Knotting His Rejected Breeder

RAMON’S POV

It was already quite an insightful day for me. The weight of Hazel’s words still lingered in my mind, a heavy cloud that refused to dissipate no matter how much I tried to push it away.

After I left the cell, I went to one of my secret hiding places. The path through the woods was familiar, the leaves crunching softly under my boots as I moved deeper into the trees.

Somewhere I could be at peace. Where no one, not even Ivy could find me. The small clearing opened up before me, the river nearby flowing gently, its sound a constant, soothing murmur that usually calmed the storm inside me.

There I reflected on everything I heard directly from Hazel. The words replayed in my head like a broken record, each one cutting deeper than the last. The betrayal felt like a fresh wound, raw and bleeding, making my chest tighten with every breath.

Whilst it was something to raise a brow too, something told me I still needed to talk to Moon.

He was at the center of all of this, and I needed to speak to him directly. The questions burned in my mind, demanding answers I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear.

That wasn’t the only case. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Jenner told me. The accusation about Lorena and Ferins kept circling, a poisonous whisper that refused to fade.

Everyone kept saying the same thing. They were even beginning to sound like a broken record.

But the problem was that I didn’t know what to believe.

Everyone couldn’t be wrong right? But what if this was the rare case where they were all wrong? The doubt gnawed at me, a constant ache that made my head throb.

What if I chose to believe them, and ended up regretting it later?

I wasn’t feeling like much of an alpha lately.

My alpha senses had been blurred. I couldn’t even make out a lie from the truth. The uncertainty made me feel weak, vulnerable in a way I hadn’t felt in years.

I sat facing a tree filled with ripened oranges. The bright fruit hung heavy from the branches, their sweet scent drifting on the breeze, but it did nothing to ease the knot in my stomach.

If I liked oranges, I would have plucked half of the tree already.

But I realized seconds after that I was just looking for a distraction. Anything to keep my thoughts from wandering towards the direction it was headed. The images of Sonia, of Lorena, of the child I hoped was mine—all of it pressed down on me, making my chest feel tight.

I closed my eyes, and I couldn’t stop my mind from picturing her.

It was always the case when I went for these solitude missions.

I would be doing great, until out of nowhere, she would appear in my head. Her smile, her eyes, the way she had looked at me by the river, all of it flooded back, uninvited and overwhelming.

No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake her off.

She had gotten deep into my system, and all I could think of when I tried to silent my mind was her. The memory of her voice, cold and final, still echoed in my ears, a constant reminder of how everything had crumbled.

"Sonia," my lips moved, calling her name, as my mind conjured a picture of her.

Sonia crying. Sonia smiling. Sonia laughing. Sonia coming to hug, or kiss me, after using her healing powers, just so I could recharge her. Sonia giggling in my ears, as I made love to her. Sonia, shy, but insightful.

All shades of Sonia. The good, the beautiful, and the intelligent, because I couldn’t think of a single bad thing about her. The way she had fought for Moon, the quiet strength in her eyes even when I had pushed her to her limits, it all came rushing back, making my chest ache with a pain I couldn’t name.

Except for the day I risked my life to bring her back to me, and she blatantly refused me.

My ego had taken the biggest hit of my entire life.

I hadn’t gone with enough armor, so I couldn’t even risk the consequences, and wage instant war, like a brave alpha would do.

Instead, I had left with my tail tucked in between my legs. The memory of walking away, the weight of her rejection heavy on my shoulders, still burned like a fresh brand.

"Coward," I whispered, and the gentle breeze that made up the afternoon, carried my words around. The leaves rustled softly, as if agreeing with me, the sound mocking in its gentleness.

I had been a coward. I have been the biggest coward.

But I couldn’t be a coward that basked in self pity. The thought of wallowing in it made my skin crawl, a fresh wave of determination pushing through the pain.

It was time for an action, having spent so long being inactive. The need to do something, anything, burned in my veins, pushing me to my feet.

