Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 264: _ I’m Not a Werewolf

Chapter 264: _ I’m Not a Werewolf

I should’ve snapped that man’s neck.

The third one smirked at María José like she was a discarded bone someone found lying in the mud. The third to greet me with that idiotic grin and a wink that all but screamed, "Nice catch, Mateo, how much did the omega cost you?"

The first one had said it under his breath, and the second one did it a little louder. But the third? He said it right to my face.

"Oh, you and the little slut headed somewhere private?"

I and María José were headed to the woods to find Rosa and her lover’s base, and this was what the pack members had to say about us as we passed by.

I blinked at him, tightening my jaw in pure rage because how could he? Oh, he’ll pay. How dare they refer to her as a slut?

Was it because she was staying with a man? They would pay right here and now. I could feel the magic in me stir, dark like a snake sliding against my spine—but before I could open my mouth and turn him inside out, she spoke.

"I’m not a slut, Ramón," María José said coolly, stepping forward with her chin high and hands on her waist. "But your wife might be. You should probably check where she’s been."

Ramón choked. I wasn’t sure if it was from the audacity or because she’d stepped on his pride so hard it collapsed his lungs.

He spluttered, trying to form words, but we were already walking away. Her footsteps were sharp beside mine, her arms stiff at her sides. I didn’t say a word. Not because I was proud. Not because I was impressed.

But because I wasn’t.

That wasn’t supposed to be her job. She wasn’t supposed to grow teeth. She was supposed to cower and tremble and let me rip the throats of the bastards who dared to insult her. She was supposed to need me.

And instead... she’d handled it. Neatly. Brutally. Without even looking at me. My stomach twisted like it wanted to punch itself in the face.

She glanced at me as we moved past the main houses and towards the tree line. "You’ve gone quiet."

I kept walking.

"Luis?" she said... well, "Mateo." But I hated the name now. Hated that she still called me that. "What’s wrong?"

I gave a long and theatrical sigh. "You didn’t let me help you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Help me?"

"Back there." I gestured vaguely toward the street. "You didn’t need to say anything. I had it under control."

"I noticed. You looked two seconds from melting his face off."

"That’s not the point."

"No, I think it is," she said, folding her arms. "You’re sulking because I didn’t let you turn the village into a bloodbath over a comment."

"I’m sulking because you didn’t let me defend you," I interjected.

She stopped walking. I stopped too, reluctantly. The trees stood ahead, tall and whispering secrets in the wind, like they knew what was coming.

María José stared at me. "You think I needed you?"

"Yes!" I snapped before I could stop myself. "Yes. Of course, you did. Every woman needs a man."

Because if she didn’t need me, what was I doing here?

Her brows shot up so fast I thought they might fly off her face. "Wow," she said, drawing the word out like a knife. "That’s one hell of a misogynistic thing to say out loud."

"It’s not misogynistic if it’s true."

"It’s absolutely misogynistic. You just said every woman needs a man. That’s textbook misogyny." She fired back.

"It’s realism."

"It’s bullshit!"

We stood there, toe-to-toe, the wind rustling the dry leaves around us, making the argument feel like it was being cheered on by the trees.

"I was trying to help you," I grumbled.

"I don’t need help."

"I want to help you."

"Well, I don’t want your help."

We glared at each other. If she were anyone else, I’d have roasted her. But she wasn’t. She was her. And her eyes... gods, those eyes were the worst part. Green and wounded and angry all at once. Like she couldn’t decide whether to slap me or cry on me.

I turned and walked again, faster this time. "Come on."

She followed, kicking leaves. "Aren’t we there yet?"

"You’ll see."

We moved deeper into the woods. The path grew thinner, and the air colder. We passed a pair of pack members collecting firewood, who nodded at me and completely ignored her. I grunted, grinding my jaw.

She didn’t.

Of course, she didn’t. She probably liked it now—being the underdog. Getting a chance to prove she could stand on her own. Maybe it gave her some sick thrill.

Stupid, perfect, infuriating woman.

"You always stomp through the woods like you’re fighting the trees?" she muttered behind me.

"I’m not stomping," I grunted. "I’m walking like a man."

"You’re walking like the earth insulted your mother."

I didn’t respond. Mostly because it was true. We reached the clearing ten minutes later.

She looked around and frowned. "This is it?"

I crossed my arms. "Yes."

"There’s... nothing here."

"Looks can be deceiving."

She turned to me, arms folded. "Is that a parable, or are you just being cryptic for fun?"

I didn’t answer because I was mad at her. I only lifted my hand, fingers twitching. Magic swirled beneath my skin. I whispered the word under my breath—a word no wolf should’ve known, and the air whooshed.

María José gasped.

The veil dropped.

An entire structure shimmered into view—twisting towers made of pale stone, hidden by illusion. A fortress masked by ancient power. Her eyes widened to the size of moons.

"What the hell," she breathed.

I looked at her, amused by her shock. "Surprised?"

"What... what did you just do?"

I let my hand fall. "I used my abilities."

She turned to me fully, pale-faced. "You’re a werewolf."

Oh, please. I was done playing this game with her. We have long passed this phase.

"Am I?"

Her voice shook slightly. "Werewolves don’t have magic."

I grinned from ear to ear. "Then maybe I’m not a werewolf."

I think, María José, that it’s high time you start meeting the real me.