SONIA’S POV

The fluid of strength flowed through my blood, and I felt my wolf coming alive again. Ramon’s kiss chased away the shadows clinging to my body, filling me with warmth and clarity. In the middle of our lips moving hungrily, my brain zapped. It occurred to me that when I came in, there were other people in the room already.

Swiftly, I dragged my lips away and pushed myself off his lap. Heat flooded my cheeks as I turned around. Beta Blane and Ivy were staring at me, eyes wide with surprise. Ivy’s mouth hung slightly open, while Blane looked caught between amusement and caution.

"I’m so— I didn’t know— It’s not—" I gave up trying to give a suitable explanation for what had just happened and turned my attention back to Ramon. My heart hammered against my ribs, embarrassment burning through me.

"The pack doctor said I shouldn’t return to the pack clinic anymore," I confessed without any stutter in my voice. The words came out steadier than I felt, the desperation still clawing at my throat.

"What?!" Ivy blurted, but when I turned, she had zipped her lips. She was kneeling on the floor, posture submissive.

My mind flashed back to the confrontation with Lorena. She was obviously being punished because of that. It wasn’t fair though. How could Ramon punish someone that was recovering from that kind of tragic situation? If there was anyone that deserved to be punished, it was the one who thought the solution to every disrespect was hitting. She couldn’t resolve a situation amicably to save her life.

"Why did he say that?" Ramon questioned me. His voice was calm but commanding, pulling my focus back to him.

"I healed someone at the verge of death because it didn’t seem to me like it was time for him to leave. He warned me not to, but I couldn’t help but do it. He says I’m going to kill myself, and he won’t allow it happen in the clinic he oversees," I explained with my head bowed, tragically. The memory of the elder’s pain still echoed faintly in my bones, a heavy reminder of what I had taken on.

"That explains why you—"

A heavy knock sounded on the door, interrupting his flow.

"Who’s there?" He called, his tone sharpening instantly.

"Alpha, there’s a girl that has made her way into your quarters like a mad person. We’re searching all over for her, but stopped to inform you about this development." The guard’s voice carried through the wood, respectful yet urgent.

All eyes turned to me, and I bit my lips a little self-consciously. Heat rose to my face again.

"That’s alright," he replied, and their footsteps faded away.

He turned to me, a curious glint in his eyes. "How exactly did you get here?"

"I thought I was going to collapse. I had to find you, because you said—"

"Enough!" He growled lightly, and I flinched. It looked like he didn’t want his beta and Ivy to hear what he told me. Nothing made sense. After all, Carl was there when he said what he said.

"Ivy, you should leave now. You’ve been punished enough."

"Are you—" she was protesting when she realised the presence of who she was speaking to. "As you please, alpha." She rose to her feet but kept a cautious eye on me. Her gaze lingered with worry, silent questions passing between us.

"Do you need something else? I said, leave." Ramon pointed at the door.

She bowed and walked to the door. Her legs slowed down at the threshold as she turned to look at me again. She waved subtly, and I nodded in understanding.

She was worried about me, and it was just the sweetest thing ever. I wished I could reassure her I would be fine. But now that I knew the alpha didn’t want me yapping about his promise to me, I couldn’t tell her what I desperately wanted her to know.

She opened the door and walked out of it. Then she closed the door behind her with a soft click.

"You can’t leave the clinic," Ramon said immediately after she left. His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

"I said the same thing. I was going to go after him, apologise, and beg for my job when the symptoms began."

He cleared his throat and looked to Blane. "What do you think?" He asked him.

"I say Sonia should listen more to the pack doctor. She may have a special gift, the kind I’ve never seen before, but he still has the experience. Sometimes, our gut lies too, you know?" He answered carefully.

"Why did you think the man wasn’t supposed to die yet?" He quizzed me.

I felt like I was being investigated and dissected. So much for wanting to help. "I usually can’t explain the things I feel. It wouldn’t make sense to anyone, anyway. I just felt he still had unfinished business, and knew I had to save him."

"And what if you got seriously hurt in the process? Have you thought about that?" Blane asked.

Ramon’s eyes went to him sharply, and my mouth pursed. I was going to respond to him, but I didn’t think the alpha liked that question very much.

"Why are you being so inquisitive?"

"Oh no, I’m just trying to look at things from Carl’s perspective. But if you don’t want me butting in, I’ll stay out of it." He raised his hand up in surrender.

"Good, stay out of it until I ask you a question," he turned to me. "Your feelings, as valid as they are, shouldn’t make you reckless. I know I told you I’d be available for when you’re experiencing one of your episodes, but what of the days I’m not? What if you couldn’t find me on time? Do you see why Carl is concerned?"

I bowed my head, my heart filled with sorrow. I really thought I was doing the right thing by healing that elder. How it had turned to lectures about self-preservation and making smarter choices, I still couldn’t understand.

"Take the day off. I’ll talk to the pack doctor myself."

"What do I do?" I muttered, but they heard me. I could tell from their eyes resting quizzically on me.

"Sorry," I said awkwardly.

"How about the land I asked you to work on?"

My body rattled from the sudden jolt of shock that spread through me. "The— the land?"

"Yes Sonia, the land."

"I can’t." I shook my head.

"Excuse you?" He said in an authoritarian voice that made me tremble even more.

"Do you understand you’re in the presence of the alpha? You can’t tell him that you can’t," Blane chided me too.

"I can’t," I repeated defiantly. The fear of that cursed ground clawed at me, stronger than any command.

"And why is that?" He asked. His gaze bore into me, demanding truth.

Slowly, I looked up until I could see his eyes. "It’s cursed. The land is cursed."