Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 211: _ I Love You

Chapter 211: _ I Love You

Axel’s eyes narrowed as I readily agreed to the existence of a shapeshifter contrasting my former perspective.

"Why do you suddenly believe there’s an imposter?" He asked:

I sighed, nerves fluttering in my belly like wild moths. My tongue felt thick, like it had been dipped in molasses, but I forced it to move.

"There’s... a lot I want to tell you," I said quietly, unsure of how to even begin.

He took a step closer. "Tell me what?"

A lot, Axel. Mateo. He kissed me. Told me things about you... except he wasn’t even Mateo.

"I met someone," I blurted, before I could think better of it.

He blinked. "You met someone?"

I nodded.

"Was it a female?" His tone shifted slightly, trying to play it casual. But I saw the twitch in his brow, the way his nostrils flared just a little too wide.

Whoa, don’t tell me the almighty Axel is jealous?

"No," I said, biting the inside of my cheek to hide my smile. "A male."

His whole body stiffened like a board. "A male?" he repeated, scoffing.

The laugh I was trying to suppress almost burst out of me when he threw his hands provoked, in the air. "Since when do you just... meet random males? Is this a thing now? You meet strange men and go on adventures?"

I couldn’t help it now. This grown-up baby was being so cute and I just had to. I burst into laughter. It was a short and choked sound that startled even me. Axel glared at me like he might start to eat me raw if I didn’t start talking.

"Let me finish before you start planning a manhunt."

He grumbled something under his breath that sounded like, "I already hate him."

Truth be told, if Axel met Mateo, he might gut him alive in retaliation to everything he’s said and done to me.

I placed a hand on Axel’s chest and gently shoved it. "Relax. He’s not a threat to our relationship. He’s... odd. A little unhinged. But I can’t seem to—figure him out."

Axel’s eye twitched again. "You’re not helping."

"Let me talk!" I said, still giggling.

He folded his arms across his chest and gave me his best ’Alpha male-who-is-patiently-listening-but-secretly-planning-murder’ face.

I exhaled and sobered up a bit. "There was a time... a while ago. My father punished me for something stupid—don’t even ask what. He made me sleep in the pigsty."

Axel’s entire expression changed. The amusement fled from his face and once could see a new storm of fury that danced across his features like lightning. "He made you sleep where?"

I shrugged, pretending like it didn’t still make my stomach twist just saying it out loud. "The pigsty. It wasn’t so bad. I mean, it smelled like fermented horror and pig crap, but I survived."

"Not so bad?" Axel literally snarled like he wasn’t the only one pissed, but his wolf too. "Are you kidding me? You are not livestock, María José. You’re a woman—his daughter. And he treated you like garbage."

"I know." My face fell.

I watched Axel’s hands clenched into fists. "That man needs to be brought to book for all the bad he’s done."

"You mean teach him a lesson?" I looked up at him.

He readily met my gaze. "Yes, something like that, María José. Or maybe even more."

I looked at him and softened, taking a step forward until I was close enough to touch him. Then, slowly, I raised my hands and slid them around his neck, fingers playing with the hair at his nape.

"I don’t intend to stop at Don Diego," I whispered.

His hands found my waist instinctively, holding me like I was something he couldn’t risk slipping away again. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..."I paused. "I want revenge. On all of them. My entire family. Every single one who stood by while I was treated like trash and every single one who treated me as such."

Axel’s jaw dropped like I’d just announced I was leaving the pack for good instead of wanting revenge on those who wronged me.

I knew it’d be a hard pill to swallow considering who I used to be, but it was high time they all saw that the fragile María José was dead and gone.

He paused, then said in a low voice, "Are you sure?"

I loved the way he didn’t try to judge me, remind me that wasn’t who I was, or try to change me. I could see it in his eyes... The acceptance of who I’d become and the understanding.

I didn’t hesitate this time. "Yes."

And that’s when he kissed me.

It wasn’t a gentle, featherlight thing. No, this kiss was fire and desperation. It was an exhale of relief and fury and longing all wrapped into one. His mouth met mine like it had been waiting years... maybe lifetimes—for this moment.

One of his hands curled behind my neck, fingers weaving into my hair. My hands clutched at his shirt, pulling him closer until there was nothing between us but heat and the pulse of something we had both refused to name until now.

His lips were soft but commanding, and I melted into him like I was made to fit into this moment, like all the broken parts of me clicked into place when he held me like this. I sighed into the kiss, letting it anchor me, fill me, and ignite the parts of me I thought I could never be.

When we finally broke apart, I was dizzy.

"I’ll help you," he said, breathing hard, lips still grazing mine. "With all of it. Your revenge. Whatever you need."

Oh, Dios... what?

Just what could I have done in my previous life to deserve this man?

"You don’t have to," I whispered.

"I’d go through worse for you."

A lump formed in my throat. "Why?" I asked, truly baffled. "Why have you been so good to me?"

He chuckled softly, still a little out of breath. "I told you when I came to Santa Leticia. But if you want to hear it more clearly now..." He cupped my face. "It’s because I love you."

Everything stopped.

The world slowed down. The sounds faded. My heart was beating so loudly I was sure it echoed in my ears and went as far as into the forest.

"You what?"

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