Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 54

Axel POV

The second I am out of the door; I shift and tear my clothes to pieces. I run and run until my lungs burn like fire.

Exhausted I sit on my hind legs and look up at the sky before I howl long and hard. I was ready to let her go and then Liana marked me. My mate marked me, and she does not even know it.

I shift back and shamelessly start to cry as I touch my mark. I cannot blame her. This is not her fault. She did not know better but that does not change what happened. I tried my best to keep my wolf under control but the second she bit me he demanded domination. He wanted his mate. I am just grateful I could stop him before he marked her.

This is supposed to be one of the happiest moments of my life, instead, it turned into a dreadful mess. It was going to hurt when I reject her without a mark. Rejecting her with a mark is going to be downright unbearable.

Not to mention the effect it will have on my wolf. If I reject Liana, he will mourn her for the rest of our days, and it will be a daily struggle to keep him calm and reasonable. But if I do not ... the longer we are without our mate, the more aggressive he will become. And Angela ... marrying her now would mean certain death. My wolf will rip her apart the moment she tries to touch me intimately.

How did everything become such a mess? I went to say goodbye to her. Now I am sitting in the woods naked and crying.

My choices suck, I sigh as I stand up to shift back and go home. If I reject Liana, I will turn into a mean, aggressive person. If I do not, I will bind Liana to a lifetime of unhappiness. Whatever I choose, someone will suffer. All I have to decide if it is going to be me or her. Liana POV

I do not even bother wiping off the tears as I continue packing. I cannot stop thinking about Axel.

This is over, really over. The thought hits me hard and I must sit down when my legs give in. "Breath," I murmur when it feels like I am about to suffocate. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.

"Breath, dammit!" I yell hysterically and fall to my knees. Raw sobs rip through my chest as I rest my forehead on the floor. I wail like a wounded animal but at least I can breathe again.

It feels like an eternity until I am calm enough to continue with the task at hand. I place my bags at the door and get into the shower. My body is sensitive and tender as I gently wash myself and here and there a bruise is already visible. And I do not even mind, I sniff as fresh tears pour over my cheeks.

I dry myself and get dressed before I do damage control with makeup. Nina will bombard me with questions when she sees me like this.

There is a knock on my door, and I quickly gather my last things before I rush to the door.

"Are you ready to go?" The guard asks politely.

"Yes," I nod. "You're David, right?"

"I am," he confirms with a smile as he picks up my luggage and I follow him to the car. Another guard opens the backdoor for me and I smile at him as I get inside.

"Have you been crying?" Nina whispers as I settle next to her.

"Not now," I mumble and motion towards the guard that is sitting in the passenger seat.

Nina nods in understanding and I lean back against the seat and close my eyes in exhaustion.

**

"Liana," Nina's voice is soft and soothing. "Wake up, we're here."

"Already?" I blink a couple of times as I sit up and look at my surroundings. Day changed into night while I was sleeping. Bulbs are hanging from the big old trees that are surrounding the buildings. Giving the place an atmosphere of fairies and mystique. "What do you mean already?" Nina laughs as our doors open. "You've been snoring for three hours."

"I don't snore," I roll my eyes at her as I get out of the car.

"Ask David if you don't believe me," Nina laughs.

"Mike, get the luggage," David smiles mischievously at Nina as he orders Mike. "I'll escort them inside."

"So, Mike," I squint my eyes at him as we walk inside. "Do I snore?"

"I believe that it would be safer for me not to get involved," he replies with a stoic face and Nina bursts out laughing.

Curiously, I look at her, but I do not say anything. She is in good spirits for someone that broke up with her boyfriend earlier today.

Nina babbles nonstop about the five-star resort as we walk to our rooms. I smile and make the appropriate noises, but I do not hear a word. My heart is mourning Axel and all I want to do is curl up in bed and cry until I dissolve into a puddle. "These are your rooms," David points to two doors next to each other. "We are across from you. A guard will be outside your door at all times. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything."

