I was going crazy," he muttered into my hair. "Do you know what it’s like thinking Álvaro took you? Wondering if he’s touched you, or worse, already pulling off your pants? Don’t you know he’s a FUCKING snake?!"
I scoffed. "He only has one snake, and it’s in his pants."
Axel stiffened. "What?!"
"Not like that!" I laughed, pulling back, and wiping at my nose. "I ant—ugh, I ant he’s gross, Axel. He tried to be charming and kept taunting about my scars, pushing and... unbuttoning his belt..."
His eye twitched. "I’m going to kill him."
I kissed his chest just above his heart.
He growled. "I’m still going to kill him."
And then we both laughed. Because this—this madness was our version of normal. Shouting, panicking, yanking each other out of hell and back, and sohow still laughing at the end of it all.
"You really scared ," he said softly, brushing a thumb over my temple where the bruise throbbed.
I didn’t an to. I really didn’t.
But how do you explain that to soone who’s looking at you like you just burned down his childhood ho and danced in the ashes?
"I didn’t an to," I said softly, still clutching onto him like he was the last warm thing on a freezing mountain.
Axel didn’t respond right away. His chest rose and fell beneath my palms, and the muscle in his jaw clenched so tightly I half expected it to snap clean off.
Then, in a low voice that sohow shouts louder than a scream, he asked, "Then why are you here, María José?"
I flinched.
"Why did you co all the way here, when you’ve made it pretty damn clear you didn’t want to see again? Not until I brought you proof." His eyes burned into mine. "So where does that leave us now?"
I drew back slightly, sucking in my breath as I searched for the words I wasn’t even sure existed. The truth lay heavy on my tongue. This wasn’t about proof. Not really.
I had already seen for myself how this was beyond that. How my mind had forrly been so shallow that I couldn’t seem to think too deeply previously.
"I ca," I said, straightening up, "because of exactly that."
His brows furrowed.
"I ca because I realized... waiting for so magical proof while everything falls apart around us is stupid. I was being stupid." My throat ached. "I kept telling myself to stay away until you showed up with neat answers and gift-wrapped innocence, but people are dying, Axel. Things are... happening."
His gaze sharpened. "What things?"
I didn’t answer right away. My arms dropped to my sides. "You an you haven’t found anything yet? You still don’t have the proof?"
He hesitated for half a bit before shaking his head. "No. Not yet. I’ve been... busy."
"Busy," I repeated. "Right."
There was a heavy pause. We just stood there staring at each other. Axel was gazing at as though he knew I was onto sothing and was only giving the space to spill without interference.
"Busy with what?" I asked, even though I already knew. I just needed to hear him say it.
He exhaled hard. "Gonzalo. Pedro. Rubén."
I swallowed. Right. The boys... my friends. My heart shattered into a million pieces rembering them again.
"I’ve been trying to find out who did that to them," he added, softer now. "You knew them... didn’t you?"
Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes. I didn’t blink them away. I just nodded.
"They were my only friends," I whispered.
Axel’s expression twinkled with sothing that looked like pain.
"They were idiots," I said while a watery smile twitched on my lips. "Absolute, ridiculous idiots. Always trying to prank soone or steal soone else’s lunch or... I don’t know, trip each other in hallways just for fun back in high school. I never expected to like them."
"But you did."
I nodded, a tear slipping free and trailing down my cheek. "They treated like a person. Like I wasn’t so cursed Oga with unending chores and bruises. They used to tell jokes, and tease like we were equals. I didn’t even realize how much that ant until they were gone."
Axel stepped closer, his hand lifting as though he wanted to touch but wasn’t sure if he was allowed.
"I’m glad they made you happy. That’s why I’ll avenge them."
The tears were more now. My chest was tight. "Do you know who did it?"
"Not yet," he said grimly. "But I have... suspicions. I think it was a witch."
"A witch?" I blinked.
He nodded. "A strong one. Soone who knew how to trap them in a way they couldn’t escape. Soone who made sure they died slowly."
I winced. "Who could be that cruel?"
Axel’s jaw clenched again. "That’s what I’m trying to find out. I’m waiting to hear news about the autopsy results. They’re still running tests on Gonzalo, Pedro, and Rubén."
The room seed colder. I wrapped my arms around myself.
"And the previous body?" I asked.
He looked at .
"The one who died in the pack?"
Axel’s face darkened. "That report ca in."
I waited.
"He was one of our own. A packhouse guard." He took a deep breath. "His heart was ripped out before he was set on fire."
I gasped, stumbling back a step. "What?"
"That’s what the autopsy found. His body was found in the forest close to your father’s villa, charred beyond recognition. But he was ours."
I wanted to say Don Diego was no longer my father but the deep, sickening dread curling in my stomach wouldn’t let .
"What’s happening in this pack?" I shook my head, facepalming.
Axel looked at , eyes serious. "That’s what I’m trying to find out. But with all this going on... it shouldn’t be so hard to believe anymore."
"Believe what?"
He stepped closer. "That there’s a shapeshifter walking around. Soone who’s been using my form. Doing... insane things. Things I’d never do."
I choked back a sob, eyes locked with his. I was a fool for not believing him earlier. However, maybe if I told Axel about Mateo, this might help with his investigations.
"It wasn’t just your form," I whispered.
He stilled. "What?"
I looked down, suddenly aware of just how crazy this sounded, but too far gone to care.
"I think soone else’s form was used too. At least one more. And who knows how many more might have been copied?"
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