framed the massive windows, while polished marble floors reflected the flickering candlelight from the tall candelabras lining the room. The scent of those Japanese fresh lilies and night jasmine filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of catered delicacies. The live orchestra played a haunting classical piece in the corner, their music both elegant and melancholic.

Tonight wasn’t just about Damien’s birthday. It was his Alpha ceremony—an event as ancient as the pack itself. Today, it will be a day where he will be considered a true Alpha and soon whenever his father is ready to step down, Damien will take over his father.

In my opinion, the doom of the pack will begin that day.

The entire pack was here, dressed in their finest. Men wore sharp suits, their lapels adorned with the golden crest of our lineage, while the women wore flowing gowns that shimmered under the soft light. The elders sat on a raised platform, a silent reminder of the weight of tonight’s rituals.

I had been feeling off for days. A deep, unsettling tension coiling tighter and tighter inside me like a rubber band stretched too far. But standing here, watching him now, it felt unbearable.

I told myself it was just exhaustion from planning the entire event. But the ache in my chest wasn’t just fatigue.

The grand hall was drowning in luxury, every inch of it bathed in gold and black, reflecting the power of the Alpha family.

But beneath the shimmer of chandeliers and the soft melodies of the orchestra, there was an invisible divide. A line drawn in blood and power, separating those who belonged from those who merely served.

And I, as always, was on the wrong side of it.

I moved through the crowd, my black dress modest and functional, nothing like the glittering gowns that adorned the women here. My hands ached from setting up, from adjusting flower arrangements to directing the catering staff to ensure every ridiculous demand was met.

I was exhausted. But worse than the fatigue was the weight of the stares. After this party, I need to go on a run… a long run.

They weren’t looking at me as a guest. No. I was background noise. A shadow. An omega girl doing what omega girls were supposed to—serve and stay silent.

A pair of high-ranking she-wolves strolled past me, their gowns clinging to them like a second skin, their delicate perfumes invading my senses. One of them, Juliette, the daughter of an elite warrior, scoffed as her gaze flickered over me.

“She really thinks she belongs here,” she murmured to her friend, just loud enough for me to hear.

I clenched my jaw, swallowing the sharp retort that burned on my tongue. It wasn’t worth it. Not tonight. I don’t even want to belong with these snobs.

A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne flutes, and I quickly plucked one, needing something—anything—to wash down the bitterness clawing its way up my throat. Even though the wolves are allowed to drink after they turn 16 my parents wanted me to wait till 18, I am almost there, I guess.

But as I lifted it to my lips, a sharp voice stopped me.

“That’s not for you, omega.”

My fingers tightened around the glass, my pulse spiking as I turned to find Daniela standing there, her ever-present smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. She is Declan’s sister but is exactly opposite to him.

I should have expected it. If there was one person who delighted in reminding me of my place, it was Damien’s ever-loyal second-in-command’s sister.

“I organized this entire event,” I said, my voice even. “I think I deserve a drink.”

She chuckled, stepping closer, her scent laced with amusement and condescension. “Deserving and being allowed are two very different things, Scarlet.”

I held her gaze, refusing to be the first to look away.

For a moment, her smirk faltered, her amber eyes flickering with something unreadable. But before she could say another word, the energy in the room shifted.

Damien had entered.

The air grew heavier, charged with the presence of the soon-to-be Alpha. Conversations quieted, bodies subtly turned towards him, acknowledging his authority even without words.

I forced myself to look at him.

Damn him.

Damn the way he looked tonight like he belonged to this world of power and prestige effortlessly. Like he was born for it.

Because he was.

His stormy eyes swept over the room, assessing, ruling, until they landed on me. A flicker of something crossed his face—an unreadable emotion—but just as quickly, it was gone.

I braced myself.

For what, I wasn’t sure.

For him to acknowledge me? For him to ignore me?

But Damien simply turned away, greeting his guests with the charm and confidence expected of him.

It shouldn’t have stung.

But it did.

Today, he looked... different.

The black tailored suit clung perfectly to his broad frame, but it was the quiet power radiating from him that stole my breath. The golden embroidery of the Alpha crest traced the hem of his jacket, and a deep red sash lay across his chest—the mark of his bloodline. His face was calm, unreadable, but those stormy grey eyes... they were alive with something dangerous tonight.

I turned back to Daniela, lifting the champagne flute in a silent challenge before taking a slow, deliberate sip. Her smirk widened, but he didn’t stop me this time.

