Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 46

Orion

I did not hang around to see the Marys arrested. I entrusted half of my squad of warriors with that task. The other half of my squad were to search as far and wide as they could. They knew her scent and they were trying to pick it up. In the meanwhile, Talus showed me Orchid’s childhood haunts in case she had gone somewhere familiar to her to destress.

“If she really just needed to clear her head, wouldn’t she let someone know where she was?” Grumbled Talus as we searched the park in which Orchid used to swing as a child.

Her scent was nowhere to be found there. We had already been to her childhood home and kindergarten.

“I would think so but what if she’s not in her right mind?” I said, feeling like I could not breathe all of a sudden.

“What do you mean? She was sad and so was I but I never took her for much of a drinker,” said Talus, taking a swig of his flask.

I frowned at him.

“It’s just to keep the tremors at bay,” he said defensively, holding up the flask. “Ever heard of delirium tremens?”

I had actually heard of that. Orchid had told me about it after she had met Talus. She had been discussing his potential road to recovery. After a few hours of knowing him, she had already been planning his sobriety. I should have known how much this all meant to her. I should have realised how badly she would take the news.

“It’s the effects of alcohol withdrawal. Some people who have been drinking for a long time get seizures when they try to stop. It’s treatable though. You’ll just have to withdraw in a hospital,” I parroted what I remembered from Orchid’s explanation.

“Orchid taught you that?” He assumed.

“Yeah,” I mumbled sadly.

“We’re gonna replace her!” Insisted Talus. “And I’m not withdrawing locked up in some place while Orchid is out there somewhere! I can take care of myself after.”

I nodded. I took a deep breath and shut my eyes, trying to think.

“Do you know where she went to high school?” I asked.

“We hadn’t gone there yet. You called before we could finish the whole tour so she rushed back,” said Talus apologetically.

“This is all my fault,” I whispered.

“No, it isn’t,” said Talus firmly.

“It feels like it is,” I mumbled.

“Have your men found anything yet?” Asked Talus, trying to change the subject.

“They haven’t picked up her scent yet,” I revealed.

I had been scared to say that out loud. It felt like admitting defeat.

“You arrested tweedle-dumb and tweedle-dumber yet?” Asked Talus.

I snickered. I knew he was referring to the Marys. After I had explained who they were and what Fox had discovered about them, Talus had obviously taken an instant dislike to them. I mind-linked my comrades regarding the arrest.

“What’s wrong?” Asked Talus, observing my eyes as they turned black.

“A lot,” I rasped, my voice an octave deeper as my wolf came forwards.

I shifted. I could not afford to walk around leisurely in human form while Orchid needed me. It seemed one of the Marys had met with Orchid today. If the Marys had something to do with this, I would toss them in a pool filled with wolfsbane. Talus shifted and ran behind me. I was impressed with how well he kept up with me.

Orion, talk to me! What is it? Is my girl okay? I’m worried too! Said Talus over mind-link as we dashed towards Gregoire.

I did not care if any of the humans saw us. They would just see a pair of shockingly large wolves. They would probably think they’d exaggerated how big we were and forget about it. The sun had begun to make its decent towards the horizon so darkness was upon us. Darkness was encroaching upon my life in more ways than one.

Orchid! ORCHID! ORCHID! I called out to her.

I had been calling out to her over mind-link, yelling progressively louder and louder. Where was she? How could she do this to me? She was a victim in this, I reminded myself.

But she knew to stay with us. Always safe with us, whimpered my Alpha wolf.

He hardly ever spoke like this. He communicated through instinct. He was an Alpha of Actions not words.

It’ll be ok, I said, self-soothing.

I had to say that to keep going and I had to keep going to get Orchid back and to punish everyone who had tried to take her away from me. I reached the Marys’ duplex and burst through the front door, breaking it down on my way in. The Squad had the Marys in custody. They were being cooperative, sitting with their hand-cuffed hands in their laps. My warriors greeted me respectfully. I shifted, not caring anymore about etiquette. The Marys’ jaws literally dropped. I glared at them until they averted their eyes. A warrior rushed to hand me a cloak. I had ripped my clothing shifting suddenly. Talus shifted in the next room and came out in another cloak.

“Tell Alpha what you told us,” said Cerberus gruffly.

He was glaring, stone-faced, at the Marys. It seemed that he did not believe them for one second.

“It all started with our own foolishness,” admitted Mary-Beth.

“You can say that again,” muttered Talus.

I grimaced.

“We were having…what was it…fish with…” began Mary-Beth in her usual conversational manner but I cut across her.

“Hurry it along, get to the part about Orchid!” I ordered.

“Orion, darling!” Whimpered Mary-Beth.

“I’m not your darling!” I snarled, my eyes turning black as I made the townhouse quake.

Dust fell from the ceiling and paintings clattered to the ground.

