Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 210: _ A Shapeshifter

Chapter 210: _ A Shapeshifter

I was going crazy," he muttered into my hair. "Do you know what it’s like thinking Álvaro took you? Wondering if he’s touched you, or worse, already pulling off your pants? Don’t you know he’s a FUCKING snake?!"

I scoffed. "He only has one snake, and it’s in his pants."

Axel stiffened. "What?!"

"Not like that!" I laughed, pulling back, and wiping at my nose. "I meant—ugh, I meant he’s gross, Axel. He tried to be charming and kept taunting me about my scars, pushing me and... unbuttoning his belt..."

His eye twitched. "I’m going to kill him."

I kissed his chest just above his heart.

He growled. "I’m still going to kill him."

And then we both laughed. Because this—this madness was our version of normal. Shouting, panicking, yanking each other out of hell and back, and somehow still laughing at the end of it all.

"You really scared me," he said softly, brushing a thumb over my temple where the bruise throbbed.

I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t.

But how do you explain that to someone who’s looking at you like you just burned down his childhood home and danced in the ashes?

"I didn’t mean to," I said softly, still clutching onto him like he was the last warm thing on a freezing mountain.

Axel didn’t respond right away. His chest rose and fell beneath my palms, and the muscle in his jaw clenched so tightly I half expected it to snap clean off.

Then, in a low voice that somehow shouts louder than a scream, he asked, "Then why are you here, María José?"

I flinched.

"Why did you come all the way here, when you’ve made it pretty damn clear you didn’t want to see me again? Not until I brought you proof." His eyes burned into mine. "So where does that leave us now?"

I drew back slightly, sucking in my breath as I searched for the words I wasn’t even sure existed. The truth lay heavy on my tongue. This wasn’t about proof. Not really.

I had already seen for myself how this was beyond that. How my mind had formerly been so shallow that I couldn’t seem to think too deeply previously.

"I came," I said, straightening up, "because of exactly that."

His brows furrowed.

"I came because I realized... waiting for some magical proof while everything falls apart around us is stupid. I was being stupid." My throat ached. "I kept telling myself to stay away until you showed up with neat answers and gift-wrapped innocence, but people are dying, Axel. Things are... happening."

His gaze sharpened. "What things?"

I didn’t answer right away. My arms dropped to my sides. "You mean you haven’t found anything yet? You still don’t have the proof?"

He hesitated for half a bit before shaking his head. "No. Not yet. I’ve been... busy."

"Busy," I repeated. "Right."

There was a heavy pause. We just stood there staring at each other. Axel was gazing at me as though he knew I was onto something and was only giving me the space to spill without interference.

"Busy with what?" I asked, even though I already knew. I just needed to hear him say it.

He exhaled hard. "Gonzalo. Pedro. Rubén."

I swallowed. Right. The boys... my friends. My heart shattered into a million pieces remembering them again.

"I’ve been trying to find out who did that to them," he added, softer now. "You knew them... didn’t you?"

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes. I didn’t blink them away. I just nodded.

"They were my only friends," I whispered.

Axel’s expression twinkled with something that looked like pain.

"They were idiots," I said while a watery smile twitched on my lips. "Absolute, ridiculous idiots. Always trying to prank someone or steal someone else’s lunch or... I don’t know, trip each other in hallways just for fun back in high school. I never expected to like them."

"But you did."

I nodded, a tear slipping free and trailing down my cheek. "They treated me like a person. Like I wasn’t some cursed Omega with unending chores and bruises. They used to tell me jokes, and tease me like we were equals. I didn’t even realize how much that meant until they were gone."

Axel stepped closer, his hand lifting as though he wanted to touch me but wasn’t sure if he was allowed.

"I’m glad they made you happy. That’s why I’ll avenge them."

The tears were more now. My chest was tight. "Do you know who did it?"

"Not yet," he said grimly. "But I have... suspicions. I think it was a witch."

"A witch?" I blinked.

He nodded. "A strong one. Someone who knew how to trap them in a way they couldn’t escape. Someone who made sure they died slowly."

I winced. "Who could be that cruel?"

Axel’s jaw clenched again. "That’s what I’m trying to find out. I’m waiting to hear news about the autopsy results. They’re still running tests on Gonzalo, Pedro, and Rubén."

The room seemed colder. I wrapped my arms around myself.

"And the previous body?" I asked.

He looked at me.

"The one who died in the pack?"

Axel’s face darkened. "That report came in."

I waited.

"He was one of our own. A packhouse guard." He took a deep breath. "His heart was ripped out before he was set on fire."

I gasped, stumbling back a step. "What?"

"That’s what the autopsy found. His body was found in the forest close to your father’s villa, charred beyond recognition. But he was ours."

I wanted to say Don Diego was no longer my father but the deep, sickening dread curling in my stomach wouldn’t let me.

"What’s happening in this pack?" I shook my head, facepalming.

Axel looked at me, eyes serious. "That’s what I’m trying to find out. But with all this going on... it shouldn’t be so hard to believe anymore."

"Believe what?"

He stepped closer. "That there’s a shapeshifter walking around. Someone who’s been using my form. Doing... insane things. Things I’d never do."

I choked back a sob, eyes locked with his. I was a fool for not believing him earlier. However, maybe if I told Axel about Mateo, this might help with his investigations.

"It wasn’t just your form," I whispered.

He stilled. "What?"

I looked down, suddenly aware of just how crazy this sounded, but too far gone to care.

"I think someone else’s form was used too. At least one more. And who knows how many more might have been copied?"