Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Broken Promises
SONIA’S POV
I fell on my bed and wept. My tears were like an alabaster. It burned, but I couldn’t stop crying. The soft sheets beneath me felt cold against my skin, offering no comfort as the sobs wracked my body. Each breath came out shaky, the pain in my chest sharp and unrelenting.
My mind flashed back to barely six hours ago. The memory played like a cruel loop, refusing to fade.
After I was left by my father, wondering why he would just tell me I was marrying another alpha without giving me further explanation, he returned.
With him was hard evidence. He had gotten the evidence from his spy in bloodmoon. The paper felt heavy in my hands as he placed it there, his expression grim but satisfied.
Ramon wanted me back just so I could continue to be a slave in his pack.
After everything we had gone through, I thought we finally had affection for each other. The nights by the river, the way he had held me, the softness in his voice when he whispered my name. I had let myself believe it was real.
As it would turn out, he only wanted me back so he could rub his connection with Lorena in my face. The thought made my stomach twist, a fresh wave of nausea rising in my throat.
I picked the note, and began to read through it again, my fingers trembling so badly I could barely hold the paper steady.
It was a note he had written to Lorena, and sent one of the guards to give to her.
Unknown to him, the guard he sent was father’s spy.
When he opened the letter, he quietly replaced it with something else, before bringing the letter to father.
I knew it was from Ramon because I quite clearly remembered his handwriting from the few times I had hung around his room. The bold, sharp strokes were unmistakable, even through my tears.
The note read,
"Lorena, I can’t tell you just how glad I am to finally be able to create life with you. We’ve been through so much shit together, but I always knew we would always come out at the end of the tunnel, much stronger. I haven’t come to you yet because there’s a slight problem in the pack. Sonia is back to Silverpaw, and I can’t have that happen. That’s why I’m going to get her back, solely because I haven’t yet gotten over who her father Is, and what he represents to me. This time around, I’ll make sure she gets no grace from me. I’ve chosen you, and I don’t care what the moon goddess decides.
Love, Ramon"
I folded the note, and continued to cry. It had all been a lie. My heart was yearning for him, whilst he was thinking of ways to enslave me again. The words blurred through my tears, each one cutting deeper than the last. The affection I had started to feel, the hope I had let bloom in my chest, all of it felt like ashes now.
If I hadn’t seen the letter, and he had come to request my presence back in bloodmoon, I would have readily accepted.
I would be looking like a clown, whilst simultaneously signing my death warrant.
"I hate you Ramon!" I wailed, tossing the letter to the ground. The paper fluttered down like a dead leaf, landing near the edge of the bed.
I hated him, I hated Lorena, and everyone else that tried to deceive me.
"What did I ever do to be treated that way?" I asked out loud, my voice breaking as fresh sobs shook my shoulders.
All I ever wanted was to be loved, the way I loved everyone. Why couldn’t that be the case for me. The unfairness of it all pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe.
My door opened, and someone stepped into my room.
"Shit!" I cursed in my mind.
I thought I had locked the door, because I didn’t want anyone seeing me like this.
This was my worst, and I just couldn’t make the pain go away. My face was wet with tears, my eyes swollen, my body curled into itself like it could protect me from the hurt.
"Sonia!" I felt Seth beside me, his weight sinking the bed as he sat down.
"Let go," I cried profusely, trying to pull away even as my body betrayed me by leaning into his warmth.
"Never! What happened out there, Sonia?" He asked, holding me in his arms, his hand rubbing slow circles on my back.
I didn’t respond, but he followed my gaze, and his hand dropped from around me.
Picking up the piece of paper I had tossed to the ground, he began to read through it. The silence stretched as his eyes moved across the words, his expression growing darker with each line.
"This is real?" He asked when he was done reading it, his voice low and careful.
"Dad gave it to me himself. It was from his spy. And I know—I know Ramon’s handwriting," I broke into fresh tears, as my chest twisted and burned, the pain so sharp it felt like it was tearing me apart from the inside.
"Are you sure?" Seth asked again, his hand gently resting on my shoulder.
I was going to respond, when a wave of nauseousness hit me.
Jumping out of my bed, I stormed towards my bathroom, and bent my head over the sink.
From the depths of my stomach, I emptied its contents, which wasn’t even much, into the sink. The retching left me weak, my hands gripping the edge of the sink for support as my body shook.
Holding on to the wall for support, I wretched until I couldn’t anymore.
I was feeling lightweight by the time I lifted my head, and began to rinse off. The cool water on my face helped a little, but it couldn’t wash away the ache in my heart.
Stabilizing my breath, I turned around to see Seth watching me, his expression filled with worry.
"Sonia, you don’t look okay. You’ve not looked okay since you returned. Is there something I’m missing? Talk to me," he said in a caring voice, stepping closer.
I forced a weak smile through the emotional, and now physical pain that I felt. My lips trembled, but I tried to hold it together.
"I’ll be fine," I said to him, my voice barely above a whisper.
"No, you won’t. But I’ll help you the best way I can. Come," he said, and gently led me back to the bed, his arm around my shoulders steady and warm.
He left the room, but returned shortly after with a plate in his hand. The sweet scent of fresh fruit filled the air as he approached.
"What’s that?" I eyed the plate weakly, as he lowered it on the bed.
"I’ve noticed you’ve barely eaten since you returned to the pack. These were specially ordered from the farmers market for you. It’s watermelon. Eat some, and get at least a little of your strength," he urged, his voice gentle as he handed me a fork.
The feeling of being cared for overwhelmed me.
Who cares if Ramon only wanted to use me for his selfish gains!
I had a brother who actually prioritized my wellbeing. Also, the watermelon looked so ripe and inviting.
It was perhaps the only food I had seen so far that didn’t irritate me. The bright red slices glistened, promising a small moment of relief.
"Thank you Seth," I said, and grabbed a fork.
I took the first piece, and slowly bit a small chunk out of it.
Chewing, I waited to see if I would feel like throwing up.
When I didn’t, I smiled, and began to chew heartily. The sweet, juicy flavor spread across my tongue, a small comfort in the midst of the storm inside me.
I heard Seth laugh, and lifted my head up curiously.
"Why are you laughing?" I asked, my voice still thick with tears.
"Because you just reminded me of when you were a kid, and would get excited at watermelons. Fun fact, Wolf always got you the watermelons. He never wanted you to know it was from him though," he whispered, a soft smile on his face.
The overwhelming feeling spread into every inch of my body.
Even Wolf made me feel loved. Ramon didn’t matter as far as I was concerned.
But as I picked another piece of the watermelon, I suddenly felt a fresh urge to burst into tears. The sweetness on my tongue only made the bitterness in my heart sharper, the contrast too painful to bear.