“Ok, ok,” said Mary-Beth, clearly motivated to protect her precious priceless paintings though she cared not about her Luna.

“We got locked in the wardrobe. Thankfully, Salvia Caro came by to sell us makeup and she let us out. She said she had seen Orchid in Gregoire and even given her a ride to the human park she used to frequent as a child apparently,” explained Mary-Beth.

I inhaled sharply. Was this true? Was it bullshit?

“Where’s Salvia Caro?” I demanded.

“Held for questioning at the Caro House by several warriors but not formally arrested. More of a witness than a suspect at this point,” explained Magnus.

“If she’s not a suspect then you’re saying she wasn’t the last person to see Orchid,” I concluded.

Magnus nodded.

“I was. I saw her last,” said Mary-Sue, raising a shaking hand covered in gold bangles and tennis bracelets like she was nervous to answer a question at school.

“Orion, Dar-, Alpha, we’ve been friends for so long,” said Mary-Beth.

“Your testimony,” I said sternly. “Complete it.”

“Because of our dear friendship we were concerned when we heard from Salvia that Orchid was in a human park alone roaming about. You must remember we were your dates that night when she threw herself off the…” said Mary-Beth.

“Continue with the story of today’s events,” said Cerberus.

“I told Mary-Sue to go check on dear Orchid and like the saint she is, she rushed to the park following Salvia’s directions,” said Mary-Beth.

“Does Mary-Sue care to talk?” Asked Cerberus.

“I rushed to the park following Salvia’s directions,” repeated Mary-Sue.

I sighed exasperatedly.

“And did you replace Orchid?” I asked.

“Yes,” said Mary-Sue.

My heart leapt. Hope filled me.

“And?” I asked anxiously.

“I’m so sorry to have to tell you this, Alpha,” said Mary-Sue.

“What?! What is it?!” I demanded frantically.

My heart was beating erratically. I momentarily felt like I was suffocating. Mary-Sue sighed theatrically.

“TELL ME!” I roared in my Alpha voice, shaking the

Mary-Sue jumped.

“She saw Orchid there with her ex!” Blurted out Mary-Beth.

“Yes, Orchid was there with her ex,” reiterated Mary-Sue.

“He’s stalking her,” I hissed.

“No,” they said in unison.

“What do you mean ‘no’?” I growled. “Be careful!” I warned them.

“Alpha, we want you to be happy more than anyone,” said Mary-Beth.

“Cut the crap!” Snarled Talus who had remained mostly silent until now.

“She went with him. Her ex. They left together,” said Mary-Sue.

“You mean he kidnapped her!” I growled.

“NO, SHE’S CHEATING ON YOU, CAN’T YOU SEE? SHE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT YOU! SHE THINKS YOU’RE A MONSTER WHO KIDNAPPED HER! YOU’RE THE KIDNAPPER IN HER EYES!” Screamed Mary-Beth at the top of her lungs.

I felt like I was gasping for air. Orchid had once said something like that right before I put her in dungeon but she had never alluded to wanting her ex back. She had called him a monster. He was abusive!

“YOU’RE A LIAR!” I roared so loudly cracks ran up and down the walls.

“NO, YOU’RE IN DENIAL!” Screamed Mary-Beth.

“YOU WEREN’T EVEN f*****g THERE! YOU BOTH SAID IT WAS MARY-SUE THERE! HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY CORROBORATE THAT SO VEHEMENTLY!” I bellowed, shattering the windows.

My Alpha was ready to bring the house down.

“BECAUSE,” screamed Mary-Beth, taking a deep breath, “I believe Mary-Sue.”

“You two are lying traitors guilty of conspiracy against the Luna. I have proof you tampered with the paternity test results,” I snarled.

I was seething. It took everything in me not to snap their necks. I did not want to harm a woman. I wanted to carry out due justice through the correct channels. I had promised Orchid I would not repeat the Boris situation.

You promised not to snap necks in front of her. Mate’s not here, said my wolf.

I took a deep breath. I had grown up with these two imbeciles. I wanted to show them some mercy. There was a time when I would have shown them leniency. I blamed myself also. I should have never triangulated Orchid with them hoping to rouse her jealousy and then her love. It was the Marys who had become insanely jealous and dangerous.

“We did what your mother, the current acting Luna, asked us to do. We can’t be tried for following the orders of an Alpha or a Luna,” said Mary-Beth defiantly.

She had always been the slightly more savvy one. I shook my head, hoping perhaps it was not true but knowing that is probably was.

“Show me proof of that,” I said simply.

“Ask your mother,” said Mary-Beth.

I slammed my hand down on the table and it cracked in half.

“I’m giving you one last chance to tell me what happened at the park,” I said.

“Orchid left you for her ex,” said Mary-Sue. “That’s what happened! I’m so sorry, Alpha Orion. You deserve better!”

