Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 130

Liana POV

Neither of us is talking as we drive home. The conversation is on repeat in my head. Maybe I was too harsh on Edith. I was not there; I do not know who it was for her back then.

There is a real possibility that Sam said no. How many men are willing to raise a stranger's child? But Edith said one word which pushed me over the edge - abortion.

"You look displeased. Do you think I overreacted?" Luther asks thoughtfully. "Should we turn around and tell her I changed my mind?"

"No," I shake my head. "It will make you look weak and indecisive. If she comes to you, you can reconsider."

"But you're disagreeing with my decision," Luther grins wryly.

"Not necessarily," I sigh. "With the cold facts on the table, I agree. But we don't know what happened. Things might not be as straightforward as it seems."

"Missy told us she never saw them again after they moved," Luther reasons. "Which means Missy didn't spend so much as a day in her care. Nicky said Sam earned enough for Edith to be a stay-at-home mom. And Edith told us she tried to get access to the money but couldn't. To me, it's simple.

Edith only wanted the money. She didn't even try to help.

She doesn't care about Missy."

"I agree," I turn to face him. "I told you yesterday that I don't think Edith is a good person. I do feel bad for allowing my personal feelings and hormones to get the better of me and explode like that. I could've still said it, just nicer. But you're right. Nobody picks a guardian they don't trust. Edith Chester betrayed that trust when she didn't sit down with Missy and explained to her what was going on. She was only fifteen and lost the only person she could call family."

"Maybe Adele was right," Luther looks devastated and disgusted with himself. "I should've thought about my sibling's feelings before I pursued this. I started this to do good and now I'm destroying more people's lives. I should've left it where it was - in the past." "This isn't on you," I inhale deeply and close my eyes briefly to replace the right words. "I also pushed for this. I'm the one who convinced Axel that we should support you. If, and that's a big if, something is being ruined, I'm to blame."

"I just wanted to do right by her," he says thoughtfully. "But I never considered the impact it will have on others. On Nicky."

"You can exclude Nicky," I say firmly. "She knew before you did, remember? At least, she thinks she knows. Even if you didn't pursue this, she would've been disillusioned at one point or another."

"She's not going to be happy about this," Luther shakes his head. "She's so childishly optimistic about everything."

"Edith's to blame for that, not you," I point out. "She should've been honest with her daughter. Come to think of it, you're not ruining Nicky or Missy's lives. The only people who want this buried, are the parents. It's their secrets you're exposing." "Well, then," Luther parks the car. "Let me go break the news to Nicky."

Luther POV

"You're back," Nicky's face brightens up as Liana and I walk into the office. "I've started with the seating arrangements."

"Wow, okay," Liana makes her eyes big at me as we look at the layout. Nicky took the liberty and seated herself at the family table.

"Nicky, we should talk," I say softly.

"I know, I know," she blushes. "It's a little forward, but I kind of thought, well... hoped that you can announce that I'm your sister by then."

"Nicky, sit down," I say firmly as I lead her towards a couch.

"I spoke with your mother," I say as I sit opposite her.

"I bet she was surprised to see you"" Nicky beams. "And happy. She was overjoyed when I told her about my new position in the Alpha House. She said that she was proud of me and that I belonged there. That's when I knew my suspicions were right." "Nicolette, I'm not your brother," I say sharply, and she stares at me with shock. I wanted to be gentler when I delivered the news, but she was like a runaway train. I had to rip the bandage off and get it over with.

"I'm sorry," I continue softer. "Your mother confirmed it.

We're not related. I'm not your brother."

"But... but I heard them talking that night," she mumbles softly. "They said ..."

"They didn't talk about you," I cut her off.

"Then... who's my father?" She looks so hurt and devastated that I cannot help to feel sorry for her.

"I don't know," my voice is firm but gentle. "You'll have to ask your mother."

"Oh, dear goddess," she sobs and buries her face in her hands. "I'm sorry. I'm so embarrassed."

"You don't need to apologize," I stand up and sit next to her.

"This is not your fault," I say as I rub her back. "It was a misunderstanding."

"I... I think I should go now," she sniffs and stands up.

"There's one more thing you should know," I say before she reaches the door. "I asked your parents to leave the pack."

"What?" She gasps as she turns to face me. "Because of this? You can't. It's my fault, not theirs."

"It has nothing to do with you," I stand up and walk towards her. "You don't have to leave the pack or this job. You've done nothing wrong."

"This is a lot," her bottom lip shivers as she looks up at the ceiling. "I ... uhm, I need some time."

"Take all the time you need," I rest my hands on her shoulders. "I'll be right here when you're ready to talk and I promise, I will answer all your questions truthfully. I am sorry, Nicky."

"Thank you," she nods and steps back. "I should go."

I sigh hard and heavily as the door closes behind her.

Crashing her fantasy was no fun.

"I should've told her why I evicted her parents," I turn to Liana. "Goddess knows what bullshit they're going to pump into her head now."

"No" Liana says softly. "At this point, it wouldn't matter to her. She didn't even ask why you did it. She is in too much shock to absorb anything else."

"I meant what I said," I look Liana in the eyes. "I am sorry it didn't work out for her."

"I know," she smiles gently. "In time, she'll know it too."

"I need a drink," I grunt and walk to the cabinet.

"Luther," Liana says cautiously, and I look at her. "You need to put a hold on this sister thing for a moment. Concentrate on the wedding."

"It's a little too late, don't you think?" I snort as I pour myself a whiskey.

"Not for Missy," Liana reasons.

"You had to tell Nicky today.

It would've been cruel to continue with the charade and keep her hopes up. Nicolette was getting ahead of herself, and if you hadn't stopped her, she could've come to your wedding as a bridesmaid for all we know. But Missy... she's settled and happy." "Until she learns about the money," I grunt as I sit down."

She could hate me when she learns the truth, and I didn't tell her."

"Then get to know her," Liana says firmly. "Be a supportive friend. You'll know when the time is right to tell her."

I stare at the amber liquid as I overthink Liana's words. I want to know my sister, but that does not mean she wants to know me.

"Okay," I look up at Liana. "No more sister talk. From now on, we're only talking about the wedding."

"We can still talk about it," Liana laughs. "We're just not involving other people."

"Am I selfish for wanting to know her?" I cannot help but ask. "I mean, I want to know her because I want to move forward. That's a lot of I."

"No," Liana smiles compassionately. "Because you're not doing it just for yourself. You also do it for her. You want Missy to be okay."

"Except for her mother dying, she seems fine," I smile wryly.

"I know she didn't have it easy growing up, but at least her mother wasn't an alcoholic. Her mother loved her. She had a great mother and role model. It comforting to know my dad didn't ruin that for her. It makes me despise my dad even more, knowing he wanted Edith to have an abortion."

"That's the part that got to me," Liana admits. "My mother wanted to abort me, and she would've if she had the opportunity. Instead, I was born, unwanted and unloved by her. Connor was unplanned, and I hate to admit it, but I thought about abortion. Not because I didn't want him, but at that time I didn't know Axel was my mate or that he loved me. Financially, I couldn't raise a child by myself.

Then I got sick, and I realized that I wanted that baby no matter what. So, every time I hear that dreadful word, I feel guilty and ashamed."

"I never knew that," I look at her in shock.

"It's not my proudest moment," her smile is sour. "And I'll probably always hate myself for those thoughts."

"But you didn't do it," I try to cheer her up. "You..."

"I should go," she cuts me off quickly and marches towards the door. "Concentrate on the wedding. Everything has been ordered and organized. All you must do is make it happen."