Axel’s eyes narrowed as I readily agreed to the existence of a shapeshifter contrasting my forr perspective.
"Why do you suddenly believe there’s an imposter?" He asked:
I sighed, nerves fluttering in my belly like wild moths. My tongue felt thick, like it had been dipped in molasses, but I forced it to move.
"There’s... a lot I want to tell you," I said quietly, unsure of how to even begin.
He took a step closer. "Tell what?"
A lot, Axel. Mateo. He kissed . Told things about you... except he wasn’t even Mateo.
"I t soone," I blurted, before I could think better of it.
He blinked. "You t soone?"
I nodded.
"Was it a female?" His tone shifted slightly, trying to play it casual. But I saw the twitch in his brow, the way his nostrils flared just a little too wide.
Whoa, don’t tell the almighty Axel is jealous?
"No," I said, biting the inside of my cheek to hide my smile. "A male."
His whole body stiffened like a board. "A male?" he repeated, scoffing.
The laugh I was trying to suppress almost burst out of when he threw his hands provoked, in the air. "Since when do you just... et random males? Is this a thing now? You et strange n and go on adventures?"
I couldn’t help it now. This grown-up baby was being so cute and I just had to. I burst into laughter. It was a short and choked sound that startled even . Axel glared at like he might start to eat raw if I didn’t start talking.
"Let finish before you start planning a manhunt."
He grumbled sothing under his breath that sounded like, "I already hate him."
Truth be told, if Axel t Mateo, he might gut him alive in retaliation to everything he’s said and done to .
I placed a hand on Axel’s chest and gently shoved it. "Relax. He’s not a threat to our relationship. He’s... odd. A little unhinged. But I can’t seem to—figure him out."
Axel’s eye twitched again. "You’re not helping."
"Let talk!" I said, still giggling.
He folded his arms across his chest and gave his best ’Alpha male-who-is-patiently-listening-but-secretly-planning-murder’ face.
I exhaled and sobered up a bit. "There was a ti... a while ago. My father punished for sothing stupid—don’t even ask what. He made sleep in the pigsty."
Axel’s entire expression changed. The amusent fled from his face and once could see a new storm of fury that danced across his features like lightning. "He made you sleep where?"
I shrugged, pretending like it didn’t still make my stomach twist just saying it out loud. "The pigsty. It wasn’t so bad. I an, it slled like fernted horror and pig crap, but I survived."
"Not so bad?" Axel literally snarled like he wasn’t the only one pissed, but his wolf too. "Are you kidding ? You are not livestock, María José. You’re a woman—his daughter. And he treated you like garbage."
"I know." My face fell.
I watched Axel’s hands clenched into fists. "That man needs to be brought to book for all the bad he’s done."
"You an teach him a lesson?" I looked up at him.
He readily t my gaze. "Yes, sothing like that, María José. Or maybe even more."
I looked at him and softened, taking a step forward until I was close enough to touch him. Then, slowly, I raised my hands and slid them around his neck, fingers playing with the hair at his nape.
"I don’t intend to stop at Don Diego," I whispered.
His hands found my waist instinctively, holding like I was sothing he couldn’t risk slipping away again. "What do you an?"
"I an..."I paused. "I want revenge. On all of them. My entire family. Every single one who stood by while I was treated like trash and every single one who treated as such."
Axel’s jaw dropped like I’d just announced I was leaving the pack for good instead of wanting revenge on those who wronged .
I knew it’d be a hard pill to swallow considering who I used to be, but it was high ti they all saw that the fragile María José was dead and gone.
He paused, then said in a low voice, "Are you sure?"
I loved the way he didn’t try to judge , remind that wasn’t who I was, or try to change . I could see it in his eyes... The acceptance of who I’d beco and the understanding.
I didn’t hesitate this ti. "Yes."
And that’s when he kissed .
It wasn’t a gentle, featherlight thing. No, this kiss was fire and desperation. It was an exhale of relief and fury and longing all wrapped into one. His mouth t mine like it had been waiting years... maybe lifetis—for this mont.
One of his hands curled behind my neck, fingers weaving into my hair. My hands clutched at his shirt, pulling him closer until there was nothing between us but heat and the pulse of sothing we had both refused to na until now.
His lips were soft but commanding, and I lted into him like I was made to fit into this mont, like all the broken parts of clicked into place when he held like this. I sighed into the kiss, letting it anchor , fill , and ignite the parts of I thought I could never be.
When we finally broke apart, I was dizzy.
"I’ll help you," he said, breathing hard, lips still grazing mine. "With all of it. Your revenge. Whatever you need."
Oh, Dios... what?
Just what could I have done in my previous life to deserve this man?
"You don’t have to," I whispered.
"I’d go through worse for you."
A lump ford in my throat. "Why?" I asked, truly baffled. "Why have you been so good to ?"
He chuckled softly, still a little out of breath. "I told you when I ca to Santa Leticia. But if you want to hear it more clearly now..." He cupped my face. "It’s because I love you."
Everything stopped.
The world slowed down. The sounds faded. My heart was beating so loudly I was sure it echoed in my ears and went as far as into the forest.
"You what?"
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