I roared.

“I know you’re a lying harpy! Where did they go?! Will you tell the truth to that?!” I demanded, trying to keep calm.

“I don’t know,” said Mary-Sue. “They would go somewhere difficult to replace.”

“How about this?” I said. “If I don’t replace them within the first 24 hours, I sentence you to life imprisonment for high treason, Mary-Sue, since you were the last person to see my Orchid before she got kidnapped.”

“And if I don’t replace them within 48 hours then you’ll join Mary-Sue, Mary-Beth. I’ll make sure you’re together forever,” I said coldly.

“How dare you?!” Snapped a voice I’d know anywhere.

I turned around.

“Mother,” I said.

She was standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Bearing witness to you making threats on the lives of two girls you grew up with!” Hissed Mother.

“Two girls who conspired against my mate who is now missing without a trace,” I shouted.

“Lower your voice,” said Mother sternly. “We have known their families for decades. Son, your mate left you for her ex. You have to accept that. She’s been manipulating you. Everything she did was to gain your trust so you would lower your defences and give her the freedom to finally leave. She talked about running away and her ex all the time.”

“I can’t believe this.” I said, laughing humourlessly.

These three thought they could gaslight me.

“Mother, you too,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m your son.”

“I’m protecting you from her,” said Mother.

“Who will protect her from you?” I asked. “Where is she?”

“I don’t know,” said Mother. “But I’m telling you she left of her own free will. Why is that so hard for you to believe?”

I almost doubted myself and Orchid for a second. I pictured her face. No. She had forgiven me. She had fallen for me. I felt it.

“My associate has proof of your paternity test schemes. You were implicated in that before Orchid went missing,” I said.

“Before Orchid walked out on you,” corrected Mother.

“Do you deny it?” I snapped.

“I didn’t touch the paternity test results and what proof is there that I did?” Snarled Mother.

“I heard you talking with them in the bathroom at Orchid’s birthday party! My associate then procured a recording of the girls admitting to tampering with the test and then trying to give your name as the orchestrator,” I said.

“They were scared by your associate who pretended to be some supernatural force. They made a lot of false statements under duress thinking it would appease some otherworldly force,” said Mom.

“And you’re this comfortable with them supposedly lying about your involvement with all of this?” I said.

“Even if they tampered with the test, it would have been negative anyway! You have to give up this fantasy, this delusion that Orchid is a werewolf!” Exclaimed Mother. “She is a human who saw you as a monster and finally got the opportunity and left you,” said Mother.

Talus growled. I put my hand on his chest.

“Okay, Mother,” I said, with a wry smile.

“Okay, Son. We can finally move on with our lives,” she said throwing her hands up like she was thanking the heavens.

“It’s their word against yours and they could have very well thrown your name in to get a lighter sentence,” I suggested.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” muttered Talus.

Trust me, I told him. We need to hear the testimonies of Salvia, the lab tech and most importantly we need the new paternity test results from Magnus.

I could hear Talus taking deep breaths to steady himself. I did not trust my mother.

“I ask for leniency for these two. These misguided actions were an attempt to protect their childhood friend. You. From being hurt,” said Mother.

Are you buying this bullshit? Demanded Talus.

No, but I was raised by this woman. I’ve dealt with this my whole life. Facts and evidence are meaningless to Mother. At least they’re meaningful to everyone else. I’ve learnt to just keep her out of my head, I explained.

“Mom I’ll think over your request for leniency but you’re obstructing justice right now. I need you to leave,” I demanded.

“How do I know you won’t have them killed the moment I walk out of here?” Asked Mother.

“I’m not a monster, Mother,” I said dryly.

Mother snorted with laughter. “Ask your fiancée about that. That’s exactly what she thought of you. That’s why she left!” said Mother.

“That’s enough!” Said Talus.

“Who is this drunkard to tell me the Luna of Cold Moon what to do?” Hissed Mother.

“My daughter is the Luna of Cold Moon. Your time is over. Time to sit in the shade,” snapped Talus.

“Why you…” began Mother.

“I don’t have time for this. I have to replace Orchid,” I said. “Take Mary-Beth and Mary-Sue through the portal and confine them to a dungeon cell!” I ordered in my Alpha voice in case my Mother tried to override me behind my back. “At once!” I added.

Cerberus seemed all but too happy to dump the Marys in a cell and be over with it.

He grasped Mary-Beth by her arm and had another warrior escort Mary-Sue. I watched them being taken through the portal myself.

“Putting two innocent girls in the dungeon,” muttered my Mother under her breath, shaking her head as she followed them through the portal.

I instantly got a flashback of Orchid and how terrified she had been when she had realised I was going to leave her in the dungeon. My wolf whined. My heart hurt. She had been an innocent girl in the dungeon. I put her there for what? For speaking the truth? For calling me a kidnapper? For being afraid and angry in a scary new environment?

