Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 220: _ We Get Our Hands Dirty

Chapter 220: _ We Get Our Hands Dirty

Axel’s body firmed for a while before he puffed out air and it relaxed. "Look, we are going to take care of that. We just need to prove that Rosa is a heartless bitch and is not capable of being the pack’s Luna."

If it were others who said this, I would have called them dumb. However, I very much knew that Axel was far from that. He was everything but dumb.

Hence, spewing words like proving Rosa was not worthy of being a Luna was laughable. Firstly, did he think his Father, my father, or any noble in the Alpha council cared about that?

If anything, they were worse than Rosa. Morale doesn’t rule here, power does. And power? Oh, my dear sweet Rosa had that in bulk.

Something I lacked in every aspect. I didn’t come close to being a rival where she was concerned.

"You know quite well how pack’s politics work. Nobody cares if Rosa damaged the face of her little sister. They’ll blame the little sister for not being able to defend herself or not being able to heal her wounds after it was inflicted."

I raised my head to bring my solemn gaze to his determined one. "In the end, Axel, I’ll become the victim and your father might just disown you for daring to disobey him and disrupt his plans."

"Do you think I give a damn if I’m disowned?" Axel snapped, his voice suddenly sharp and alive like flint against a stone.

"If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m trying to do right by the people of this pack and help stop all these unlawful killings and because I want to protect them, I wouldn’t care about being the Alpha, I would’ve spat on that title and walked away the moment they forced me into a betrothal with Rosa just like I did back then."

He shook his head sadly. "But María, I’ve seen the way people live in this pack. You’ve been to Santa Leticia. Look at the condition of the residents there. I want everyone to flourish, girl. I can’t stand seeing a selected few having the time of their lives while the public bask in poverty and lack of security."

I nodded, startled by his sudden burst of anger, and tried not to let my heart flutter at how sexy he looked when he was righteous.

It wasn’t working.

I never knew there was this side to Axel. Before we met at the Luna Gala, all I knew about him was that he was a rebellious and reckless first son of the Alpha.

Everyone talked about it. They talked about his absence and everything. I didn’t pay much attention to his name then. I could only barely remember his face from when we visited the Packhouse and he’d run around the lawn with Rosa, all giggles and laughs.

However, now, I think Axel would make a fine Alpha. The best this pack had ever seen. This is why I mustn’t come in between that.

I must not let my selfish needs get to me. I needed to put the people first like Axel was doing.

"You say that now, but it’s not just about you. It’s about the pack. The people. If I don’t have a Luna wolf, that’s another obstacle. Axel..."

"Stop." His hand came to my face again, cradling my jaw like it was the most fragile thing he’d ever held.

His eyes blazed as he said, "Don’t ever say that again. I’ve felt your wolf."

"You’ve felt her?" I repeated, unsure whether to laugh or question his sanity. He did say that the other day when he came to Santa Leticia.

"But even if you did, she said one word and passed out like a ghost. That’s not exactly Luna behavior."

He smirked, brushing his thumb under my chin. "That one word shook me, María. Mate. I’ve heard wolves call out to their mates before. But yours? It wasn’t just a call. It was a roar. A whisper-roar," he amended with a grin. "Like velvet thunder."

I gave him a blank stare. "Velvet thunder?"

He shrugged. "I’m trying to be poetic. Let me have this."

I sighed, letting myself sink into his touch. "Axel, I’m serious. My wolf—she didn’t come to me when the other girls my age did. She didn’t come when I cried myself to sleep for months. She only whimpered just now. How is that Luna material?"

"Because she’s strong," he said with unwavering confidence. "She’s been buried, restrained, possibly even silenced. But I felt her. Her aura wrapped around mine like smoke... powerful smoke. The kind that makes you choke a little."

"You’re really leaning into these metaphors tonight, aren’t you?" I muttered, trying not to smile.

"Look," he said, his hands sliding to my waist, thumbs rubbing slow circles there.

"Your wolf doesn’t follow the rules. So what? That makes you dangerous. Unique. You think Rosa’s wolf is strong? No. She’s just loud and mean. Your wolf was silent, but I could feel the weight of her. That kind of strength isn’t normal. It’s rare."

It was hard not to be swayed. His voice was rich like warm honey dripped over gravel and it was so damn convincing. He sounded like he believed it. Believed me.

"Okay..." I sighed.

"Say you’re right. Say my wolf is the reincarnation of some ancient, badass she-wolf who just decided to take a mental sabbatical for eighteen years. Fine. What do we do about Rosa?"

"Expose her."

"That’s it?" I scoffed. "Expose her? You make it sound like we’re pulling the curtains off a statue."

"I’m serious," he said, his grip tightening slightly, grounding me.

"I’ll find something. Anything. A weakness. A crack. Everyone has one."

"And if you don’t?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "What then, Axel?"

His grin turned wolfish. "Then I’ll make one."

What in the world?!

I blinked. "Wait—are you saying... are you saying you’ll set her up?"

"Why not?" He shrugged, completely unapologetic. "It wouldn’t even be a real setup. I’d just be guiding karma to the spotlight. Rosa’s already awful. I’m just helping people see it."

I gasped, part horrified and part extremely entertained. "You can’t just... manipulate events like that, Axel! We’ll be in trouble if anyone finds out!"

"No one will. Trust me on this."

"But Axel..."

He raised a brow. "You were the one rambling about revenge and justice not five minutes ago."

"Yeah, but legitimate revenge!" I waved my hands around dramatically, nearly smacking him in the face. "Not fake evidence and scheming!"

"María, come on." He looked at me like I’d just told him I believed in unicorns but not traffic lights. "This is the pack we’re talking about. Since when did justice mean anything to them? You think they’d listen to a poor Omega girl over the council’s darling princess?"

I went quiet.

He nodded knowingly. "Exactly. The only way to beat them is to play dirtier than they do. And trust me..." He leaned in, his mouth brushing my ear. "I’m very good at being dirty."

My entire body short-circuited.

"Axel!" I shoved his shoulder, mostly because I couldn’t think straight when he did that.

He laughed. It was that delicious laugh that felt like whiskey and warm blankets, then kissed the tip of my nose. "Sorry. Couldn’t resist."

I sat back, crossing my arms, trying to look stern. "Look, I’m not saying I want to protect Rosa. I don’t. I’d like to throw her into a pit and then throw in a blender. But I don’t want to stoop to her level."

Axel’s hand found mine again, interlocking our fingers like they were meant to fit. "Then let me do it. You don’t have to get your hands dirty. Let me be the bastard this time."

I looked down at our hands.

It was ridiculous how perfectly his fingers wrapped around mine. Like puzzle pieces.

Axel was getting them dirty for me. He was going to do it.

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