Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother Chapter 59: This Madness Should Stop

Axel drew in breath from his mouth, shaking his head as if I was the most exasperating woman he’d ever t.

Maybe I was.

Then, without another word, he turned the key in the ignition, and the car rumbled to life.

I sank into the seat as he pulled out of the butchery’s parking lot with my body still tense from everything that had happened.

All of the stress of the morning pressed against my skin, and the scent of raw at and blood clung to my clothes like a second layer. I wrinkled my nose, suddenly self-conscious.

Axel was here, slling like a demonic angel—if there’s anything like that and here I was, slling like a dung.

The silence between us remained for a long mont. Then, finally, he sighed and glanced at .

"You good?"

His voice was softer than I expected. It caught off guard, like a gust of warm air on a cold day.

I twisted my lips before nodding. "Yeah, I’m fine."

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. "The butcher didn’t hurt you?"

"No," I said quickly. "He just—he just scared a little."

Axel scoffed. "A little? The bastard had his hands on you."

I winced at the reminder. "Yeah, well, he won’t be touching anyone for a while now, thanks to you."

A smug grin stretched across his face. "Damn right."

I rolled my eyes, but deep down, sothing warm curled in my stomach. I wasn’t used to soone standing up for like that.

Axel turned onto a quieter road. He shot another glance before shaking his head with a half-smile. "You’re too tender to be walking around letting people intimidate you like that, you know?"

I blinked. "Too tender?"

"Yeah," he said simply. "Too soft."

I squinted my eyes. "Excuse ?"

Did he really see as so broken and soft? Was I? Urm... maybe?

He smirked but didn’t take his eyes off the road. "I’m just saying. You’ve got this whole innocent, delicate thing going on, and people take one look at you and think they can push you around."

"I’m not that delicate."

Axel raised an eyebrow. "Oh, no?"

I crossed my arms. "I survived working in a butchery, didn’t I?"

He barked out a laugh. "Barely. I had to co in and rescue you before you beca so creep’s next al."

I grumbled under my breath and turned to stare out the window, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my pout.

A few minutes passed before I spoke again. "How did you know the debt wasn’t my fault?"

It didn’t make any sense to . The two people I gave the details of how the debt ca to be were Juana and Mateo—wherever or whoever he was.

I still found it hard to believe that he was the one who slaughtered all the pigs. But he must have seen sothing, right?

Or what if... just what if my curse had gotten to him and he had been hard by whoever or whatever had gotten to the pigs?

I should really stay away from Axel after this. I wouldn’t forgive myself if my curse affected him and sothing happened to .

I’d never be able to live with myself.

After today, I would never speak to him again. No matter how much the thought of it made my heart ache.

Speaking of which..:

The question must have caught Axel off guard because his hands jerked slightly on the steering wheel. "What?"

I turned back to him. "You were so sure that the debt wasn’t mine. How did you know?"

His mouth opened, then closed again. He blinked, as if scrambling for an answer.

"I an... uh..." He cleared his throat. "Anyone with half a brain would know it couldn’t be your debt."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Because..." His eyes darted to , then back to the road. "You don’t look like soone who could owe debts."

I stared at him. "What does that even an?"

He waved a hand. "It just—it ans you’re too..." He paused, searching for the word. "Too good."

I blinked like a Barbie doll. Huh?

Axel groaned and dragged a hand down his face. "You know what? Just take the complint and move on."

A smile quivered up my lips. "Fine."

At least, now I knew Axel could also be intimidated.

Silence settled between us again, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I let my head rest against the window, watching the scenery blur past.

Dawn had given way to mid-morning by now and the entire pack was up and bustling.

Axel’s voice pulled out of my thoughts. "So, now that you know you’re an Oga, what’s your plan?"

Oh, wow. No one had asked that. I didn’t think anyone would. Even I never asked myself.

I scratched the back of my neck. "I... I don’t know."

He shot a flabbergasted look. "You don’t know?"

Okay, it is official; I hated to disappoint Axel.

I hate to disappoint my father as well, but his was more out of fear than admiration and respect.

I exhaled slowly. "I never really thought about it. Before three weeks ago, I didn’t even know I was an Oga. Now I have to figure out what that even ans for ."

Axel nodded, as if he understood. "Well, what do you want to do?"

I bit my lip. "Maybe... maybe I’ll go to the human world. Go to college there."

Whoa... did I just say that?

Co to think of it, it just might work.

His mouth ford an ’O’. Then, to my utter surprise, he let out a whistle. "Damn."

I frowned. "What?"

"I just didn’t take you for a college type."

I turned my face to him. "What is that supposed to an?"

He smirked. "Relax. It’s a good thing. I’m impressed."

I huffed. "You should be."

Axel chuckled but then tilted his head. "You do know that might give you the status of a rogue, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. But I wouldn’t run away. I’d get permission from the Alpha himself. That should solve it."

Axel barked out a laugh so loud I jumped.

"Oh, Dios mío," he said, clutching his stomach. "You don’t know my father at all."

I frowned. "What? Should I be worried?"

Axel was still laughing as he shook his head. "My father would never allow you to leave. You’re dreaming. An Oga is perceived as irrelevant of his presence even."

Wow... even the Alpha hates ? Axel’s father? Good grief, I was so fucked.