I blinked rapidly, feeling my stomach dropping like a stone. Álvaro—my younger brother. Yeah, he was a pompous, arrogant little bastard most days, but he was still my flesh and blood. He’s Camilla’s fiancé, too.
Rosa’s sister’s fiancé. And she wanted to... what? Kill him?
I shook my head, my voice cracking with disbelief. "What the hell are you talking about, Rosa? You want to kill my own brother? Álvaro might drive crazy, but he’s still my brother. And Camilla... your sister—is about to marry him. You want to murder him over an heir? Over a damn ultimatum?"
My voice rose, sharper now, fury breaking through the disbelief. "What kind of monster even suggests that?"
She didn’t flinch. Not even a little. Her eyes narrowed, but her smile was cold, calm... like she’d just told we were out of milk.
"Axel, amor, you have to understand. This is the only way. If you don’t act now, Camilla might give Álvaro a son before you can." She leaned in close, brushing her lips over the shell of my ear, her voice smooth like silk over steel. "It’s about power. About control. It’s a necessary sacrifice. And once you’re in charge... you’ll thank ."
I stepped back like her words had burned . My heart thudded hard against my ribs. "No," I growled in a raw and finally tone. "That’s insane."
She’d crossed a line. A line I didn’t even know existed until she casually stepped over it with her heels clicking and her smile intact.
I was here on a mission, but there was a damn limit to the things I could tolerate. My only regret was not recording this conversation in the first place. My phone was left in my car.
If I had brought it in, I’d have clicked on record and take this as a solid evidence to use against her.
I turned, rage boiling in my veins, ready to walk away and put an entire city between us. "I’m done with this conversation," I muttered through clenched teeth. "You’ve lost your damn mind, Rosa."
But before I could take a step, her hand firmly clamped around my arm.
"You’re not going anywhere," she hissed, voice dropping to that lethal softness she used when she wanted to make sothing sound like a gift when it was really a threat.
"You’re mine now, Axel. And you better start getting used to it."
Like hell I am.
My wolf was snarling beneath, angry, irritated, and disgusted.
Hugo growled inside . "She’s a viper, Axel. Get out of her grasp. She’ll poison everything."
But I knew better than to make a scene. Not yet. Not now.
"I’m carrying your child," she whispered in my ear like it was a dagger to the chest. "And that’s all that matters. Forget María José. I’ve seen the way you look at her and though you might claim to love , I don’t really think it’s true. Maybe you’re doing this to make her jealous or sothing."
Oh, Rosa, you have no idea, honey.
"She’s nothing but a worthless little Oga. You used to look at her like she was the only star in your sky. But she’s gone. She’s disowned, ugly, and nothing. And I’m here."
I clenched my jaw, my pulse hamring. She was pushing, harder than ever, digging into the part of that still ached every ti I thought of everything María José’s had been through.
How dare she try to tap into that? Try to paint María José as pathetic when she was the devious one? Soone needed to teach this woman a lesson.
Gosh, she was so disgusting to say the least.
"I’m giving you a future," She went on, voice syrup-sweet. "Power. Legacy. Everything you ever wanted. And you’ll forget her. You’ll forget all of her."
My hands curled into fists at my sides. I wanted to scream. To shift. To tear sothing down. But I forced myself to breathe. Forced myself to rember who I was—what I still wanted and why I was doing this: And it wasn’t her.
She smirked like she had pinned. "You see, Axel," she purred, her voice coated in venom and pride, "I’m already carrying your child. She can’t give you that. She never could. She’s weak, Axel. You don’t need her. You need ."
Every word scraped down my spine like glass. I felt sick. But I wouldn’t let her see it. She’s a crazy woman.
How did she grow up to beco so horrible?
I pulled out of her grasp like I was tearing off a second skin, turning to face her with all the fire still simring inside . "I’m done here, Rosa. You think you’ve got control over , but you don’t. I’m not your puppet. You’re not my future. You’re just a mistake waiting to happen."
I started walking again, needing air and needing out. But her voice followed like the snap of a whip.
"You’ll co back to , Axel. They always do. And when you do... rember this—you’re mine. You can’t run from this. Our wedding will happen in four days and our child will be with us in so months after."
Fuck playing the good fiancé. I’d rather die.
I didn’t stop to look at her. Didn’t look back. My fists were tight, my steps uneven with all the fury building inside . She thought she had . Maybe she thought the baby gave her a crown to wear. But I wasn’t hers.
And no matter what lies she spun or what poison she tried to pour down my throat—I’d never leave María José. Not a chance in hell.
I stord out of there and didn’t stop until I was safely out of that cursed villa and finally, the entire estate itself.
I paused right outside to catch my breath, almost wheezing as Rosa’s venomous words played over and over again in my ears.
I had no idea why it felt like I’d just cheated on my mate letting another woman touch as she pleased.
I need to see her... María José. Hell, I might just sneak her into my room and have her live with .
Reviews
All reviews (0)