Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 34: _ Luis is a Victim

Chapter 34: _ Luis is a Victim

"One month?" my father repeated, his brows knitting together as if I had asked for an eternity instead of a measly thirty days.

"Axel, one month is a lot of time. What are you even hoping to achieve with it? Rosa’s been waiting long enough, and I will not tolerate this stalling."

"Papá, please," I said, throwing in just the right amount of exasperation and sincerity to tug at his pride.

"One month is nothing in the grand scheme of things. If I find my mate, it’s fate. Isn’t that what you always say? That destiny knows best? But if I don’t, fine. Rosa, it is. But at least let me try." I clasped my hands in fake supplication, tilting my head slightly for dramatic effect.

I watched his lips twitch, the cogs in his head visibly turning as he mulled it over. For a second, I thought he was going to dismiss me outright, but then he sighed.

"Fine. One month. But after that, Axel, I will hear no excuses. No stories. You’ll marry Rosa and put an end to this foolishness. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," I said, my lips twitching into a falsely obedient smile.

I’d barely gotten the words out before he turned and stalked out of the room, leaving behind the scent of his aftershave—something sharp and citrusy that always made my nose itch.

As soon as he was out of earshot, I let out a long dramatic hiss, dragging my hand down my face. "At least I’ll have enough time to pack my bag and slip away before anyone notices," I muttered.

If Father thought I really was going to dance to his tunes, then he had learned nothing from my lifetime of rebellion.

Hugo howled with laughter in my head. "I knew it! The way you caved so quickly—I was starting to think you’d been replaced by a doppelgänger or something."

"I’m Axel Montenegro," I said, straightening my spine and cracking my neck like the arrogant fool I sometimes was. "I don’t ’give in’ to anyone. Not even him."

Hugo’s chuckles subsided into a low groan. "Whatever you say, big guy. But hey, you might actually find our mate before the month is up because like it or not, we need her. You won’t be able to stop thinking about her when we find her. You don’t know what it’s like to be mated."

Argh, mate this, mate that!

Hugo just won’t stop!

"As if I care," I scoffed. "Now, let me get ready before Papá decides to spring some other ridiculous demand on me."

I showered quickly, letting the hot water work its magic on my tense muscles. Steam billowed around me, the scent of my sandalwood soap in the air. Once I was dressed in a black shirt and dark jeans—simple as always—I ran a hand through my damp hair, grabbed my watch from the dresser, and headed downstairs.

"Luis would have missed me. At least, I have more things to rant to him about." I clicked my tongue as I climbed the stairs.

Hugo hissed in my head. "I’m pretty sure Luis himself must be tired of your endless boyish rants."

"No. Never. Luis loves it when I rant." I countered, finally arriving at the bottom of the stairs.

The Montenegro mansion was a work of art. Every corner was steeped in luxury, from the Azulejo tiles that lined the hallways to the marble staircase that spiraled down to the ground floor.

As I made my way toward the dining room, the scent of rich coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the aroma of orange blossoms from the garden. When I entered, the sight before me was predictably grand.

The dining table was a long expanse of mahogany, adorned with an elaborate centerpiece of fresh flowers. Silverware and fine china were set on it and the maids moved about, ensuring everything was in its rightful place. Guards stood by the double doors in alert.

At the head of the table sat my father, his back straight and his presence dominating even as he read the morning paper. My mother was seated to his right, delicately sipping her tea from a porcelain cup. Álvaro sat across from her, buttering a slice of bread.

"Axel," my mother said warmly, her face lighting up as she saw me enter. "Come, join us for breakfast."

"No thanks," I said, already walking away to leave.

"Where are you heading?" she called after me with curiosity.

I paused in the doorway, my hand gripping the frame. For a moment, I debated brushing her off, but the words slipped out before I could stop them.

"I’m going to see Luis."

The room fell silent. The atmosphere changed instantly, the lighthearted hum of the morning now turned into an uncomfortable tension.

My mother’s smile disappeared, her cup pausing mid-air. My father lowered his paper, his eyes squinting ever so slightly. Even Álvaro froze, his knife poised over his buttered bread.

"When," I said, turning slowly to face them, "was the last time any of you bothered to check up on him?"

Nobody answered. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint clink of a maid adjusting the silverware.

"Exactly what I thought. Why would you, right? It’s not like you’re responsible for what happened to him or anything."

"Axel!" my father barked. "Mind your words!"

No, I won’t. Look at them sitting there, acting like Luis was the disease or some sort of criminal whose name must not be uttered.

When Luis was the victim, and father, the villain. Poor, poor, Luis. Someone needed to remind him that he mattered.

I’d make sure to report father to him yet again. Luis love my stories... So much.

Álvaro, ever the diplomat—or the snake, depending on the day—leaned back in his chair. "Axel, if you’re going to throw a tantrum, at least have the decency to do it in private. Spare the rest of us your theatrics."

I turned to him, my lips curling into a smirk. "Oh, Álvaro, I’d take advice from you, but I left my manual for being a pretentious ass in my other pants. Should I borrow yours?"

The look on his face right after sent some victory scent in the air: Victory.

Without waiting for a response, I stormed out. My chest was tight, my fists clenched, but there was a satisfaction deep within me. I might have been the family disappointment, but at least I wasn’t a hypocrite.

Luis deserved better than all of them. And if I had to fight my entire family to remind them of that, so be it.

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