Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 181: _ Anything is Better than Nothing

Chapter 181: _ Anything is Better than Nothing

Rosario’s smirk widened like she had just won a game I didn’t know we were playing.

"Another one," she mused, crossing her arms over her chest with her fingers tapping against her elbow. "Dios mío, Axel, you could at least pretend to have some restraint."

I ignored the way my stomach twisted at her words, stepping inside before she could stop me. The scent of dried herbs and something sweet... maybe honey?... was in the air, but beneath it, I could still pick up faint traces of myself.

My scent was in this room, just like it had been this morning.

I swerved to face her, speaking in a tight voice. "Cut the crap, Rosario."

Her brows shot up. "Ay, why so serious?"

I advanced a step, and to her credit, she didn’t back away. If anything, she looked even more amused. "Do you remember anything about the nights I spent here?"

She squinted briefly, too fast for me to see before she let out an exaggerated sigh and flopped onto the edge of the bed. "Nights? Niño, we only slept together for one night."

So I thought as well. And right now, Rosario was either playing dumb or was also as confused as I was.

I inhaled sharply. "Then explain why everyone has been saying I’ve been missing for two days."

Rosario’s smirk froze.

I watched as the amusement drained from her face and I watched as her expression turned serious like she was suddenly calculating. She blinked, once, then twice, as if I had spoken in a language she didn’t understand.

"Two days?"

I nodded, crossing my arms. "So unless you’re trying to tell me that the entire estate is in on some elaborate prank, I was here for longer than one night."

She let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head. "No, no, no, that’s impossible. You were only here for one night."

"Are you sure?" I challenged.

Her brows furrowed, lips pressing together as if she were trying to recall something. "Sí... of course I’m sure." But there was hesitation in her voice now.

She must know something. After all, it was only me, Luis, and her in this house. Luis couldn’t have done anything, so it’s got to be her.

As for who or what attacked me, I’d tackle and investigate that later. For now, I needed to know most importantly how on earth I deemed it fit to ask for Rosa’s hand in marriage, betray María José, and bow to their Father.

Could it be that the witch I overheard Don Diego and that elder talking about was behind all of these miseries? Who the hell was he/she?

Perhaps, it was high time I watched this pack intently and started playing a detective of my own. Something was terribly wrong.

This pack was becoming something else. Really, what has Don Diego been doing? Was this a way to protect a pack?

I narrowed my eyes. "Rosario, don’t lie to me."

She scowled, standing up. "I’m not lying!" Her hand shot up dramatically to her chest. "¡Por la Luna! I swear, Axel, I would never do such a thing."

Her reaction wasn’t what I expected. No hint of guilt was present in her eyes at all. No shift in her heartbeat. Just pure, genuine disbelief.

Which meant...

I swallowed. She really didn’t know.

Or at least... she was one hell of an actress. Whatever it was, I needed to figure it out today. I needed to see María José. How the fuck was I supposed to face María José when I didn’t even know what the hell happened?

What would I give her as an explanation? That I was busy sleeping while my doppelganger took over my life?

Like this was a movie series. Dammit. I was going to go insane just imagining the pain she could be going through right now.

I made up my mind right here and then. After I was done with Rosario, I would seek her out. I needed to see her. If I couldn’t give her an explanation, I could bear my heart to her.

Anything was better than nothing.

I took another step toward her, lowering my voice. "Then answer me this... did we drink? Did I drink anything that night?"

She looked at me like I’d grown a second head. "No. Why would we drink?"

"Because I don’t remember anything!" My voice rose, frustration curling in my gut.

Her mouth fell open before she suddenly gasped and grabbed my wrist, eyes wide with exaggerated horror. "Wait, are you saying you think I drugged you? ¡Beta Axel, qué horror!"

I yanked my arm away. "I don’t know what to think!"

Rosario clutched her chest again, stumbling back like I had just struck her. "Niño, do you really believe I would do such a thing?"

I raked a hand through my hair, my pulse pounding. "Rosario..."

She gasped even louder, spinning in a slow circle like she had just been mortally wounded. "Ay, no, this is tragic! My honor is ruined!"

"Rosario..."

"My reputation is shattered!"

"Damn it, Rosario, just answer me!"

She whirled back to face me, all dramatics vanishing in an instant. "I didn’t drug you," she said firmly, meeting my gaze with an uncharacteristically serious expression. "And I don’t know what happened to you or between us."

Silence stretched between us.

I stared at her, searching for any trace of deception. Any sign that she was hiding something. But there was nothing.

She was telling the truth. My stomach knotted.

Then what the hell happened to me?

Rosario squinted. "Axel, cariño, you really don’t remember anything?"

I exhaled, shaking my head. "Not a damn thing."

She clicked her tongue, muttering something under her breath before gesturing for me to sit. "Well, we clearly have a problem, don’t we?"

No kidding.

I sat and could feel my legs suddenly heavier than before, the weight of the unknown too hard for me to handle.

Two whole days. Gone.

And neither of us knew why.

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