Knotting His Rejected Breeder

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Healing Hands and Lingering Glances

SONIA’S POV

The new room Ivy’s body was taken into was illuminated, and just a lot more full of life than the previous room.

I mixed the salt and water, which served as purification, as they removed the bandage from her body. My hands moved carefully, stirring the mixture in a shallow bowl. The salt dissolved with a soft crunch, and the cool liquid felt refreshing against my fingers. The maids worked slowly, peeling away the old wrappings layer by layer. The air grew heavier with the scent of old medicine and burnt skin as the bandages came off.

When I turned and saw the result, I gasped. There were so many blisters all over her body—angry red and swollen, some broken and weeping clear fluid. The sight made my stomach twist painfully. A single tear fell from my eyes, hot and sudden, as I hurried over to her. My bare feet padded quickly across the warm floor, the yellow dress swirling lightly around my legs with each step. The fabric was soft and flowing, brushing gently against my skin like a summer breeze.

"Please, help me bring her to the tub," I pleaded with the maids who had replaced the guards who helped bring her in. My voice came out soft but urgent, trembling just a little at the edges.

I specifically asked them to help take off the bandage, because I didn’t want her naked body to be visible to those guards. The thought of strangers seeing her like this made my cheeks burn with protectiveness. Together, we lifted her, and carried her to the tub. Her body felt too light in our arms, fragile and warm from fever. The water in the tub was cool and clear, rippling softly as we lowered her in. Small splashes echoed in the quiet room.

I placed my nose between her nostrils, and felt her extremely hot but faint breath. It brushed against my skin like a weak whisper, barely there. She wasn’t unconscious anymore, but also wasn’t really conscious. Her eyelids fluttered slightly, but her eyes stayed closed, lost somewhere between sleep and pain.

I sat on a chair I had placed beside the tub, and soaked the foam sponge into the salt water. The liquid felt cool and grainy as it soaked into the sponge. As I brought it to her body, it sizzled against the blisters, causing her semi-conscious body to jerk. The reaction was sharp—a small twitch in her shoulders, a faint gasp escaping her dry lips. The maids flinched, and turned their backs on us. Their shoulders hunched, and one of them covered her mouth with her hand.

I understood their reaction. She looked horrible now, and the salt water hurt. The blisters popped and wept under the sponge, releasing a sharp, medicinal smell that filled the air. But I knew with time, she would heal. I could bet my life on that. The certainty sat deep in my bones, warm and steady like the sunlight on my back.

I continued, until I had washed every dead skin away. My hands moved gently but firmly, wiping away layers of damage. The water in the tub grew cloudy, carrying away the worst of the burns. Ivy’s breathing stayed faint, but it didn’t stop. That small sign gave me strength to keep going.

The door opened, and the pack doctor walked in with the oil made from the skin of a snake I had asked for. The bottle gleamed in his hand, the liquid inside thick and golden. "Could you help me lift her up again?" I asked the maids.

They helped me transfer her to a dry tub. Their hands were careful, supporting her head and legs as we moved her. "Thank you," I said, as they moved to empty the other tub filled with water. The sound of splashing filled the room for a moment before fading.

Slowly, and very gently, I began to apply the oil on her body. The liquid felt smooth and slightly warm as it spread across my palm. The second I touched her skin with the oil, I transcended. I was still conscious, but it felt like my body had been inhabited by something else. A warm energy flowed through me, guiding my hands with a sureness I didn’t fully understand. The oil sank into her blisters, soothing and healing with every stroke.

After rubbing as much of the oil as I could all over her body, I pushed it to the side and leaned into her body. Her skin felt less hot now, the oil leaving a faint sheen that caught the light. I breathed into her nose, and she swiftly sneezed. The sound was sudden and strong, shaking her whole frame. She sneezed three successive times, and grew quiet. Each one sent small ripples through the water left in the tub.

I couldn’t help but smile when her breath began to grow louder. It deepened with every inhale, stronger and more even. She was gaining strength, and fast. The color in her cheeks looked a little less pale, a faint flush returning under the oil.

"I’ve helped her wolf as best as I can," I said, turning to the pack doctor. "She should be fine in about three days. But you have to continuously apply the oil." My voice felt steady, though my hands still tingled from the energy that had passed through them. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

He looked at me like I was some sort of spectacle. His eyes widened slightly, studying my face as if searching for something hidden. My brow lifted with curiosity, and he shook his head. The movement was slow, almost disbelieving.

"You won’t be available to massage the oil into her skin yourself?" He asked. His tone carried a hint of disappointment.

