Knotting His Rejected Breeder

SONIA’S POV

"Seth, wait for me!" I called as I ran after him, my voice echoing down the long hallway.

My feet pounded against the stone floor, the sound sharp in the quiet space as I tried to close the distance between us.

He stopped at the hallway, and turned to me. His shoulders were tense, his expression guarded as he waited, the torchlight casting long shadows across his face.

"What?" He asked, his voice flat, the single word carrying more weight than it should have.

"We need to talk," I replied, my breath coming in short bursts as I slowed to a stop in front of him. My heart was still racing from the confrontation with our father, the adrenaline making my hands tremble slightly at my sides.

"Fine, talk."

I looked around, and saw some wolves coming our way. Their footsteps were steady, their voices low as they discussed pack matters, but their presence made my skin prickle with unease. I couldn’t risk anyone overhearing what I needed to say.

"In private," I said, and he sighed, the sound heavy with resignation.

"Let’s go."

We walked to my room, and he opened the door for me to go in first.

I entered the room, and he followed behind me.

He shut the door, and leaned his back against it. His arms crossed over his chest, his posture closed off as he waited for me to speak.

"What do you want to talk about, Sonia?" He asked, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of exhaustion.

"Are you mad at me?" I retorted, not understanding his tone. The distance in his eyes hurt more than I expected, a sharp pang in my chest that made it hard to breathe.

"I’m not mad at you, Sonia. I just want to know what’s on your mind."

"A lot. I was expecting you’d defend me in the presence of the others. You do understand why I absolutely can’t marry alpha Liam, right?"

"I do. And you’re well within your rights to marry whoever you choose to marry. I just don’t know why you felt like I didn’t support you."

"Maybe because it seemed like it was only Jed speaking up for me." The memory of the others’ silence still stung, a quiet betrayal that made my throat tight.

"And when have you ever known Jed to speak up for anything that doesn’t serve his selfish interest?" He fired back as if he had that in mind all day, his voice sharp with frustration.

"Fine, you win. I just wanted to hear that you’re on my side. If you are, then that’s fine with me."

I rose to my feet, and spread my hand in surrender. The gesture felt small, almost childish, but it was all I had left in that moment. My legs felt unsteady beneath me, the weight of the day pressing down on my shoulders like a physical burden.

I expected him to leave, since it felt like he’d rather be anywhere else than in the same room with me.

Frankly, I still didn’t believe he wasn’t mad at me.

I just didn’t know what I could have done for him to be that way towards me. The distance in his eyes, the way he held himself apart, made my chest ache with confusion and hurt.

He couldn’t want me to marry alpha Liam, could he?

I was confused, and didn’t know what to do at this point. The future felt like a dark tunnel with no light at the end, the possibilities too terrifying to fully consider.

"Besides the fact he’s Alpha Ramon’s friend, why else do you not want to marry him?" He asked, much to my surprise. His voice was quieter now, more thoughtful, as if he was genuinely trying to understand.

"Because I just don’t want to. Isn’t that reason enough?"

He nodded his head, as his expression went blank. The lack of emotion in his face made my stomach twist, a fresh wave of uncertainty washing over me.

"You know Sonia, for someone who is accusing me of hiding my true feelings, I think you’re doing even worse. But the truth always comes to light anyway, so I’ll wait patiently."

He walked out of my room, leaving me totally speechless. The door clicked shut behind him, the sound final and heavy in the sudden silence. My legs gave out, and I sank onto the edge of the bed, my hands trembling in my lap as I stared at the closed door.

"What was that about?" I questioned myself in disbelief, my voice barely above a whisper.

I just wanted to know that the brother who I had always been closest to had my back.

"Well you’re lying to him too. You didn’t tell him about your condition."

"It’s not a condition!" I found myself defending my pregnancy against the voices in my head, before I could stop myself.

My hand moved to my stomach instinctively, the small flutter inside me—real or imagined, making my chest tighten with a mix of fear and something warmer, something protective.

I paused, and a big smile spread on my face. The expression felt foreign after the day’s turmoil, but it came unbidden, a small spark of light in the darkness.

I didn’t think I’d ever have any bit of maternal instinct.

I had just experienced my very first one.

