Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 49

Fox

“What do you want from me? What do I have to do for you to let Bisa go?” I asked, making sure my voice had a bit of desperation in it.

I felt like humouring her for a about a minute if so much.

Orla scowled at me.

“Stop digging around! This investigation is over! You won’t be reporting any of this to Orion or anyone else for that matter! You and Bisa if you’re smart will get to escape with your lives. I’ll give you some starting over money and the two of you can get the hell out of here like Mavis was supposed to!” Hissed Orla with a pointed glance at Mavis who had gotten to her feet.

She was standing there, looking terrified of the former Luna rather than relieved to have her inquisition interrupted.

“I was going to, Luna Orla! This was my last week, I swear!” Cried Mavis.

“I told you to leave immediately after you did your job!” Barked Orla.

“That would have been so suspicious!” Reasoned Mavis, her voice slightly shaky.

“So what?!” Shrieked Orla. “You’d be gone!”

“So, I didn’t want to make myself a suspect even though…” began Mavis.

“Shut up!” Screeched Orla. “If I can’t trust you to do what I say, then I’ll have to get rid of you too!”

Mavis was trembling. I did not feel sorry for her. My eyes were on Bisa.

“So what’s it gonna be Wizard?!” Asked Orla gruffly.

“I can’t do that. I have to tell Orion the truth,” I said, refusing her offer.

“You think I’m bluffing, don’t you?” She chuckled humourlessly. “You should know! I never bluff!” She said with a shrug.

She used her silver tipped talon of a nail to slit Bisa’s throat in one quick deep swipe. B***d spilled onto Orla’s hands and drenched Bisa’s clothes. She fell onto her knees, looking at me with wide eyes, before she fell over in a growing pool of b***d. I was in shock. I stood there, glued to the spot momentarily. The memories seemed to collide with the present. For one moment I thought I saw my ex, Evangeline, lying there in a pool of her b***d. I blinked and she was replaced by Bisa. Her chest was not rising and falling like it should. She was completely still.

“You’re next!” Said Orla to Mavis.

The former Luna had gone off the rails. She pulled out a gun and shot Mavis square in the chest with a silver bullet. Mavis’ face was frozen on that final look of astonishment. She fell the same way Bisa had. Onto her knees first then the rest of her slid to the ground. My breathing came in gasps. It was like a strangely vivid nightmare.

“I don’t even need a silver bullet for you, Wizard! I could use a normal one!” Said Orla.

“I could heal myself,” I said quickly, finally replaceing my voice again.

Orla scoffed at that.

“I won’t tell Orion,” I promised as a last resort.

She stared at me. She was panting, her eyes wild. There was a long tense moment of silence. She seemed to be considering what I had said.

“Don’t make me regret this,” she said finally.

I nodded eagerly.

“Get out of here and never come back!” She ordered.

She threw something at me and I caught it. I looked at it. It was a phone.

“It’s a burner phone. I will contact you when I’m ready and you’ll give me the details for how you’ll be accepting payment,” she said breathlessly.

“How much will I get?” I wondered aloud.

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” she spat.

“Fair enough,” I said, keeping my palms up in surrender.

“Now, get lost!” She shrieked.

Without further ado, I teleported myself out of there.

Orion

“Your family is on their way?” I confirmed as Talus rejoined Perseus and myself.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“We were eavesdropping,” said Perseus bluntly.

I nudged my younger brother’s arm.

“What?” Perseus protested. “We were,” he said simply with a shrug.

“We just happened to overhear you,” I said apologetically. “It sounded like you were talking to your brother,” I observed.

“Yeah,” said Talus with a deep sigh. “My elder brother.”

Talus seemed lost in thought as we left the site of the portal and quickly made our to the Caro house. When I banged on the door, they took an extraordinarily long time to answer and I knew why: Salvia had probably been advised to hide by her brother. “Wind of the investigation into Orchid’s disappearance must have travelled like wildfire,” muttered Perseus. “They’re scared to be questioned as suspects.”

“They’re suspects?” Asked Talus.

“They kidnapped her once before,” said Perseus.

I widened my eyes pointedly at Perseus.

“What?!” Asked Talus sharply.

“Nothing,” said Perseus.

I sighed. Bride-napping was not practised in the more modern pack of Berryndale. Ever since my own experiences with my Orchid, I had been considering having it outlawed in my pack too. I wanted to move my pack’s thinking into the light and out of the dark ages but I could not even focus on that now. My mind was alternating between desperately trying to mind-link Orchid for the umpteenth time and hypothesising what had happened to her exactly.

“Are they seriously not going to answer this f*****g door?” I roared, making Perseus and Talus jump.

I rang the doorbell about a dozen more times.

“Perhaps, they’re actually out,” wondered Talus who had thankfully forgotten what he had thought he heard Perseus say.

“They’re pretending to be out,” I said. “I can feel it.”

I ripped the door off its hinges. I marched into the house, scaring the maid half to death. She sent a tray of tea and biscuits flying as she dropped to the floor like she was in the middle of a bank holdup. Perseus helped her up.

“SALVIA CARO, COME OUT AT ONCE!” I commanded, using my Alpha Voice to compel her.

