Knotting His Rejected Breeder

SONIA’S POV

I held on to my chest, as an invisible force pushed me to the ground. The world tilted suddenly, the floor rushing up to meet me as a sharp pain exploded behind my eyes. My vision blurred, colors and shapes bleeding together in a dizzying swirl.

A hand caught me before I could fall, strong and steady, dragging me to the bed. Ivy’s arm wrapped around my waist, her body warm against mine as she guided me down onto the soft mattress. The fabric of the sheets felt cool beneath my palms, grounding me slightly as the room spun.

The memories came in unclear pictures at first, fragmented flashes that made my head throb. Blurred faces, the scent of the forest at night, the distant sound of water rushing nearby.

Then slowly, they morphed into loops, repeating over and over until they sharpened into something almost recognizable. The pain in my head was enough to send anyone to the realms of death, a relentless pounding that made my teeth clench and my eyes water.

Burdened by it, I closed my eyes, desperate for it to stop. My hands pressed against my temples, fingers digging in as if I could physically push the agony away. Sweat beaded on my forehead, trickling down my temples as my breathing grew ragged.

"Sonia!" I heard my name being called, Ivy’s voice distant and worried, but all I could focus on was the memory, and the pain that followed it.

The images kept flashing, leaving Ramon’s room, the cool night air on my skin, the path through the woods, shadows moving between the trees.

But all of a sudden, it all vanished. I opened my eyes, and it was clear as day. As if nothing had happened. The room came back into focus, the soft afternoon light streaming through the window, the faint scent of wildflowers from the vase on the dresser. My body felt heavy, drained, but the crushing pain was gone, leaving only a dull ache behind my eyes.

"Sonia?" Ivy’s voice was closer now, her hand gently brushing hair from my face as she leaned over me.

I hugged Ivy tightly, completely frightened by what I had just experienced. My arms wrapped around her, clinging as if she were the only solid thing in a world that had just shifted beneath me.

If it was that bad, how would it be when I eventually got my memory back in its entirety? The thought sent a fresh wave of fear through me, my stomach twisting at the possibility of reliving everything in vivid detail.

"Hey, wait here. I’ll go get some water for you to drink."

She rose to her feet, and hurried out of the room, her footsteps quick on the wooden floor. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving me alone with the lingering echoes of the memory.

I brought my hand to my head, wondering where they had gone. That pain was too intense to have just vanished without a trace. My fingers pressed lightly against my temple, the skin still warm and slightly damp from the ordeal.

My heart suddenly kicked, and my head went down. Before I could even so much as take my next breath, my hand went to my stomach.

"Please," I whispered, and as I touched it, I breathed easy again.

Ivy returned with a bottle of water, and a glass cup. Her steps were hurried, the liquid sloshing slightly as she moved across the room.

"I met a man and a woman downstairs. They said they’re your servants. Here," she said, giving me the water she had turned into the glass, as she told me about the servants she saw downstairs. Her voice was steady, but her eyes were full of worry as she watched me closely.

I accepted the glass, and took it all in one gulp. The cool liquid soothed my dry throat, spreading through me like a small wave of calm as I drained it completely.

"How do you feel now?" She asked right after, setting the empty glass aside as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Much better, I’ll tell you that." The words came out steadier, the pounding in my head reduced to a faint echo.

"Good. Now could you kindly explain what the heck happened?"

"It was a flash, Ivy. When you said Blane was your mate, it was like I was transported back in time. You know? The night I almost died."

"Wait, you remember?!" She raised her voice in alarm, as she hurried and sat beside me, her hand reaching for mine.

"Not in detail. Just flashes. I remember leaving Ramon’s room, and then going through the woods to the house. I saw you, Ivy. I saw you and Blane together."

"Really?" She blushed, and tossed her face to the side, her cheeks turning a soft pink as she avoided my eyes for a moment.

"Yeah. I can’t really remember clearly, but you two were intimate," I gasped right after I said that.

No wonder she was acting shy. I guess I shouldn’t have said that. The realization made my own face warm, a small awkwardness settling between us for a beat.

"Hey, I’m sorry I spoke about that. I didn’t mean to make things awkward," I said, after allowing a few seconds of silence to pass between us. My hand reached for hers, squeezing gently in apology.

