RAMON’S POV

"It’s easier for her to discard you. Not only did you hurt her by not telling her what happened with Lorena, she also doesn’t have her wolf that favours you," Ivy said to me, a distance away from their house. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the morning air like a blade.

"She doesn’t have her wolf? What happened?" Liam asked, his brow furrowing as he turned to me.

I almost forgot he didn’t know the entire details of the situation yet.

"She was attacked, and almost killed. Miraculously, she woke up, but couldn’t feel her wolf right after. I think it’s the trauma from her very brutal near death experience. Ramon thinks Moon tried to hurt her."

"That’s why the boy fled?"

He looked at me with a disapproving look on his face, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Did you at least set a trial for him?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"I don’t think Moon is important right now. We should focus on Sonia’s anger. I’ve never seen her this way before."

"Well there’s only so much you can push a person before they reach their limit. This was bound to happen. You shouldn’t have slept with her, without telling her about Lorena’s condition."

"She told you that?" My eyes widened at the fact Ivy knew, my stomach twisting uncomfortably.

"What do you think this is? Some fake friendship? Of course she happily told me you two slept together. She was so happy about it too."

"She was?" I asked, a flicker of surprise cutting through the guilt.

"That’s not the point, Ramon," Liam said, his tone firm as he stepped closer.

"See, this is his problem. His priorities are never right. You should be thinking of how to placate her, now you’re ready to reveal your affections towards her."

"Hey, let’s not get ahead of ourselves."

"Stop pretending, Ramon!" They both said at the same time, and in sync.

My wolf jumped in support, further creeping me out.

"Look, I don’t want Sonia to be mad, but let’s face it, nothing I did would have made this entire situation any better." I shrugged, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

"Fine, you’re on your own then. If you can’t even see the error of your ways in this, then I can’t help you. Bye!"

Ivy turned around, and walked out of our sight, her footsteps heavy with disapproval.

"Well-done. You’ve chased the one person that could help you plead your case." Liam shook his head at me, his expression a mix of amusement and disappointment.

"You of all people know how much I hate to be under the mercy of anyone."

"But this isn’t anyone, Ramon. This is your mate. Say whatever you like, but I know you care about her. You better get your shit together, or risk losing her forever."

"Why are you here?"

Blane revealed his presence, and drew closer to us, his face serious.

"How long have you been standing there?" Liam asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"He just arrived. I sensed him the second he did. You didn’t?" I asked in a competitive voice, trying to lighten the mood.

He rolled his eyes hard, causing me to chuckle loudly.

"He’s your beta. I’d be very surprised if you couldn’t sense him."

"Loser!" I taunted him.

"Whatever." He threw his face away, but there was a small smile tugging at his lips.

"What do you want, Blane?" I asked, growing serious as the weight of the situation settled back on me.

"Something came up."

"When does it never?" I sighed. "What is it this time?"

"It’s Moon. He sneaked into Lorena’s resting, and hounded her. He kept screaming for her to tell him what she did to him, and why he couldn’t remember anything. It was quite a chaotic scene."

I hissed angrily between my teeth, as my eyes took a dark turn, my wolf stirring restlessly.

"Is Lorena hurt?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous.

"She’s crying. Says she wants you by her side."

"That bastard is trying to get me to kill him. He should be grateful to Sonia for still being alive. But I have a feeling it wouldn’t be for too long."

"Take it easy, bro. I don’t think you need to get worked up over a serving boy. You can’t kill him without a proper trail, either. Who knows, he might know something that could help in explaining what happened that night," Liam said, his tone calm but firm.

"I have to go see Lorena. Blane?" I called.

"Yes alpha."

"Send a message to the seven packs. Tell them I’ve declared war on MoonRay, and anyone who chooses to side with them."

"Great decision," Liam said, nodding approvingly.

I walked out of their presence, and hastily moved to find Lorena.

For what it’s worth, she was carrying my child.

She deserved the best of treatments. And I was the only one that could give it to her.

I arrived at the packs clinic at the same time, Adelaide was leaving.

She stopped on seeing me, and shook her head pitifully, her expression heavy with unspoken judgment.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice tight.

"This whole thing must be hard on you, but I can’t help but wonder how Sonia feels."

"Shouldn’t the person you care more about be your patient?"

"And you? Do you care for the patient more than you care for the mate?"

She walked away before I could think of a befitting response.

It was useless anyway. I wasn’t going to find an answer to her question.

I walked straight to Lorena’s room, and found her crying in the arms of the maids she always had around her, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

"The alpha is here," one of them announced, her voice soft.

Slowly, she looked up on seeing me. My heart squeezed when I saw how reddened her eyes were, tears streaking her pale cheeks.

"Leave us!" I ordered.

They all scrambled out of the room, as I moved closer to the bed, my steps heavy with guilt.

I sat beside her, and pulled her into my body, her frame small and fragile against mine.

"How do you feel?" I asked, my hand stroking her back gently.

"He hurt me, Ramon. I think he wanted to kill our baby!" She said, and burst into tears again, her body trembling in my arms.

"Don’t be ridiculous, Lorena. He was probably just paranoid."

"Are you defending him?" She asked in a sharp and upset voice, pulling back to look at me.

"How could I possibly do that? You have no idea how badly I want to kill the bastard."

"So what’s stopping you? He tried to hurt the mother of your child, and your child. He killed Sonia too. Do it, Ramon. End his life once and for all!"

I contemplated telling her Sonia was alive, but the shock couldn’t possibly be good for her health.

"Alright, I’ll think about it. But for now, you need to rest."

"No. What I need is a soothing kiss."

She moved her body, until her face was directly in mine.

Her lips puckered, and she closed her eyes.

I didn’t want to, but she was having my child. I couldn’t afford to discard her needs.

Conjuring Sonia in my mind to make the process less painful, I kissed her.