Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 72

Liana POV

"You should get going," I sniff after I cried myself empty. "You have work waiting."

"I'm not leaving you like this," Axel says adamantly and kisses me quickly.

"I know and that's one of the reasons why I love you," I smile as I caress his cheek. "But you're an alpha and not a babysitter. I'm well cared for and safe here. Besides, I'm going to ask Michelle for those magic potions of hers that take away the pain and help me sleep." "I still think I should stay," Axel frowns.

"And do what, exactly?" I roll my eyes. "You can't help me, but you can help the pack. Please go. I'll be right here when you're done at work."

"Okay," he gives in after a moment and kisses me before he gets up.

I smile softly as I watch him leave and place my hand on my abdomen. I cannot wait to tell him I am pregnant. But now was not the right time. Not while I am all snot and tears and too sore to sit up straight. For goddess' sake, I at least want to brush my hair and teeth before I tell him.

Maybe I should do one of those cute pregnancy reveals that is trending currently. Make it a special and memorable occasion.

"Good morning," Michelle interrupts my thoughts as she enters my room. "How are you today?"

"I'd be ungrateful if I complain," I smile as she examines my wounds. "Everyone is taking really good care of me."

"Good to hear," she smiles. "Have you had time to think about the pregnancy?"

"Oh, yes," I laugh happily. "I want this baby without a doubt. I realized how I felt when I thought I could lose it."

"Have you told the father?" She asks softly.

"Actually, that's what I was thinking about when you came in," I smile. "I want to make it memorable. Any brilliant ideas?"

"Hmm, it depends on what he likes," she frowns. "But I like the one where you give him a puzzle to build and then it spells, I'm pregnant."

"Not bad," I nod. "But I have plenty of time in this bed to think about it."

"Not that much," she smiles. "If nothing changes, I will discharge you tomorrow."

"Really?" I ask eagerly. It would be great to be at home.

"Just to go home," she raises her eyebrows. "I'm not clearing you for work for at least another week."

"And no sex," I roll my eyes.

"No sex," Michelle laughs as she leaves the room and I make myself comfortable for a nap.

Axel POV

"Morning, Juliana," I greet as I walk into the office and take out a box of chocolates. "This is for you."

"Thank you," she looks at me flabbergasted. "But why?"

"For keeping the fort in my absence," I grin. "Without help, I should add."

"Yeah, where is Liana?" Juliana looks at me curiously. "I haven't seen or heard from her since she went home sick three days ago."

"She's in the hospital, but she's doing fine," I reply. "Appendicitis, she won't return for the next week or so."

"Poor thing," Juliana pouts. "I should pay her a visit."

"She would like that," I nod as I walk to my office. "Any messages?"

"Yes," she replies. "It's on your desk."

"Thank you and you can send in Adele when she arrives," I say before I close the door behind me and walk to my desk.

I groan inwardly when I notice the message from Jack. He is getting impatient because I continue to postpone the signing of the contract. But he must wait a little bit longer. I am going to dump him and Angela simultaneously. "Morning, sir," Adele greets me as she enters my office and takes a seat. "I have everything you asked for."

She places a file on my desk, and I pull it closer.

"I'm listening," I lean back in my hair.

"You were right," she clears her throat. "Everyone that still owed Wilson was given a choice to either pay immediately or have their debt scratched by participating in his plan. We also have the guys in custody that attacked and killed Leon. I have affidavits from people confessing to kidnapping Nina to transporting her to Rochester. There's even a nurse who confessed that she was going to forge the paperwork for the transplant." "Thanks," I sigh. "Get the paperwork to Nick. All of them will be arrested and serve time in prison."

"Will there be any leniency because they cooperated?" Adele asks.

"No," I say brusquely. "Every single one of them had the choice to come to me for help. And if they didn't want to talk to me, they could've gone to my dad. If Liana didn't come to me, Nina would've been dead by now. Nina might be a human but she's part of our pack and under our laws and protection."

"I understand," Adele nods.

"I need you to investigate the investors," I continue. "Everyone but Wyatt. I already have an appointment with him."

"Yes, sir," Adele gets up and leaves.

I am busy reading the affidavits when Wyatt arrives at my office. He looks uncertain and a little nervous as he takes a seat across from me.

"Do you know why you're here?" I ask when he settles down.

"About my position as future Delta," Wyatt replies.

"And why would you think that?" I ask amused as I lean back in my chair.

"Your inauguration is in a couple of months, and you must appoint your ranks," he replies nonchalantly. "I've been pulling my weight and haven't crossed any lines since ... since my mate rejected me."

