Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 28: _ Like a Brother

Chapter 28: _ Like a Brother

~Axel’s Point Of View~

After leaving Luis alone, I had intended to just go for a little sightseeing since I hadn’t been around in the pack for over five years. I remember how Mom had called, manipulating me into coming home for Álvaro’s Luna Wolf hunt.

I didn’t give a damn about my pompous brother. I’d rather sit my ass at home!

The call had started innocently enough—her soft, sweet "Hijo mío," mused so sweetly in a way that usually meant trouble.

I should’ve hung up. I really should’ve.

"It’s your duty as a brother, Axel," she had said.

"Duty?" I’d snorted, pacing in my luxury apartment at Canary Wharf. "Since when has Álvaro treated me like a brother? If anything, mamá, he’s always treated me like a thorn, just like the rest of you."

I could almost picture her saying: maybe because you are.

"You are brothers whether you like it or not. I gave birth to both of you. You share blood. Do you think that means nothing?"

Ah, yes, the blood argument. Classic mamá.

"Well, congratulations on the biology lesson, mamá. Next time, try giving a class on fairness to your beloved Álvaro."

"Dios mío, Axel! Why must you always make everything about competition? This is his Luna Wolf Hunt. His special day. You should be proud of your brother."

I’d laughed bitterly at that. "Proud of what? She’ll probably be someone just as uptight and pretentious as he is. Mamá, the only thing Álvaro deserves is a mirror so he can admire himself for eternity."

Little did I know that his Luna Wolf interest was nothing like that. The poor girl was like an angel.

"Axel! You will come to this wedding, and you will behave. Do you understand me? If I have to drag you back myself—"

"I regret answering this call," I’d muttered, slapping my forehead.

And yet, here I was. Because saying no to my mother was as impossible as Álvaro admitting he wasn’t perfect.

—

Back in the present, I rubbed my temples and muttered to my wolf, "I regret this, Hugo. I should’ve stayed home."

Hugo’s voice rumbled in my mind. "Quit sulking. You’re acting like a pup who got his favorite bone taken away."

"I didn’t ask for your opinion."

"You never do, but here we are. Stop being dramatic. Walk around, get some air, find our mate, and quit thinking about Álvaro."

I rolled my eyes. Hugo and his never-ending mate talk.

"Fine," I grumbled aloud, shoving my hands into my pockets.

The streets of the pack were just as I remembered—bustling with life, laughter, and the occasional yelling of vendors trying to sell their overpriced goods.

The smell of roasted meat, and churro, mixed with the tang of the ocean breeze. It should’ve been comforting, but all I felt was an overwhelming irritation at being back.

Pack life wasn’t for me. But as werewolves, we couldn’t be away from our respective packs for too long. Whether we like it or not, our duties were to the Alpha.

Anyway, I kept my head low, not in the mood to deal with anyone who might recognize me. All I wanted was to grab a few supplies from the market and head back to the small guest room I’d been forced into.

As I neared the center of the square, though, whispers caught my attention. I’m talking venomous and mean whispers.

"Look at her. Pathetic."

"She thinks she belongs here? An omega like her? Disgusting."

"The Moon Goddess must’ve cursed her for a reason."

I frowned, following the direction of their sneers. And there she was—a girl, walking with her shoulders hunched as if the burden of the whole world rested on them.

Her head was bowed, her hair hiding most of her face, but there was no mistaking the way her.

It was María José.

I didn’t know her well—just bits from three weeks ago.

However, from what I was hearing now, I knew she was the omega who didn’t fit in. The one everyone loved to hate. And as I watched her try to shrink into herself with the lack of confidence, I couldn’t describe the emotions that slammed into me.

Anger? Pity? Maybe both.

"Pathetic," someone hissed nearby.

Why the hell was she letting them throw those insults at her? The least she could do was tell them to go straight to hell!

I clenched my fists, biting back the urge to tell them off. What was it about her that brought out the worst in people?

Sure, she didn’t look like much now compared to the Luna witch hunt —her clothes were plain, and her posture screamed defeat—but the sheer cruelty in their tone was too much.

I hated injustice, always had. And this? This was disgusting.

Without realizing it, I found myself trailing behind her, keeping a distance but close enough to watch. She moved through the market like a ghost with her presence barely acknowledged except for the occasional sneer or snide comment.

The irritation in me was boundless. To her, I felt like a big brother. Perhaps, it was because Mom lost my little sister two days after labor, perhaps, a part of me had always wanted to be a big brother... I had no idea.

But I really wanted to help María José—like any big brother would.

Then it happened.

A lanky boy and his cronies approached her.

I watched as he and his gang pushed her into a tomato vendor’s cart, the red fruit scattering across the ground. Her money—what little she had—was snatched up afterward.

I gritted my teeth, every blood in my vein boiling. I could bite off the neck of everyone nearby because of this!

The crowd didn’t help her. They didn’t even pretend to care. Instead, they watched curiosity, as if she were some tragic spectacle put on for their entertainment.

She slipped, her face flushed with embarrassment, but she didn’t cry. That, at least, seemed to infuriate her oppressor even more. They dragged her toward a quieter corner, with intentions that I knew weren’t pure.

I bit my bottom lip, my face scrunched up in a frown:

I wanted to step in. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to intervene, to show those entitled pricks what it felt like to be humiliated. But then the reality of it all hit me.

If I defended her—an omega—I’d be drawing attention to myself. Attention I didn’t want. And Álvaro and the rest of my family? They’d never let me hear the end of it.

Protecting an omega, especially one as ridiculed as María José, would be seen as a stain on their precious reputation.

And yet... how could I just stand here?

"Do something," Hugo growled in my mind. "You hate this as much as I do."

"I know," I muttered under my breath, my jaw tightening. But I couldn’t. Not directly.

So I made a choice...

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