Baby, wherever you are, I love you and I am so sorry, I said, hoping she could miraculously hear me.

The portal swirled faster, indicating someone was coming through. I stiffened, instantly hoping it could be Orchid. It was Perseus.

“Brother, Rose told me everything! I’m so sorry! I can’t believe she let Orchid leave the mansion! I…” apologised Perseus.

“Stop, stop,” I murmured, putting my hands on my little brother’s shoulders.

Yet another thing to feel guilty about. What kind of role model was I for him?

“None of this is their fault,” I said softly, locking eyes with Perseus. “Not one bit.”

I sighed deeply.

“Rose and Orchid are entirely innocent in all of this. They are doing their best. They’re making the best of a tough situation,” I said with a shrug. “Don’t be angry with Rose.”

“She should know better,” grumbled Perseus.

“Where is she?” I asked.

Perseus sighed. “She went to replace Fox and Bisa to help them get the truth from that lab person,” he muttered.

“Have the squad members out on the field picked up her scent?” I asked one of my warriors.

“No, Alpha, not yet but we won’t rest until we do,” said the warrior.

“Thank you,” I said. “Ensure that there’s a change of shifts so the warriors may get some rest,” I said.

“Of course, thank you, Alpha!” Said the warrior.

“Maybe you should also get some rest, Orion,” said Perseus hesitantly. “We should go home to hear about what the lab technician said anyway. That’s the only other lead.”

“There’s two other leads,” I said.

“Who?” Said Perseus, his eyes widening.

“Talking to Salvia Caro, the penultimate person to see Orchid before she went missing and talking to anyone and everyone connected to Orchid’s ex because I know we’re gonna have a hell of a time replaceing him,” I said.

“Do we have anything with his scent on it?” Asked Talus.

I raised my eyebrows. That gave me an idea. Orchid’s apartment.

“We haven’t checked Orchid’s apartment. One of the first places I saw her!” I said. “We can look through her things for clues about her ex. I don’t even…” I sighed.

“What, Brother?” Asked Perseus, concerned.

“I don’t even know his name per say. She hated him so much. She didn’t really give any details,” I admitted.

“Let’s talk to Salvia Caro and the other Caros first,” said Talus, a glint of steamy determination in his eye. “What does the Caro family do with the girl’s personal belongings? Like her cellphone?”

“They have archives but some of it goes in the incinerator,” said Perseus immediately. “Rose asked me for a pink hair tie she had been wearing that meant a lot to her. Luckily they still had it in their archives in her cubby. They burn things that are heavily stained like with mud or…b***d,” said Perseus, squirming a little in discomfort.

“B***d,” said Talus. “Do they mishandle the girls?”

“I didn’t think they would but they did,” I admitted. “They had been treated roughly. I killed the guy responsible. It was not a member of the Caro family.”

“When we go to the Caro House, we need to get Orchid’s cellphones. All these centennials nowadays have cellphones,” said Talus. “That’ll give us tons of info.”

“What?” Asked Perseus.

“Cellphones,” said Talus.

“No, not that,” said Perseus. “Did you say sentinels?”

“Centennials,” corrected Talus.

“I think you mean millennials,” said Perseus.

“I think you mean millennials too,” I agreed. “The generation Orchid is from.”

“Ah, well, I was close,” said Talus, stroking his beard.

“Saliva Caro, cellphone at Caro House, Orchid’s old apartment, the lab technician,” I listed, not willing to waste anymore time. My mother and the Marys felt like they had been a waste of time though Mary-Sue had claimed to have seen Orchid last.

“And after those four things you’ll take a rest right, Brother? I’m worried for you,” said Perseus.

“I can’t sleep without Orchid beside me anyway,” I said honestly. “Let’s go.”

“I need to make quick call,” mumbled Talus.

He excused himself. We were in our Gregoire House where the human realm side of the portal was. We hardly stayed here. Even when we were in Gregoire, we tended to stay with the Marys. They had been family friends but that was over and done with. I did not trust anyone anymore. I immediately went to eavesdrop, pressing my ear to the door because Talus was whispering on the phone. Perseus was almost nose to nose with me, his ear also pressed to the door, reminding me of how we would behave as nosy children growing up in the mansion.

“Thanks for picking up,” said Talus breathlessly, whispering into the receiver. “To make a long story short, Orchid’s my daughter. I know that child is mine. I just know it. She’s a Hawthorne and she’s missing. Something crazy is going on here in Cold Moon and in Gregoire and on the island. She needs her family. I need my family. I know you hate me, Timbre, but…my baby girl is in trouble,” said Talus, his voice cracking as he became emotional.

I could recognise Timbre’s voice anywhere. He had the deepest voice in existence.

His reply was short but reassuring, “I’m on my way, Brother. We all are.”