Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 143: _ Axel is Using Her

Chapter 143: _ Axel is Using Her

Inside the estate was a storm.

Guards moved in tight formations, orders were being snapped back and forth. The tension was like a living thing in the air, and almost suffocating. Every wolf here was on high alert.

I should care.

I didn’t.

I blended through the chaos, moving unnoticed and unfazed. None of these people mattered. None of them existed to me.

I had only one focus and although I didn’t know where her room was or wherever she was, I’d find her. I didn’t care if she was busy or not, that’s why I had my powers.

I’d bend the situation to my will and manipulate whoever.

I listened out...

Not for the chatter of guards, not for the worried murmurs of servants.

I listened for her.

I knew exactly what I was searching for; the quiet, steady cadence of her breath, the way she exhaled just a little too softly, the way her heartbeat stutters in sleep amongst other things.

I listened, shut my eyes, and felt her breathing.

There.

There she was.

Second floor. Fifth door down.

Thus, I headed straight for the villa. Hopefully, they took my word for it if I said I was Mateo who worked in the packhouse.

María José was just beyond that door.

My angel.

My María José.

Now, how do I convince the villa guards to let me, a packhouse guard in without questions?

Ugh, why do I care? I am Big Bad Daddy Luis... whatever I wanted, I got.

I kept my steps measured and my shoulders squared as I approached. A voice rang out just as I was about to step into the villa.

Of course...

"Oi, Mateo!"

I turned, carefully schooling my expression into resembling mild disinterest. Two guards were stationed by the entrance, their weapons strapped to their belts.

However, apparently, these ones knew who Mateo was.

The taller one with a scar running down his cheek, narrowed his gaze at me. "Weren’t you patrolling the packhouse grounds today?"

The second one, stockier with a permanent scowl, frowned. "Yeah, what are you doing here?"

I offered them the most unimpressed look I could muster. "Don Diego gave an order to the pack guards. I’m here for that."

That was vague enough to mean nothing and yet sound important enough that they wouldn’t question it.

Thankfully, they didn’t.

Instead, Scarface groaned. "Figures. The old man’s been losing his mind ever since that murder."

I resisted the urge to smile.

If only they knew.

Stocky crossed his arms. "He’s busy strategizing in the study right now. You might be waiting a while."

Perfect. That meant I wouldn’t have to worry about him finding me snooping around where I shouldn’t be.

Not that it would matter. If I wanted to see María José, I would see María José.

But still, I had to play the part.

I gave them a nod, as though this information meant anything to me, and made a sound of acknowledgment. Then, without another word, I stepped past them and into the villa.

I could feel their eyes lingering on me for a moment longer before they returned to their conversation.

Annoying.

I wished I could snap their necks.

The interior of the villa was grand in a way that tried too hard—heavy wooden furniture, expensive rugs, and paintings of wolves baring their teeth in dramatic poses. The air was filled with Don Diego’s expensive cologne which was a pungent thing that made me want to rip my nose off.

I knew it because it was one of the events that I had imprinted in my brain for life. I loved to know what my enemies smelled like.

However, it was coming from a door just ahead.

I gnashed my teeth together. My fingers twitched at my sides as a brief tinge of an old and violent instinct rose up like bile in my throat.

My hatred for him was deep, carved into my bones like an ancient scripture.

Not just because he was corrupt. Not just because he was a coward hiding behind power he hadn’t earned.

But because he mistreated her.

Because María José, my delicate, angelic flower, had suffered under his hands.

I should have walked away. I had more important things to do.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I moved closer, standing just behind the door, and listened. It wouldn’t hurt to learn some free gist that Axel might have missed, would it?

There was a faint rustling inside that I assumed was the sound of Don Diego shifting in his chair. Then, came his voice.

That sound.

He was the second on my list after the Montenegro family.

"Axel is still too reckless," he muttered. "I’m not sure he’s up to Rosa’s standards yet."

I frowned. He was talking about Axel and Rosa to someone on the phone.

There was a minute of silence. Then, another smooth and authoritative voice followed suit.

The fake Alpha. Tomas.

"Are you talking about competence, Don Diego?" The Alpha’s voice was undoubtedly filled with irritation. "A person was murdered right under your nose, and you’re saying my son might not be enough for your daughter?"

I nearly smiled.

Oh, you poor, clueless man.

I knew what Tomas was doing. He was trying to use this situation to imbue pressure on Don Diego into doing all of this wish.

Tomas was going to bend the situation into getting whatever and everything he wanted from Don Diego. That snake!

I hated that I was the one who was the cause of this opportunity for Tomas. However, I knew this would create some sort of distance and strain the relationship between the two men.

My enemies would keep on dividing. It was a plus for me. I couldn’t wait to see how Don Diego got back at Tomas.

Hehehe... This would be a good show to watch. Big Bad Daddy Luis was here for all of it!

Don Diego let out a breath. "That was just an accident. It won’t happen again."

The Alpha scoffed. "Axel’s recklessness has also been an accident, has it not?"

I could almost hear Don Diego grinding his teeth.

"He’s vying for the Alpha post with Álvaro now," The Alpha continued. "So it’s not even certain if it’ll be Rosa or Camila who ends up with the Alpha."

I went still.

Rosa?

Axel was getting married to Rosa? Don’t tell me that this was why he suddenly wanted to get married to María José.

He wanted to use her to avoid getting married to Rosa. I could remember the fool saying he didn’t want her like him or anything because he didn’t like women like that.

Now, all of a sudden, he loves her?

Pfft. Is he trying to use my woman? To use her to get himself out of a mess? How dare he?