She turned to me with a smile on her face, the blush fading as she met my eyes again.

"Who cares? I am happy with Blane, and now you have a part of your memory back. I think soon enough, you’d have everything back, including your wolf, and your baby."

"Oh, you noticed?" It was my turn for my face to fall, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach again.

"Yeah. Your wolf is pretty iconic, and difficult to miss. She announces your presence most times."

I sighed sadly. "I miss her too. A whole lot. A part of me feels empty, even though I know she’s in there somewhere. Do you think if I get all of my memories back, she’ll return?"

"I haven’t exactly thought of it that way, but it does make sense. After all, she disappeared right after you woke from a near death experience."

"Oh Ivy, I missed you so much. You can’t even imagine just how much I did." The words came out thick with emotion, my eyes stinging as I pulled her into another hug. Her arms wrapped around me tightly, the familiar comfort of her embrace easing some of the lingering fear.

"Wait until I show you what I brought you," Ivy said, mischief dancing in her eyes as she pulled back.

"What’s that?"

She rose to her feet, and walked over to the spot she had dropped her bag. Reaching into it, she pulled out something, and turned around.

"Ta-da!" She projected the book my mother left me forward.

"It’s her!" I gasped, and jumped to collect it from her hands. The leather cover was smooth under my fingers, the weight of it familiar and precious as I brought it to my chest.

I brought it to my chest, and held on dearly to it.

"I didn’t think I’d see her again. I’m so glad you brought it with you. Thank you so much, Ivy." My voice cracked slightly as I traced the cover with my fingertips.

"You’re welcome. But now, it’s time for you to eat. So just set everything aside, and—" she paused, and sniffed into the air. "Smell that?"

"Smells delicious," I said, my eyes watering, and my mouth already rumbling for food. The rich aroma wafted up the stairs, savory and warm, making my stomach growl loudly.

I found a comfortable space for the book, and dropped it after kissing its covers. The gesture felt right, a small ritual of gratitude as I set it gently on the nightstand.

In a way, I felt reunited with my mother. Going forward, whatever would happen to me, I knew she would guide my path, and protect me.

"Are you ready to leave?" She asked, standing and offering her hand.

"You’re asking as if we’re travelling somewhere," I laughed, taking her hand as I stood.

"We might as well be, because I’m starving."

We laughed in sync, as we made our way to the dining room. The hallway felt brighter now, the weight of the earlier memory lifting slightly with each step.

"Good afternoon, princess," Gerald, like I’d later learn was his name, greeted, as we walked into the dining room. His voice was warm and respectful, his posture straight as he pulled out a chair for me.

His mate Stella, joined us shortly after with the meals. The plates were steaming, the rich scents of roasted meat and fresh bread filling the air as she set them down carefully.

It was towards evening when we decided to leave the dining room, even though we had long finished eating. The sun had dipped lower, casting long golden shadows across the room as we pushed our chairs back.

"You’re going to stay the night, right?" I asked Ivy, as we headed for my room, my hand linked with hers.

"Of course! I’ll even stay for a week, before I return back to bloodmoon. I’m sure Ramon doesn’t need me."

I sensed some hurt in her voice, but waited until we were seated on my bed, before I asked her anything. The mattress dipped under our weight, the familiar creak comforting as I turned to face her fully.

"Do you two have issues?"

"Huh?" She turned her head towards me. "Do I have issues with who?"

"Ramon."

Even calling his name felt weird, but I guess I couldn’t escape it. The word tasted bitter on my tongue, stirring old memories I wasn’t ready to face again.

"Not really. I just don’t like Lorena, and he knows, but thinks we’re all being paranoid. He’s blinded by the fact she’s pregnant for him. I’m still not even sure it’s his child," she finished off with a sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"Do you think he’s going to be a good father?" The question had left my mouth before I realized it wasn’t the same anymore. I was now talking to the sister of the alpha, whose child I was carrying. The realization made my stomach twist, a fresh wave of uncertainty washing over me.

Our eyes met, and it was only the empathy I saw in her eyes that made me relax long enough to force a smile.

"I think the truth is going to get exposed before he gets that opportunity."

"We’ll see about that," I whispered, staring into space as the weight of everything settled over me once more. The future felt uncertain, but with Ivy here, it didn’t feel quite as lonely.