The urge to always protect the child against all odds. The thought of the life growing inside me, innocent and vulnerable, made my resolve harden, a quiet strength blooming in my chest despite the fear.

My hand went to my stomach, as I drew closer to my mirror. The reflection staring back at me looked tired, eyes shadowed with exhaustion, but there was a new softness there, a quiet determination that hadn’t been present before.

It couldn’t be over a month yet. But I was curious to know what I’d look like when I began to get bigger. The image of my body changing, the swell of my belly, both terrified and intrigued me, a tangible reminder of the choices I had made and the ones still ahead.

"You can’t be here when that happens, can you?" I muttered, my voice barely audible as I traced a hand over my still-flat stomach. The thought of staying in Silverpaw, of raising a child under my father’s watchful eye, made my stomach twist with dread.

I really couldn’t. Not only would my father kill me first, Wolf would snap me into two before father got to me.

He had much of our fathers temper, and this just made him even scarier. The memory of his growl earlier, the way his voice had shaken the room, sent a shiver down my spine.

I returned to the bed, and sat down, as I began to strategize my next move. My mind raced through possibilities, each one more daunting than the last, but the need to protect this child—my child—pushed me forward.

It had to be something that was sure to protect both my life, and the life of my child.

The illogical and simpler thing would be to agree to Liam.

But I couldn’t afford to be illogical. It wasn’t just my life on the line here. The thought of dragging an innocent child into the mess of my past made my chest tighten with fear.

The second Liam discovered I was pregnant, he’d drag me to Ramon.

I’d die first before I gave him the satisfaction of laughing in my face again. The image of Ramon’s cold eyes, his indifference, flashed in my mind, making my hands clench into fists at my sides.

And even if by some stroke of luck, he decides me and my child are worth fighting for, I couldn’t trust myself around Lorena.

She was desperate and would do everything to be number one in Ramon’s eyes. The thought of her near my child, her jealousy and ambition a constant threat, made my stomach churn with protective anger.

That kind of person was the exact kind person I didn’t want my precious child to grow up around. The resolve hardened in my chest, a quiet fire that burned away some of the fear.

"Sonia, I brought you something sweet," I heard Lydia’s voice from behind my door. The sound was soft, concerned, a small lifeline in the storm of my thoughts.

Truth was, I didn’t really want to see, or talk to anyone.

Unfortunately, I had been a bit rude to her recently, when all she did was try to help me. The guilt twisted in my gut, a reminder of how isolated I had become.

I had to make it up to her, because something told me I’d be needing her help soon.

"It’s open, come in," I raised my voice so she could hear me, my hand still resting protectively on my stomach.

She opened the door, and walked in with a tray in her hand.

"What’s that?" I asked, as she brought it to the bed where I was seated, my curiosity piqued.

"Open it!" She clapped, her eyes bright with excitement as she set the tray down carefully.

I did, and the smell hit me directly in my nose. The rich, hearty aroma of oxtail soup wafted up, warm and inviting, making my mouth water in a way it hadn’t in weeks.

"Is this—" I gasped, waiting for me to gag, but I surprisingly didn’t.

The smell didn’t make me nauseous. In fact, it made me hungry, which I hadn’t been in weeks. The realization brought a small, surprised smile to my lips, a tiny moment of normalcy in the chaos.

"Yeah, it’s oxtail soup. I made it myself. I’ve been thinking of ways to make you eat, you know? You need all of the strength you can get," she said, her voice soft with concern as she watched me.

Walking to the door, she closed it, before returning to me. The click of the lock was a small comfort, a barrier against the world outside.

"How do you feel?" She asked, her eyes searching mine as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Hungry," I said, eyeing the soup as my tongue watered. The steam rose gently from the bowl, carrying the rich scent that made my stomach rumble again.

"I meant about you know what," she lowered her voice, her hand resting lightly on my arm.

"Oh don’t even get me started. But can I at least eat first? I’d hate it if I suddenly felt nauseous."

"Please do," she said, stepping back and giving me some space, her smile encouraging as she watched me.

"Thank you," I muttered, as I dug in. The first spoonful was warm and savory, the flavors bursting on my tongue in a way that made my eyes close with unexpected pleasure. For the first time in weeks, food didn’t feel like a chore.

Tomorrow, I have a big decision to make. A decision that was sure to change everything.