Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 15

When I awoke again, it was late in the afternoon according to the old-fashioned clock on the wall in Orion’s bedroom. I was still lying on my tummy, my skin pressed on his bare muscular chest, his arms wrapped around me. There were so many emotions within me all at once, I could not feel them all simultaneously. I had to examine them one at a time. There was fear of Orion’s wrath which he had already demonstrated. There was anger towards him for arranging my kidnapping. There was gratitude towards him for pulling me from a certain watery death and for paying my debts as well as the debts of my parents. L**t existed, if that could be considered an emotion. Jealousy still stung as the image of him flanked by two admirers was still fresh in my mind. I pictured those girls, their glittery gowns, their pearls, their jewels. I wanted to be pampered by him and free of him at the same time.

I did not attempt to wake him like last time. I lay in his arms until he began to stir. I pretended to be asleep. I could feel his eyes on me. His hands caressed my back, my shoulders, my thighs, my arms, my wrists, my face. He touched every part of me that he could reach without moving too much. He was trying not to disturb me. I wondered how long I could pretend to be asleep. I wanted to delay whatever horrors awaited me. Surely, he had another punishment in mind. I had ruined his brother’s engagement party. I slowly opened my eyes.

“Good morning, Orchid,” he said softly.

“Good morning, Orion,” I replied, my voice even softer. “What day is it?”

“Sunday,” he said. “Are you hungry?”

“No,” I said. It was surprisingly the truth despite so many missed meals. I was too anxious to learn what my fate would be.

“You haven’t eaten in three days,” Orion said, worry evident in his voice. “Come, it’s time to eat.”

He allowed me to bathe and change on my own. We did not wash each other like last time. I peaked out of the walk-in closet while still wearing my robe. Orion was in a blue shirt and black trousers. I picked out a long powder blue dress with long loose sleeves and a slit up to the thigh. I put on matching heels. I styled my hair and did my makeup, still amazed that he had organised so many items for me. He looked at me with so much longing in his eyes, I almost felt sorry for him.

“Would you like some jewels to wear?” He asked, standing behind me as I sat at the vanity.

“I…should I wear them?” I asked.

His life was a glamorous one. Each time I had glimpsed Rose during the week of my punishment, she looked more and more like royalty in her fine manner of dressing.

“I would like you to wear them,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

He presented me with a thin blue velvet box, opening it to reveal a gold necklace of sapphires with a similar tennis bracelet and earrings. They were stunning. I put them on.

“Thank you,” I said, looking up at his reflection in the mirror.

He smiled at me.

“You look radiant,” he said.

Orion led me to a much larger dining room than the breakfast room. A long table boasted several centrepieces of vases overflowing with flowers. I could not help but smile at the flowers. There were only two kinds of flowers on display yet every shade imaginable had been plucked: red, pink, purple, white and yellow varieties of roses and orchids. Rose was at the table with Perseus and two other guests. I stiffened. The girls who had accompanied Orion to the engagement party last night were seated at the table, giggling and exchanging conspiratorial glances.

“Orchid,” Rose squeaked. “This is Mary-Beth and Mary-Sue.”

Mary-Beth was the girl who had asked about the opera cakes. She had a rosy pale complexion with light blue eyes and dark brown hair that was tied up in an elaborate bun. She was extremely thin with sharp, angular features. Mary-Sue was the other girl from the party. She had a light brown complexion with round brown eyes and black hair also gathered in an up-do. She was fuller than her friend with softer, rounder features. Both girls were striking but they paled in comparison to Rose.

I knew my punishment was not over. Orion had brought these harpies to lunch to taunt me further. It was dreadfully unfair. Orion pulled out my chair and sat next to me. I ignored him and everyone else at the table, keeping my eyes down on my place setting.

“It’s nice to meet you too!” Said Mary-Beth sarcastically, responding to my silence at being finally formally introduced to them.

Mary-Sue giggled.

“Forgive her, she has had a rough time,” Orion said. I could feel his eyes on me but I was tired of playing games with him. I had nothing snarky to say. I just wanted to leave the table as soon as possible. Lunch turned out to be a five course meal, each course more scrumptious than the last.

Mary-Beth was gazing at Orion. “Orion, darling, don’t forget you promised to take Mary-Sue and I horseback riding this evening. We don’t have many days together before we must return to Gregoire.”

I stilled at the word “darling.”

“We shall all go riding today,” Orion said, grinning at everyone.

