Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 37

Orchid

I took painstaking care with my outfit choice, my makeup and my hair. I felt like a scared little girl again, all dressed up for a party my parents were forcing me to go to. I had been a shy child and had dreaded parties. I would sit in my frilly party dress for an hour, twiddling my thumbs, because I would always get ready too early. Unfortunately for me, I was early for my reunion with my potential birth father and he was late. He was taking an extraordinarily long time to snow globe hop to me.

“Explain the snow globe portals again,” I requested meekly, looking up at Orion.

I was sitting in the Tea Room, a room I had not known existed until today. It was essentially a dining room specifically for serving tea like a tea house. There were several round tables, clad in floral tablecloths with embroidered edges. All the teapots and tea cups were unique. There were no sets. Every single item had a pattern of its own. I would have marvelled at this if I had not been so anxious.

“The snow globe portals are portable. You go from point A to point B and because you have the snow globe with you, you can easily return to point A using its magic. There are fixed portals as well which are like magical doorways. There’s one to the Human Realm here. You can go back and forth through the fixed portal but you can’t take the portal with you. You have to go to the portal,” explained Orion patiently. “Your…Talus is going to be using mainly fixed portals because no one trusts him with portable ones,” admitted Orion, mumbling the last part.

“He’s a bit…he has a drinking problem?” I confirmed for possibly the sixth or seventh time.

“Yes, it would appear so,” said Orion.

He began massaging my shoulders. I took a deep breath.

“There’s nothing to worry about. The Alphas I spoke to will get him here, trust me,” said Orion.

There was a knock on the Tea Room door that made me almost jump out of my skin. Rose peeked into the room.

“Hey Rose,” said Orion.

“He’s here,” she said simply.

My heart began to race.

“Shh, Luna, I can hear your heartbeat. It’s like the gallop of a racehorse. You need to relax. What’s the worst that can possibly happen?” He asked.

“He could not be my Dad and then I never replace my biological Dad,” I said.

“And you will still be my beloved Luna, a Queen essentially,” said Orion with a wink.

“Or he could be my Dad and not want me as his daughter,” I said, tears brimming in my eyes as I revealed the scenario I was truly worried about.

I was still healing from the trauma of my abusive relationship with my human ex and being kidnapped had not been great for my mental health either. I knew I would be crushed if my biological father had no interest in me. I was ashamed to admit to such vulnerability but there was no hiding my true feelings from Orion.

“Then he’s dumb as f**k and you’re better off without him,” said a voice.

Perseus was standing in the doorway. Perseus? Defending me?

“You’re not half bad,” he joked, grinning. “For a human,” he added.

“Half human maybe,” said Rose.

“Thanks,” I said softly.

That actually meant a lot coming from Perseus. He was not my biggest fan so I knew he would not shower me with false compliments. Perseus and Rose sat at the same table as Orion and me. There was one empty chair. I stared at it. How long did it take to walk up the stairs? Where was he? What if he flaked on me? Being stood up by my own father would be so…

“Good afternoon,” said a deep rumble of a voice.

Orion stood up to greet the man in the doorway. He was just as tall as Orion. I was shocked at how huge he was. He was handsome in a rugged way. He looked a bit rough like he had just had a string of sleepless nights. His eyes were blue and his hair was a dirty blond. He had a long bushy beard that actually suited him. His skin was tawny as though he had recently been sunburnt. Could werewolves get sunburns?

Orion shook his hand.

“Strong grip,” commented Talus, clapping Orion on the back.

Perseus stood and shook Talus’ hand too. Talus sat at the table, directly opposite me. Orion held my hand as soon as he took his seat again. He squeezed my hand a little under the table, encouraging me to say something.

“Are you Talus?” I asked, realising too late what a dumb question that was.

“I would hope so,” said Talus.

He roared with laughter and slammed his hand down on the table making all the china clink in protest. I had not been expecting that. Talus looked a little concerned by the way I had recoiled in my chair.

“She startles easy,” he mumbled to no one in particular.

“Thank you for coming, Talus,” said Rose politely.

“Who might you be?” Asked Talus.

“Rose,” said she, offering her hand.

“She’s my Luna,” said Perseus with a smile.

“And you are Perseus, and you are Orion,” said Talus more to himself than to us.

Perseus and Orion nodded.

“Yes and this is Orchid of course, my Luna,” announced Orion.

“So you’re not twins,” said Talus.

Perseus and Orion looked at each other.

“No,” they said in unison.

