Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 110: _ In Love With Axel

Chapter 110: _ In Love With Axel

I did play my part.

All through the meeting, I had kept my head bowed, kept my hands folded behind me, and never spoke a word.

Of course, I was treated as such. Ignored so much that it felt like I no longer belonged in the De la Vega family. Like I didn’t deserve the last name.

Well, Axel was there to make me feel better. While Âlvaro ignored me like I was a ghost, Axel didn’t.

Not only did he acknowledge my presence, but his gentle glances and reassuring smiles made me feel slightly better. His presence was a comforting reminder that I wasn’t completely alone in this cold, unforgiving world.

If only... if only my heart didn’t feel like it might explode just because he was there. My neck—where the mark began to itch the moment our hands met.

A deep, crawling sensation burned beneath my skin, so intense I nearly gasped aloud. My fingers twitched, desperate to scratch at it, to soothe the unbearable feeling, but I forced them to stay still.

I couldn’t.

I couldn’t.

Not when Camila was watching like a hawk, not when Rosa’s sharp eyes flicked over me every so often as if waiting for a mistake. If I even dared to lift a hand to my neck, they would notice. They would question. And I had no answers to give.

Only the Moon Goddess knew how excruciatingly difficult it was not to claw at that cursed mark.

Was this a punishment? A test?

Axel and I weren’t mates. We couldn’t be. The Goddess didn’t make mistakes—everyone knew that. And yet... yet this thing on my neck, this mark that shouldn’t exist, was proof that something was terribly, horribly wrong.

And if my father found out...

I swallowed hard, my pulse spiking.

I knew exactly what would happen if Don Diego discovered the mark. There would be no calm discussion, no measured words. There would be rage. There would be consequences. There would be blood.

Axel’s, most likely.

If the fear of shifting my scarf, gaining any of my sisters’ attention, and then questioning me about the reason behind the fashion blunder hadn’t crippled me, I might have scratched... maybe a little.

However, I couldn’t afford to have anyone discover the mark. I wouldn’t have an answer to their questions. Even while the maid dressed me up, I made sure it was intact and wasn’t touched.

Oh, poor Axel. My beauty did this. It enchanted him, the most logical man to commit the most illogical crime. I was cursed. I was dangerous.

I cursed my beauty.

I cursed the day the Moon herself had cursed me.

And yet, Axel didn’t seem to regret it.

Every time his gaze met mine, there was no fear in his eyes. No hesitation.

Only quiet understanding.

However, when Camilla announced how he and Rosa had been secretly dating, it hurt even though I knew it was a blatant lie.

If anything, I knew what Camilla was like; full of lies and shameless speculations.

Still, the thought of it... the idea of Rosa being with him or any other woman having Axel at all was like a dagger stab in my heart. I’d never be able to survive in such a world.

With pain in my eyes, I lifted my gaze to steal a glance at him, but it seemed Axel had the same idea. Our gazes interlocked and I writhed my gaze away.

Heaven knows I’d damn all the consequences and shamelessly throw myself in his arms if I maintained even just two seconds of eye contact with him.

I wonder; what’s running in his mind? Did he blame himself for last night? He shouldn’t... it was all my fault.

I was cursed.

And then, as if things weren’t already difficult enough, he stood up for me.

Again.

Even when it meant standing against my father. And when he apologized just because he demanded that I was respected, all the spaces in my heart filled up with affection for him.

Oh, sweet, sweet, love. I love Axel Montenegro. I love him with all of my heart even though having him was a distant dream, I’d love him from a distance.

I’d cherish him with all of my heart. My hero... my Axel.

When he left, my soul went with him. It felt like only my body was left here when Álvaro hissed out indignantly.

"Please, forgive my brother’s ignorance, Don Diego. He has always been an outlaw, a rebel that even my parents have given up on him."

The Luna’s scolding came almost immediately. "Álvaro, hijo! Give your older brother some respect!"

"Stay out of this, mujer!" The Alpha cut her off, patting Álvaro on the shoulder.

The way the Alpha dismissed the Luna said enough about why Álvaro, who had been raised by them turned out to be a dick.

"Don’t blame Axel. It’s María José’s fault for convincing him that she’s the good guy, and papá, the bad." Rosa let out the most hateful words most sweetly and calmly.

Of course, it all needed to run down to be María José’s fault. Someone just shoot me already.

Better, why didn’t Axel grab my hand and just take me with him instead of leaving me in the midst of these sharks?

Alpha Tomàs chuckled, turning to Rosa. "Are you saying this because Axel is your boyfriend? You are defending your man, eh?"

I gulped down. Pinched my fingers together and gulped down again. Axel. Rosa’s boyfriend?

Even though it wasn’t true, I’d rather burn than hear those words.

My ever-so-sophisticated sister lifted her chin and smiled warmly at the Alpha. "Of course, Alpha. The strongest woman is one who fights for her man..." She paused, casting me a side-eye. "...not put him in trouble."

I understood the meaning behind her words. It wasn’t how she said them that made my heart clench so tightly, that breathing became a chore.

No.

It was how true they were and how well aware I was. In the fight for Axel, I stood no chance against Rosa. All the odds were in her favor. The thought of it made me physically pale at the moment. I winced faintly, pressing a hand to my forehead.

All I could offer him was trouble and a lifetime of bad luck. My eyes stung so badly, but I blinked back the tears.

If only there was a way to get rid of my curse and become worthy of Axel. If only...

The Alpha and Luna sang praises of Rosa who sat indifferently like the compliments weren’t music to her ears.

Suddenly, "Oh, please." Álvaro blurted out. "Unlucky is the woman who ends up with my brother."