Rising to my feet, I began to return back to the pack. The path back felt longer, each step carrying the weight of everything unsaid and unresolved.

"Where have you been?" I heard behind my back, just as I got to my quarters. The voice was familiar, sharp with concern and a hint of frustration.

"Leave me alone, Daisy," I replied without turning my head behind to look at her, my steps quickening slightly.

"Wrong answer. I came here to help you. I just can’t leave you alone."

"Do you realize that you have a pack?" I asked her, my voice rough as I kept walking, the door to my quarters just ahead.

"I do. A huge pack," she gloated, her footsteps matching mine as she followed.

"Do you realize big large packs need their alpha’s? I’d never understand leaving my pack for another pack, the way you and Liam do. Are you that bored, and jobless? Or is there nothing fun to keep you in your pack?" I asked, hoping my harsh words would irritate her enough to leave. The irritation in my voice was real, a defense against the constant pressure from everyone around me.

I forgot I was dealing with a maniac, but was hastily reminded when she burst into a fit of laughter. The sound was bright and unfiltered, cutting through the tension like a knife.

"What’s so funny?" I asked, stopping and turning to face her. My eyes narrowed, the frustration clear on my face as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"You of course. You’re trying unnecessarily hard to be mean. Maybe you think if you are, it would push me away. But it already does have the opposite effect. Makes me want to stick around, and annoy you, whilst also helping you. What do you say?"

"I say go to hell," I replied, and continued walking, my steps quicker now as I tried to put distance between us.

I hastened my step so she didn’t catch up with me, because I was done talking. The door to my quarters was just ahead, a small sanctuary I desperately needed.

"Hey, wait up!" She called after me, her voice carrying easily in the quiet hallway.

I hurried into my room, and slammed the door shut behind me. The sound echoed in the space, a small release of the tension building inside me.

Thankfully, the person I wanted to see was there. Lorena stood near the window, her figure silhouetted against the fading light, a small swell already visible in her belly.

"What are you doing in my room?" I asked, realizing she was really in there without my knowledge. The sight of her brought a mix of relief and something heavier, a reminder of the questions I still needed answers to.

"Oh common, Ramon. I thought we were way past that?" she drawled, turning to face me with a small smile, her hand resting lightly on her stomach.

I regarded her briefly with my eyes. She was starting to swell in her face. Soon, she would have a protruding belly.

It was that thought that kept me from raising my voice at her.

"Lorena, we need to talk," I said, walking over to my bed. The mattress dipped under my weight as I sat, the familiar creak grounding me for a moment.

I sat, and she sat next to me with a worried expression over her face. Her hand reached for mine, her fingers warm and steady against my skin.

"What is it? Did something happen?"

I didn’t know how to tell her this, or even ask her the questions on my mind without upsetting her.

I didn’t want to upset her, and in extension, upset my child.

She was already fragile, and delicate as it was. The thought of causing her stress made my chest tighten, a protective instinct I couldn’t ignore.

"Hey, ask me anything. Talk to me about anything at all," she said, placing her hands in mine. Her eyes searched mine, open and trusting, making the questions I needed to ask feel even heavier.

I looked down at our fingers joined together, but my wolf wished it was with someone else. The thought of Sonia flashed in my mind, uninvited and painful, making my jaw clench.

Ignoring its needs, I tried to sweeten the question by smiling first. The expression felt forced, tight on my face, but I held it as best I could.

Right after, I asked what was on my mind.

"Have you betrayed me in any way, Lorena?"

Her brow shot up, and she made to move back, but I held her hands firmly in mine. The warmth of her skin grounded me, even as the doubt swirled in my mind.

"I just want to be sure we’re on the same page. Have you betrayed me."

"I can’t believe you’d ask something that despicable. Is that how low you think of me?"

Her lips began to vibrate, and right before my eyes, she burst into tears. The sight of her crying, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs, made my chest ache with a mix of guilt and uncertainty.