"You know the rules, Wyatt," I smirk. "You cannot be a rank without your mate."

"Except if she rejects me," he grins. "I read up on our laws. If I reject her for any other reason than unfaithfulness on her part, I'm not eligible. But if she rejects me, I may be appointed as rank." "Imagine all the drama and chaos you could've avoided if you read that earlier," I reply sarcastically.

"Rather late than never," he shrugs.

"There's only one problem, Wyatt," I lean forward on my desk and intertwine my fingers. "You weren't a model citizen since Liana rejected you." "What do you mean?" He frowns.

"Wilson," I smirk, and Wyatt visibly pales. "I know about everything. Do you know that Leon's dead?"

"No," he gapes. "What about Liana? Where is she?"

"That's none of your concern," I growl. It agitates me that he is asking about my mate. He does not even have the right to say her name. "But..."

"You're here to defend yourself," I cut him off brusquely. "Your association with Wilson isn't doing you any favours."

"He owes me money," Wyatt says nervously. "That's it. He was supposed to repay me at the end of this week but then he shot himself. I'm out of twenty thousand dollars, I'm the victim here."

"Wyatt, you should quit while you're ahead," I warn him. "None of that is news to me. And you basically confessed to illegal investments. If you want to clear your name, I need the full story."

"Fine," he sighs and bows his head. For a moment there is only silence around us before he looks up. "Leon needed money and I referred him to Wilson because Leon still owed me, and I was done with him. Leon nominated Liana as surety. The first time Leon convinced Liana to give him money."

"Are you sure?" I frown. Liana never said anything and ... wait, that time I gave her parents ten thousand dollars. Liana was furious about it because they used it to pay Leon's debt.

"Yes," Wyatt replies. "At least, that's what Wilson told me. Anyway, Leon borrowed money again and couldn't pay. Liana cut him off, so Wilson came to me for help. I refused to get involved. Especially after you ordered me to pay Liana. I had enough of the Ericksons. That's when Leon suggested to Wilson to pressure Liana by threatening her best friend."

"Why did you pull your investment?" I ask.

"Gwen is pregnant, and we need a bigger house," he replies bluntly.

I look stoically at Wyatt as I overthink his words. There are so many holes in his story, I could compare it to Swiss cheese. The only consistency is that the three of them were in cahoots, and the only people that can contradict him, are dead.

I doubt that Leon wanted Liana dead. She was his only source of income. And after what I learned about Stacey, Wilson only had his mate's heart in mind. But Wyatt... he has a motive.

"This must be convenient for you," I look at him as I straighten my shoulders. "Wilson and Leon can't speak for themselves. And you, well... you must really hate Liana. She rejected you, spoiling your chance at becoming Delta and you must repay her fifty thousand dollars. Leon and Wilson didn't come up with the plan to kidnap Nina, you did."

"You have no proof," Wyatt explodes red in the face. "I'm innocent. How is Leon's death benefitting me? For fuck's sake, I lost money because of this."

"Your reaction tells me all I need to know," I smile sarcastically. "And I bet it was your idea that Wilson kills Liana."

"Liana's dead?" Wyatt asks and fails to hide his pleasure.

"No, she's not," my voice is low and dark as I fight my anger. "But you're the one that convinced Wilson to do it. That's why you pulled your investment. You didn't want to be associated with him if he gets caught."

"That's not true," he bellows. "I didn't..."

"Enough," I slam on my desk as I lose my temper. "I know everything. I spoke with Wilson, and we have his computer and cell phone which can prove everything."

I know I am bluffing the last part, but I cannot stand his lies any longer.

"Liana costs me everything," Wyatt jumps up and looks at me challenging. "And if that bitch Nina didn't pump her head full of shit, I could've gotten her back before she rejected me. So yes, it was my idea to use Nina, but Wilson wasn't going to kill Liana. He was going to bring her to me. She had to pay for the pain I had to endure for cheating and then rejecting me."

"Thank you for your honesty," I smile satisfied and walk around the desk to Wyatt. He looks at me cautiously. "How about I show my gratitude and tell you who she cheated with?"

"You know?" Wyatt gapes.

"Yes, I do," I smile, and he relaxes a little. "Liana found her second chance mate that night."

"Impossible," he frowns. "She was still mated to me then."

"Oh, thanks to you, she hasn't the slightest clue," I grin. "You did a great job keeping her in the dark about the mate bond."

"So, who is it?" He asks eagerly.

"It's me, motherfucker," I growl and look at him with cold, hard anger.

Wyatt's eyes widen and he opens his mouth in protest as I extend my claw and behead him.