Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 43

Orion

It had been exactly 48 hours since we had done the paternity test. Every guest but Talus had gone back to their respective homes. Talus and I had been coaching Orchid, trying to help her shift. Her attempts thus far had been unsuccessful. I hated seeing her sad. Thus, when she had given me puppy-dog eyes earlier this morning, I had been ready to say yes to just about any request. She had wanted to go to the human realm to show Talus where she had grown up. He had her convinced that he was her father. I was beginning to partially regret letting them grow closer before the test results were back and I fully regretted letting Orchid visit the human realm with Talus. She should have been back by now.

Orchid

I was showing my father my favourite haunts as a child back in the human realm. I was so happy. I could not believe Orion was actually trusting me to go back to my initial realm without him. It made me feel like I was really his queen now and not his captive, his equal and not his subordinate.

It was a slightly chilly morning on the island. We had taken the portal in the dungeons back to Gregoire after which we had been chauffeured to my childhood neighbourhood. The limousine was parked down the street. Orion was not totally easy breezy about this. There were two warriors watching from the limo. I felt more eyes on me as though I was being watched by more people. I had this strange sense that I was being followed. Was that my wolf? I tried to talk to her but she was silent. The more I tried to push my she-wolf forwards the further she withdrew into the vestiges of my mind from whence she had come.

“This is where I went to kindergarten!” I said brightly, trying to live in the moment and not obsess over my inability to shift completely.

“Rotten Munchkins?” Said Talus, reading the faded sign on the wrought iron gate.

“Yeah, the name hasn’t aged well,” I admitted, looking at the abandoned building with its peeling paint and crumbling roof.

I doubted that would be the name of a modern-day kindergarten. Neither word was appropriate.

“Like Wizard of Oz?” He asked.

“I guess so,” I said.

“But with an angry vibe,” he added, nodding.

“It was supposed to be funny I guess. It was run by this super strict lady who had wanted to name it Rotten Little Monsters initially. We used to call her Aunty Maw. Her full name was Marissa Maw and she was…unpleasant,” I recalled, remembering her in a crisp white apron over a dark grey dress, her bushy eyebrows knitted closely together. She had always smelled of starch from her freshly ironed clothing. She had consistently worn a scowl that made it seem as though all her features were fighting to be in the middle of her face.

“Thanks for giving me this tour,” said Talus.

I smiled. He had been a lot less drunk these past two days. It was not an overnight miracle but it was a start. He smelled nice, clean and masculine without any hint of alcohol or urine. His hair and beard were neat and his eyes looked brighter and more focused.

“Thanks for agreeing to come with me,” I said, smiling.

We reached the playground I used to swing in.

“This is not the best area,” I confessed.

“Why?” He asked, concerned, looking around.

“This park was…I mean is a known spot to pick up prostitutes at night,” I explained.

“Damn,” said Talus. “Your parents let you swing here?” He asked worriedly.

I shrugged.

“In the day of course,” I said defensively.

“What time do they come out? The hookers?” He asked, stroking his beard.

I threw him a suspicious look.

“For goodness sakes Orchid!” He thundered, bursting into laughter.

I laughed too.

“I’m kidding,” I said.

“You better be!” He said. “Your old man isn’t that bad.”

I nodded.

“I don’t have to pay for it,” he muttered.

“Dad!” I said, alarmed.

He laughed raucously.

“Someone should pay me for my services,” he reasoned, pointing to his own chest.

I started walking quickly away from him. He chuckled and walked faster. I broke into a run.

“I don’t wanna be seen with you,” I yelled playfully, running away.

He sped up, laughing. He let me win and outrun him. He pretended to give up and put his palms on his knees. I knew he could run at werewolf speed. He just did not want to remind me of it because of all the difficulty I was having with shifting. We were out of sight of the limo now but I still had that feeling of being watched. I looked around the empty street. I narrowed my eyes, my brows furrowing.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

There!

