Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother Chapter 125: Oh, She Cares

~Axel’s Point Of View~

I stood in front of my mirror, staring blankly at myself, at my new haircut, my new look, and my new vision. I had just made the grandest revelation to my family and it had stirred a lot of troubles.

Two days ago

*****

By the ti I stepped back into the mansion after I visited Luis, my head was a ss.

Luis’s slow, wheezy judgnt still haunted like an old, damp coat, and I hated it.

I stord past the grand foyer, ignoring the workers bustling about. Soone called out to —a maid, probably—but I didn’t bother answering. I had bigger problems.

Like the fact that I kissed María José last night.

And bit her.

And drank her blood.

I shuddered, running a hand down my face as I climbed the stairs two at a ti.

The second I reached my room, I kicked the door shut behind , yanked my shirt over my head, and flung it sowhere across the room. My pants followed.

The cool air kissed my bare skin, but it did nothing to cool the heat in my chest. It only reminded of how warm her skin felt against mine.

Fuck Axel. You’re so dood.

I paced. Back and forth. Back and forth. The thick Persian rug muffled my footsteps, but the tension in my muscles only coiled tighter.

"Hugo," I muttered.

"Yeah?" My wolf’s voice echoed in my mind, calm as ever.

"I need suggestions."

"For what?"

"For my problems."

Hugo snorted. "We’re going to need a bigger room then."

Argh, Hugo and his jokes. This was the wrong timing.

I scowled. "Just start sowhere."

"Alright. Which problem do you want to tackle first?"

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling.

Which problem do I want to tackle first? Urm... by their order or importance, I’d say...

"María José."

"Good choice."

There was a pause. Then Hugo humd thoughtfully.

"From my observations, she doesn’t seem mad at you."

I halted mid-step, turning toward the floor-length mirror across the room. My own reflection scowled back at . "What?"

"I an, look at her reaction to your touch last night. She liked it."

"That doesn’t make any sense." I resud pacing. "Are you saying María José is—what? Wayward? Because no woman would let a man she considers a big brother sneak into her room, kiss her in her sleep, and not get mad about it."

Hugo snorted. "Did María José ever tell you she considers you a brother?"

I stopped dead in my tracks. That was true. She never did. But then, it was only logical that she did.

My jaw worked. "What else would she consider as?"

"Oh, I don’t know," Hugo scoffed. "A man? A protector? Soone she actually cares about beyond whatever ridiculous ’big brother’ narrative you’ve shoved into your skull?"

Ridiculous big brother narrative? What the hell was that even supposed to an?

I let out a dry laugh. "Hugo, I look out for her. I protect her. Like any big brother would. What are you talking about, bro?"

Hugo growled. "Are you blind, Axel? Are you dumb? Or are you just willingly being an idiot?"

I turned toward the mirror again, eyes dimming. "Excuse ?"

"Even a teenager would know that after last night, María José is interested in you."

For the love of everything good...

Hugo was crazy! Out of his mind even. What the bloody hell did he take María José for to fall for a horrible man like ? I didn’t know how to love won or treat them right.

I was good as a friend or a big brother... anything but a love interest.

I scoffed. "That’s bullshit."

"Is it?" Hugo’s tone was sharp. "You don’t rember how she reacted to your touch? How she kissed you first? How she’s kept your secret without a single complaint?"

I clenched my fists.

"And what about that scarf she wore today?" Hugo pressed on. "You think that was for fun? She was covering the mark you left on her neck, Axel. She’s protecting you, and here you are, acting as if she’s a clueless little girl."

I swallowed, my mind flashing back to earlier. That scarf. Tied neatly around her soft throat.

Had I really left a mark? Of course, I had. I fucking bit her. What the hell was I thinking?

I groaned, facepalming. "Shit."

"Yeah. Shit. Because did you ever stop to think about what happens if soone sees that mark? Do you know what they’d do to her?"

I gnashed my teeth together. I knew.

In a pack like ours, where hierarchy was everything, where María José was already disgraced—a mark like that would be her fault.

Not mine. Hers.

She would be blad. She would suffer. And yet, she still covered it up.

Still protected .

My stomach knotted. Oh, how undeserving of her consideration I was!

"From what I’ve seen, that girl would sacrifice herself for you in a heartbeat," Hugo said, softer now. "Because you were the first person to stand up for her when no one else did."

I gulped down hard.

I turned toward the window, staring out at the sprawling estate below. My mind was a ss, replaying every single mont of that eting.

The way she looked at .

Those green, cautious eyes—so filled with emotion I couldn’t na at the ti. I had thought it was guilt. Or maybe regret for what I’d done to her last night.

But now?

I can finally see clearly. It was longing.

Like a child waiting for her father to lead.

She wasn’t looking at with hatred. She wasn’t avoiding because she was repulsed.

She was waiting. Waiting for .

Epiphany slamd into like a sledgehamr. I cursed under my breath, gripping the windowsill.

I was such an idiot.

I had spent the entire day convincing myself that I had ruined everything, that María José wanted nothing to do with , that she would never forgive .

But she wasn’t mad. She wasn’t scared. She was waiting.

Waiting to see if I would step up.

Waiting to see if I would lead.

Waiting to see if I would claim her.

A strange heat spread through my chest.

Possessiveness.

Protectiveness.

Sothing hungry that made my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin.

Hugo let out a satisfied huff. "Finally. Took you long enough."