Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 138: _ The Woman I Love

Chapter 138: _ The Woman I Love

Luis, my dear, unfortunate cousin, remained still in his chair, his lifeless gaze fixed ahead, as I did what I did best; rant.

"Luis," I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. "I think María José is already developing feelings for me."

There were no reactions from him as expected.

"I mean, I can’t really blame her," I continued, throwing my hands up dramatically. "I did mark her, after all. And, naturally, that means she’s affected by it. And you know what that means, right?"

Silence as usual.

I smirked. "It means she has a wolf, Luis. That’s the only explanation. I mean, I’m not sure, but I have a plan to find out. Imagine the face of everyone when they found out that they’d been wrong about her all along. I can’t wait to give her such a beautiful gift."

Luis, as the fantastic conversationalist he was, blinked.

I groaned and leaned back in my chair, stretching my legs out in front of me. "You know what else? My father—our dear, wonderful Alpha, has decided that I, too, must find a mate and get married within twenty-five days. Just like Álvaro."

At that, I noticed a slight twitch in Luis’s fingers. Not much, but just enough to assure me that, yes, he was very much suffering alongside me.

Good. Misery loves company.

"I hate this," I grumbled. "But, listen, if María José really does have a Luna wolf..." I paused and exhaled slowly. "Then I’ll propose a contract marriage to her."

Luis’s eyes shifted toward me, just barely. If I didn’t know him better, I’d say he was judging me. I’d say he was struggling to say something.

Like he was on the verge of bolting out of his wheelchair and pouncing on me. There was red in his eyes, so many veins throbbing on his forehead too.

Was he that happy for me?

"Think about it," I reasoned, gesturing wildly. "It would be perfect for her! She’d be my wife, living with me, free from the clutches of her family. She wouldn’t have to struggle anymore. No more butchery, no more scrubbing floors—no more Don Diego breathing down her neck like some terrifying medieval king." I grimaced. "I mean, really, how does she live like that?"

I stood abruptly and began pacing, rubbing the back of my neck. "I don’t even know where all of this is coming from. I never thought about marrying María José before. Not even once! But now..." I let out a strangled sound. "Now, I have to."

Luis began to shake, almost as though he were convulsing.

I sighed. "And I won’t lie to myself. The Alpha position? It’s looking even harder to achieve. Just today, I saw more reason why I needed to start making tough decisions if I truly wanted it." I threw my hands up. "So, what do I do? I make difficult decisions. Because that’s what a responsible adult does, Luis. He makes difficult decisions."

Luis, as the great motivational speaker that he was, remained silent.

I turned back to him, my expression twisted with frustration. "And the worst part? Somehow—somehow... the thought of marrying María José doesn’t seem nearly as terrifying as the thought of marrying Rosa." I shuddered. "Can you imagine that, Luis? Me? Married to Rosa?" I faked a gag. "I’d rather rip my own throat out."

Luis’s eyes remained unreadably red.

I exhaled heavily and dropped into my chair again, slouching. "I have to do this before my father goes to Don Diego and announces that he wants Rosa’s hand for me."

I sat forward, bracing my elbows on my knees, my fingers pressing into my temples. "I’ll take María José home, and I’ll tell them all she’s going to be my bride."

The words tasted foreign on my tongue... yet, at the same time, weirdly right.

I clenched my jaw, raking my hands through my hair. "But how will she feel about this? What if she hates the idea? What if she hates me?" I leaned back again, my head tilting toward the ceiling as I groaned in frustration. "Why would she ever like a jerk like me?"

I huffed and shot Luis an exasperated look. "Honestly, Luis, why are women like this?"

Nothing.

"Great talk, cousin. Very insightful."

I drummed my fingers on my knee before exhaling again. "But the problem is... I already marked her. And we both know what that means. If the mark is discovered..." I shut my eyes, shaking my head. "I have to take responsibility. There’s no way around it. That’s why I have to do this. To save her. I can’t stand the thought of her being in trouble because of my foolishness."

I had no idea if I was trying to convince myself that this sudden idea I got was me trying to save her from the consequences of being discovered mark.

Politically wise, I didn’t want to use her. That’s why I’d give her a choice. I’d explain it all to her, be plain and she could decide if she wanted to push through with my idea or not.

After all, not only would it benefit me, but she would be free from her horrible family as well. And she’d be under my wing. And I’d protect her until my last breath.

I’d cherish her like the angel that she was. How delicate... How tender.

I swallowed hard.

My chest ached.

I frowned, shifting uncomfortably in my chair as I rubbed at the spot.

And then it hit me. Like a hammer to the skull. Like a revelation from the heavens.

I gasped abruptly and shot up to my feet, staring at Luis as though I’d just uncovered the world’s greatest secret. "Luis," I breathed. "María José isn’t my little sister."

Luis blinked.

I stepped forward, my voice urgent now. "I kept pushing that idea, but it was never true. I don’t see her like a sister." I exhaled shakily, my hand pressing against my chest again, as if that would soothe the odd tightness there.

My heart was racing.

"I..." My throat went dry.

I clenched my jaw, fists tightening at my sides.

"Luis," I said, quieter this time.

My cousin watched me, motionless Abd unreadable.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat.

"She’s the woman I love."

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