Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 22

Orion’s POV

I had been too hasty. I had wanted Orchid snatched from the human realm and brought to me as soon as possible. I was paying for it now. Orchid was not like the humans from my realm who knew of the existence of werewolves, vampires, the Fae and witches and wizards. Everything was all new to her and perhaps I had been expecting far too much of her. We left the wedding reception in the wee hours of the morning. Orchid was so tired she could scarcely dress herself for bed. I knelt down and began removing her heels.

“Thanks,” she said softly.

I kissed her forehead gently.

I helped her out of her gown. She was wearing a light pink bra and panty. I growled playfully at her. She giggled. She was a tad tipsy. She went over to the vanity. She let down her hair, unpinning the curls that had been pinned up. I stood behind her in the mirror, staring at her beautiful reflection. I wrapped my arms around her from behind. My hands cupped her breasts. The clasp of her bra was in the front so I reached for it and slid her bra off. My hands found her bare breasts again and squeezed them. She m****d arching her back leaning against me. I kissed the path from her ear, down her neck and across her shoulder, nibbling on the tender skin as I went. I caressed her tummy and slid my hands down into her panty. She m****d as my fingers parted her folds and caressed her bud.

“Orion,” whispered Orchid.

I planted k****s all over her face, neck and shoulders.

“Be honest with me, Orchid,” I said softly.

She looked at me. “Ok,” she said.

“How do you feel about me?” I asked. “Completely the truth please. I won’t get upset.”

Orchid looked at my reflection. I was still standing behind her.

“What do you think about me?” I asked.

“I…think you’re handsome, strong, sexy, passionate, possessive, impulsive. I think you forget how new this all is for me. If I was powerful enough to force you to live in the human world, you’d feel just as confused, just as frustrated, just as out of place and helpless…well, maybe not helpless in your case, you’re huge,” she said chuckling.

I laughed too. I wrapped her up in my arms. “I’m gonna make it all better,” I told her. “I swear,” I said.

“Do you hate me?” I asked her.

“Of course not,” she replied.

She turned around and faced me. I anchored my thumbs in her panty and slipped it down her smooth legs helping her step out of it. She was completely naked now.

“You’re so beautiful, Orchid,” I told her

Orchid undid my tie. I shrugged out of my blazer. She unbuttoned my shirt. I dropped my pants and then stepped out of my boxers. We were both naked now.

“This is how wolves sleep, in the nude,” I told her.

I took her hand and walked her over to the bed. I pulled her to me, draping her over me. Having so much of our skin touching was maddening. That was what Orchid did to me. She made me into a mad man, a lovesick mad man. I regretted using the Caro family to procure her. She was not my possession. I was not daft enough to think that she was though I was certainly possessive. I could not go back in time and court Orchid differently but I knew I could salvage our future. I had to. There was no alternative. I had to be with Orchid. I remembered how eager I was while making the “arrangements” for her with Caro.

Flashback

“It’ll all be arranged smoothly!” Promised Mr Caro.

His sisters Sylvia and Salvia were all pearly-white smiles.

The Caro family made these sorts of arrangements, negotiating with the families of prospective brides, usually the mates of pack leaders.

“Wow, a human, how delicate,” commented Sylvia.

“Were you surprised, Alpha?” Asked Salvia.

We were all sitting in the parlour of the Caro mansion in Gregoire, the gated werewolf community on the island. Of course, the humans outside these walls did not know there was a werewolf community here. They did not know we existed. They were blissfully ignorant unlike the humans who lived in our realm.

“Brother,” said Perseus slowly. “This human is from the human realm. She is not a human from our realm where she would know werewolves existed. She won’t know anything. Won’t this be difficult?”

“She will come to understand,” I said.

“Of course she will,” agreed Mr Caro. “We’ll contact her family and negotiate a price right away!”

“What if they don’t agree?” Asked Perseus.

“We’ll do our research carefully. Everyone wants something. All we have to do is replace out what that something is. For most people it’s money. For some it’s prestige. Others, love,” said Mr Caro with a flourish of his hands.

