Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother
Chapter 50: _ Father’s Verdict

Chapter 50: _ Father’s Verdict

I tried not to cry. I tried. But the lump in my throat was thick and stubborn – like a stone lodged in my windpipe.

Married off? To an old rogue wolf?

My father’s words echoed in my skull. Every syllable in them was hammering the nails deeper into my impending doom.

"A month. You have one month in this house, María José. If, by then, I still believe you are cursed—" He paused, letting the disgust drip from his tongue. "—then I will see to it that you are married off to any rogue who won’t care what kind of disgrace you are."

A sharp and ugly laugh bubbled from Camila. "Oh, Father, why wait? I’m sure there are plenty of desperate, disgusting old rogues out there right now who would love a pathetic little Omega like her."

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palm so hard I was certain I’d break the skin.

Rosa let out a sigh, shaking her head as if my fate was already sealed. "It does make sense, Father. A rogue is probably the best she can get at this point. She should be grateful."

Grateful.

Grateful for what? A life of misery? Of being cast out and treated like livestock?

I wanted to believe Dad was bluffing. That he was saying the worst thing he could think of just to scare me into submission. But Don Diego didn’t make empty threats. Father doesn’t bluff.

If he said he would do it, then I had exactly one month before my life was over.

I clenched my fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms, fighting back the tears that burned behind my eyes. Crying wouldn’t save me. Pleading wouldn’t save me.

Camila, of course, looked positively thrilled.

"Oh, I love this idea," she gushed, clasping her hands together like a child receiving an early birthday present. "An old rogue wolf, huh? Father, you’re being too generous. Make sure he’s blind, toothless, and extra disgusting. María José deserves only the best, after all."

Rosa hummed in agreement, tilting her head as if contemplating it. "I’d say it’s a fitting punishment," she said smoothly. "Maybe a life with a rogue will teach her to behave like a proper woman instead of a disgrace."

I turned my gaze to her, my heart beating fast. "You’re actually supporting this?"

Hell, she was supposed to be the one there for me... for us. She was supposed to fill in Mum’s place. It was Rosa who was supposed to be a mother figure in our lives, but no.

My sister was either too rigid or envy-ridden that she’d rather antagonize me than be the reliable big sister she ought to be.

I almost rolled my eyes when she blinked, feigning innocence. "Of course. You embarrassed our family. There must be consequences."

Resentment grew in me like a tumor. My sisters, my own flesh and blood, were treating my fate like a fun little game.

Camila pouted. "Aww, is the little Omega about to cry?" She leaned in, whispering mockingly, "Don’t worry, dear sister. I’m sure your husband will be so kind. Maybe he’ll only break a few bones when you disobey."

I wanted to hit her.

I wanted to.

But I didn’t get the chance—because before I could open my mouth, one of the workers stepped forward hesitantly. "Señor," he said, bowing his head to my father, "there is a call for you from the pack house."

Don Diego’s eyes flicked to him sharply. "From whom?"

"The Alpha himself."

Silence fell over the courtyard like a guillotine.

Even Camila shut up, her smugness evaporating for a bit of a second. My father’s face remained stoic, but I could see the tick in his jaw.

The Alpha rarely called personally.

"I’ll take it in my office," he muttered, adjusting his sleeves before turning back to me. "But don’t think for a second that this conversation is over."

I swallowed hard.

"For now," he continued, "you will go to your room and stay there. You are not to leave for breakfast, lunch, or dinner until I say so."

My eyebrows shot up. "What?"

I was grounded at eighteen? This wasn’t even an ordinary grounding—this was telling me to starve and rot in my room!

This was cruelty!

He rolled his shoulders as though deep down, something in him couldn’t take all the cruelty he was showing me, but he was convinced his principles were better than his feelings.

"You must starve for as long as I permit. Maybe then, you’ll learn some discipline."

My heart dropped into my stomach.

He was serious.

And before I could even process that, he turned on his heel and stalked away, barking orders at the workers to clean up the mess in the courtyard.

I stood there, frozen, feeling like I had been gutted.

I had expected punishment. But this...

This was a whole new level of cruelty.

Rosa exhaled loudly, stretching as though the whole conversation had exhausted her. "You know," she mused, brushing invisible dust off her sleeve, "I think Father is being too lenient."

Lenient?

Camila gasped, pressing a hand to her chest in false outrage. "Oh, Rosa, how can you say that? It’s not like she deserves to be locked in a cell and beaten."

She turned to me, smirking.

"...Yet."

Our big sister sighed dramatically, as if I were the one inconveniencing her. "Honestly, María José, bring this upon yourself."

I clenched my teeth. "And you enjoy every second of it, don’t you?"

She shrugged. "If you want to be pitiful, that’s your choice. One more thing, don’t forget to stay away from MY Axel!" And with that, she strode off, her boots clanging against the ground like a ticking clock counting down the days until my doom.

I turned, ready to storm off myself, when Camila laughed.

"Oh, don’t look so grumpy, hermana," she purred. "It’s not all bad. You have a whole month before your wedding! That’s enough time to practice groveling. Maybe if you beg, Father will find you a less hideous husband."

My hands shook with rage. My body ached for a fight.

But Rosa’s words rang in my ears: If you want to be pitiful, that’s your choice.

I refused to be pitiful.

So instead of wasting my energy on Camila, I shoved past her with all the force of my pent-up frustration and walked toward the villa.

I heard her oof in surprise behind me, but I didn’t stop.

"Where do you think you’re going?" She called from behind.

I didn’t answer.

"Oh, so now you’re mute?" she laughed loudly. "Was that slap too much for your tiny Omega brain to handle? Poor thing."

I gritted my teeth, walking faster.

Moon Goddess, help me one last time; I don’t want to be arranged to a rogue. But there was no other way, was there?