Chapter 239
RAMON’S POV:
The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the walls of the study. I sat in the leather armchair, staring at the glass of whiskey in my hand, the amber liquid catching the light.
But I didn’t take a sip. The weight pressing on my chest made it impossible to think about anything but the storm brewing outside the walls and also the condition of Sonia’s brother, Cade.
Cade. Sonia. My pups that’s about to come unto this world. My people. Lorena Rogues. Betrayal.
A sharp knock on the door broke through my spiraling thoughts. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Sonia.
“Come in,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended.
She stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her. Her face was pale, her eyes heavy with the kind of burden that had been weighing on both of
for weeks.
“We need to talk,” she said, her tone clipped.
1 gestured to the seat across from me, but she didn’t sig, Instead, she moved to stand by the fireplace, her arms crossed over her chest. The light from the flames danced across her features, but it couldn’t mask the tension etched into every line of her face.
“It’s Daniel,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
I frowned, leaning forward. “What a
about him?”
Her jaw tightened, and she looked away, staring into the fire as if it held the answers she couldn’t bring herself to say.
“Sonia,” I said, my voice firm now. “What about Daniel;”
“He’s been working with Lorena,” she said, the words falling heavy between us.
The silence that followed was deafening. For a moment, I couldn’t process what she’d just said. It felt like the world had tilted on its axis, leaving me unsteady and unsure.
“What?” I finally managed, my voice low but sharp,
“He’s been feeding her information,” she continued, her tone flat, emotionless. “About us About the pack. About everything”
I stood, the whiskey glass forgotten as I slammed it onto the table. “No,” I said, shaking my head. “That doesn’t make sense. Daniel’s been with me for years. He’s fought beside me, bled beside me. He’s…”
My words faltered as her eyes met mine, filled with a pain that mirrored my own.
“He’s a traitor, Ramon,” she said quietly.
I turned away, my hands gripping the edge of the desk as I tried to steady myself. The room felt too small, too suffocating. Memories of Daniel flooded my mind, his unwavering loyalty, his quiet strength, the way he’d always been there when I needed him.
“He wouldn’t do this.” I said, mure to myself than to her.
“He did,” she said, her voice trembling.
I turned back to her, my frustration spilling over. “How do you know? How can you be so sure?”
“Because I saw him,” she snapped, her voice rising. “I saw him signaling the rogues. He’s the reason Cade is fighting for his life. He’s the reason my brother isn’t healing fully. And Daniel was the last sentence that came out of Cade’s mouth before he fell unconcious. I confronted him, Ramon. He admitted everythingTM
Her words were like a dagger to the chest, tears streaming down from her face, and I stumbled back, my mind reeling. “Why?” I asked, my voice beraking. “Why would he do this?”
She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. “He said Lorents blackmailed him,” she said finally. “That she found out about something he did years ago and threatened to expose him if he didn’t help hier”
Tub Cleck- Wouches
“What did he do!” I demanded, my voice sharp
“He stole from the pack,” she said, her tone heavy. “A long time ago. To pay off debts. Lorena found out and used it against him.”
I sank back into the chair, my head in my hands. “Damn it, Daniel”
The room was silent for a long time, the only sound the crackling of the fire. I felt Sonia’s presence as she moved to sit across from me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at her.
I trusted him,” I said finally, my voice raw. “I trusted him with everything”
“So did I,” she said softly.
1 looked up, meeting her gaze. There was no anger in her eyes, no judgment, just a deep, aching sadness that mirrored my own.
“What do we do now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
We
use him,” she said, her tone resolute.
I frowned. “What?”
“He’s already confessed,” she said. “And if we kill him now, we gain nothing. But if we keep him alive, we can use him to feed Lorena false information. Turn her game against her.”
The ides made sense, but it didn’t sit right with me. “And what if he lies to us again?” I asked. “What if he’s still loyal to her?”
Then we deal with him,” she said, her voice cold..
I stared at her, searching for some sign of doubt, some crack in her resolve. But there was none.
“You’ve already made up your mind,” I said.
“I have,” she replied. “Because this isn’t just about us, Ramon. It’s about the pack. About our unborn pups. We can’t let our emotions cloud our judgment.”
Her words stung, but I knew she was right. This was bigger than us, bigger than my anger or my disappointment.
“I don’t like it,” I admitted. “But I’ll follow your lead,
She nodded, her expression softening. Thank you”
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts of Daniel Memories of him flashed before me, his laughter, his loyalty, the way he’d always been the first to step into danger for the sake of the pack.
How had it come to this?
I turned my head to look at Sonia, who lay beside me, her breathing steady but her brow furrowed even in sleep. She carried so much, bore so many burdens, and yet she still found the strength to lead.
I envied her resolve.
Slipping out of bed, I made my way to the balcony. The cold night air hit me like a wave, but I welcomed it. I leaned against the railing, staring out at the dark forest beyond. Somewhere out there, Lorena was plotting her next move,
And Daniel. I clenched my fists, the betrayal cutting deeper than I thought possible. How could someone I trusted so completely turn against us? Against me?!
“You’re thinking too loud, Sonia’s voice came from behind me.
I turned to find her standing in the doorway, her arms wrapped around herself against the chill,
“Couldn’t sleep,” I said simply,
She stepped onto the balcony, standing beside me. “Neither could I
2/3
11:03 AM ·
Chapter 239
We stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the day pressing down on us like a physical thing.
“I don’t know how to feel, I admitted finally. “Tm angry, but I’m also confused. Hurt
She nodded, her gaze distant, “I know. I feel the same.”
“I keep asking myself what I missed,” I said, my voice breaking. “What signs I didn’t see.
- e. How I could have let this happen.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she said firmly, turning to face me. “You trusted him because you believed in him. That’s not a weakness, Ramon. It’s who you
are
Her words were meant to comfort, but they only deepened the ache in my chest.
“What if it happens again?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “What if there’s someone else?”
“Then we’ll d
deal with it,” she said, her hand finding mine. “Together.”
As I looked into her eyes, I felt a flicker of hope, small and fragile, but enough to keep me going.
For now, it would have to be enough.
