Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 91

Axel POV

"How's Mom doing?" I ask as we drive to Jack's house. "She didn't come to dinner last night."

"She had a migraine," Dad sighs as he looks out of his window.

"But we both know that was a lie," he turns to face me. "She knew she was wrong and was humiliated. So, she couldn't face you."

"She actually said that?" I raise my eyebrows. It is not often that Mother admits defeat.

"Everything but the wrong part," Dad chuckles. "She will not admit that aloud. But Liana challenged her with logic and reason. She knows she overstepped." "How do you feel about all of it?" I look intensely at him.

"Hell, I'm just happy you stayed and that there's a form of peace," he snorts. "I was at the point to kick your mother out of the house."

"We sure know how to pick them," I roll my eyes and Dad bursts out laughing.

**

Jack's residence is exactly how I remember it. Impeccably neat and tidy. I refused to come here after I broke up with Angela when we were teens.

Dad and I do not say a word as we follow the Omega to the balcony where Jack is basking in the early morning sun, reading through documents. "Grant," Jack greets jovially when the Omega announces us but his smile falters when he sees me. "And Axel, please have a seat."

I do not listen to Dad and Jack's small talk as we are being served coffee and croissants by an Omega.

"So, Axel," Jack looks at me when it is only the three of us. "Are you here to talk business?"

"We have nothing else to discuss," I shrug nonchalantly.

"It takes a big man to admit his mistakes and ask for another chance," Jack smiles victoriously. "But don't worry, Axel. I don't hold grudges. We can pick up where we left off after we negotiated new pricing." Dad gives me a sideways glance before he invests his attention in his coffee.

"Who said I wanted to renegotiate?" I smile amused. This arrogant bastard truly thinks he ruined my contract with Austin, and I'm crawling back for his business.

"Come on, Axel," he looks at me patronizingly. "You've been in this business for years. You know I gave you the best price. But after your ... uhm, lack of hospitality I cannot sell to you at that price anymore. Trust has been broken and new bridges must be built." "Interesting," I smile as I put my cup down and lean forward. "Jack, Austin outbid you. Not only are his prices lower, but his software is also performing better."

"Okay," Jack nods after a while. "I'll match his price."

"I don't think so," I smile politely.

"I won't go lower," Jack grunts.

"And you don't have to," I lean back. "You assumed I'm here to negotiate a deal, but you're wrong. However, you are right about one thing. I did make a mistake. I blindly trusted you because you and Dad are friends. It never occurred to me that you're not giving us the best price. Imagine my surprise when I talked to Austin and learned that not only are you more expensive, but your software is outdated." "Bullshit," Jack is red in the face. "My software ..."

"Is about to be buried next to Blackberry," I interrupt him. "And you know it. That's why you're so willing to renegotiate. Most of your clients have moved on to better technology and now you're stuck with a warehouse full of redundant stock." "Jack," Dad looks at him flabbergasted. "Is this true?"

"Of course not," he huffs. "I always gave you the best price."

"It doesn't matter if I'm right or wrong," I shrug. "I'm not here to renew our partnership. I'm here to inform you that Austin and I have a solid contract and relationship."

"Is that why you're here?" He glares at me. "To gloat about your new supplier?"

"No," my words are icy. "I'm here to warn you that if you ever pull a stunt like you did with Austin, I will flatten both you and your business. When I'm done with you, you'll be able to spell slander in every language and font possible." "Get out of my house," he hisses at me. "You're no longer ..."

"Daddy," Angela comes around the corner and Jack abruptly stops talking.

"Axel," she whispers, and her eyes lighten up. "Are you here to see me?"

"No, Angela," I reply stiffly. "This is purely business."

"Can we talk?" There's so much hope in her voice that it feels like I will be telling a child Santa Claus is not real if I decline.

"We're about to leave," I clear my throat. "Sorry, maybe at another time."

"After what you've done to her, hearing her out is the least you can do," Jack grunts.

Dad gives me a sympathetic look and with irritation, I get up and follow Angela inside.

"I'm seeing a therapist," she says softly as we walk into Jack's office and close the door. "And I'm on medication."

"I'm glad you're getting the help you need," I force a smile and push my hands into my pockets.

"That's just it," her eyes are filled with hurt. "It's not helping. I still love you. I still ..."

"Angela, no," I cut her off brusquely. "There's no use talking about this. I accepted my mate and I'm happy with her."

"Liana," her eyes blaze and she lifts her chin. "You can say her name, you know. Her identity isn't a secret."

"We're done here," I grunt and walk towards the door.

"I killed for you!" she shouts, and I stop dead in my tracks.

"Tried," I say and turn around. "You tried to kill Liana, but I found her in time. And if she hadn't convinced me otherwise, you would've been dead by now for even thinking of harming her."

"I'm talking about Greta," she smiles, and a sickening feeling overwhelms me.

For six years I have been haunted by that day. Greta and I had a fight about something frivolous. I stormed out, shifted and ran into the woods. I did not know that she followed me until I got home, and she was gone. Her mutilated body was found that evening, but we could never figure out who did it. There were no new scents, and everybody had an alibi. Angela said she was sleeping, and nobody saw her leave. She was only twenty-one at the time, and nobody suspected her.

"You killed Greta?" I inhale deeply to calm myself. "Why the fuck did you do that? She hasn't done anything to you."

"She didn't make you happy," she states passionately. "Everybody knew it but you. You were too mesmerized by her beauty. She wasn't your mate and the two of you were fighting constantly. It was clear that you needed help, so I killed for you. Can your mate say that? Does she love you enough to kill? Hell, Liana is struggling with the pregnancy. She'll never be able to love you like I do."

"You're fucking insane," I look at her in disgust. "And you just confessed to murder. You know what that means."

Repulsed, I turn around and walk out.

"It wasn't murder," she yells as she runs after me. "It was a favour to you."

"I didn't ask for any," I keep on walking.

"Axel, please," she grabs my arm and I yank away.

"Don't you ever touch me again," I hiss furiously. "You disgust me."

"Nobody will believe you," she continues as I keep on walking. "Nobody saw me leave the mansion."

"What the hell is going on?" Jack bellows as he and Dad walk towards us.

"She belongs in an asylum," I say angrily. "She's bat-shit crazy."

"Don't say that!" Angela screams and bursts out in tears.

Jack instantly runs to comfort her, and I look at them.

"She confessed to a murder," I growl. "And ..."

"No!" Angela shouts and jerks free from Jack's embrace. "It was self-defence."

"You'll be charged with murder," I continue.

"I said no!" She storms towards me and with a deafening growl, she shifts.

"Angela, don't!" Jack shouts but she lunges at me.

I move to the side, and she misses me. Immediately she turns around and comes at me again. Quickly I shift and bite into her outstretched paw. With all my might I swing her to the side, and she flies through the air before crashing into the fireplace. Growling, she stands up and shakes her fur as she bares her teeth at me. Patiently, I wait for her next move. She leaps towards me, and I claw at her, striking her in the face. Her body connects hard with the wall, and she knocks her head on the sleeper wood coffee table.

My chest is heaving as I stare at her, but she does not move.

"What have you done?" Jack screams as he runs to her lifeless body.