Knotting His Rejected Breeder

RAMON’S POV

Lorena had fallen asleep when I heard a soft knock on my door. Her breathing was steady and deep, her body curled slightly on the bed as if seeking comfort even in sleep.

Carefully, I laid her on the bed, before rising to my feet. The mattress dipped slightly under my weight as I moved, the sheets whispering against her skin. I pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders, my fingers lingering for a moment on the fabric.

She finally made it to my bed. But Sonia did it before her. The thought slipped in uninvited, sharp and unwelcome, making my jaw clench as I pushed it away.

"Stop thinking about her! Stop drawing up comparisons! Just stop it!" I screamed internally at my rebellious mind. The voice in my head was loud, insistent, a constant battle I fought daily.

All it knew how to do was think about Sonia on times where it was not needed.

Lorena was asleep on my bed. Healthy Lorena who was carrying my child. The small swell of her belly under the blanket was a tangible reminder, a spark of hope in the darkness.

There was no point thinking about an offspring of someone as evil as Ferins. The image of Sonia’s face, her eyes cold and distant, flashed in my mind again, making my chest tighten with a familiar ache.

A second knock sounded, interrupting my thoughts. The sound was soft but persistent, pulling me back to the present.

I walked to the door, and as I opened it, I stepped out because I didn’t want to disturb Lorena. The hallway was dim, the torches flickering and casting long shadows across the stone walls.

Much to my surprise, it was Ivy behind the door. Her posture was straight, her expression guarded, but there was a weariness in her eyes that made my chest tighten with concern.

"Hey," I greeted first, because I barely saw her around. The distance between us had grown lately, a silent gap I didn’t know how to bridge.

I even heard that the other maids had started to gossip, because she was never in her position of duty. The whispers had reached my ears more than once, but I had chosen to ignore them, hoping she would come to me if she needed anything.

If she wanted the world to know she was my sister, I should be happy to oblige her request.

All she needed to do was tell me what she wanted.

Anything I could do to make her happy, I would do it in a heartbeat.

"Everything except throwing Lorena out," a voice in my head said, the stubborn whisper refusing to stay silent.

"Is Lorena in there?" She asked as if she had just read my thoughts, her eyes flicking toward the closed door behind me.

"Let’s not do this, shall we?" I asked in frustration, my hand still on the door handle as I stepped fully into the hallway.

"I’m not doing anything. I just wanted to know if she’s in there, hence the reason we’re talking out here."

"Yes, she’s in there. Happy?"

"You know I don’t care about Lorena, but you clearly do, so it’s whatever." She shrugged, her tone casual but carrying an undercurrent of something sharper.

I sighed, because I was sick and tired of this baseless back and forth. The constant tension between the two women had become exhausting, a drain on what little energy I had left.

"What do you want, Ivy?" I asked, my voice quieter now as I tried to push the irritation aside.

"Could we talk somewhere else? Anyone could hear us," she said, looking around the hallway, her eyes scanning the shadows as if expecting someone to appear.

I knew she meant Lorena. She just didn’t want to further annoy me, so she generalized it.

Sometimes, I did wonder where things had gone wrong between both women.

If my memory serves me right, they used to be close. Or at the very least, amicable. The memory of them laughing together in the early days flashed in my mind, a stark contrast to the cold distance now.

"Fine, let’s go."

I walked forward, and headed for my office room.

Whatever she had to discuss, I hope it was worth all this stress.

More importantly, I hoped that it had nothing to do with Lorena.

Even if it did, there had to be vivid receipts.

I couldn’t stand all the allegations without anything substantial to back it up. The constant whispers and accusations had worn on me, making trust feel like a fragile thing I could no longer afford.

I walked into my home office, right after excusing the guards around for the night. Their bows were quick and respectful, their footsteps fading as they moved down the hallway.

Ivy followed behind me, and shut the door behind her. The click of the lock was a small barrier, a moment of privacy in a pack that felt like it was closing in from all sides.

We sat, and she looked around first, before clearing her throat. Her fingers tapped lightly on the arm of the chair, a rare sign of nervousness from her.

"I’m leaving," she blurted out.

"What?!" I asked, stunned by her words. The room seemed to tilt slightly, the air growing thicker as panic clawed at my chest.

"You heard me. I’m leaving bloodmoon."

"Has it gotten to that, Ivy? Is this still about Lorena? Can’t we come to a common ground? You know I can’t stand it when you’re out of my sight," I panicked, because it was true. My voice rose slightly, the fear making it rough around the edges.

I got so paranoid everytime she wasn’t around.

It would hurt me forever if anything happened to her, and I wasn’t there to save her. The memory of losing my mother, the helplessness of that night, flashed in my mind, making my hands tremble slightly at my sides.

"Don’t be dramatic Ramon. It’s just for a few days. I’m not leaving permanently."

I breathed out in relief. Why couldn’t she have just led with that in the first place? The tension in my shoulders eased slightly, the knot in my stomach loosening just a fraction.

"You could have just said it was for a few days, okay? Besides, where are you headed?"

"I can’t tell you that. I just didn’t want you to worry about me when I left the pack. That’s why I’m telling you right now that I have to leave."

I weighed her words in my head. She was grown enough to control her movements.

She could do whatever she wanted, and I was happy that she even considered telling me she would be going away for a few days.

However, it still didn’t erase the fear I had of something terrible happening to her, and not being able to do anything about it. The worry gnawed at me, a constant ache that refused to fade completely.

"Are you going to be safe wherever you’re headed?" I asked, my voice quieter now, the concern clear in my tone.

"I hope so. I just need to clear my head for a few days. I can do that, can’t I?"

"You absolutely can. But I don’t want you to go alone. Do you understand me? I’m not trying to spy on you or anything of such, but I don’t want you to go on your own."

"I’m sorry, Ramon. I love and respect your opinions, but I’m not a child anymore. I can take care of myself. I know you’re worried about me, but I’m your sister, aren’t I? Doesn’t that mean I can defend myself?"

"Fine, but keep in mind that Blane will be going with you at least."

"Hell no!" She replied defensively, her eyes widening slightly as she sat up straighter.

That was quite odd. There was some weird energy between her, and Blane.

I didn’t understand what it was about, but it wasn’t something I wanted to dwell on. The tension between them had been noticeable lately, a silent current I had chosen to ignore until now.

"What about Daniel? You two are practically friends," I suggested, my voice steady as I tried to find a compromise.

"No please."

She was sweeter this time, which told me it was Blane she didn’t want to come with her the most. The reluctance in her voice was clear, a small crack in her usual composure.

"Fine. I can’t stop you. You’re old enough to make your decisions. I just need you to take care of yourself, okay? If you get into a dangerous situation, don’t hesitate to use your claws, and your canine."

"Sure."

She rose to her feet, and even without saying goodbye, walked to the door. Her steps were quick, purposeful, as if she couldn’t wait to leave.

However she stopped just before she could open it.

"Are you going to be fine?" She asked, causing me to smile. The concern in her voice warmed me, a small reminder of the bond we shared despite everything.

"Will you?"

"Yes, and you?"

"I’ll be fine, Ivy."

"Good. Goodnight."

She closed the door behind her, and I didn’t release the breath I was holding until her footsteps faded. The silence that followed felt heavier than before, the weight of her departure settling over me like a physical burden.

My hand went to the landline, and I began to dial a number. The receiver felt cool against my ear, the familiar click of the connection grounding me for a moment.

She had every right to go wherever she chose, but I had to know her whereabouts.

"I need you to follow my sister," I said, the second the person at the end of the line answered. My voice was low, steady, the command coming naturally despite the turmoil inside me.