"Thanks, David," I smile politely as I enter my room and walk straight to the windows. I pull open the curtains and look at the bright, blue pool that is glittering in the lights. Behind me, somebody brings in my luggage and leaves. "Can you believe this place?" Nina bursts into my room a few minutes later. "It's awesome."

"Yes, it is," I hide my dismay behind a smile as I turn around.

"Do you want champagne?" She asks eagerly as she walks to the minibar. "Or wine. They have both."

"What's going on with you and David?" I ask as I reach past her and take out a bottle of sparkling water. If I start drinking now, I will never stop and then I must fight a hangover on top of a broken heart.

"Nothing," she shrugs nonchalantly as she takes out a bottle of wine and pours herself a glass. "But he's sooooo hot, don't you think?"

"Nina," I sigh heavily as I sit down on the couch. "Wilson broke your heart like five minutes ago. Don't you think you should slow down for a second before jumping into David's arms?"

"Says you," she snorts as she takes a seat on the sofa. "You jumped into bed with the alpha."

"And look how well that worked out for me," I grunt, biting hard onto my quivering bottom lip. Honestly, how could I still have tears left?

"It did," Nina shrugs. "You got a job and ... hey, why are you crying?"

"It didn't work out, Nina," I sniff and wipe the tears off my face. "It's worse. Everything is worse."

"You'll need to explain," Nina gets up and brings a box of tissues as she sits down next to me. "I know we haven't been as close as we used to be, but you seemed so happy when we talked."

"I was happy," I grunt, frustrated, pulling out a tissue. "And then I fucked it up and fell in love with him."

"You're in love with the alpha?" Nina gapes at me.

"Yes," I shout as I throw my hands up in the air. "Of all the stupid, moronic things I have ever done, this is the worst."

"Don't say that," she gently places a hand over mine. "He obviously likes you too. I mean, he wouldn't have slept with you or helped you if he didn't. Maybe he's also in love with you and you just don't know it."

"No," I shake my head as my lips curve down sourly. "It's over. We had a big fight and ... and he said goodbye."

"All couples fight," Nina tries to cheer me up. "I know it feels like the end, but it doesn't mean it is. You guys can still work things out."

"You don't understand," I sniff and close my eyes for a moment before I look at her again. "I'm a human, he's the alpha. He will never pick me. Not even if he's head over heels in love with me. It's not allowed. Besides, his parents already picked out a bride for him." "For real?" Nina looks at me with big eyes.

"Fucking Angela," I snort and roll my eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Liana," she leans over and hugs me tightly. "You don't deserve this."

"Yeah, well, it is what it is," I shrug as she pulls away. "So listen to me when I tell you to go easy with David. You don't want to end up where I am. Trust me, it sucks."

"What are you going to do?" Nina asks concerned.

"I'll suck it up, I guess," I shrug as I laugh humourlessly. "I'll work at Silver Enterprises until Juliana comes back from maternity leave. Repay my debt, pack up and leave. There's not much else I can do."

"I know I sound insensitive, but you'll heal," she says compassionately. "You'll meet a great guy, and you'll forget about Axel."

"No," my voice is hoarse as I look at her. "I won't. Wyatt was my mate, Nina. The strongest bond for wolves. And I didn't feel an inch as bad as I do now. Sure, it was humiliating and painful, but it was bearable and forgettable. The love I have for Axel is stronger than the mate bond I had with Wyatt. I couldn't breathe, Nina. When he left my room, I couldn't breathe. I collapsed on the floor and cried like a baby as I was fighting for air. So, no, I won't get over Axel and if, by some miracle, I do, I don't want somebody else. Because this kind of pain is not something that I want to experience twice in a lifetime."

"I'm so sorry," Nina whimpers as her eyes fill with tears.

"I know," I sniff as I get up.

"I need fresh air," I say over my shoulder as I leave my room.