Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 194: _ Find Your Proof

Chapter 194: _ Find Your Proof

My heart skipped a beat at how impossible it was for even María José to acknowledge her wolf.

"What are you talking about? You have a wolf. I just felt it. You have to feel it. You have to..."

"No," she cut me off, her eyes narrowing as she took a step back. "You’re a liar. You’ve been lying this whole time. I don’t feel anything. I don’t feel my wolf or your damn wolf."

She scoffed, shaking her head like she couldn’t believe what I was saying. "Do you think I’m just some fool you can charm with your ridiculous stories?"

My chest tightened, my throat going dry as her words struck me. "So you really don’t feel it?" I asked quietly, the doubt creeping into my voice.

"I don’t," she spat. "And frankly, I’m getting pretty tired of you trying to convince me otherwise. Maybe you’re just looking for more excuses to get under my pants like you did with Rosa."

Her voice was sharp, and the accusation pained my heart. "Is that it? Are you trying to play both sisters now? Did the little pleasure you got from me and the full-blown one Rosa served you wasn’t enough? Do you have such a high sexual drive?"

Oh, fuck. María José had become something else within these two days. I’d have loved it if she was this hostile to those who actually hurt her and not me.

Her words stung so badly. I could hear hurt and Disappointment in her voice. It hit me harder than I expected, and I felt a pit open up in my stomach.

I took a step forward, desperate to explain, but she stepped back, shaking her head.

"Don’t come any closer," she warned, holding up a hand to stop me. "Just... just stay the hell away from me."

Her rejection almost made me fall on my knees. I knew I’d messed up. I knew I couldn’t just fix this with another kiss or some smooth talk. Whatever was between us was fractured now and broken. And it was all my fault.

I stood there, my breath uneven, my pulse pounding so loudly it drowned out the storm of emotions inside me.

Her words...

"It’s not a mate mark."

"I don’t even have a wolf. So whatever you think this is... it’s not real."

My fingers curled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. Not real. How could she say that? How could she stand there, chest rising and falling with anger, when every part of me burned for her like a raging inferno?

Hugo growled inside me, pacing and restless. "Not real?" he scoffed. "Oh sure, because mates just go around setting each other on fire for fun. Next, she’ll say the moon doesn’t exist either."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to shove Hugo’s grumbling aside before I did something reckless. Again.

María José hadn’t moved. She was still glaring at me, her fingers pressed to the spot where my fangs had almost pierced her skin. Her body was tense, every muscle coiled like she was ready to bolt. And it killed me.

I took a careful step forward. She took one back.

Damn it.

"María José..." My voice came out hoarse and raw. "I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I swear to you, I would never hurt you."

She scoffed. "That’s rich coming from the guy who just tried to sink his teeth into me like a rabid dog."

Hugo huffed. "Well, if she’d just stand still for a second, I could explain that was an affectionate bite."

I sighed. "It wasn’t like that."

"Oh, wasn’t it?" She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Then explain it to me, Axel. Explain why you keep losing control around me. Explain why my life has been an absolute wreck ever since you marked me. Because from where I’m standing, you’ve done nothing but ruin everything. I’m going to banished or married off to a rogue once my Father or the Alpha learns of this mark."

She paused, eyes glossing up. "T-Tell me... what... what do you expect me to do with my life now that you’ve gave me this burden and ran off?"

My chest tightened. "I didn’t abandon you. I am ready to take responsibility for it and I’m not even sure that..." I pointed at the mark. "... is a mate mark yet. We need to make it official."

At first, she stared at me, motionless and speechless. It was almost as if she’d break a vase on my head if there were any around.

This was ironic. María José used to be the one seemingly interested while I shied away. However now, it seemed the tables had turn.

"Right. So there’s no problem with ruining my life further and acquiring an official mate mark from a liar when I already had one where a mate mark should be. Silly me."

Hugo grumbled. "She’s got a point. Our track record isn’t great."

I exhaled hard through my nose, trying to calm myself. "If I could prove it wasn’t me... would you believe me? Tell me what I need to do to prove it wasn’t me who was at Don Diego’s two days ago."

She suddenly went still. She took a slow gulp, probably not used to seeing me being so weak and baring my heart out. Well, me too.

"Prove it?" She finally declared, right when I thought she was going to be silent forever.

I nodded. "Tell me what I have to do. Tell me what it’ll take to make you believe me."

For a second, she just looked at me. Like she was searching for something in my face. Something she didn’t find.

Then she shook her head. "Go find your proof, Axel. You should figure it out yourself."

Well, this was a challenge. A dare. A demand that I had no choice but to obey.

Hugo let out a pleased growl. "Ah, finally. A quest. I’ve always wanted one of those. Should we pack snacks?"

I ignored him and vowed to the woman I loved. "I will. I swear, I’ll find it."

She didn’t react. She just turned slightly, her gaze shying away. And for the first time since I walked into this room, I saw it. I saw the exhaustion beneath her anger. The weight of every burden she was carrying.

Oh, how much my heart ached.

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