Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 238: _ CONGRATULATIONS

Chapter 238: _ CONGRATULATIONS

I gritted my teeth and managed a nod. "Well. That’s... something to consider."

Don Diego straightened, satisfied with himself, then smoothed down his jacket. "Keep your eyes open. And remember who really keeps the pack safe. And oh, I didn’t think you had it in you, but you surprised me. Congratulations, boy."

He turned and strutted off, his guards forming a protective triangle around his ego as he vanished down the hall like he’d just delivered divine wisdom.

I stood there, trembling from the effort it took not to explode. Not to scream and not to punch a hole in the marble.

What the fuck was he congratulating me for?

And my God, he blamed María José. He always blamed her for everything.

My heart thundered in my chest, and I closed my eyes, trying to picture her smile. Her laugh. The sound she made when she teased me about my brooding. Anything to anchor me.

Because if I let the rage win, it would cost me everything.

But I promised myself right then, right there—that I would make him eat those words.

María José wasn’t cursed. She was my salvation. And I was going to burn the world before I let anyone hurt her again.

.

.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity after Don Diego strutted off like the smug bastard he was. The guards fell into formation behind him like he was Moses parting the Red Sea, only there was no miracle—just manipulation and menace in an expensive suit.

I dragged in a breath. My throat burned. I needed a moment... just one damn minute to collect myself before facing whatever came next.

But of course, life wasn’t in the business of giving me peace.

The grand doors creaked open, and Rosa emerged, walking in careful steps. Behind her came Camilla, radiating smugness like she’d bathed in it. Her dark hair was pulled back tightly, her eyes glittering with something that made my skin itch—triumph. Or was it gloating?

Her gaze locked on me, and she smiled like a cat who’d just eaten the last canary and was ready to burp feathers in my face.

"You and Rosa shouldn’t get too comfortable," she said smoothly, not even bothering with a greeting. "Just because she has something inside her doesn’t mean she’s won anything. I’ll have one soon too. And Álvaro will be Alpha."

She gave a haughty little shrug, like she’d just dropped a weather forecast. Mild showers, thirty percent chance of ruin.

Then she turned on her heel and walked off with that same saunter—the kind that said she believed the world owed her admiration and applause.

I blinked in confusion. Why the hell was everyone acting strangely today?

"What the hell was that?" I asked, already tired. "What does she mean, ’she’ll have one soon’? And who—what... Álvaro?"

Rosa only offered a mysterious smile. "You’ll know soon enough. But first..." She reached for my hand. "Come with me."

There was a pause. It was a cold pause. My eyes dropped to her fingers curling around mine. They were warm and firm.

I almost writhed my hands out in disgust.

"Where?" I asked, doing my best to sound casual, even though every neuron in my brain started screaming.

"My room," she said, like it was nothing.

Like we were heading to brunch and not the lair of a woman who believed she owned me now. I couldn’t even imagine the things she’d want to do to me.

My spine stiffened and my feet paused.

"Oh?" I croaked. "Cool. Nice. Uh... great. Sure."

Her brow lifted. "Is there a problem?"

Yes. Yes, Rosa. The problem is that I would rather wrestle a bear than be alone with you in a room where the bed has direct access.

But I couldn’t say that. I couldn’t even flinch, not with Don Diego’s greasy voice still echoing in my head, telling me to smile and keep the illusion alive. I had to play the doting mate. The proud fiance. The world’s most unwilling husband-to-be.

I forced a breathless chuckle. "No. No problem at all."

Rosa’s smile returned. It was too pleased and too possessive so much that it made me sick in the stomach. She laced our fingers tighter and began walking.

And I, poor fool, followed.

The hallway leading to her side of the villa was all gold-accented mirrors and floral arrangements that looked like they were terrified of being out of place. Two maids in neat uniforms caught sight of us and nearly dropped their silver trays.

"Oh!" one gasped, nudging the other as if she’d just seen a unicorn.

Rosa didn’t miss a beat. She squeezed my hand tighter and raised her chin, walking as if we were royalty touring the grounds. The maids stood straighter, giggling as we passed. One of them even bowed.

I wanted to peel off my own skin and run screaming into the woods.

This woman was showing me off like a handbag. A damn luxury accessory with anxiety issues.

And me? I had to smile. Had to nod at the maids like yes, this is perfectly normal, I am completely thrilled to be this woman’s hand-trophy.

Every second was agony. Every breath was horrific. I was sweating behind my knees.

