Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 182: _ Reality is a Nightmare

Chapter 182: _ Reality is a Nightmare

I dragged a hand down my face, inhaling deeply before exhaling through my nose. Two whole days of my life had been wiped clean, and Rosario, helpful as ever... had absolutely nothing to contribute.

I wasted my time coming here just to receive more headaches.

"Gracias, Rosario. You’ve been incredibly helpful." My voice was filled with sarcasm as I pushed myself to my feet.

She grinned, so unfazed by it. "I do try."

I rolled my eyes. "If you ever do remember something, anything, you come straight to me. First. No playing games."

Rosario pressed a hand to her chest, feigning offense. "¿Yo? Play games? Axel, cariño, I am wounded!"

I gave her a flat look. "You’ll survive."

With that, I walked off and strode out the door before she could dramatize any further. I had more pressing matters to deal with.

I needed to see María José.

My gut twisted just thinking about her. She was probably confused, hurt, and angry. She had every right to be. I’d vanished for two days, and when I finally showed up again, it was with a betrothal to another woman. Her sister.

Even if she didn’t believe in me, even if she thought I had chosen Rosa, I still had to try. She was the one I missed, not the woman people assumed I was running to.

And so I ran. To her... to my pretty lily.

I bolted through the streets, my heartbeat pounding in my ears as my muscles coiled and stretched with every powerful stride I took. My lungs burned, but I pushed harder, moving past startled pack members, and ignoring their wide-eyed stares.

"¡El Beta está corriendo!" Someone gasped, pointing at me.

I heard whispers all around.

"Is something wrong?"

"Maybe he’s chasing a rogue!"

"Don’t be ridiculous. He’s running to his fiancée—how romantic!"

"Ah, young love. He must miss her terribly!"

Bunch of stupid, stupid, idiots!

I clenched my jaw. Oh, I missed someone, alright. I missed her dearly. Right now, my brain felt like it was being melted away and my heart, like a deep gash had been burned into it with the mere thought of her.

But it wasn’t Rosa.

A few people even congratulated me on my engagement and upcoming wedding while I ran, which only made me sprint faster. As if I wanted to be reminded of my so-called engagement and the never-happening wedding.

By the time I reached Don Diego’s estate, my breath was controlled, but I could still feel the heat radiating from my body. My muscles tensed as I slowed to a brisk walk, approaching the heavy iron gates.

I shouldn’t arrive at that bastard’s house like a mad dog. Else, he’d feel like he was bigger than I was.

The guards spotted me immediately.

"Beta Axel!" One of them beamed, stepping aside to let me through. "Congratulations!"

Oh, please, no more of that shit. I was not engaged... yet.

However, I forced a nod, swallowing the bitter taste in my mouth. "Thanks."

I didn’t stop moving. Didn’t acknowledge the smiles and murmured well-wishes from the guards as I stormed inside.

Then, just as I thought my luck couldn’t get any more bitter, I ran into Camilla first. As always.

She stood near the entrance, her arms crossed, and lips curled in that signature smirk of hers. It was as though she had already sighted me from afar and was awaiting my arrival.

"Well, well, well," she purred. "Here comes the man willing to betray his own brother for a woman."

So it was true what Father, Álvaro and mother had said. I indeed tried to betray Father for Don Diego? Me?!

This was something I’d never ever do. Not even when I was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It wasn’t even because I was a devoted son, but because I hated both Father and Álvaro almost equally.

I stopped, my hands clenching into fists. "I would never betray anyone for your father. Even my enemy, Camilla, I wouldn’t betray them for him."

Camila tilted her head with her eyes gleaming. "And yet, you were so willing to betray your own father and my husband for Rosario. Interesting, no?"

The fact that she was already calling Álvaro her husband like he was the Man of The Year was nauseating.

Her taunts made my pulse spike. "I never said that."

"Didn’t you?" She stepped closer, heels clicking against the floor, and eyes never leaving mine. "You were quite... devoted to her. So much so that the entire estate got to enjoy your little performance."

The way she said that little performance rang alarm bells in my head.

A sharp chill raced down my spine. I frowned. "What performance?"

Her smirk widened. "Oh, come on, Axel. Don’t tell me you don’t remember?"

My throat tightened and my hands twitched at my sides. "Remember what, Camila?"