Perseus and I stood up to the leave. We got into a limo waiting outside for us. The noble she-wolves we were staying by lived just next-door but the grounds of both properties were vast so the car was necessary.

“Brother, I am shocked to be frank,” said Perseus once we were alone in the backseat of the limo.

“I know,” I said.

I knew what he meant. I had prized strength above all else during my reign as Alpha. He was probably shocked to replace me so accepting of a human mate.

“I would have thought you would reject such a mate,” he admitted hesitantly.

“I would have thought so too but she is perfect and I must have her,” I confessed.

Perseus grinned at me. “Look at you. Smitten!” He commented.

I smiled slightly.

“You don’t even know her name,” said Perseus.

“Not yet, no,” I admitted. “I know her address and the Caro family will replace out the rest.”

Our old friends Mary-Beth and Mary-Sue greeted us when we reached their residence. They were both rich, noble she-wolves. Mary-Beth was pale with blue eyes and dark brown hair. She had sharp angular features. Mary-Sue had a brown complexion with deep brown eyes and dark hair. She had softer, rounder features. They were best friends and both blessed with beauty despite vastly different appearances.

“First Perseus and now you, Orion,” whined Mary-Beth.

“Both of you bitten by the love bug,” said Mary-Sue.

The girls were acting happy for me but I could tell they were upset.

“A human…forgive me but would she be able to handle being Luna?” Asked Mary-Beth.

“I never pictured you with a human,” said Mary-Sue.

They were both a bit jealous.

“I never did either but she’s all I want,” I admitted.

Mary-Sue and Mary-Beth exchanged glances.

“Congratulations,” they said in unison, forcing smiles.

I was a bundle of nerves the following day when I had to return to my realm. I called Mr Caro for an update just before using the portal.

“Her name is Orchid Whimsy. She’s twenty-five years old,” he said over the phone.

Orchid. One of the more unusual flowers. How perfect.

“She is an only child. We’ve located her parents and we’re in luck!” He informed me.

“Yeah?” I asked eagerly.

“Her father has a gambling problem. The casino he frequents is were-wolf owned!” Said Mr Caro.

“How much does he owe?” I asked

“Seventy-five thousand dollars, nothing major,” said Mr Caro. “But if he doesn’t pay it off in two months, the loan sharks will be on his tail. And he certainly can’t acquire that in two months by the looks of his financial records and earning potential.”

“So we could be a Godsend in his eyes?” I asked, hope bubbling up to the surface.

“Definitely,” said Mr Caro. “The girl herself has student loans to pay off.”

“How much?” I said.

“Just under one-hundred thousand dollars,” said Mr Caro.

Wow, human medical school was pricey.

“Ok, done,” I said. “And have you discussed with the parents yet…the price for her hand in marriage?” I asked.

“I’m meeting with them today actually! I was hoping you would delay your return to your pack and accompany me,” suggested Mr Caro.

“You certainly work fast,” I said, mildly impressed.

“I’m a wolf of my word, Alpha,” said Mr Caro.

I had been just minutes away from departure. I walked away from the portal. “I’m on my way,” I told Mr Caro.

Mr Caro’s chauffeur drove us to the home of Orchid’s parents. The home was small but neat. There were dozens of flowering potted plants in the concrete yard, all blooming. The colourful blossoms swayed in the breeze. I spotted some orchids among the flowers and smiled. Mr Caro had told me her parents were Clyde and Clover Whimsy, a human couple in their fifties. Her father worked in the I.T. department of a small bank and her mother was a homemaker. A small fluffy black dog came out to greet us.

“Hello,” I said to the little dog.

She sniffed me curiously.

“Mighty,” said Caro.

“It’s a boy,” I said.

“No,” said Caro.

There were three cats lounging on the porch. Mighty woke them all up in excitement. A woman with mocha skin and dark eyes and hair came outside.

“Mighty! Get inside!” She scolded the little dog.

Mighty rushed inside. The cats stalked inside too at a leisurely pace.

“Is Mr Whimsy at home? He’s expecting us,” said Caro.

“Is everything alright? I’m his wife,” responded Mrs Whimsy.

A tall pale man joined us on the porch.

“Mr Caro?” He said.

