María José hadn’t moved from where she sat crumpled on the floor. Her shoulders were still trembling and her hands curled into fists in the dirt. I could see her lips pressing together in a desperate attempt to hold herself together, but the single tear running down her cheek betrayed her.
I tilted my head, watching her with mild curiosity, as if she were so fragile little thing on the verge of breaking—because she was.
All of this because of Axel. Know that, María José. Know that Axel did this to you. He marked you and now wanted to marry your sister.
He played with your feelings like it was a board ga.
Perfect.
Just then, a commanding voice bood from behind.
"What is going on here?"
Ah. Don Diego. Axel’s worst enemy and one of the most corrupted n in the pack to whom I planned on teaching great lessons.
His voice carried the kind of authority that made n straighten their backs and won lower their gazes. Even the very air seed to heat up in response to his presence.
I turned, along with everyone else, to see the man himself approaching slowly and exuding the controlled fury of a man who was not accustod to being left out of the loop.
His sharp and gawking eyes took un the scene—María José on the ground, Rosa still clinging to like a leech, and Camila jiggling with anticipation beside us. His gaze landed on last, fixated with the kind of scrutiny that could peel the flesh from a lesser man’s bones.
"Is what I’m hearing true?" he asked, squinting.
I held his gaze, letting a bit of silence stretch between us, and then... I nodded.
"Sí, señor," I answered smoothly as if none of this had been orchestrated with precision. "Everything I said is true."
Don Diego exhaled slowly through his nose, as if considering sothing, then gave a curt nod. "The Alpha himself called yesterday to inform of Axel’s interest in marrying Rosa."
Oh, I know. That was all the more reason why I was here.
A choked sound slipped from María José, and I felt it like a jolt through my spine. It wasn’t loud, but it was raw; the kind of sound a person makes when the world they built in their mind cos crashing down around them.
The fantasy she had created for her and Axel was finally crumbling. My plan was working.
Don Diego’s attention snapped to her imdiately with furrowed brows. "María José," he said sharply. "Cállate. Stop this nonsense. You’re embarrassing yourself."
I watched as she flinched, her small fra shrinking under his scrutiny. Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, but then she swallowed thickly, pressing her forehead to the ground.
That sharp, twisting ache returned to my chest, but I forced myself to ignore it.
I wished I could snap her head up and tell her not to recoil in front of any man. Not even her disgusting father. But I couldn’t. I needed to be cruel to her.
This is necessary.
Don Diego turned back to . "I won’t lie to you, Axel. I’m skeptical about letting my daughter marry you."
Now this was interesting. I blinked, feigning hurt. "Why?" I asked, making my voice sound just the right amount of wounded.
Before Don Diego could respond, Rosa imdiately jumped to my defense. "Papá!" she gasped dramatically, clutching my arm tighter. "Why would you say that? Axel loves ! You heard him!"
Don Diego barely spared her a glance before returning his scrutiny to . "Because you’ve been rude," he said bluntly. "And so far, you’ve given no reason to believe you would make a promising husband for my daughter. You seem... careless."
Well, if soone thought so low of Axel, I’d take it with pleasure.
I rely inclined my head thoughtfully.
"I understand why you might think that," I kept my expression humble. "But that’s simply not the case anymore. Things have changed."
I let the mont stretch, ensuring I had everyone’s undivided attention before I dropped the real bomb.
"I am vying for the Alpha position against my brother."
Camila gasped audibly. Rosa clutched my arm even tighter, her nails digging into my sleeve. Even Don Diego’s stoic face twitched slightly in surprise.
Rosa’s reaction was instant. "That’s amazing!" she shrieked, throwing herself deeper into my arms. "Axel, why didn’t you tell ? This ans so much! This ans everything! I’ll give you my utmost support, my love!"
Camila, on the other hand, wasn’t as thrilled. "¡Eso no es justo!" she snapped, her voice intense with outrage. "Axel, you should leave that position to my husband! You don’t need it!"
I barely managed to suppress the urge to roll my eyes. Ah, Camila... the stupid soon-to-be wife who had no idea what hell awaited her being a wife to a maniac like Álvaro.
Don Diego, however, ignored her completely. His expression was bland as he considered , his fingers stroking his chin. "That’s impressive," he admitted. "But it’s still not enough. I need sothing more convincing."
I tilted my head slightly. "How about this, then?"
And then... I did sothing none of them expected.
I knelt.
Yes, that’s it. I made Axel kneel in front of the one man who was his true opponent. I made him into a coward and I loved it.
Gasps bood through the air. Rosa’s hands flew to her mouth. Camila looked like she might actually faint from the sheer scandal of it all.
Don Diego, however, rely watched , his eyes glittering with intrigue.
"My father is trying to use the recent murder in town as a ans to exploit you. He’s planning sothing, Don Diego. And I can help you stop it."
And now, I would make Axel seem like his little lapdog.
A dangerous pause followed my declaration.
Don Diego’s expression remained stoic, but I could feel the shift in the air and the importance of the opportunity I was dangling before him.
"How?" he asked.
I t his gaze evenly. "By being your insider. I’ll bring you all the information you need. Every move my father makes, every plan he puts into action—you’ll know it all before he even has the chance to execute it."
Another gasp. This ti, it was Camila. "How could you do that?" she hissed, eyes wide with horror. "That’s your father and brother you’re talking about!"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Yes, and?"
Don Diego’s gaze flicked toward Camila, irritation flashing across his features. "Silencio, Camila." He turned his attention back to . "So... you’re finally coming to your senses. Recognizing the system."
I didn’t respond. I didn’t need to. I simply held his gaze, waiting.
And then, slowly, he extended his hand.
"Then welco to the family, Axel."
The world seed to hold its breath.
Rosa let out a choked sob of joy, imdiately throwing herself at once more, whispering "¡Gracias, papá!" over and over again like a prayer. Camila looked like she’d just watched soone skin a cat alive.
And María José...
She hadn’t moved.
She was still on the ground, staring at like she didn’t even recognize anymore.
And for the first ti that morning...
I couldn’t quite bring myself to et her gaze.
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