I yanked away from the crazy basyard, heart pounding in my throat, but he grabbed my arm tighter, pulling toward the bed.
"You touch again and I’ll kill you," I spat, kicking at him.
He caught my leg mid-air and shoved hard. I landed on the bed, bouncing once, struggling to get up as he lood over .
"Do it then," he said. "Kill . You won’t even make it out of this room."
I knew it. Right at this instant that I was cornered and done for. I hiccuped as Álvaro undid his belts, a maniacal grin plastered on his face.
Was I going to say I was no longer weak and yet, weakly allow Álvaro have his way with ?
No. Not in a room in the house where Axel lived. Not in the bedfra or the floor beneath my feet.
Because while my body trembled and my skin recoiled, sothing old and buried rose from the depths like a demon finally unshackled. I had felt powerless too many tis.
When they pushed . When they spat on . When Luis Miguel kissed like I was his prize and left in the mud. When Papá turned his back. When Camila laughed as she watched fall, when Rosa broke finally...
But this?
This was my line.
Álvaro didn’t get to break .
"Do it then," he said again, fingers tugging at his belt like he had all the ti in the world. "You’ll be screaming for help before you’re even finished with your little threat. And no one will co."
I sat up, slowly. Not flinching or running and I smiled.
Not because I wasn’t terrified... I was. My throat was raw, my lungs squeezed tight, and my heart pounded so loud that I thought he could hear it.
But I rembered sothing Axel told : "You’re not weak, María José. They only think you are because you haven’t shown them what happens when you stop being afraid."
However, right now, I had no weapon. But I had my mind. And I had Álvaro’s ego.
"You’re right, no one will believe ."
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"You’ve already decided how this goes, haven’t you? I’m the beggar in a towel, the ruined little flower. And you..." I let my gaze trail down his body with as much revulsion as I could muster, "you think you’re the wolf."
He tilted his head, intrigued. "And you’re what? The lamb?"
"No." I stood up from the bed, slowly, forcing my legs not to tremble. "I’m the bitch with nothing left to lose."
His grin disappeared.
I stepped closer. "You think this is power? Forcing yourself on soone who didn’t even knock on your door for you?" I tilted my head, mimicking his own mocking tone. "Do you even realize how small that makes you?"
"Careful..."
"No," I snapped. "You don’t get to tell what to be careful of. You think you’re dangerous? I grew up being surrounded by monsters. I can sll n like you before they even open their mouths. You’re not the first. And you sure as hell won’t be the last who learns what I beco when I have nothing left."
His belt hung open in his hands, but he hadn’t moved. For the first ti, uncertainty flashed in his eyes. Just for a second.
But it was enough.
"Now listen very closely," I said, stepping within inches of him. "Touch again, and I won’t scream. I won’t run. I will fucking gut you. With my hands. With my teeth if I have to."
His nostrils flared. "You think you scare ?"
"No," I said simply. "I think I’ve finally disappointed you. I’m not the pathetic girl you hoped would cry for you. I’m not on your floor. I’m not begging. I’m still standing. That scares you, doesn’t it?"
He stared mutely and before we even knew it, a booming crash reverberated.
The door exploded inward.
Álvaro staggered back and to my greatest relief, fear, and sha, Axel stepped inside.
He didn’t say a word. He just walked into the room, the dust from the broken door flying around in the air behind him, making him look like one of those heroes from Marvin.
His eyes darted to Álvaro in a death glare. Then . Then back at him.
"What the hell are you doing?" Axel growled, his Alpha aura sizzling across the room.
I knew Álvaro had a lot to lose. It was also why I could rub it on his face. He was the Alpha heir, and such a move could make him lose the post if caught.
How could he be stupid enough to even try?
Álvaro scoffed, brushing Axel off. "She ca in here looking for you. I was just..."
"I didn’t ask for your lies."
Álvaro opened his mouth, but Axel crossed the room in two steps and punched him hard. Álvaro went down with a grunt, crashing into a side table.
I was trembling. Still frozen on the bed. Still wrapped in that damn towel.
Axel turned to .
"Did he hurt you?" he asked, eyes suddenly softer.
I shook my head, then nodded, then couldn’t speak. My voice was caught sowhere in my throat and tears poured down without permission.
Seeing Axel like that unnerved . I didn’t know when all my guard walls ca crumbling. Oh, my Axel.
Oh, my protector.
Even now, he ca for . He would always co for . My love...
He ca to , gently taking the edge of the towel to pull it higher over my shoulder. His hands were warm. Solid.
"I’m sorry," he whispered. "I should’ve been here."
I wanted to collapse into him. But I didn’t know if I still had the right.
"Axel..." My voice was hoarse.
He looked at like I was the only thing he’d ever wanted to see again.
"We’ll talk later," he said. "Right now, I’m taking you with ."
With him...
Álvaro groaned on the floor. Axel turned back to him, dark fury in his gaze.
"If you ever look at her again, I’ll rip your eyes out."
Then he guided gently past his brother’s broken body and into the hall.
I didn’t know if forgiveness would co.
But for the first ti, I didn’t feel alone anymore.
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