Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 208: _ Attempted Assault

Chapter 208: _ Attempted Assault

I yanked away from the crazy basyard, heart pounding in my throat, but he grabbed my arm tighter, pulling me toward the bed.

"You touch me again and I’ll kill you," I spat, kicking at him.

He caught my leg mid-air and shoved me hard. I landed on the bed, bouncing once, struggling to get up as he loomed over me.

"Do it then," he said. "Kill me. You won’t even make it out of this room."

I knew it. Right at this instant that I was cornered and done for. I hiccuped as Álvaro undid his belts, a maniacal grin plastered on his face.

Was I going to say I was no longer weak and yet, weakly allow Álvaro have his way with me?

No. Not in a room in the house where Axel lived. Not in the bedframe or the floor beneath my feet.

Because while my body trembled and my skin recoiled, something old and buried rose from the depths like a demon finally unshackled. I had felt powerless too many times.

When they pushed me. When they spat on me. When Luis Miguel kissed me like I was his prize and left me in the mud. When Papá turned his back. When Camila laughed as she watched me fall, when Rosa broke me finally...

But this?

This was my line.

Álvaro didn’t get to break me.

"Do it then," he said again, fingers tugging at his belt like he had all the time in the world. "You’ll be screaming for help before you’re even finished with your little threat. And no one will come."

I sat up, slowly. Not flinching or running and I smiled.

Not because I wasn’t terrified... I was. My throat was raw, my lungs squeezed tight, and my heart pounded so loud that I thought he could hear it.

But I remembered something Axel told me: "You’re not weak, María José. They only think you are because you haven’t shown them what happens when you stop being afraid."

However, right now, I had no weapon. But I had my mind. And I had Álvaro’s ego.

"You’re right, no one will believe me."

He paused, eyes narrowing.

"You’ve already decided how this goes, haven’t you? I’m the beggar in a towel, the ruined little flower. And you..." I let my gaze trail down his body with as much revulsion as I could muster, "you think you’re the wolf."

He tilted his head, intrigued. "And you’re what? The lamb?"

"No." I stood up from the bed, slowly, forcing my legs not to tremble. "I’m the bitch with nothing left to lose."

His grin disappeared.

I stepped closer. "You think this is power? Forcing yourself on someone who didn’t even knock on your door for you?" I tilted my head, mimicking his own mocking tone. "Do you even realize how small that makes you?"

"Careful..."

"No," I snapped. "You don’t get to tell me what to be careful of. You think you’re dangerous? I grew up being surrounded by monsters. I can smell men like you before they even open their mouths. You’re not the first. And you sure as hell won’t be the last who learns what I become when I have nothing left."

His belt hung open in his hands, but he hadn’t moved. For the first time, uncertainty flashed in his eyes. Just for a second.

But it was enough.

"Now listen very closely," I said, stepping within inches of him. "Touch me again, and I won’t scream. I won’t run. I will fucking gut you. With my hands. With my teeth if I have to."

His nostrils flared. "You think you scare me?"

"No," I said simply. "I think I’ve finally disappointed you. I’m not the pathetic girl you hoped would cry for you. I’m not on your floor. I’m not begging. I’m still standing. That scares you, doesn’t it?"

He stared mutely and before we even knew it, a booming crash reverberated.

The door exploded inward.

Álvaro staggered back and to my greatest relief, fear, and shame, Axel stepped inside.

He didn’t say a word. He just walked into the room, the dust from the broken door flying around in the air behind him, making him look like one of those heroes from Marvin.

His eyes darted to Álvaro in a death glare. Then me. Then back at him.

"What the hell are you doing?" Axel growled, his Alpha aura sizzling across the room.

I knew Álvaro had a lot to lose. It was also why I could rub it on his face. He was the Alpha heir, and such a move could make him lose the post if caught.

How could he be stupid enough to even try?

Álvaro scoffed, brushing Axel off. "She came in here looking for you. I was just..."

"I didn’t ask for your lies."

Álvaro opened his mouth, but Axel crossed the room in two steps and punched him hard. Álvaro went down with a grunt, crashing into a side table.

I was trembling. Still frozen on the bed. Still wrapped in that damn towel.

Axel turned to me.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked, eyes suddenly softer.

I shook my head, then nodded, then couldn’t speak. My voice was caught somewhere in my throat and tears poured down without permission.

Seeing Axel like that unnerved me. I didn’t know when all my guard walls came crumbling. Oh, my Axel.

Oh, my protector.

Even now, he came for me. He would always come for me. My love...

He came to me, gently taking the edge of the towel to pull it higher over my shoulder. His hands were warm. Solid.

"I’m sorry," he whispered. "I should’ve been here."

I wanted to collapse into him. But I didn’t know if I still had the right.

"Axel..." My voice was hoarse.

He looked at me like I was the only thing he’d ever wanted to see again.

"We’ll talk later," he said. "Right now, I’m taking you with me."

With him...

Álvaro groaned on the floor. Axel turned back to him, dark fury in his gaze.

"If you ever look at her again, I’ll rip your eyes out."

Then he guided me gently past his brother’s broken body and into the hall.

I didn’t know if forgiveness would come.

But for the first time, I didn’t feel alone anymore.