<h4>Chapter 168: _ Shameless Little Whore</h4>


    Finally, Rosa stood to inspect the mess she had made, straightened and smoothed her dress like she hadn’t just shed open my face.


    "You should be grateful I’m feeling generous tonight," she mused. "I could have done <i>so much</i> worse."


    Her eyes flickered to my neck, the mark burning there like a brand, and then sheughed.


    "Oh, María José," she sighed, shaking her head. "Why am I even bothered?"


    My eyes blinked rapidly, struggling to stay open.


    "Axel has <i>nothing</i> to be mated to where you’re concerned


    <i>I knew what that meant. </i>The words struck harder than her ws. I sucked in a sharp breath, the sting of the wound forgotten when it came to the impact of her cruel words.


    "You’re wolfless," she continued, waving a hand like it was the simplest truth in the world. "You have <i>nothing</i> to offer him. No wolf. No bond. No <i>future</i>." She clicked her tongue, feigning pity. "How tragic."


    I wanted to scream.


    I wanted to w at her perfect stoic face and tear it apart the way she had torn mine.


    But I couldn’t. Because she was right. Axel had rejected me. Not just as a mate. But as <i>someone</i> who even <i>mattered</i>.


    Rosa stepped back, her eyes gleaming. "And until I’m <i>sure</i> that you haven’t already mated with him..."


    She trailed off, a cruel smile curving her lips. "You will <i>protect</i> that mark like your <i>life</i> depends on it."


    I stiffened.


    "If <i>anyone</i> sees it, María José, you <i>will not</i> link it to Axel. Find someone else to me it on. I can’t let you ruin my and Axel’s future because you chose to be a whore rather than being the innocent girl Father has brought you up to be."


    My stomach churned.


    "And if they <i>do</i> find out?" Her voice turned silky. "I will make sure you regret it."


    She let the words sink in, watching me with something I could only call pure delight.


    "Know what I’ll do? I will work day and night to ensure Father marries you off to a rogue," she mused. "Someone <i>worthy</i> of a wolfless, worthless Omega."


    <i>Well, that wasn’t news. I really wanted to talk back at this point, but even my mouth felt too heavy to move. </i>


    She chuckled. "Oh, don’t look so horrified." She tapped my nose with one bloodied nail. "It’s only what you <i>deserve</i>."


    My breathing turned shallow, panic curling around my ribs. She leaned in, lips brushing my ear one final time.


    "Remember, little sister, you <i>belong</i> to nothing. And no one. Especially not to Axel."


    With that, she turned away, striding toward the broken door, herughter trailing behind her.


    But as she reached there, I saw her stumbled back, startled, just as a figure stormed in, his presence swallowing the room whole.


    My blood ran <i>cold</i>.


    Don Diego. Father.


    His furious eyes snapped between us, taking in the wreckage.


    The blood. The broken mirror. The <i>mark</i> on my face.


    "Which one of you dares to break down a door in my precious VILLA?!" He roared, his wolf howling beneath the vibration.


    Was that the more important thing right now? Didn’t he see the gash on my face? The horrendous wound inflicted upon me by my so-called sister amongst other things?!


    Rosa, who had been so confident moments ago, was startled at his entrance but it was only for a fraction of a second. Then, like the skilled actress she was, she straightened her shoulders, widened her eyes in carefully ced innocence, and let out a trembling gasp.


    "Oh, Papá!" she eximed, clutching her chest as though she had been caught in the middle of some terrible tragedy. "Thank the Moon you’re here!"


    I stared at her, still too dazed from the blood loss to even scowl. I should have expected this. I should have <i>known</i> that Rosa wasn’t done ruining me.


    Don Diego’s furious gaze snapped between us, nostrils ring. "What the hell is going on here?"


    Rosa bit her lip, like she was fighting back tears, then stepped toward him. "It’s María José, Papá. I—I don’t even know where to begin!" She turned to me, shaking her head with something like <i>pity</i>. "How could you?"


    How could I what? <i>Exist?</i>


    I wanted to speak. I really did. But my body was barely holding itself together. The sting of the open wound on my face, the sticky warmth of the blood trailing down my neck, the burn of Rosa’s ws still embedded in my ski.... it all blurred at the edges.


    Still, I forced myself to stay upright. Because I knew what wasing.


    "She..." Rosa turned back to Don Diego with an shaky sigh, like she was <i>so</i> exhausted by the weight of her own suffering.


    "She was waiting outside my door, Papá. Like a <i>pervert</i>!" She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Just sitting there, waiting for <i>my fiancé</i> like some desperate..." She let out a fake, breathy sob. "And when Axel walked past, she <i>lured</i> him inside!"


    I almost choked.


    <i>"I did what?!"</i>


    But my voice barely came out. It was hoarse and weak, making me unsure if it even made it past my throat.


    Rosa didn’t even look at me. She was fullymitted to the performance.


    "She threw herself at him," she continued dramatically, stepping closer to Don Diego, her hands clenched into fists. "<i>Kissing him, touching him, begging him</i> to leave me!"


    She let out a gaggedugh, like she just <i>couldn’t believe</i> what she was saying. "I—I was in shock! I walked in and she was <i>all over him!</i> And poor Axel, he... he didn’t even know what to do! He was <i>frozen</i>!"


    <i>Frozen?</i>


    I barely had the strength to scoff.


    Don Diego turned to me now, eyes dark and cold. "Is this true?"


    The rage in his voice sent a pulse of fear through me, but I clenched my jaw. My vision swam, and my body swayed all thanks to the exhaustion, but I forced myself to stay standing.


    And then Rosa, as if she <i>hadn’t</i> already damned me beyond repair, let out a <i>tiny</i> little whisper... just enough for Don Diego to hear.


    <i>"She’s trying to steal my mate, Papá."</i>


    The room <i>exploded</i>.


    "YOU SHAMELESS, WORTHLESS GIRL!" Don Diego’s voice thundered so violently that the walls seemed to shake.


    His wolf howled beneath, vibrating with anger, so powerful that even the broken mirror at my feet cracked further.


    If there was one thing Father hated the most in the world, it was when his daughters embarrassed him. It was when they didn’t act like <i>well-mannereddies should.</i>


    Times without number, he had said to us that he would never ept a daughter who acted too vulgar around men. Hence, I could understand and imagine his anger right now.


    I winced.


    But Rosa? Rosa looked <i>pleased</i>.


    "How dare you? How dare you throw yourself at your <i>sister’s</i> fiancé like some desperate whore?"


    Finacé? They weren’t even engaged yet. Pfft.