I gasped.

“What is it?” Asked Talus.

My she-wolf had spoken. She had shown me something. A grey car with a boxy build parked on my street. I did not know the makes of cars very well but I recognised the licence plate. I shook my head. It was far enough away from my house, it was not like I lived at home anymore and this was a small enough island for it to be a coincidence. Besides, my parents had purchased a new home with their hush money. They still spent time in the old home though. They were preparing it to be rented out.

“Orchid, please say something,” demanded Talus, grasping me by the shoulders.

“I think that’s my ex’s car,” I said softly.

Talus glared at the car.

“Was he good to you?” He asked.

I shook my head.

“Want me to s***h his tyres or break his windshields or both?” He asked.

I giggled.

“How about neither,” I suggested.

Talus sighed.

“Suit yourself, daughter,” he said, folding his arms.

I folded my arms. My phone rang. Orion.

“Hey!” I answered excitedly.

“Come home, Baby,” said Orion, his voice sounding strained.

“Oh, yes, of course,” I said, checking the time and realising it was already almost six in the evening.

“Time flew by!” I commented as I put my phone away and walked back to the limo with Talus.

“And we didn’t even eat yet,” said Talus.

“What are you talking about? We had brunch twice, once in Werewolf country and once here in the human realm,” I said.

“Oh, yeah but those were light snacks,” said Talus dismissively.

I had seen him inhale a stack of pancakes, another larger stack of waffles, oodles of syrup and salted butter, bacon, eggs, sausages and an apple. The apple was his “new healthy lifestyle change.” It was a start.

We talked and laughed on the drive back to Gregoire. I watched the portal swirl like a tide pool. It was hypnotic to look upon. I stepped through it and found myself in the dungeons of Orion’s home. He was standing right there, waiting for me. I ran to him and he hugged me gently. I frowned as I looked up at him. He did not look very happy.

“Baby,” he said softly. “Come with me. You too Talus.”

He lead us to the infirmary wing in silence. The lab technician was there with one of the doctors. The lab tech hurriedly left the room as she spotted us. She was always grumpy and did not seem to like me so I was glad she had left. The doctor smiled.

“Please, have a seat, Alpha, Luna and Mr Hawthorne,” said the silver fox Doctor.

We sat down. My heart was beating wildly. The results. I had almost forgotten.

“Luna Orchid, how’re you feeling?” Asked the doctor.

“Just tell me the results, please, doc,” I blurted out.

I knew how breaking bad news went as a doctor myself. He was asking me how I was doing. He was building rapport. Why would he do that if the results were favourable? I felt like a band was constricting around my heart.

“In the case of Talus Hawthorne and Luna Orchid, your respective DNA samples…” he began. He paused, taking a deep breath. Oh good grief!

“…I’m so sorry but they were not a match. Talus Hawthorne, you are not the father of Luna Orchid,” said the doctor gently.

It was like a knife to the heart. I gulped. I took a deep slow breath. I turned slowly to look at Talus. I could feel Orion rubbing my back and shoulders, trying to soothe me. Talus looked crestfallen. He looked at me with tears in his eyes. He shrugged.

“Guess my wolf was wrong,” he whispered.

My breathing quickened.

“Doc, are you absolutely sure? Perhaps, we should repeat the test!” I said.

“Luna Orchid, DNA doesn’t change,” said the doctor softly. “It’s not the type of b***d test where you get fluctuations.”

“There is a margin for error in every test,” I said sternly.

I would not be overridden by him. I wanted a repeat.

“I want a repeat test,” I said. “And I want it sent to a private lab!” I demanded.

“This is a private lab,” said the doctor.

“A different one, obviously. One off this estate. I want it delivered and collected by Magnus. I don’t want anyone in this infirmary handling the sample. Just give me the kit and the forms!” I ordered.

I tried to keep my tone authoritative though my voice cracked.

“Orchid, Baby,” cooed Orion.