"I don’t know what my fate will be. Just in case I’m not able to do it, I know you’ll help me." The words felt heavy, but honest. The uncertainty about Ramon still hung over me like a shadow.

He smiled. "For a little thing, you have a lot in you." His voice was warm, carrying a quiet respect that made my cheeks flush.

He turned around, and walked out of the room before I could ask what he meant by that. The door clicked softly behind him, leaving the room quieter. Everytime he said these strange things to me that I didn’t understand. Aside from my ability to heal, there really wasn’t anything special to me. The thought made me frown slightly as I wiped my hands on a clean cloth.

"Thank you so much for helping out. I won’t forget you," I said to the maids. My voice was soft, full of genuine gratitude. The yellow dress felt light against my legs as I stood, the fabric still carrying the faint scent of the room’s fresh air.

"No, thanks for helping Ivy out," Natalia, the girl with gorgeous black hair said. "She’s been like a pillar of support to all the servants in the pack. I don’t know what a lot of us would do without her." Her voice was warm, eyes shining with relief.

"She’s a big sister. She’s super nice too," the other girl added. Her smile was shy but real, lighting up her face.

I smiled, my heart filled with joy. Ivy was indeed good, and I was only glad to be a recipient of her kindness, which I could now reciprocate. The moment felt light, like a small victory in the middle of everything else.

"I have to turn myself in before the alpha finds me. Wish me luck?" I didn’t think they understood what I was saying, but I just wanted to be wished well. My fingers twisted together nervously at my sides.

"You’re going to be fine. We’re all rooting for you," Natalia said. Her words wrapped around me like a gentle hug.

"Thank you for proving that the gossip about you is wrong," the other girl added. Her voice was quiet but sincere.

I stood, and went to hug them. "Thank you both so much." Their arms felt warm around me, a small circle of kindness that made the fear feel a little smaller.

Few seconds later, I was out of the door, and on my way to find Alpha Ramon. The hallway felt longer than before, the wooden floor cool under my bare feet. He was going to punish me either way, so it was better I surrendered myself to him first. My heart beat faster with every step, a steady rhythm of nerves and determination.

I had just walked into the hallway, when my wolf leaped. The sudden surge of energy made my breath catch. I didn’t need to look up before I knew Alpha Ramon was somewhere around. His presence felt like a storm cloud rolling in, heavy and electric.

However, I did look up. My eyes found him approaching me, and beside him was Lorena with a smug, sinister look on her face. Her lips curved in a cruel smile, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. I halted on my heels, bracing myself for a slap, or even worse, a beating. My body tensed, shoulders drawing up tight as I waited.

He came to an abrupt stop before me, breathing heavily. His chest rose and fell fast, and the air between us felt thick with tension.

"Where are you coming from?" He asked. His voice was low and rough, carrying the weight of his suspicion.

"Ivy’s room," I replied in truth. The words felt heavy on my tongue, but honest.

I felt his body tense, as a surge of annoyance changed the temperature of the hallway. The air grew hotter around him, like a fire flaring up suddenly.

"You see? I told you Blane helped her get into Ivy’s room. They’re really walking together to undermine your position. You have to do something about it," Lorena said. Her voice was sweet but poisonous, dripping with false concern.

Like a fly hovering on rotten matter, she was always in his ears. It was sad that a man as smart as Alpha Ramon couldn’t see through her lies and manipulations. The thought made my chest ache with a quiet sadness.

"Did I tell you to stay away from her, or not?"

"You did," I replied. My voice stayed soft, but steady.

He took a step forward, and my body began to vibrate. The closeness made my skin tingle, a mix of fear and that unwanted pull I couldn’t shake.

"So why did you disobey me? Why can’t you simply be obedient?"

"Leave her alone, Alpha Ramon," the pack doctor said, as he became visible. His voice cut through the tension, firm and unafraid.

"Who are you to tell the alpha what he can do, or not do?" Lorena snarked. Her tone was sharp, like a knife edge.

"Watch your mouth little girl. You may have inserted yourself into Ramon’s life, but as long as this pack exists, I am your superior, and you will respect me."

I became chilled to my bones. I didn’t know the pack doctor had so much authority in him. His words carried weight, making the hallway feel smaller.

Lorena turned to Ramon, perhaps hoping he would come to her defence. Her eyes flicked to him, expectant and calculating.

"Why should I leave her alone?" Ramon asked, bringing all of our intentions to him. His gaze stayed locked on me, dark and searching.

"Because she has saved Ivy."

Alpha Ramon looked at me, at the same time I lifted my gaze. Our eyes locked, and for a few seconds there, I could swear I saw admiration.