Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 87

Liana POV

"You're up early," I stretch out lazily as I watch Axel put on his tie. "It's not that early," he chuckles. "You slept in."

"Really?" Surprised I look at my watch. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"Because you don't need to be awake at the crack of dawn to pick out flowers for the wedding reception," he smirks as he comes to sit down next to me and leans in for a kiss.

"Can we go shopping on Saturday?" I ask as I curl up in his lap and drape my arms around his neck. "Wolfie needs a crip, among other things, and I don't want to do it without you."

"Other things like a name?" He raises his eyebrows as his arms go around my waist.

"Yeah," I sigh theatrically. "I have no ideas. Sticking with Wolfie would be fine by me."

"Short for Wolfgang?" He mocks and I pull my face in disgust.

"I love you," he kisses me lovingly before he leaves, and I get out of bed to get ready for the day.

**

I stare at the dining room table that is covered with cake samples. I need Axel for this, I sigh inwardly. Every single one tastes delicious to me. But he is a busy man, and I cannot waste his time with frivolous things.

I pick up my fork and take a second bite of my favourites.

"Is all of this sugar good for the baby?" Evil mother-in-law smirks as she enters the room.

I sigh inwardly and drop my fork. She has officially spoiled carrot cake for me. Now, I will always associate it with her, and the taste is bitter.

"It's a boy," I reply nonchalantly. "I don't know if you heard."

"I did," she smirks. "And it's a poor substitute for the son you stole from me."

Instantly, vivid, white-hot anger surges through me and I look at her with blazing eyes.

"My son is no substitute," I hiss as I stand up and walk towards her. "And I didn't steal your son."

"You did," she shouts angrily. "You took him from me. He turned against me, and you did that."

"Axel is not someone to take," I yell back at her as I completely lose my grip on my temper. "He's someone to love. There's no sides here, Luna. You made a conscious decision not to be part of this. You can have both your son and grandson in your life but you're shutting them out. Axel is living right here under your roof. He hasn't left. He is right here."

"He might as well not be," she argues. "He hardly talks to me. You poisoned him and my husband. I'm a ghost in my own home."

"You walked out on them," I throw my hands up in despair. "Not the other way around. All because you don't approve of me. Remember Luna, love for your own doesn't mean hate for others. You don't have to like or love me, but you will respect me as the mother of this child just as I respect you for being Axel's."

"Respect?" She spits. "You call talking to me like this respect?"

"Yes," I grunt. "I do respect you. You raised a damn fine man and I love him. He is strong and kind and has a brilliant mind. For that, I respect you, but what you're doing now is despicable. You cannot call yourself a good mother if you shut him out when he disagrees with you. It's cruel to expect him to turn his back on his mate and child simply because you don't approve of me."

"If you love him so much, why don't you do the honourable thing and leave?" She smirks.

"Honourable?" I ask in disbelief. "Keeping my son away from his father is honourable?"

"No," she lifts her chin. "You leave the baby and disappear."

"Fuck. You." I spell it out clearly and slowly as my anger rises.

"You do not speak to me like that," she warns me. "I'm still the Luna."

"I don't give a fuck about the Luna title," I shout beside myself in anger. "I care about the title mother and grandmother. You might not deem me worthy, but right now, I'm more of a mother than you because I will never give up my child. For decades I fought for love and approval from my mother only to learn that it would never happen. I'll be damned if my child grows up in a toxic environment like that. My son will be loved unconditionally as long as there is air in my lungs. He will never have to prove himself to me or his father. He will never have to beg to be loved. So, fuck you and your title. You will not come near my child until you prove to me that you're capable of shoving your prejudice up your a*s and showing love."

My heart is racing, and my ears are ringing as I glare at her. It takes every ounce of self-control not to slap the bejesus out of her.

"I'm done with seeking approval from you, my mother or anyone else," my words are soft and calculated. "I've been patient and polite despite your dismissive behaviour, but I'm done. You went too far."