He accepted being called “darling” by her. I was livid. I knew it was childish but I would not be bested by her. I hoped I would not embarrass myself and be rejected by him due to our recent falling out. I hesitantly stroked his cheek. It had the desired effect. He turned to look at me, surprise and hope evident on his face. I touched his lower l*p and he closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation. I leaned in and kissed him. He cupped my face in his large hands kissing me eagerly. I m****d into his mouth louder than was necessary and he nipped my lower l*p. He almost pulled me onto his chair. I giggled, breaking apart from him, slightly off balance. He steadied me with a hand on my waist. I quickly grabbed his other hand in both of mine and pressed his rough knuckles to my lips. I played with his fingers. He seemed captivated by my little show of affection, forgetting everyone else existed. I glanced at the Marys and they looked disgruntled to say the least. Rose and Perseus were lost in their own little world.

“What is Gregoire, a town?” I asked, genuinely curious, pushing my food around on the plate. Whatever it was, I was ready for the Marys to go back there.

The Marys exchanged glances. “It’s where you came from. It’s the gated werewolf community on the human island where the Caro House is. There’s a portal there to get from this realm to the human one and back.”

I did not look up to see which of the Marys had said that.

“We’re the next-door neighbours of the Caro family. Marvellous old werewolf family,” said one of the Marys.

Lunch was succeeded by tea and conversation filled with playful banter and story-telling. I became progressively more sullen with each passing moment. To my chagrin, the Marys seemed to have known the Alpha brothers since they were teenagers.

“Time to saddle up,” said Mary-Beth.

I took a deep breath and looked at Orion. Perhaps, I had been driven completely mad, I took the hand that was nearer to me, bringing his middle finger to my mouth. I put the whole finger in my mouth, sucking on it gently, pulling it in and out, while my tongue swirled around it. I could tell from the way he was squirming uncomfortably that I was making him hard. When I had had my full of torturing him and taunting the Marys, I decided to leave the table.

“May I please be excused?” I asked him innocently.

Orion gave me a disapproving look reminding me of his vow to keep constant watch over me. He took me to his room.

“You can’t horseback ride in that long dress. It’ll get caught on something,” he said matter-of-factly “Change into something more suitable like this.”

He showed me a long-sleeved white shirt and black trousers.

“I don’t want to go horseback riding,” I dared to say.

“Fine, then stay here,” said Orion to my surprise.

My heart sank. He did not care if I went. He had two admirers to go with him and Rose and Perseus. I changed out of the blue dress and into a nightgown. Orion watched me go towards the bed and sit.

“Why are those girls still here?” I asked softly, refusing to meet his eyes.

“They’re noble women like I told you,” he said. “They must be shown hospitality. They travelled from far to attend this party, all the way from the human realm. My heart sped up. It had just dawned on me. The girls might be my ticket out of here.

“When do they leave?” I asked quickly.

“Wednesday,” said Orion nonchalantly.

Orion’s eyes went black for a few moments. He was taking to someone telepathically. Was it one of the Marys? I could not help the bitter envy that arose in me. A few minutes later, Magnus appeared in the doorway.

“Alpha, I’m here,” Magnus said.

“Excellent,” Orion said. “Watch her while I go horseback riding with my guests.”

“Orchid, I’ll be back before nightfall,” Orion said, bending towards me, seemingly expecting a k**s.

I fixed him with a cold stare. He eyed me, our faces only inches apart.

“Behave,” he warned before turning to leave.

He did not explicitly ask to hug or k**s me goodbye. He did not implore me to go with him. He happily trotted off to go horseback riding with his “friends”. I supposed I could ask Rose what went on at dinnertime. For now, I would get answers about the portal from Magnus.

“Did you know I came here through a portal?” I asked innocently.

“How else would you get here, Luna?” He asked, laughing.

“Is there only one portal from werewolf country to the human realm?” I wondered.

“No, there’s quite a few, all heavily guarded of course,” said Magnus.

“I wonder which portal the Marys will use to get home?” I asked.

“The Marys?” Chortled Magnus, responding to my nickname for the two nitwits. “I suppose they will use the closest one, you know, the one in the dungeon.”

I held in my gasp. I had been so close to an exit and I had not even known. I had waisted the entire time down there pining for Orion who was now galavanting with his new companions.

“That one leads to where?” I asked.

“The Caro neighbourhood, of course, don’t you remember passing through it?” Magnus inquired, looking at me strangely.

I was unconscious when I passed through it.

“I must have been asleep when I was brought here,” I said smiling.

Now, I was wide awake.