Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 231: _Things Are Changing

Chapter 231: _Things Are Changing

"By the way, did you finally regain your memories from those two days we slept together in the same bed... and urm—naked?"

I gawked at Rosario. She didn’t just say that. Hell no.

Then I opened my mouth but words, actual, useful words—flat-out refused to form.

All that came out was a dignified, sophisticated, Beta-worthy:

"HUH?"

Rosario smiled like a cat who just shoved an expensive vase off the counter. "You heard me."

I staggered a step back, pointing at her like she was on fire. "WHAT—NO. No, no, no, no. We did not—! That—THAT NEVER...!"

"You sure about that, Beta?" she teased, fluttering her eyelashes. "We were unconscious. For two whole days. No clothes. No memory. We could’ve done anything."

I nearly exploded.

My brain immediately vomited out an image: me and Rosario, tangled in sheets, Luis in the corner watching like some paralyzed tragedy audience.

I gagged so hard I nearly threw up my dignity.

"ROSARIO!" I barked.

She jumped, then laughed. She laughed so loudly and unbothered. Like she hadn’t just mentally scarred me for life.

"You’re evil!" I hissed, gripping my hair. "You’re a witch! You’re the witch killing off the pack, aren’t you?! CONFESS!"

She continued to chuckle so hard that she nearly toppled over. "Oh, calm down. I’m joking, Beta Axel. Dios mío, you should see your face! You look like you just witnessed a goat give birth backward!"

I stood there, chest heaving, genuinely wondering if I could legally punt a caregiver across a gravel path.

Luis, bless his non-moving soul, let out another faint grunt from his bed.

Even he was judging me now.

"You’re a grown-up woman," I told Rosario, seething, "and you think this is funny?"

She smirked. "I’m still young, actually. And yes."

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply through my nose like some monk trying not to commit homicide.

Focus, Axel. Focus on the real problems. Ernesto. The witch. Álvaro being a walking hemorrhoid. María José’s bruises.

Not Rosario’s filthy imagination.

When I finally reopened my eyes, Rosario was still standing there, arms crossed, hip cocked, like she expected an apology or a medal.

Instead, I pointed to the door. Again. Very dramatically.

"OUT."

She winked. "Love you too, Beta."

And then she disappeared with a flip of her curly hair that almost all of screamed "Men are so easy."

When the door clicked shut behind her, I sagged onto the couch like my bones had turned into warm flan, facing Luis.

The silence between me and Luis went on for a while.

"You heard all that, huh?" I finally muttered.

Luis, as always, stared blankly. Not blinking. Not twitching.

"Same," I said, scrubbing a hand down my face. "Same."

A long moment passed, just the rain tapping against the window and the faint sound of Rosario’s evil giggles fading down the path.

I leaned back, staring up at the cracked ceiling.

"You know, sometimes I think I’m losing my mind," I said amidst fake chuckling.

Luis didn’t respond, obviously. But somehow, he didn’t have to.

"You remember María José?" I asked him quietly. "That pretty Omega? Don Diego’s last daughter? Well, she has been disowned by her father. She no longer stays

Still no response.

I swallowed. My chest ached with the weight of it all.

"She’s...she’s different now. She’s no longer the same girl. Now, she’s not just sweet. She’s Strong. Even when she doesn’t know it. Even when life keeps shoving her into the dirt."

I closed my eyes, letting my head thud back against the couch.

"And I..." I broke off, shaking my head. "I’m falling. Hard. Harder than I thought possible."

Luis made a soft grunt again. Almost approving. Maybe.

I smiled grimly. "Yeah, well. It’s not convenient timing, bro. There’s a lot you don’t know yet. But don’t worry, I’ll tell them all to you."

My smile faded as the bigger picture slammed back into me while I tried to give Luis a recount.

The witch. The murders. Álvaro breathing the same air as María José.

My hands curled into fists at my sides.

"I have to protect her," I whispered. "No matter what."

The rain tapped harder against the glass. Outside, the world was a storm waiting to happen. Inside, for a fleeting second, it was just me and Luis. Brothers. Warriors. Survivors.

"Man," I muttered, scrubbing both hands down my face, "you have no idea the crap I’ve been through."

I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and ensured I kept my voice. In this pack, we don’t know who is who right now.

Anyone could be anybody. Pretending.

"Ever since I woke up here two days ago... it’s been a damn circus. First, I come to, half-naked, in this room—" I glanced around at the peeling wallpaper and ancient floorboards... "smelling like I wrestled a dead goat in a thunderstorm."

Luis didn’t so much as twitch.

"And you saw it, didn’t you? I woke up beside Rosario. Fucking Rosario!" I continued, shifting on the couch to get comfortable, though the cushion seemed determined to eat my ass alive.

"Apparently, I was unconscious. For two freaking days. TWO. Can you believe that?"

I slapped my hands dramatically on my thighs, the sound echoing in the small room like a sad pair of clapping fish.

"And the worst part?" I said, leaning closer like I was sharing a state secret. "I had no idea what happened. Nothing. Nada. Like someone reached into my skull and swiped the hard drive clean."

Luis blinked slowly like he had something to say. I bet he did but my bro can’t talk. Fuck it.

When I raised my brow at him, his eyes thinned... judgmentally and I almost froze.

Was Luis getting better? He could dim his eyes now. Damn! We were making progress. My rant sessions were working.

He was learning to be himself again. Yayy!

Others may not be able to see it, but I knew Luis like the back of my hand. I knew him well enough to know when there was a little change about it.

Luis was getting better. Maybe in a matter rof months, he’d be talking again and would be back on his feet.

I just couldn’t wait.