I knew he would try to talk me out of it. I stood up.

“Get Magnus here now! I am the Luna! Did you bring me here to be the Luna or not?!” I snapped.

Orion looked taken aback. His eyes turned black but he was not angry. He was mind-linking Magnus. I asked the doctor for privacy while I opened another test kit.

“I can handle it. I’m a doc too. Thanks though, doc,” I said dismissively.

The doctor sighed and got up.

“It’s nothing personal,” I said in earnest, feeling guilty.

“I know,” he said, smiling sadly as he took the paternity result sheet off of his clipboard and left it on the table for us. He left the room looking dejected. I sighed, trying to hold myself together. I ripped open the swab and swabbed my inner cheek.

“Orchid,” said Orion softly.

“Just let me do this! Please!” I begged, my bottom l*p quivering.

Orion nodded. Magnus arrived. Talus allowed me to take another sample but he did not meet my eyes. He seemed so faraway all of a sudden like he was trying not to really interact with me.

“There’s no reason why you two can’t be friends,” said Orion as a last resort, feeling the tension in the room. I sealed the specimen bag and handed it to Magnus.

“You and only you can handle this sample, coming and going. Don’t tell anyone about it, not even your mate Nico. It’s that important!” I pleaded.

Magnus looked honoured to be entrusted with this. He nodded resolutely and left immediately with the samples.

“I guess…I guess I’ll go pack,” said Talus.

“What?” I yelped. “Wait for the repeat! We’re repeating the results!”

Talus sighed.

“What do we do if they second test says the same thing?” Asked Talus sadly.

“Repeat it again!” I cried.

I sniffled. I knew I was not being my usually objective self.

“Forgive me, Alpha.” Said Talus to Orion. “I mean no disrespect towards your Luna,” he added as he cupped my face. I met his eyes.

“Talus,” I mumbled, begging him to wait for the repeat test with my eyes.

“You win some, you lose some. I lost this one. You’re still a winner, trust me,” he said with a wink. “I would have been proud to be your father but since I’m not, I’m gonna get out of your way. You deserve to have a real relationship with your real father,” he said earnestly.

I was crying now. Talus wiped my tears with his thumbs and pulled me into a big bear hug. Dad, I cried to myself in my mind. I felt my wolf stir. He let go of me and then walked away. I sank back down into my chair. My heart sank too, right back down into the depths of despair. Worse than before.

Orion

I had to summon Fox. Maybe it was wishful thinking but I hoped the test results were wrong somehow. Orchid could not handle it if they were right. I mind-linked Magnus.

I know this may sound crazy but I need you to stay with the sample at that private lab. Don’t let it change hands and impress upon the staff the seriousness of this. Let them know the Alpha himself needs these results to be accurate, untampered with and available in the shortest time possible! I said.

Will do, Alpha! Said Magnus, his voice growing more and more faint as he travelled further out of range.

Fox had given me a strange item if I ever needed to summon him. It was a small ornament of a white fox with nine colourful tails. The tails could be turned around and around like a windup toy. It had only been two days and we had agreed upon three days of spying on the Marys but I needed him now. I remembered his instructions upon our very first meeting: one spin for a casual conversation at his convenience, two spins for an urgent meeting and three spins for a drop-everything emergency.

Orchid was being tended to by Rose. She was refusing to talk as she lay in our bed.

“Please, don’t let her out of your sight,” I said to Rose.

Rose nodded. Bisa was standing dutifully at the foot of the bed.

“Bisa, come with me,” I said, leaving the room and walking towards my office.

Bisa followed me. I entered my office, shut the door and locked it behind us.

“Here,” I said, handing Bisa the nine-tailed fox.

I had been using the little totem as a paperweight.

“This is cute,” she said, smiling. “The fox has two different coloured eyes,” she noted.

“And nine different coloured tails,” I said, smiling sadly.

She examined it.

“Spin the tails three times,” I ordered.