By the time we reached her door, which was a tall thing with silver handles and too much personality, I felt like I had aged five years.

She opened it with a flourish and tugged me inside.

"Welcome," she said sweetly, then closed the door behind us with a soft click that sounded more like a lock.

Her room was all rich browns and quiet luxury with walnut panels, leather accents, and bronze fixtures that gleamed under warm, golden light. The canopy bed stood tall with dark silk drapes.

Tasteful, elegant... and way too intentional.

My heart launched into my throat.

Rosa turned to face me. "I still can’t believe you’re mine now."

And then she hugged me.

Her arms wrapped around my torso with frightening conviction, pressing herself against me like she wanted to merge our atoms. I had to resist the urge to tense up or jump back.

"I’m so happy," she whispered against my shoulder. "You don’t know how long I’ve dreamed of this."

"Oh, I... I can imagine," I muttered, patting her back like she was a client who just closed a real estate deal.

She pulled back and looked up at me, eyes glistening.

"You’re mine now, Axel. I fought for you." Then, before I could prepare, she kissed me.

Her lips were soft, but the kiss wasn’t. It was all tongue and need and possessive desperation, like she was trying to mark me from the inside out. Her hands slid to my waist, fingers pressing into my skin.

I panicked. Only María José owned my body. Only she owns me. Rosa kissing me like this for the second time since we were kids was too overwhelming for me to handle.

It brought back memories. Things. Why I needed to leave in the first place... The thing my Father did...

Abort. Abort. Code red.

I gently broke the kiss, forcing a shaky laugh. "Sorry—just... still recovering from the shock of today. You know. Emotions. Chaos. The usual."

She tilted her head, studying me with a frown.

Uh-uh. Do something, Axel.

I beamed at her, smacking my lips in a desperate attempt to seduce her into cooperating.

I won.

She laughed lightly. "It’s okay, cariño. I have just the thing to lighten your mood."

Oh no.

No, no, no...

She skipped across the room to her nightstand, humming. Opened a drawer. Rustled around.

I stood frozen, trying not to sweat through my shirt. What the hell was she doing? Pulling out lingerie? An aphrodisiac? A wedding binder?

Then she turned.

And in her hand... was a pregnancy test.

A small, thin stick of doom.

"I wanted to tell you earlier," she said, beaming, "but I needed to be sure. This is the good news I told you I had for you."

She held it out with trembling fingers like it was a trophy.

My stomach dropped. Positive. The word stared at me in tiny, soul-crushing letters.

"I’m pregnant," she whispered, as if revealing she’d won the lottery.

Silence fell on us.

I stared at the stick, then at her, then back at the stick. The universe tilted on its axis.

Rosa clasped her hands under her chin, eyes shining. "We’re going to have a baby, Axel! Our baby."

My knees threatened mutiny. My mouth opened, then closed. No words came. My brain was dialing 911.

I forced a smile that felt like it had been stapled to my face. She was expecting. It wasn’t my child. I was not the one who slept with her.

But even though... didn’t that happen like a week ago? How on earth did she show already? Why was the pregnancy slip already positive?

"That’s... that’s amazing," I choked. "Wow. I mean. Wow."

She twirled like a ballerina, her dress flaring dramatically. "I know! I knew you’d be excited!"

Excited? I felt like I’d been hit by a train driven by Satan himself.

My hands twitched at my sides. Inside, chaos roared. What did this mean? Was it even real? Had she faked it? Was it the witch’s? Someone else’s?

"You okay?" she asked, pausing and twirling.

"Yeah! Totally," I said quickly. "Just... processing. That’s a lot of news. So fast. Like a surprise piñata to the face."

She laughed, delighted by my dazedness, and walked over to place the stick lovingly on her vanity like it was sacred.

"We should celebrate tonight," she added, voice rich with promise.

"I’ll... I’ll bring champagne," I replied, already plotting my escape.

{A|N}

Hi friends!

Happy New May to you all! My birthday is on the 5th of May. Who else is a Taurus here? 🥰

Unfortunately, again, we could not meet up with last month’s goal, so there will be no extra Chapters. However? If we achieve 25 Golden Tickets in two days, I will update five Chapters daily for four days.

Now, on to our May goals:

~150 GTs for 20 Chapters mass release on the 1st and 2nd of June.

~ 1k privilege unlocks by the end of the month and we’ll get an extra three Chapters each for one week!

Also, should we set weekly goals that earn us extra Chapters?

Thanks for your support so far! 🥰

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