Knotting His Rejected Breeder

"She’s due soon. Would you show your face to her before the baby comes?" Blane asked on their way back to Bloodmoon.

Alpha Ramon made a scoffing sound at the back of his throat. The horse moved steady beneath him. The road felt long. His mind stayed heavy. He did not want to think about Lorena right now. Not after everything.

"I don’t think I should," he finally answered when Blane would not relent. "I think she hates me."

"She doesn’t hate you. Yes, you do have to apologize for everything you put her through, but that’s your fated mate. A connection like that doesn’t just fizzle. Look at you for example. You’ve not stopped coming to see her ever since you had Ivy follow, and found out the truth about Sonia’s pregnancy. It’s because you love her, isn’t it?"

He didn’t answer. Deep down in his heart he knew the truth. The pull toward Sonia had never left. It grew stronger every day. But he stayed silent. He could not speak the words out loud. Not yet.

They drew closer to Bloodmoon. The smell of smoke hit him first. Acrid. Thick. It burned the back of his throat. He sniffed the air. "Do you perceive that?"

Blane sat up straighter. "Yes. It’s fire. Something is burning."

Ramon’s reflexes kicked in. He sped up. The horse moved faster beneath him. His heart beat hard against his ribs. Something was wrong. He could feel it in the air. The smoke grew thicker the closer they got. It stung his eyes. It made his wolf pace inside him.

He drove in through the secret spot they usually followed. Two of his guards waited there. They looked worn. Their clothes carried soot. Ramon hurried out of the car. He approached them fast. "What the heck is going on?"

"Alpha, Silverpaw has attacked us," Gabriel replied. His voice sounded rough from the smoke.

Ramon’s mind turned fast. Daniel ran toward them. He looked out of breath. His face carried the same worry. "What the heck is this, Daniel?"

"Ferins. That guttersnipe is at it again."

"Did he get into the pack?" Blane asked in panic.

"We shut down everywhere before he could. Although the attack was sudden, we were able to secure the pack. Outside, not so much. Carl said he has seen this play before. The fire moves I mean," he said, out of breath.

"Where’s the fire coming from?" Ramon asked. He tried to stay level headed. He did not want to jump into action and end up ruining things. Ferins would hear from him for this dirty move. But first he needed the facts straight.

"Outside. Carl said it’s the same thing he did many years ago. The fire is to secure the escape routes of the building. If he eventually finds a way in, it would be hard to run out without risking one’s skin."

"Where are the warriors?" Ramon asked again.

"They’re all fighting at the entrances and exits to keep his warriors out. But they’ve brought the fight to us, and they have the fire so they’re at the advantage."

"In other words, we can’t go at them from our pack without risking major damages," Ramon said. He helped complete the puzzle. If he wasn’t at the receiving end of such a cunning display he would have been impressed by it.

"Is there no way we can go at them?" he asked right after.

"Except through MoonRay," Daniel replied.

"So why are we not exploring that option?" Blane hastily asked.

"Because Jackie refused to allow her warriors to be used by Ferins, so he sent some of his to fight them off. They’re currently occupied, and their borders are blocked."

"Fuck!" Ramon cursed. "How many wolves does Ferins have with him?"

"Uncountable, alpha Ramon. He has them in droves."

"So you’re saying to have a chance, we need more wolves?"

"Definitely."

"Okay. Are his sons with him?" Ramon continued as he calculated in his head.

"So far, we only spotted two. Wolf and Caleb."

Blane’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Wolf. He alone was about a hundred wolves in one.

"Cade is not with them then," Ramon observed out loud. He wondered why that was. The successor had to be with his father in times like this. It made him believe they were planning something else.

"Alright, we need to hurry up then. Secure the children and women. Ensure the elders are also safe. Where’s Ivy?" he asked.

"She’s working with the servants to ensure our warriors have everything they need."

"And Lorena?"

Daniel went silent for the first time since he arrived. Ramon and Blane exchanged worried looks. Something was awfully wrong. It would explain the silence.

"Daniel, where is Lorena?" Ramon pressed.

"She left," he finally replied.

"What? She went into the fire?"

"No. She left even before the attack began. Something tells me she knew. She was even part of it. I had a guard follow her. I can tell you she’s on her way to Ferins. He has a mini control station just a little south of Bloodmoon," he said.

Ramon’s hands reached out and grabbed Daniel’s shoulders. "You were able to accomplish so much in my absence. I’m proud of you. Thank you, Daniel. Now there’s something else I need from you before you return to battle."

"Anything, alpha," he said in readiness.

"Place a call to Daisy. Tell her I may need those warriors after all."

"Okay, alpha."

He pulled off his hand and turned to Blane. "What do you need me to do?" Blane asked.

"You’re in charge of the pack. Give the orders. I’m going to find Ferins so I can end this madness once and for all."

"Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you? I can’t possibly leave you alone on a mission like that."

"Blane!" Ramon growled, and Blane fell into position. "You’re in charge now, okay?" His voice softened.

"Okay."

"Check on Ivy first," he said as he began to walk away from them. "Ensure she’s fine. I knew she’d appreciate your presence."

He sensed Blane’s surprise but did not look back to confirm it for himself. He was not a fool after all. It had only taken him this long, but he now understood the kind of relationship his sister had with his beta.

But that was not what was on his mind as he crossed the river and headed south. His wolf was alert. His muscles rippled. His anger was blinding. His feet were filled with agility as it hastened with every step he took.

It was finally time to avenge his family and most especially his father’s legacy. He did not care if he had to go through the seven sons of Silverpaw. Today was the day he finally killed the big bad alpha.