Infuriated, I storm past her. I need to remove myself from this situation or I will kill her.

"Your own mother couldn't even love you," she yells. "Whatever made you think I could?"

I grab the doorframe and inhale deeply to calm myself. I look up straight into the bewildered eyes of an Omega. I remember Adele's warning and smirk before I turn to face her.

"Congratulations," I smile sweetly. "You just compared yourself to a narcissistic bitch. And just to be clear, not once did I ask for your love. Have fun with that."

She pales visible and I release my grip on the doorframe.

"One more thing," I hiss. "When you report my dreadful behaviour to Axel, make sure to mention that you suggested that I desert him and his son. Make no mistake, Luna, I will repeat this conversation word for word. And that poor Omega that has been eavesdropping can back me up."

I turn my back on her and storm away. Never in my life have I been this angry and I cannot control it.

Once I am outside in the garden, I inhale the fresh air deeply and count to ten, but it does not help. My heart keeps on racing and my head starts throbbing.

"Fuck," I grunt as I sit down on the nearest chair. I need to calm down, this cannot be good for Wolfie, but my anger does not want to let go.

Adele, I think as I stand up. I need to replace her so she can take me to Michelle.

"I'm here," Adele announces from behind me.

"How did you know I was looking for you?" I look at her in surprise.

"You mind-link me," she frowns before her eyes widen. "You mind-linked me! Do you know what that means?"

"Get me to the doctor," I grunt. "Now."

My heart and head want to explode as we rush to the car. But the headache is not nearly as bad as my anger.

"You need to go faster," I grunt as I open and close my fists while Adele speeds down the road.

"What's wrong?" Adele asks concerned as she accelerates.

"I'm about to have a fucking heart attack or pop an artery," I explode as my heart starts beating in my throat and ears. Adele goes quiet and keeps her eyes on the road.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I apologise. "Please don't take it personally. I can't control it."

"It's okay," she says quickly. "I know this isn't you. It's fine."

"I'm sorry," I mumble as I lay back and close my eyes. "I need to calm down and I can't."

"Just breathe," Adele says.

"What the f**k do you think I'm doing," I blurt out. "I'm sorry."

"No, go for it," Adele suggests. "Sometimes screaming helps you to calm down. I can take it."

"You're a good Gamma," I shout at the top of my lungs, and she quickly looks at me before focusing on the road.

Axel, I need you, I mind-link him but I have no idea if I am doing it right.

Where are you? He replies and I bite back a sob of relief.

On my way to Michelle, I answer.

I'll meet you there, he reacts.

"I can mind-link," my voice is back to its normal tone. "And it's awesome."

"Are you feeling better?" Adele asks concerned.

"No," I grunt. "It's getting worse."

"We're here," Adele stops with screeching tires.

I get out as fast as I can and run to Michelle's office without waiting for Adele. My heart and head are about to explode and the energy that is surging through me is frightening. "Liana, what's wrong?" Michelle jumps up when I burst into her office.

"I need to calm down, now!" I announce and take a seat on the examination bed.

Michelle rushes over to me and her eyes nearly pop out of their sockets when she takes my pulse.

"Your heart rate is through the roof," she exclaims as she opens a medicine cabinet.

"I'm angry!" I shout and she looks at me in disbelief. "I'm so fucking angry and I can't calm down."

"Oh, shit," she mumbles as she takes my arm.

"What?" I ask brusquely.

"No... nothing," she replies. "Lay still, I'm going to administer an injection."

"Hurry up," I order and lay down.

"I can mind-link," I say as I keep my eyes fixated on the ceiling when she pushes the needle into my arm.

"We can discuss it once you wake up," she replies through stiff lips.

"Wake up?" I look at her confused as I feel my body relaxing.

"I gave you a tranquillizer," her voice comes to me from a distance. "It was the quickest way to get your heart rate down." "Thank you," I mumble with a thick tongue before darkness consumes me.