She came scurrying down the stairs, tripped, fell on her behind and slipped down the last few steps. She landed right-side-up on the carpet at the foot of the sweeping staircase.

“Salvia,” I said, lowering my voice and feigning composure. “I’m going to ask you a few questions and you’re going to answer them honestly,” I specified.

She stood and nodded her head.

“Do you have anything to do with Orchid’s disappearance?” I asked.

“No!” She squeaked. “I spotted her looking confused outside on the streets of Gregoire. “I spoke to her and she said she was headed to a park. I gave her a lift there to the park. I can show you exactly where! I spotted her swinging right as I pulled away. I really didn’t see anyone else around and I wouldn’t lie to you, Alpha. I wish I knew what happened! I like Orchid!” Insisted Salvia.

I sighed. None of that was helpful.

“You saw nothing?!” I asked again.

“Well,” said Salvia. “There was a car parked nearby! I only remember it because it was the only other car near to the park!”

“License plate?” I asked.

“I wish! I’m so sorry. It was…grey…or silver I guess,” she said.

“What did the driver look like?” I asked.

“He was…bronzed you know…like a lifeguard. He had dark hair. I did not notice any facial hair. He might’ve been clean-shaven. I…I don’t recall much else. I did not really take note of him,” she said apologetically.

I sighed.

“Would you be able to pick him out of a lineup?” Asked Talus, getting straight to the point.

“I…yes!” She said suddenly as if she herself was surprised by her answer. “What made me look at him in the first place…what made me even notice there was someone in the car was his smell!”

“Elaborate,” I commanded eagerly.

“He smelled like a…garden,” she said uncertainly.

“Are you sure? You don’t sound sure,” said Perseus.

“No, I’m sure he smelled like a garden but he also smelled musty like a basement, a cellar, that stuffy old room smell but with plants. Earthy, musty and fresh greenery all in one. A weird mix,” she said more confidently.

I could not say if that was any help or not but I was a desperate Alpha at this point. I would chase any lead that might reunite me with my Orchid.

“It was obviously her ex right! The kidnapper!” Said Talus. “We saw his car earlier today! By that same park!”

“Did he smell and look like what Salvia said?” I asked.

Talus frowned.

“I only saw his car! The bastard wasn’t in it. The car was just parked there. I offered to handle it you know, smash the windows, s***h the tires,” said Talus with a regretful sigh. “She said no. I should have done it anyway. Maybe that would have scared him off.”

“So the Marys and this clown are our only suspects?” Muttered Perseus, under his breath.

“What about her?” Whispered Talus, nodding in Salvia’s direction.

“I trust the Caro family more than I trust the Marys. The Caro family only kidnap for a fee. The sisters love fashion. They wear designer everything, sparing no expense. The brother is the same with his suits. Their whole lifestyle is funded by these high-profile kidnappings. The Marys could not have outbid me. Also, they saw first hand how I react when Orchid is threatened. I doubt they would be that stupid,” I reasoned.

“So we’re just letting her go?” Hissed Talus incredulously.

“She’s been cooperative,” said Perseus in her defence.

“Salvia, I have no choice but to place you under house arrest for the time being. You’re not to go anywhere until told otherwise,” I specified.

“Very well, Alpha,” she said, nodding. “What of my dear sister and brother?” She inquired.

“They should not stray far either. They may leave the house but no travelling,” I said.

She nodded.

“I’ll question them briefly,” I said.

I could not leave the Caro house without questioning Sylvia and the Caro brother himself. He was the brains behind the family business. Unfortunately, neither of them were any help. They had been at home all day as confirmed by the maid and the gardener. Salvia stopped me as I headed to the door.

“Alpha!” She called, from the top of the sweeping staircase.

“Yes,” I said curtly.

I was in a hurry.

“I really do like Orchid. I hope you replace her,” she said simply.

“Thank you, Salvia,” I said.

“Me too,” said Sylvia, appearing near her sister. “I must say she’s quite endearing.”

I smiled.

“We’d have to agree with you there,” said Talus sadly.

“We’ll replace her,” Perseus assured him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

I stopped dead in my tracks. I was so scattered today without my Orchid. I had completely forgot.

“The phone!” I called to the Caro sisters.

They gave me quizzical looks.

“s**t. I forgot too,” said Talus. “We want to see all of Orchid’s belongings that she came with. Anything that was on her person. Especially her cellphone!”

“Take them to the filing room, Salvia,” said the Caro brother.

We followed Salvia to the front lawn where we took a golf cart to a large red-brick building on their property. They unlocked two series of double doors to get to the “filing room” which was actually a huge warehouse filled from high ceiling to floor with cubbies. Each cubby was labeled. These were the names of all the girls kidnapped by them over the years. I squirmed uncomfortably when I realised just how many there were.

“Thank goodness, Orchid’s drawer is within reach,” said Salvia. “I hate using the ladder.”

Salvia reached a drawer marked Orchid Whimsy. This row was fourth up from the floor. She pulled open the drawer and rummaged around. She gasped.

“What?! What’s wrong?!” I asked quickly.

“Her phone! She came with a cellphone! I explicitly remember it being here. Alpha, it’s gone! Someone must have taken it!” She exclaimed.