Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 49

Axel POV

Liana takes my breath away when I walk into her room. She is sitting in her bed and staring out of the window. Her hair is a golden halo around her face and for a split second, she reminds me of an exquisite porcelain doll. But the soft frown on her face tells me that she is troubled.

I am not exactly sure what happened but somewhere between yesterday morning and last night, she changed. One moment we were making love and the next she withdrew from me completely. The worst part, I have no clue if I am responsible for this shift in her mood. Without saying a word, I walk to her and take a seat next to her on the bed. She looks at me with her soulful blue eyes and smiles softly when I pick up her hand and gently kiss her fingers.

The now familiar sparks of the mate bond surge through me and I cannot stop the jab of guilt about touching Angela intimately. That was not my proudest moment and I pray to goddess that Liana will understand and forgive me if she ever learns the truth. If I could tell Liana that she is my mate, I would have told her here and now, but it will do more harm than good.

"What's bothering you?" I ask as I wrap her hand in mine.

"Nothing," she shrugs. "I just want to go home."

"Miss Erickson," the doctor walks into the room and I quickly let go of her hand. "How are you this evening?"

"Still alive," she smiles. "And bored out of my mind."

"I might be able to help with that," he smiles as he goes to stand by her side. "If you promise me that you'll take it easy and not return to work until Monday, I'll discharge you tonight."

"Really?" Liana's face lights up as she looks at him hopefully. "I promise. Anything you say, I'll do it."

"Fine," he chuckles. "I must say, you healed exceptionally fast."

"Because I wasn't that sick, to begin with," she smiles happily.

"Whatever the reason, you can go home," he pats her on the shoulder.

"Thank you," she smiles, and I am relieved to see that she looks like her old self. Maybe I was imagining things. Maybe her mood was because she was stuck in here.

"I'm going to get dressed," she says as she hastily gets out of bed and rushes to the bathroom.

I stand up and pace up and down in the room while I wait for her. The colourful arrangement of flowers catches my attention and I walk closer. I frown when I see the daisies in the trashcan. They do not look wilted. Why is it in the trash? "Finally," Liana sighs as she emerges from the bathroom. "Going home never sounded so good."

"Can I help you with anything?" I smile as she starts packing her bag.

"I will appreciate it if you can start taking the flowers to the car," she replies over her shoulder.

"All of them?" I raise my eyebrows as I look at all the flowers.

"It's not debatable," she wrinkles her nose. "Its symbols smile upon the land, wrought by nature's wondrous hand."

I feel the blood drain from my face as she quotes the poem that L.C. has sent to her. With Liana nearly dying and Angela's drama, I completely forgot about it. Until now.

"Fine," I hide my frustration behind a smile and pick up a vase with a single yellow rose.

"Interesting," I frown as I hold up the vase. "Only one?"

"There's beauty in simplicity," she smiles softly.

"I'm going to sign out," she says as she leaves the room.

I was about to gather more flowers when I notice a card attached to the single rose. I place the vase down and read it.

A single yellow rose, happiness shows,

all over your face. It is obvious, you just glow.

Peace and harmony like a river flow,

as our relationship steadily grows.

L.C.

Son of a bitch! I grunt and stop myself just in time before I smash the vase and flower to pieces. This guy is really getting under my skin. I was at the hospital every possible moment and I have not seen anybody here but Drew and Carol. I grab a different vase and march towards the car. If there is any justice in this world, that rose will be left behind.

But two trips later between the car and the room, all the flowers are loaded, and we are on our way back home.

Liana POV

"It's so good to be home," I sigh contently as Axel parks in front of my cottage. "I swear, if it weren't for you bringing my drawing supplies to the hospital, I would've gone insane."

"Happy to help," he gives me half a smile before he gets out of the car, and I sigh inwardly. I guess I only have myself to blame. I was the one who made it weird between us yesterday. And honestly, Wilson's visit did not help my mood either.

My entire cottage is filled with fresh flowers when we are done unloading. Luther sent me flowers every day. There are also bouquets from Juliana, Shelly, Nina and even my parents. The latter was the biggest surprise of all. I am usually the one spending money on them and not the other way around.

