I swallowed hard and looked down at my hands, tracing the worn-out stains of dried blood on my fingers that probably got smeared on it while running from that damn butcher.
"I’ll figure it out," I mumbled, though, my chest was tightening as I thought about how impossible that sounded.
To my surprise, Axel hummed thoughtfully, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. "Well, I might have a solution for you."
I blinked and jutted my head up. "What?"
He shot me a smirk. "Unless you find a mate or a husband who shares the same dream as you—someone who wants to travel, leave the pack, and live in the human world—then maybe my brother could grant your husband that wish. Otherwise, your chances of getting out of here are zero."
Once again, a woman’s fate needed to be tied to a man.
I didn’t know when it slipped out—maybe my brain had short-circuited, or maybe I was just an idiot. But before I could stop myself, I asked, "Do you mean a husband like you?"
The car jerked slightly. Axel’s grip on the wheel tightened, and he turned his head so fast I thought he might snap his neck. His expression was pure, shock.
One would think I had just spouted the most forbidden statement of the world. Axel definitely wasn’t prepared for such.
I gasped, slapping both hands over my mouth. "I mean—! Not you you! I meant someone like you—well, no, not like you, just—someone who, um, travels... with the Alpha’s permission... and, uh, doesn’t get arrested for kidnapping innocent Omegas..."
Axel squinted his eyes playfully. "So you think I’m husband material?"
I gasped, my whole body heating up. "That is not what I said!"
His smirk widened, like a cat playing with its food. "That’s exactly what you said."
Argh, be done with the teasings, Axel! I’m just a naive girl who is head over heels for you; those words, I wished could leave my mouth, but I guess they never would.
I let out an indignant squeak and crossed my arms, staring pointedly at the dashboard. "Forget I spoke."
He exhaled through his nose, clearly amused. "Well, yeah, a husband like that would work."
I frowned, slumping against the seat. "But I don’t think anyone like that would want me."
"What did I just tell you about downgrading yourself?" Axel groaned.
I bit my lip. Right. The lectures.
I wasn’t supposed to talk about myself anymore. I wasn’t supposed to belittle myself. I was supposed to hold my head high and act like I had value, even if deep down, I wasn’t so sure.
Even if deep down, I had none.
He sighed but didn’t push it further.
The closer we got to my father’s estate, the tighter my chest became. My throat felt dry, and my hands clenched into weak fists on my lap.
I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready to stand up to my father.
I needed more time. Maybe an hour. Maybe a day. Maybe ten years.
My mind was a swirling mess of everything I should say, everything I needed to tell Axel—thank you for helping me,thank you for standing up for me, thank you for being the first person in three weeks to make me feel like I wasn’t completely useless but now, please, let me go—however, the words tangled in my throat.
Instead, what came out was...
"So, uh, do you think cows ever get existential crises?"
Axel’s fingers froze mid-drum on the wheel.
He turned to me slowly, an eyebrow raised. "What?"
I cleared my throat. "You know. Cows. Like, do they ever look at the stars and wonder what their purpose is?"
At first, there was silence and I wished for a big fish to come swallow me whole or something. My fingers wriggled together nervously, anxiously, waiting... for his reply.
Finally, Axel burst into laughter. Loud, full-bodied laughter that shook his entire frame.
I shrank in my seat, mortified. I was going to die right here in this car from pure humiliation.
He stared at me. "You’re panicking, aren’t you?"
"No!" I laughed nervously. "Who’s panicking? Not me!"
Axel rolled his eyes. "Relax, gatita."
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t about to walk into the lion’s den.
The estate drew closer. My palms were damp. My breath came short.
What was I thinking? What if my father saw me? What if he was inside right now, waiting to punish me for sneaking out?
Axel slowed as we approached the large iron gates. The two guards stationed there turned their heads sharply at the sight of us. Their eyes widened when they recognized him, then, without hesitation, they stepped aside and opened the gates.
No questions. No hesitation. That’s the power of a Beta.
Axel drove in, and my panic skyrocketed. I wanted to be anywhere but here. Axel didn’t understand the complications, I did.
I grabbed his arm. "Axel, wait—"
Too late. The car rolled to a stop right in front of the entrance.
My hands shook. My legs refused to move. I could already predict the future and see the horrors that awaited me.
"Axel," I whispered. "Maybe we should go back."
He ignored me and shut off the engine. Then, before I could protest further, he stretched out his hand and took mine in his.
His grip was firm else, I’d have bolted. "Come on," he murmured, gently pulling me forward.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I was supposed to sneak back. I was supposed to use the back entrance, tiptoe all the way, and slip into my room unnoticed.
Not this. Not make such an entry. However, with Axel telling me; "You’re not running. Come on."
I didn’t have a choice.
He led me straight toward the massive doors. My feet dragged on the floor and my body resisted every step.
Please, please, please, let everyone be busy. Let me slip inside unseen...
But fate had other plans.
A maid appeared in the doorway, her eyes broadening at the sight of us. She didn’t even say a word before spinning around and running back inside.
She was going to get someone.
Father? Rosa? Camilla?
None was a better option.
"Oh no," I whispered, tightening my grip on Axel’s hand. "Axel, this is bad..."
I was not going to relax.
I wanted to throw up.