“I’m the elder brother,” added Orion.

“I’m relieved. I thought you were twins,” said Talus. “Phew!” He exclaimed, wiping fake sweat off his brow for emphasis.

“What’s wrong with twins?” I asked.

“They share a mate,” said Talus, shrugging. “I don’t want two son-in-laws if I just have one daughter. Sounds nightmarish.”

He burst into laughter at this, clapped his hands and tossed his head back. Everyone was quiet.

“Ugh, I forgot why I don’t come up north. The weather ain’t the only cold thing,” he muttered, making a face.

“I’m just kidding,” he added. “I have twin nephews.”

“Oh really? That’s wonderful,” I said.

“They’re annoying,” said Talus, looking confused by my reaction.

“They’re a huge fan of you,” said Orion indignantly.

“Same here! I love them very much. They’re still annoying though,” said Talus offhandedly.

“What’s this?” He asked, looking at his teacup.

“Green tea, but you can have whatever drink you like. I just poured yours in case you liked it too,” I said in a rush.

Green tea was my favourite.

Talus took the teacup and emptied its contents into a potted plant nearby. Perseus looked horrified. Rose stifled her giggles. Orion had no reaction whatsoever.

“Um, I would have drank yours,” I said.

“Do you like whisky?” Asked Talus.

“Not really,” I admitted.

“Great! I’ll drink yours!” Said Talus.

Talus hit the table again and chuckled to himself. He was brought a glass whisky by a server. He whispered something to the server who then brought the entire bottle of whisky and left it with Talus.

“Do you think I’m your daughter?” I asked softly.

Talus stared at me, scrutinising my face.

“You’re pretty. Maybe,” he said picking up a cupcake and eating it in one bite effortlessly.

I smiled. Orion did the same thing sometimes. He was always so much bigger than his dessert. One chomp and it was gone.

“We gonna call Maury since you’re part human and all?” Asked Talus conspiratorially.

That actually made me laugh. Orion and the others didn’t get it.

“What are we going to do?” I asked, looking at Orion.

“A paternity test,” said Orion simply.

I was shocked. I was expecting some mumbo jumbo like introducing my inner wolf (if I had one) to his and I would then know instinctively if he was my Dad. A paternity test, nice and practical. Scientific. I had probably imagined that voice I had heard earlier anyway. It was all the stress.

We’re not that stressed. We’ve been through much worse.

I stood up suddenly, my chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“Orchid?” Said Orion, grasping my elbow, his eyes filled with concern.

I pretended to dust crumbs off of the skirt of my dress and sat back down, a little shaken.

“Yeah, the pastry part of the cheese puffs, it’s kinda flaky,” complained Talus, rubbing his thumb and his index finger together.

Perseus frowned.

Maybe, Perseus really likes cheese puffs.

I was strangely annoyed with this disembodied voice. Where had she been when I was terrified of my human ex? Where had she been during his explosive violent tantrums? Where had she been Boris snatched me off the street? He had been human. I could have overpowered both Boris and my ex even if I was not that strong of a wolf.

But you are. You’re quite strong.

Where were you when I needed you? Silence. I sighed exasperatedly. The conversation came to a halt.

“Well, miss lady, your old man thought it was a funny joke,” retorted Talus.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean…” I began to apologise but Talus clapped me on the back and his laughter thundered throughout the Tea Room.

I tried something else. My wolf clearly did not want to explain her absence in my life until this point but perhaps she would answer other questions. I looked at Talus who was halfway through the bottle of whisky. Thankfully, wolves could hold their liquor much better than humans. I spotted Orion sliding the whisky bottle over to his side of the table when Talus closed his eyes as he tossed his head back laughing. Orion put the whisky bottle under his seat. I asked my wolf a different question.

Is this my father? I asked pointedly, focusing on the thought the way I did when I spoke telepathically with Orion.

What do you think?

I jumped a little. It found this presence within me disconcerting to say the least. Perhaps, I was just losing it.

I think… I paused, staring at Talus.

He sensed me looking at him. His gaze met mine. I saw a flicker of darkness swiftly flare up within his blue eyes and then dissipate just as quickly. I drew in a sharp intake of breath.

I think Talus is my father, I admitted.

I felt a strange sense of relief like a weight had been lifted off of my chest. I waited with bated breath. My alleged wolf was taking her sweet time to answer me.

Well, is he? I demanded, my tone desperate.

I could feel her amused gloating. There was a long pause. I thought she had just stopped engaging with me.

Yes, she said decisively.