Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by his Brother

Axel’s rejection stung like an open wound rubbed raw with salt. I stood there, clutching his sleeve like a desperate fool, my fingers quivering with the need to hold onto something... anything.

I could feel Rosa’s presence beside him, her stoic satisfaction that in the end, she’s gotten what she wanted like she always did was so palpable and it made me sick.

I wasn’t going to let this end like this. I couldn’t risk being sent to live as the wife of a devious rogue.

"Axel," I whispered shakily.

I reached for him, needing to touch him, to feel something real in the nightmare my life had become. But before I could even graze his sleeve...

A sudden force slammed into my shoulder.

I gasped as I tumbled backward, landing hard against the tiled floor. A sharp pain exploded in my hip, and my palms stung from breaking my fall. For a moment, all I could hear was my own shallow breathing and the rushing sound of blood pounding in my ears.

"Stay away from my fiancé, María José, you tramp!" Rosa snapped, glaring at me with pure hatred.

The mask of kindness she had been wearing for Axel’s sake broke down, revealing the true Rosa underneath.

I blinked up at her in shock, but I was too shocked to move.

A muscle in Axel’s jaw twitched. His fingers curled into fists at his sides. It was subtle, but I caught it—anger was starting to overtake him.