Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 144

Liana POV

"You still feel guilty, don't you?" Adele smiles as she hands me my iced tea. It is just her and me in her office while Luther and Axel go for a run.

"Wouldn't you?" I raise my eyebrows.

"Without question," she admits laughingly and takes a seat.

"And you would've told me exactly what I'm telling you. You're not to blame."

"It's not like I'm losing sleep over it, but I wouldn't have felt like this if it weren't for Nicky," I sighs. "She suppressed her feelings all her life, and it only surfaced after she saw Edith drunk and passed out. Nicky admitted she thought her mother was dead when she saw her. Now she must deal with what Sam did to her. She wants to see Edith, but I don't know if it's wise."

"That's a tough call," Adele agrees. "Seeing Edith's burned body connected to machines and fighting for her life, could lead to another breakdown. But it's also her last chance to say goodbye. It's not looking good, Liana. According to the doctor, Edith's not going to make it. Her wolf can't heal her fast enough and she's showing early signs of organ failure.

"Not to mention that Nicky's supposed to be dead," I grunt."

Sneaking her in to say goodbye isn't going to be easy."

"But we must risk it," Adele says adamantly. "I would want the chance to say goodbye."

"So do I," I smile weakly. "And we've done riskier things.

We'll sneak her in tonight when everybody's asleep."

"Good," Adele nods.

"I'll arrange with the hospital for a visit.

"Hello, ladies," Axel greets as he and Luther enter. "Did you miss us?"

"Dear goddess, you smell like wet dogs," Adele pulls up her nose when Luther hugs her.

"And you love it" Luther grins as he kisses her neck.

"As much as the smell of sweat and testosterone excites me, we have work to do," I laugh softly, and Axel takes a seat next to me.

"Yes," Adele agrees. "I've been dying to get into that factory since my last visit. I arranged a meeting with Sheldon and his after-hours crew." "Who we believe are The Enforcers," Luther adds.

"I told them it's about budget issues," Adele continues."

While I'm keeping them occupied, Axel and Luther will visit the factory."

I rub my belly as I listen to Adele. I would love to join Luther and Axel, but my curiosity is not worth risking my pregnancy.

"When's the budget meeting?" Axel asks.

"Tonight, at seven," Adele replies. "You won't need more than an hour. You'll have plenty of time to see what's going on and be back here before the meeting is over."

"Okay," Axel gets onto his feet and helps me up. "I'll be here at seven-thirty."

******

I am staring absentmindedly out the car's window as Mike drives us home.

"You're quiet," Axel says softly as he pulls me closer to him.

"Is anything bothering you?"

"I'm just thinking about everything," I smile and nestle closer to him. "The Enforcers' must have a leader. No group or organisation functions without one. Were suspecting Philip, but we could be wrong. We need to replace the leader before we rip into the group." "You're right," Axel frowns. "Right now, they have no idea we're onto them. Were going to lose the element of surprise if we can't identify the leader."

"Now I'm thinking of a way to replace the mastermind," I grin and stare out of the window again.

"What's that over there?" I point to a building in the distance before Axel can reply.

"That house?" He leans over me. "That's Shedrick MacDonald's smallholding."

"Old MacDonald had a farm?" I laugh softly.

"Something like that," Axel chuckles. "Shedrick has been a loner all his life and nobody ever bothered him. But he turned into a radical when he accidentally learned he was surrounded by werewolves. He's now convinced the end of times is near and never leaves his property." "Mike, would you take us to the farm?" I ask as an idea takes form.

"Sure, Luna," he replies and turns on the indicator.

What are you up to? Axel looks at me curiously.

Just a little sightseeing, I smile.

Sure, he rolls his eyes at me.

I tell you about my idea once I've seen the place, I reply.

Curiously I look around.

"It's like travelling back in time," I mumble as we get closer.

"Everything is so old."

"I wasn't kidding when I said he never leaves his property," Axel chuckles. "He's completely self-sustainable."

"It's as impressive as it's scary," I shiver. "It reminds me of movies like Wrong Turn."

"This is how far I can go," Mike announces, and I stare at the gate with the huge signs about trespassers who will be shot.

"Well, I guess Shedrick means it," Axel sighs as an old man in a dirty overhaul walks to the gate with a shotgun.

"This is private property," he shouts. "You're not welcome here."

"Do you think he'll shoot?" I look at Axel.

"Only one way to replace out," he grunts as he opens the door.

"Axel, no," I hiss but he puts his hands in the air and gets out of the car.

"Hello, Shedrick," Axel shouts. "Long time no see."

"You," Shedrick lowers his gun. "Why are you here?"

"To introduce my wife," Axel lowers his arms. "If you'll agree to it?"

"Fine, but your goon stays where he is," Shedrick glares at Mike.

Axel smiles at me and I take his hand.

You knew he wouldn't shoot; he knows you, I mind-link as I nervously get out of the car and smile as we walk towards Shedrick. Know is a bit strong, Axel replies. I helped him replace a lost goat once. That's the only reason he's tolerating me. He despises our kind "Pretty wife," Shedrick grins and I notice half of his teeth are missing. "Now; go away."

"Do you have pigs?" I ask eagerly.

"Yes, and you can't buy them," he grunts.

"I was born a human," I blurt out and Shedrick looks at me curiously. "And I would love to see your farm. May we?" "Why?" He looks at me suspiciously.

"Because I want to kill a werewolf," I say determinately, and Axel looks shocked at me. "And I need a place to get rid of the body." "You're married to one," he points towards Axel. "Do you really think I'm stupid enough to believe that you want to kill his kind?"

"I don't think you're stupid," I smile. "And you have every right not to believe me. But this particular wolf nearly killed me and my husband. I want to return a favour." "They're powerful," he snorts. "Their laws permit them to do whatever they want. You don't need my place."

"But we don't have pigs," I cross my arms in front of my chest.

"You want to feed the wolf to my pigs?" He gapes at me.

"What the f*vck, Liana," Axel hisses under his breath.

"Yes, I do," I ignore Axel. "May I?"

Shedrick stares at me for a long time as he chews on a piece of tobacco.

"Pigs do eat a lot," he says after a while. "It will save me a lot of money. And if you say it's a bad wolf, he must be damn awful. Fine, you can feed him to my pigs." "Thank you," I smile brightly.

"Now, off with you," Shedrick waves to us and walks away

"Have you lost your mind?" Axel grunts as we walk back to the car. "You can't trust him, he's a lunatic. And what's wrong with ripping a throat out?"

"We want the leader," I say as we get into the car. "The Enforcers won't give him up, and you know it. They know all the tricks in the book. We'll have to be creative to get them to talk."

"And a pig gnawing on his body will do the trick?" Axel huffs. "There are other ways to t*****e him without involving a radical lunatic."

"The radical lunatic won't say a word," I argue. "He hates the wolves; he wants them dead. He doesn't care about the rank of which pack they're from. He doesn't care about our laws or human laws for that matter. It's one less wolf in the world, and that's fine by him. Moonstone is soiled with traitors and backstabbers. The Enforcers turned on their own. It's wolf against wolf, Axel. There are about ten wolves in Moonstone we can trust. The Enforcers can easily kill Adele and Luther if they think they're onto them.

And what do you think is going to happen if we kidnap an Enforcer and take him to Clear Moon for interrogation?

They will come for our pack. They will come for Connor and your parents. I'm not risking it."

"But why the pigs?" Axel exhales deeply.

"Because pigs eat everything," I reply. "Including human bones. Nobody will ever replace a body."