Knotting His Rejected Breeder

Sonia felt off all day and the pull in her chest started early. It tugged stronger than before. Warm and steady, It made her stop in the middle of folding clothes. Her hand pressed against her ribs.

The feeling brought flashes.

Ramon’s face came first, then his eyes looked different in the memory. Not cold. Not angry. Something softer. His voice followed. Low. Rough. The way he had called her name that night in the woods.

The night they had been intimate. His hands on her skin.

The heat between them, the way he had held her after, the memory made her breath catch. She shook her head and kept folding. The cloth felt soft between her fingers, but the pull stayed and It made her restless.

Ivy sat on the edge of the bed. She watched Sonia move around the room. "You look tired," Ivy said. Her voice stayed gentle. "Come sit with me for a while."

Sonia put the cloth down. She walked over and sat next to Ivy. The bed dipped under their weight. Ivy took her hand and the touch felt warm.

Sonia leaned against her shoulder. "I feel strange today," she said. "Like something is pulling at me. It makes the memories come back stronger."

Ivy squeezed her hand. "What memories?"

Sonia looked down at their joined hands and she wasn’t sure how to explain it.

The memories didn’t feel like ordinary memories anymore.

They came with warmth and with longing. Sometimes they felt so real she almost expected to hear Ramon’s voice beside her.

That frightened her more than she wanted to admit.

Sonia looked at the floor. "Ramon. The night in the woods. The way he touched me. The way he looked at me. It feels real again. Like he is close."

Ivy stayed quiet for a moment. She rubbed Sonia’s hand with her thumb. "The bond does that sometimes. Especially when you carry his child. It gets stronger. It makes you remember the good parts."

Sonia looked at her in surprise.

"You really think that’s what this is?"

Ivy nodded. "I’ve heard older wolves speak about it."

She continued. "A true mate bond doesn’t disappear just because people are apart. Sometimes it grows louder. Especially when a child is involved."

Sonia nodded slowly, her free hand went to her belly. The round curve felt firm under her palm. The baby moved softly. A small kick.

She laughed quietly. "There you are."

Another tiny kick answered her hand. Her smile grew without her realizing it.

"You’re awake today."

Ivy smiled. "Looks like someone wants attention already."

Sonia rubbed her belly in slow circles. "You’ll never know how much I already love you."

It made her smile a little, but the smile faded fast. "What if he finds out? What if my father finds out first? I am scared for this child. I do not want it to grow up in hate like I did."

Ivy turned to face her, her eyes looked kind. "You will protect this child. I see it in you every day. You are stronger than you think. The fear is there but you keep moving. That is what matters."

Sonia lowered her head, she didn’t feel strong. She felt tired. Some mornings she woke up missing Ramon.

Other mornings she hated herself for missing him. Loving someone who had hurt her wasn’t easy. Forgetting him seemed impossible.

Sonia felt tears sting her eyes. Pregnancy made everything bigger. The emotions came fast. She wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I read my mother’s book again this morning. She wrote about strength. About protecting what you love even when the world tries to take it. I want to be like that. I want my child to feel safe."

One page had stayed with her all morning.

The world will try to convince you that kindness is weakness. Don’t believe it.

The strongest hearts are the ones that keep loving after they’ve been broken.

Sonia swallowed hard. "She wrote that before she died."

"Sometimes I wonder if she knew what my life would become."

Ivy smiled softly. "You already are. Look at you. You left everything to keep this baby safe. That is strength."

They sat together for a while. The room felt quieter. The light from the window touched the floor in soft lines. Sonia leaned back against the pillows. Her hand stayed on her belly. The pull in her chest came again, Stronger. It brought another flash. Ramon’s voice in her ear.

The way he had whispered her name that night. The heat of his body against hers. She closed her eyes. The memory felt warm. Real. But it brought pain too. She had loved him at that moment. She still did in some small part. But she could not go back. Not after everything.

Gerald knocked on the door later. He stepped in with a tray. "I brought some fruit and tea," he said. His voice stayed kind. He set the tray on the small table. Stella followed behind him. She carried fresh linens. "You look distracted today, princess," Stella said. Her eyes softened when she looked at Sonia. "Is the little one giving you trouble?"

Sonia smiled a little. "A bit. But I am okay. Thank you for the food. And please, call me Sonia,"

Gerald nodded. "We are here if you need anything. Rest when you can. The body works hard when it carries new life."

They left after a few more words. Sonia ate the fruit slowly. The sweetness helped settle her stomach. Ivy watched her. "They care about you," Ivy said. "They see you as family already."

Sonia nodded. "It feels good. But it also makes me worry more. What if my father finds this place? What if he takes everything away again?"

Ivy took her hand again. "We will face it together. You are not alone anymore."

Sonia felt the words settle in her chest. She finished the fruit and stood up. She walked to the window. The garden looked peaceful outside. Flowers moved gently in the breeze.

She touched her belly again. The baby kicked soft. It made her smile. "I will protect you," she whispered. "No matter what. You will not grow up in fear. I promise."

The pull in her chest came again. Stronger this time. It made her breath catch. She closed her eyes. Ramon’s face appeared once more. His eyes. His hands. The way he had held her. The memory felt close. Too close. She opened her eyes and looked out at the garden.

The feeling didn’t leave.

If anything, it grew stronger.

She wrapped both arms around herself.

It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t painful. It felt...familiar. Like someone she had loved was only a heartbeat away.

Tears burned behind her eyes before she understood why.

Her hand slipped back to her belly. The baby kicked gently. She smiled through the ache in her chest.

"Did you feel him too?"

The question escaped before she could stop it.

She looked toward the quiet forest one last time.

Nothing moved.

No one stood there. And yet...She couldn’t shake the feeling that Ramon had been closer than either of them realized.

"Ramon..." she whispered into the breeze.

The wind carried his name away.