CHAPTER 344: _ LUIS’S WISH

I stood silent for a long moment, my thoughts scattered. Maybe Luis had truly let go of what happened, and I was the one hung up on the past. But then, if I wanted to secure a better future for Luis, wouldn’t that mean I still needed to take people like my father out of the picture.

Once I secured the position of Alpha, the plan was to hand it over to Luis and reveal to the pack that he was the rightful heir all along. The issue was that those corrupt pack Elders would try to cover up the entire matter, so I needed concrete proof. Proof that the Alpha Court wouldn’t be able to deny.

However, since Luis wasn’t willing to testify, then the only option was to get my father to confess to his crimes.

Somehow, that seems more difficult than defeating a shapeshifting demon... I rubbed my forehead.

I looked at Luis and offered him a small smile. "As much as I would love to honor your wishes, I can’t just sit by knowing all that you have endured. It breaks my heart, hermano."

Luis turned to look at the distant lands. He said with a soft chuckle, "It’s not like I can convince you anyway. You’ve always been stubborn like a goat!"

"It’s my strongest trait," I smirked, and we both laughed.

We put all the gloomy talk behind us and focused on more interesting and casual matters. I told Luis I was going to introduce him to all the beauties in the pack, as we had no time to waste and needed to get him wedded.

He simply laughed and pointed out how it was a miracle that I managed to fall in love.

A smile found its way to my lips. He wasn’t entirely correct. It wasn’t falling in love that was a miracle, but meeting María José. Her appearance in my life altered its course for the better.

It was simply impossible to picture where I would be without her.

My love, my heart.

...

The party ended a little towards midnight. In order to ensure everyone’s safety, we provided guest rooms for every attendee, throughout the villa. The place was huge, so that had not been an issue.

I returned to the room after handling some affairs and opened the door. María José was seated in front of the mirror, staring blankly at her reflection. I doubted she noticed me, as she remained utterly still.

For a moment, my heart skipped.

What if something had happened to her again?! What if that bastard Ignacio had been here again?!

I bolted forward instantly and grabbed her shoulders.

"¡Mi corazón!"

When I shook her violently, María José suddenly turned and yelled, "Boo!"

I staggered backwards in fright, almost collapsing onto the bed. Apparently, my wife had decided to be a prankster tonight.

María José burst out laughing as she said, "Wow. The great Axel, trembling from fright? My dear husband, isn’t that too exaggerated a reaction?"

"María..." I groaned. Shock ran throughout my body, but most importantly, I felt relieved. "Don’t scare me like that."

She rose from the chair and came to sit beside me by the bed. Cupping my face, she said, "Sorry, my love. I just wanted to take the tension off a little. Are you okay?"

I didn’t respond for a moment, utterly lost in her enchanting eyes. I suddenly felt the need to get back at her. Feigning pain, I clutched my chest suddenly and growled out loud.

María’s eyes narrowed instantly. She straightened and grabbed my arm.

"Axel! What’s wrong? Axel!"

"See?" I raised my head with a cheeky smile. "You were just as worried."

María José wore a pout. She let go of my arm and slapped my chest playfully.

"Don’t scare me like that."

"You’re one to talk." I laughed and brought my face closer to hers. Our lips touched and a low grunt escaped my lungs.

She asked in a low voice, "So, did you have a talk with Luis?"

I nodded. I organized my words for a moment, then said, "He doesn’t want to disrupt the current situation. He says I should forget the past." I pulled back slightly and looked into my wife’s eyes, searching for answers, because I was so confused.

"Do you think I should let go?"

María José held my face with her right hand, and I leaned into her touch. It was something of a reprieve for my scattered mind. She said, "Let’s look at it from his standpoint. He has been in a wheelchair for years, so we can say he’s just elated to be able to walk once more. To finally feel like one of us."

I nodded.

"Let’s say we decide to bring your father’s crimes to light, things are bound to get messy. So, in other words, we can say Luis is scared of things going wrong. Since everyone seems to be happy at this point in time, he wants it to remain that way."

"She’s right..." Hugo added.

A long sigh escaped my lips. "Won’t things get messy anyway? I am quite sure that my father will make an attempt to harm him. If that happens, I won’t be able to forgive myself, María."

"Then talk to him." She said, "Have a talk with your father. A serious one. Tell him to apologize to Luis, so we can all move on and focus on a common enemy."

"Apologize? My father?" I nearly scoffed. "You know how these men are. Getting an apology from that man is basically telling him to admit to what he’s done."

María José gave me a long stare. She kissed me lightly, then said, "Axel, if you’re going to be Alpha, then you need to start making your father bow to your will."

Her words hit me deep.

She was right. Making my father submit was an important step in becoming the next Alpha.

I smiled and kissed her back. "I am blessed to have such a smart wife."

María José’s smile bloomed like a flower in spring. She nudged my shoulder lightly and said, "What can I say? My husband was a good role model."