Knotting His Rejected Breeder

RAMON’S POV

I strode into the trial hall with only one goal burning in my chest: to finally set my revenge in motion. It started today. It started with Hazel.

The heavy wooden doors groaned behind me as every member of the pack present rose to their feet in unison. The air was thick with tension, the scent of polished stone and nervous sweat hanging heavy. Hazel stood tied to the thick central post like the traitor he had proven himself to be. I didn’t feel much for him anymore. The admiration I once held had curdled into cold indifference. I just wanted this part over with.

I climbed the steps to the raised stage, my boots echoing sharply in the silence. "Any last words?" I asked, my voice flat and final.

Hazel lifted his head, meeting my gaze steadily despite the ropes biting into his wrists. A faint smile touched his lips. "You deserve better," he said.

I paused for the briefest second, something almost like respect flickering through me. Even now, facing death, he remembered what I had drilled into every warrior under my command. A wolf’s pride must always come first. He had betrayed me, but he hadn’t broken.

"Choice of weapon?" I continued.

"Whichever the Alpha deems fit," he replied without hesitation.

The entire hall held its breath. I could feel hundreds of eyes boring into me, waiting. "The axe," I pronounced coldly.

Without another word, I turned on my heel and began walking out. Behind me, Hazel’s voice rose in a final shout. "When you kill Ferins, do not have any regrets!"

I didn’t stop. Didn’t turn around. My steps carried me straight out of the hall and toward my home office, the weight of what I had just ordered settling like iron in my gut. But regret? No. Not today.

Blane and Daniel were already waiting when I pushed open the heavy oak door. They had finally proven useful. On his knees in the center of the room was Moon. After five long months of searching, they had dragged him back.

I stepped inside, letting the door click shut behind me. "Ivy didn’t seem to help you that much if we still managed to find you," I said, my tone even.

Moon kept his head bowed, shoulders trembling slightly. Whether from shame or fear, I couldn’t bring myself to care. Right now, feelings were a luxury I couldn’t afford. Action was all that mattered.

"I want the truth," I continued, lowering myself into the chair behind my desk. "But first, I need to see someone’s reaction."

I leaned back and waited. The minutes stretched. When the door finally opened again, the person who entered wasn’t the one I had been expecting.

"Seriously, Ramon?!" Ivy’s voice cracked through the room like a whip the second her eyes landed on Moon kneeling there.

Moon’s head snapped up immediately. "Ivy," he called, his voice shaky and raw.

"I can’t believe you. I can’t believe Blane either." Her chest rose and fell rapidly, anger flushing her cheeks. "Did you make him get Moon’s whereabouts from me?"

I watched her closely, keeping my expression neutral. "Good of you to finally return to the pack at your convenience. You’ve been leaving more frequently than usual lately. Care to explain why?"

"Right after you tell me why you had Blane use his manipulative skills to get information on Moon from me," she shot back.

"Shouldn’t you be in the best position to answer that?" I countered. "From where I’m sitting, you allowed yourself to be manipulated. The real question is—why?"

I saw the emotions flicker across her face, anger, guilt, frustration. As much as I loved my sister, she was hiding things from me. It stung deeper than I wanted to admit. Despite all our disagreements, I had always tried to keep her close, to include her. Apparently, she didn’t feel the same.

"This isn’t fair to him, Ramon," her voice softened suddenly, pleading. "It’s bad enough he’s spent the last five months looking over his shoulder. What more do you want from him? Didn’t Hazel confess already? Isn’t that why you’re having him killed?"

"What makes you think I want to hurt Moon?" I asked, tilting my head.

She gestured sharply toward him. "I have eyes. He doesn’t exactly look like someone who’s about to be rewarded. Look how scared he is."

My gaze shifted to Moon. He was shaking like a leaf, pale and wide-eyed. Maybe he should have considered the consequences before running. The thought felt hypocritical even in my own head—after all, my own sister had helped him.

"Moon, get up," I ordered.

He scrambled to his feet and quickly moved behind Ivy, seeking her protection.

"You really think if I wanted to hurt you, she could stop me?" I scoffed.

"No, Alpha," he answered quickly, shaking his head hard.

"Stop scaring him, Ramon," Ivy snapped. "All he’s done is try to help this pack. Frankly, I don’t understand why the people who actually try to help you end up punished while people like—"

I raised a finger to my lips, silencing her. She caught on instantly and went quiet.

The door swung open right on cue. Lorena waddled in, her heavy, protruding belly leading the way. She started speaking casually, "Hey, I wanted to—" but froze the moment her eyes landed on Moon. The color drained from her face so fast I almost smiled.

All my lingering questions clicked into place. I had seen enough.

"Are you surprised to see Moon?" I asked calmly.

Lorena recovered quickly, sneering instead. "Even more surprised to see that bitch. Why do you keep her around? I’ll never understand why you’re so close to her." She acted as if the sight of Moon hadn’t rattled her at all.

I tried catching Ivy’s eye, but she looked thoroughly fed up.

"Look here, Ramon," Ivy said, turning to me. "You better tell your whore to watch her tongue around me. I’m sick and tired of her madness, and I swear I’m this close to ripping her head off if she doesn’t learn to control that venom she calls a tongue, or else I’ll rip that child. And as for Moon—he’s coming with me. Whatever questions you have for him, you know where to find us."

Ivy turned to leave, but I kept my stare fixed on Lorena. The pure shock in her eyes was almost comical. She clearly couldn’t believe how boldly Ivy had spoken to me or that I had allowed it.

"Are you just going to let her talk to me like that? And about R-I-P your baby?" Lorena demanded, mouth still hanging open.

"Why wouldn’t I?" I shrugged, letting a slow, wicked smile curve my lips. "She’s my sister, after all. Is that child even mine, Lorena?" I smirked.