She let out a low and mocking hum, tapping a manicured finger against her chin. "Let’s see... how do I put this delicately?" She took another step, lowering her voice as if sharing a scandalous secret. "The entire house could hear you and Rosario the other night."

My stomach plummeted. The other night? As in something... intimate?!

No. No. No. No.

"You were so enthusiastic," she continued, biting back a smile. "Screaming, moaning, pleading..."

Oh, Dios. Tell me this was a nightmare.

I stepped back, raising a hand as if to physically stop her words. "That’s not possible."

She arched a brow. "Are you calling me a liar?"

I swallowed hard. "I don’t remember any of that."

Camila’s smirk only deepened. "Oh, poor Axel." She trailed her gaze down my body, slowly gazing at it. "You know, I was wondering how big it is to have Rosa so engaged. Now that I see you up close, I do see..."

Her eyes trailed even lower, gawking at it.

I stiffened. "Camila."

She grinned. "Rosario must have been very satisfied, given the way she was screaming for help..."

Heat flooded my face as my hands instantly shot down, covering myself.

Camila burst into laughter. "Ah, so you do have some shame left."

I gritted my teeth. "Get out of my way."

She didn’t move. "And if I don’t?"

I took a step closer, my voice dropping into a deadly whisper. "I don’t have time for your games. Move. Now."

"NO."

I exhaled sharply, my patience already thinning. "Cut the crap, Camila."

She gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "Crap? Axel, mi amor, I’m only telling you what the entire villa already knows."

"Yeah? And what exactly do they know?" I asked through gritted teeth.

Her smirk widened. "That you, Beta of the pack, future husband to my dear sister, had quite the night with her. They say the walls practically shook. Some of the maids had to leave the corridor, you were that loud. And poor Father—he nearly had a heart attack."

Hearing about that craziness alone made me sick.

My stomach churned. I took a step closer, towering over her. "I don’t remember any of that."

She waved a hand. "Oh, how convenient! The same man who suddenly doesn’t remember pledging loyalty to my father now doesn’t remember having the night of his life with my sister?" She tsked. "You must have been really into it to forget."

My fingers twitched. Dios, give me strength.

"This isn’t me," I growled. "None of this makes sense."

Camila gave a light and condescending laugh. "Oh, but it does. It makes perfect sense, Axel. You got so carried away that you lost yourself in passion. And now, reality is slapping you in the face, and you can’t handle it."

I clenched my jaw. She was too dumb to even try reasoning with. She thrived on this; on twisting the knife, and on playing with people like a cat played with a dying mouse.

And yet, despite my best efforts to ignore her, my mind was racing. I had lost two whole days. I had woken up engaged to a woman I never wanted to marry. And now, suddenly, everyone claimed I had...

No.

It wasn’t possible. I would never do that with Rosa.

Before I could snap back at Camila, footsteps echoed down the hall, and a soft, breathy voice called out...

"Mi amor!"

I turned just in time to see Rosa rushing toward me, her long dress flowing behind her like some tragic painting coming to life.

"Axel!" she gasped with a radiant smile breaking across her face. "You’re here!"

She reached me within seconds, her hands flying up to touch my face, my shoulders, my chest... anywhere she could get her hands on. "Oh, you just couldn’t wait to see your bride, could you?"

I swallowed the immediate urge to step back. "Rosa."

Her hands slid up to cup my jaw. "Mi amor," she cooed, eyes searching mine with something close to desperation. "You didn’t even let me come to you first... you ran all the way here. I knew it. I knew you missed me."

I forced my expression into that of neutrality. "I’m not here for that."

I really wasn’t and if only she could just step aside and let me go be with the woman Ioved, I’d be more than grateful.

María José... where was she anyway?

Rosa blinked and I could see confusion flickering across her face. "What do you mean?"

Before even waiting for an answer, she moved closer, leaning into me with her gaze falling to my mouth. I jerked my head to the side, barely dodging the kiss she tried to land.

Her brows furrowed in annoyance at my resistance. "What’s going on? Why are you avoiding me, mi amor?"

That didn’t stop me from dodging again as she tried again, this time reaching for my collar as if pulling me in would make me suddenly accept all of this.

I stepped back. "Rosa, stop."

She froze. For a moment, there was just silence. Then, her lips pressed together as she spoke in a strained voice. "Really, Axel. What’s wrong?"

I met her gaze, my chest tightening. What’s wrong? Everything. Every single damn thing.