Axel is sitting on the couch brewing, and I silently pick up my tablet. I make myself comfortable and work on a sketch for class. I need the distraction. I still have no idea what I am going to do about Wilson, and I cannot discuss it with Axel until I have decided what to do.

"You were gone for three days and now you don't even talk to me?" Axel huffs and I look up.

"I'm sorry," I put the tablet down and look at him. "You seemed distracted, and I didn't want to bother you."

"Why are you assuming I'm distracted?" He growls. "I've been nothing but polite."

"Exactly," I smile. "You're polite. Not friendly, not happy, polite. And now I'm giving you space until your sparkling personality returns."

"I love your sarcasm," he snorts as he gets up and storms out of the cottage.

My heart breaks when he slams the door shut behind him. I was not even sarcastic. But it is evident that there is a strain between us, and I do not know how to handle it.

"Who the fuck is L.C?" Axel bellows as he barges through the door and towers over me.

"What?" I frown confused as I look up. How does he know about Luther? Not that I mind or hide it from him, but I have not told Axel. He must have read one of the cards attached to the flowers.

"You heard me," his mouth is pulled into a thin line and his chest is heaving up and down as he fights his anger. "Don't make me repeat myself."

I take a deep breath and place my precious tablet down as my anger starts simmering. The accusation in his question was crystal clear and I do not care for it. I have enough to deal with. Slowly I rise out of my chair and meet his eyes.

"I do not care for your tone, Axel," I hiss furiously.

"Please, Liana," he closes his eyes briefly and takes a deep breath. "I'm not an idiot. Something happened in the last twenty-four hours. And I'm willing to bet it has to do with another man. Our agreement was clear, no other men."

"And I kept to it," I match his tone of voice. "And stop jumping to conclusions and accusations after you read my cards. Which, by the way, is private and none of your concern."

For a moment we stare at each other like raging bulls. Sizing up the opponent. He is right, something did happen, and it does involve a man, but it is not Luther.

"Then who is L.C?" He asks with a calmer demeanour.

"A friend from art class," I cross my arms in front of my chest. I will not tell him Luther's name. Axel is irrational enough to seek him out and confront him. "He's helping me to stay up to date with my work."

"Believe me, he wants to do much more than that," Axel smirks humourlessly.

"I know," I smile sweetly. "But I made it clear that I'm not interested."

"You know?" Axel gapes at me like an imbecile. "And you still keep in contact with him?"

"Seriously?" I raise my eyebrows. "You dare say that while Angela basically stalks you?"

"That's different," he grunts with less aggression as he pales.

"Oh, please," I throw my hands up in the air. "How? She wants to be your bride and tried to kill me because of it."

"Liana, I..."

"No," I interrupt him, now seriously pissed off. "You don't get to judge my friendships when yours threaten my existence. And then you ask me to trust you and keep it quiet while you let her go home scot-free. So yes Axel, something did happen and it's Angela. Do you know how devastating it is when the man you sleep with allows your attacker to go free?"

"That's not what happened," he defends himself. "I made you a promise and I will honour it. She will pay dearly when the time is right."

"Okay," I pull my shoulders back adamantly. "I trust your judgement with Angela. Now it's your turn to trust me and my friendships."

"It's not about trust," there is so much anguish in his eyes that my anger simmers. "I am a man and know how men think. It does not matter how many times you tell a guy you're not interested, if you don't cut ties with him, he will keep on trying." "And I will keep saying no until our agreement expires in five months," I reply.

He steps back as if I have physically slapped him, and I frown slightly. None of this is news to him, why does he look so shocked?

"So, you are interested in him," his voice is hoarse.

"How did you come to that conclusion from what I've said?" I close my eyes in exhaustion. Arguing about this feels redundant. Axel does not love me, and we have no future together. He knows that better than me. Why make a thing about it? "You're keeping him around as a friend until our agreement is over," he says sourly.

"That's your conclusion, not my decision," I grunt as I push past him and walk to the kitchen.

"Liana!" He grabs my wrist and pulls me against his chest. His fingers tangle into my hair and he pulls my head backwards. "You're mine."