Chapter 12 He'd just saved me and was now my only option , so I hurried with him back to his cage . You just - I opened and closed my mouth as he gestured me into the cage . " And- I gulped . I killed the man who wanted to rape you , and his accomplice . " Knockout didn't beat around the bush . " The ringleaders will be here soon . Sit down . I've got to get the other wolves back to their cages so the humans don't kill them . " My mouth opened again , then closed again . I nodded , and he left . The cage door stood open , but I didn't leave . There wasn't anywhere to go . Knockout herded the wolves to their cages . Whatever he was telling them , I didn't understand . I didn't even listen . My breathing was picking up , my heart racing . I'd just watched two men be killed . After nearly being attacked . And Knockout had moved like a vampire in a paranormal romance movie , and had crushed a guy's chest with his foot , and- I scrambled to my hands and knees , barely making it to Knockout's ( thankfully empty ) shit bucket . Every bit of rice and beans in my system came right back up in painful , violent heaves . When I finally sat up , body emptied and exhausted , Knockout shoved a bottle of water in my hand . I hadn't been given anything more than a tiny plastic cup at meal times , so I added the water bottle to the list of proof that he was in cahoots with the humans . " Drink this . " " Not thirsty, " I wheezed . My brain felt like a melted popsicle , whirling and struggling to make sense of this world I'd suddenly entered . And if my brain was the melted popsicle , my body was the damn popsicle stick. No longer attached to the popsicle . " You're in shock , Ginger . It's only going to get worse if you don't hydrate . " He sat down beside me . Not that there was any other seat option in the small cage . " Grunter will come back , " I stared at Knockout , not really seeing him as my melted popsicle tried to refreeze itself , to make sense of what had happened . You were fast - so fast . And - oh , shit . " My stomach turned again as I remembered the sound of the guy's chest breaking beneath Knockout's foot . I bent over the bucket , dry - heaving . Nothing came out , but I couldn't stop myself . Everything was fuzzy , foggy . Out of focus . ' Grunter's name is Hog , " Knockout offered , like that would help . I moaned at him . He reached for my back , like he was going to offer support , then hesitated and withdrew . My heaving slowed . I mumbled into the bucket , " Touch me , dammit . I'm a werewolf ; I need to be hugged . " 'I didn't want to ... I thought ... Knockout actually sounded ... uncomfortable ? I was too dizzy to think much about it . One of his arms wrapped slowly around my bare waist . The hold was gentle , uncertain . " You were fast , " I repeated , speaking into the puke bucket still . It was foul , but there wasn't much about the situation that wasn't foul . ' Rejected wolves are blessed by the moon goddess . She gives us gifts to replace the mates who chose to abandon us , " he explained quietly . " I'm faster and stronger than I used to be . " ' You were rejected . " I scooted away from the puke bucket , then grabbed onto Knockout when the world swayed . ' I was . " " Why ? You're gorgeous . " My forehead rested on his collarbone . 00:24 Rejected Luna : Trapped with the Rabid Alpha 13.3 % Chapter 12 ' So are you . Looks aren't enough for some people . His voice was serious , but I felt like he was joking . I was probably imaging it . Morons , " I mumbled . " Everyone . All of them . People suck . I wish everyone was just a wolf . " The door opened , and he eased away from me . I immediately felt the loss of contact . Breathing became more difficult , panic surfaced and grew . Werewolves veren't meant to be alone , and every fiber of my being screamed that at me . Not romantically , but companionship wise. We just weren't equipped to deal with hit by ourselves . Don't say anything . " His voice was a hushed whisper . " Sit back here and try not to pass out . Drink the water if you can . " didn't trust him . ut even if he was untrustworthy , I was starting to think he was my best bet at surviving the fighting ring . ( 1 ) 00:24