The Alpha’s Hidden Heirs by Avery Rose

Chapter 128

I was stunned. More than shocked, I was upset. This wasn’t how I wanted our friendship to end up. I would have been far happier if Axel had confided in me about someone else he liked–anything but this.

His desperate eyes stayed fixed on me, and I could hear his heart pounding as he waited for my

answer.

How could I reject him to his face without breaking his heart?

“When?” I asked softly, trying to steady myself.

He lowered his head, his voice strained as he began to speak.

“From the day I met you. From the day Magnus brought you to the pack house.”

I looked away, my mind drifting back to the first time I met him. He had always been a kind and considerate man, his every action thoughtful and genuine. I had assumed his warmth toward me was simply because I was his best friend’s sister.

But now, with a heavy heart, I realized I had to tell him the truth–that I had never seen him in that way. “Axel, 1-”

“Selene,” he interrupted, his voice firm yet pleading. “I know you’re a single mother. I know your children mean the world to you. But you have your own life too–a life where you’re alone. You need someone who can protect you, someone who will always be there for you.”

I frowned, his words stirring an unexpected frustration within me. “Protect me? From what? You of all people know that I’m-”

“An alpha,” he finished for me, nodding solemnly. “I know. But what about your emotional and mental support?”

“Love is not about needing someone, Axel,” I murmured, my voice trailing off as memories from my past began to surface.

“Love is something we feel for someone, even if they’re completely unaware of it. Even if they choose to reject us,” I whispered, more to myself than to him.

to come home, only to be

held mine, his thumb grazing the back of my hand in a

“My love isn’t weak either, Selene,” he said quietly. “I’ve loved you for years. I want to be with you, to make you happy. I

and for them.”

understood what he was trying to say. He was laying out all the reasons why

sense.

and tried to pull my hand away, but he held it

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with emotion. “I love your kids as if they were my own. I’ll give them my name. You won’t have to worry anymore. You don’t

moment, I felt something stir within me. He was a

feel the same way about him, and letting him tie his life to

my other hand over his and gently

his head, his expression resolute. “I know you’re afraid to take

me in my tracks. Marriage? He was talking about

I urged

and I gestured for him to take

things from my side too. You’re not just my brother’s best friend–you’re my friend

I struggled to

a close friend. I won’t call you my big brother, because I

his eyes as my words sunk

this one–sided love for you. It’ll only bring you pain, the same kind of pain I’ve felt before. You’re a good man, Axel. You deserve to find your mate, someone who can love you the way you deserve to be loved. I’m sorry, but I don’t

his hand slipping away from mine. The broken look on his face made my chest tighten, but I knew this was the right thing to do. It should have happened years

said softly,