“Indeed,” said Mr Caro.

“Clover, go inside,” said Mr Whimsy.

“But Clyde,” she said.

He gave her a pointed look and she went inside.

“Are you with the guys from the casino? Look I’ll get you your money! I swear!” He said.

“The word on the street is that you and your wife are relocating soon. You wouldn’t be trying to run off, would you?” Asked Caro.

Clyde paled.

“It’s all right, Mr Whimsy,” I said respectfully. I needed my future father-in-law’s blessing. “We have a proposition for you! We’re not here to collect money! We’re here to give it.”

Clover served us tea and biscuits in the drawing room of their home. I kept glancing at all the pictures of my Orchid at various points in her life. I smiled.

“I know with your gambling debt and Orchid’s student loans, you would need about one-hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars,” said Caro.

“My client here is a wealthy business man who is prepared to off you upwards of the aforementioned amount in exchange for your daughter’s hand in marriage,” announced Caro.

“What?” Squealed Clover. “You want to buy our daughter?”

“Not exactly,” I said quickly. “I want to settle all your debts and ensure that you are financially covered and comfortable for the rest of your lives.”

“As a thank you for allowing him to court your daughter,” said Caro.

“How do you even know about our daughter?” Asked Clover sharply.

“I…met her when she was walking home from the hospital where she works,” I said, being half honest.

“She won’t be working there much longer. They might not extend her contract,” said Clover sadly.

“You saw our daughter walking home from work and just…decided you wanted to marry her?” Asked Clyde.

I nodded eagerly. “I know it is strange but I am…not what I seem,” I said.

“What are you?” Asked Clyde, worry colouring his expression.

“A werewolf,” I admitted.

Clyde snorted with laughter.

“Stay away from our daughter,” snapped Clover. “Go and get some help. Don’t come back here.”

I stood up. I didn’t want to fully shift but I bared my canines and allowed my eyes to turn black whilst making my jaws come forwards, lengthening like a wolf’s. That level of transformation had been enough. They were utterly speechless, their mouths agape, their expressions horrified and their hearts racing. I shifted back to fully human in appearance.

“He’s not just any ordinary werewolf too. He’s a king of sorts. Orchid is meant to be his queen. When werewolves meet the one, they know it with certainty.

“Our daughter is not for sale,” said Clover softly, her voice shaky and her body trembling.

“My client is prepared to make you a fine offer and you would be permitted to visit her several times every year. She will have an unimaginably luxurious lifestyle. The club you gamble at, Mr Whimsy, is werewolf-owned. Even if you skip town, they’ll track you down easily,” said Caro.

Clyde and Clover exchanged a glance.

“How do we know you’re not a psycho? Or an escaped lunatic or something?” Asked Clover.

“You’ve seen proof, Mrs Whimsy,” insisted Caro.

“Of the werewolf part but what about the money part?” Asked Clyde.

“Clyde!” Said Clover indignantly.

Mr Caro put a briefcase on the coffee table and opened it, showing them it was filled with hundred-dollar bills neatly stacked.

“How much is in there?” Asked Clyde in amazement, picking up a stack.

“One million,” said Caro.

“You’re not actually considering this, are you Clyde?” Asked Clover horrified.

“Mrs Whimsy, I assure you my feelings for Orchid are genuine. I want her to be happy and safe. I also want you both to remain in one piece and in her life,” I explained.

“So that’s the deal, one million dollars for our blessing to court Orchid? How is that gonna work? What if she just doesn’t like you? Asked Clyde.

My inner wolf snarled. I composed myself.

“I want you both to be well-taken care of. I was thinking ten million dollars for now not including the jewels for Mrs Whimsy as is customary,” I said.

Orchid’s father was stunned. Her mother on the other hand was disapproving.

“We can assure you visitation with Orchid,” said Caro. “That can be added to the contract.”

“Visitation? Orchid is an adult. This is all too strange,” said Clover.

“M’am your husband will die if he doesn’t pay his gambling debts. The loan sharks after him are some of the most vicious werewolves around,” said Caro.

Clover glanced at her husband disdainfully. The tension between them was palpable.