“We don’t do drama on special icassions, but don’t forget your place omega this day will end soon,” she murmured before walking away, disappearing into the sea of perfectly curated guests.

I exhaled sharply, my fingers curling around the glass as I forced my feet to move. I needed air.

Pushing past the throng of dancers and whispered conversations, I slipped onto the balcony, the cool night air a welcome relief against my heated skin. The distant sound of fireworks being prepared echoed in the night, a reminder that the celebration was far from over.

I leaned against the railing, my mind spinning.

This town. This pack.

No matter how hard I worked, no matter how much I proved myself, I would always be just an omega to them. A girl whose place was in the background, silent and invisible.

A girl who was only tolerated because of her usefulness.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

Because no matter how much I told myself I didn’t care, that it didn’t matter—deep down, it did.

It always did.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

The voice sent a shiver down my spine.

I turned slowly, my pulse hammering as Damien stepped onto the balcony, his presence overwhelming even in the open air.

His gaze was unreadable as he studied me, the flickering candlelight from inside casting shadows across his sharp features.

His jaw clenched at my silence and for a moment, I thought he might say something—something real.

But then he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “You are here to work, not chill around, get back downstairs.”

The rage burned inside me. I turned to leave, but before I could step past him, his fingers wrapped around my wrist.

Not harshly. Not in command.

Just… holding.

My breath hitched, my pulse roaring in my ears. His touch was warm, searing against my skin.

What the hell is going on with him?

The music shifted, slowing to a deeper, heavier melody.

The Ritual of the Alpha’s Ascension.

Whispers rippled through the crowd as the Elder of the pack, a silver-haired man named Elias, stepped forward. I stayed on the sideline away from the spectacle with other staff.

“Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate Damien Vanderwood’s 18th year but to witness the Rising of an Alpha. For generations, this ceremony has marked the transition from heir to leader—the moment an Alpha claims his place, not by birthright, but by power.”

I swallowed hard, the words echoing through my chest like a drum.

Damien had been preparing for this moment his entire life. His bloodline was the strongest, his father the legendary Alpha before him. And now, Damien would be tested.

Elias continued. “The Alpha must not only possess strength but command loyalty. Tonight, Damien will complete the Rite of Leadership.”

A heavy hush fell over the room.

I knew the ritual. I had read about it countless times while preparing the ceremony. Damien would have to demonstrate control—not just over his wolf, but over the pack’s energy itself. It was ancient magic, binding. And once completed, no one could question his authority.

But as I watched him step forward toward the center of the circle marked on the marble floor, that unsettling feeling returned.

My pulse raced for no reason. My skin tingled, heat curling at the back of my neck.

Something wasn’t right.

Elias raised a ceremonial dagger, the blade shimmering under the candlelight. “The Alpha's blood must be shed to seal the bond between leader and pack. Who bears witness to his claim?”

The Beta and Gamma stepped forward—Declan, who had been Damien’s best friend since childhood, and Leon, a powerful wolf with sharp eyes.

Both knelt before Damien, bowing their heads.

But my gaze locked on Damien's face.

There was something wrong with the way his eyes flicked across the crowd—searching.

And then his gaze met mine.

The entire room seemed to blur.

A sharp, electric jolt surged through me, so powerful my breath caught.

The tingling spread, stronger now—almost painful—as though my entire body was reacting. I staggered back a step, gripping the edge of a pillar to steady myself.

Damien’s eyes widened, his calm mask slipping.

I saw it there.

The same shock. The same recognition.

No.

It couldn’t be.

The blood oath was completed. The dagger nicked his palm, and a single drop of crimson fell onto the sigil marked in the marble.

The realization slammed into me so hard, that I barely noticed the way Damien staggered slightly when the connection solidified, his head snapping toward me once more, something wild and undeniable burning in his gaze now.

No.

No, no, no.

He already knew.

This couldn’t be happening.

Not after everything he had done. Not after the months of torment.

But the truth was undeniable.

I felt it in every cell of my body.

The bond wasn’t just real.

It was unbreakable.

But I wasn’t watching the ceremony anymore.

My heart was racing too fast, and my breath was shallow.

I knew what this was.

I had heard the stories. Read the old texts.

The bond.

The rarest, most dangerous connection between two wolves.

The mate bond.

And it had just snapped into place.

With Damien.

My tormentor, My bully, My Alpha, was my — mate…