Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 143

Liana

POV

"How do I look?" I ask Axel as I pull the red wig in its place.

"I will happily cheat on my wife with you, he grins wickedly and leans over to kiss me.

"Pity I can't say the same about you," I pout and hand him his glasses. "You look like a character from Scooby-Do with that wig and glasses."

"Why is this charade even necessary?" He growls indignantly.

"When was the last time you heard of an Alpha attending a banished Omega's funeral?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

"Fine," he grunts and takes my hand. "But when you told us about the plan, you didn't say anything about disguises."

I just smile as we enter the chapel and take a seat in the back. Curiously, I look at the people. I recognise a couple of them who helped with the wedding arrangements. They are all here in support of Nicolette. There is a group of women who I assume are Edith's friends.

You've been to the factory, I mind-link Axel. Having a conversation is too risky, someone might overhear us. Do you see any of them here?

A couple, he replies, but not as a group. It's hard to distinguish between a friendly face and a malicious one

Dear goddess, I pump Axel in the ribs with my elbow. Isn't that Alpha Philip? What the hell is he doing here?

Mi be damned, Axel replies. The poor bastard has no clever wife to order him to wear a disguise.

Why do you think he's here? I look at Axel. Do you think he could be the murderer?

Please, Axel snorts. Have you seen that man's hands? He gets a manicure more often than you do. No way he killed Sam.

I'm serious, Axel, I grunt.

I'm sorry, he drapes his arm around my shoulders. I don't think he ordered the kill, Liana. If we are right about the surgeries, Philip is here to keep an eye on his investment.

Jack's dead and he might not be as well informed as he used to be. Or he's the one in charge now. Either way, I would also be concerned if one of my key players drops dead.

I still don't understand how he can risk coming here, I frown. Even if none of the pack members know of the business, they will question his appearance.

Except if Philip and Sam were seen together regularly, Axel reasons.

That's it! I look at Axel when the thought strikes me. Edith was too scared to give me The Enforcers' names. Philip must be one of them. It only makes sense.

Do you think Edith betrayed us and told him about your plan? He looks worried

Please, I roll my eyes. I never liked Edith and I don't trust her. All she knows is that we would help her. She has no idea what's coming.

Nicolette and Edith's screaming interrupt our conversation and my eyes widen when Edith jumps into the flames.

It would be best if you got out of here, Axel mind-links firmly. You're pregnant and can't shift. Things can get ugly if people start panicking.

I do not argue as I look at the wall of flames. Together we get up and walk outside. The plan was working perfectly until Edith threw herself into harm's way. People were supposed to see the flames, watch Edith and Nicky be escorted to the back and later hear that both tragically did not survive. Now that actually might come true.

"That's our cue," Axel says when we hear the approaching sirens, and we hurry towards our car which is parked at the back entrance.

"I'm calling our ambulance," I take out my phone.

"They better hurry," Axel huffs. "Before Moonstone's ambulance gets here."

"Our ambulance is one block away," I reply. "They'll make it."

Smoke pours out of the back door as Missy and Luther stumble outside just when we get there. Missy is coughing ferociously while Luther deeply inhales the fresh air as he drags Nicolette outside.

"Is everybody alright?" Axel picks up Nicolette and Luther closes his eyes as he keeps on breathing. Tears stream over Nicky's face as she coughs, but she does not struggle against Axel's hold. "F*vcking peachy" Luther pants.

"Try to breathe," | rush over to Missy. "The ambulance is seconds away."

The ambulance pulls up next to us even before I finish my sentence.

"How do we know it's yours?" Luther coughs. "It looks exactly like ours."

"Because I'm here," Michelle announces as she gets out."

Replicating your colours and logo isn't brain surgery. Hurry up, before Moonstone gets here."

Axel places Nicky on a gurney and I guide Missy into the ambulance.

"Get in," I look at Luther as Michelle and Nicky receive oxygen.

"I must go back for Adele," Luther turns to the door, but Axel blocks his way.

"Move, Scooby-Do," he grunts.

Before Axel can reply, Adele's wolf bursts through the door with Edith clutched between her teeth. Followed by Rena and Neal.

"Dear goddess," my eyes widen as I look at the scorched wolves. "This was not part of the plan."

Adele collapses next to Edith and Luther is instantly by her side. The emergency personnel from our ambulances rush to them with blankets and oxygen.

I cringe inside as I watch them shift back, except for Edith who is unconscious. Neal does not look as bad as Adele and Rena but Edith... she has no fur left and looks like a Sphynx cat. Guilt threatens to consume me, but I push it aside. I can feel sorry for my mistake after everybody received medical attention.

"Michelle," I call out to her. "Get Nicky and Missy to our hospital immediately."

"What about Edith?" She frowns. "Our entire purpose is to fake her death."

"We might not have to fake Edith's death anymore," I grunt as I look at Edith. She has not shifted back and the EMTs are doing everything they can to revive her.

"I already mind-linked our ambulance," Luther says.

They're on our way."

"Is she still alive?" Adele points to Edith.

"Barely," Michelle nods and walks to the ambulance. "I'll see you at home."

"Adele, how are you feeling?" I ask nervously.

"Believe me, it looks worse than it is," she smiles.

"But..."

"She's not lying," Rena interrupts me laughingly. "Neal cleared the flames for us."

"Tell me that once you looked in a mirror," I say softly."

You're going to need a haircut. It scorched away."

"It'll grow back," she shrugs.

"It could've been worse, Liana," Adele says with her eyes fixated on Edith.

An ambulance pulls up and EMTs rush towards us. In silence we watch them load Edith.

"Alpha, please come with us," an EMT looks at her.

"I'm fine," she refuses. "Take Neal and Rena and get them to the hospital, Luther and I will meet you there."

"I'm so sorry," I mumble as I lose the battle against the guilt.

"Don't be," she smiles as we watch the ambulance leave." We knew it was risky, and we prepared. We ensured the fire extinguisher was in place and ready. There was no way to know Edith would go crazy and push a burning coffin." "Still, I'm..."

"Liana, we all agreed to the plan," Luther cuts me off."

There is no blame."

"We can continue this conversation in the car," Axel puts his arm around my shoulder. "Let's get you to the hospital and have you checked out."

"Honestly, I think it worked out better this way," Adele says as we get into the car. "Nobody will question anything once we announce their deaths."

"You're right," Axel adds. "I overheard the EMTs. There were more injuries when people were fleeing the chapel. Nothing serious, but enough to kill any suspicions."

"This was a success in my book," Luther grins.

"Only if Edith survives," I grunt and intertwine my fingers.

"I don't think she wants to"" Adele says softly. "First, she tries to drown herself in alcohol, then she jumps into a fire. I think she's severely suicidal."

"I don't have sympathy for her," Axel snorts. "She allowed her daughter to be abused. She deserves much worse than death."

"Well, she's in a living hell if she survives," I sigh." Recovering from severe burns is no joke. Not even fast healing will get her out of it."

"Nicky's the only one that matters, really," Luther shrugs." And to get rid of The Enforcers."

"Speaking off, dearest Alpha Philip attended the funeral," Axel grimaces and informs them about our suspicions.

"We need to get into that room in the factory," Adele grunts.

"And pay Philip a visit."

"We should hold off visiting Philip," I say. "There's no way of telling what he will do and what he's capable of once he knows we're onto him."

"I agree," Axel nods. "If we're right, and he's part of The Enforcers, he's capable of killing one of his own. He will do much worse to his enemies." "Okay," Adele nods. "The second Luther and I are done at the hospital; we will focus on getting into the factory."