Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 76

Liana POV

It is silent in the car as we drive to our destination. Axel did not want to tell me where we were going because he wanted to surprise me. But after the altercation at the coffee shop, I simply do not care.

I feel terrible for hurting Luther, but I am also furious at him for kissing me and not accepting my decision. I will have to quit my studies. I was going to anyway because of my pregnancy but now I must do it sooner. To make things worse, he is Axel's cousin. That was a shocker. It means that we are bound to bump into each other from time to time. I do not want the awkwardness that comes with a mess like this.

"We should talk about Angela," I break the silence as the sun starts disappearing on the horizon.

"And Luther," Axel adds.

"There's not much more to say about him," I shrug. "Nothing happened between us. But he refuses to accept it. You were there."

"But he kissed you," Axel's fingers cramp around the steering wheel and I know he is fighting his anger.

"For the first and last time," I sigh. "Unless he locks you up in a freezer to die, there's nothing to talk about."

"I still want to kick his a*s," Axel growls.

"I know the feeling, baby," I mockingly mimic Angela's voice and Axel groans in agony.

"Promise me one thing," he turns to look at me. "Promise me you'll never call me babe or baby."

"Oh, I'm going to enjoy this," I laugh, and he gives me a deathly glare.

"Joking aside," I swallow my laughter. "What are you going to do about her?"

"I'm going to tell her you're my mate and that the wedding is off," he replies nonchalantly. "Her father and I have a meeting and I will do it then. I don't need his business anymore and he can't use it to manipulate me any longer. Regarding her punishment for trying to kill you... well, you should have a say in it, because I still want to kill her."

I do not respond as I keep my eyes on the road. What Angela did was despicable, but I cannot bring myself to be her executioner. I know it is their laws, but I have not fully adapted to their rules. Growing up with Leon, I am in the habit of letting things go. That is not something you change overnight. I am going to need more time to rewire myself and stand up for what is right.

"Where are we going?" I change the subject.

"I rented a house on a private beach," he replies. "Nobody will replace us there or disturb us."

"I hope there's food," I sigh. "I'm starving."

T

"There will be plenty," he chuckles.

**

Curiously I look at the house as I get out of the car. From this angle, it is nothing but white walls but when Axel unlocks the door and stands aside so that I can walk inside, I change my mind.

"Now this I can call home," I sigh dreamily as I walk to the ceiling-to-floor windows facing the ocean.

Axel does not say a word as he opens the sliding doors and I walk onto the deck as I inhale the salty air deeply. I turn towards the house and admire the open spaces and soft lighting. Big comfortable couches face a fireplace with an open-plan kitchen and dining room in the back. This place is to die for.

I want to come back here in a couple of years, I decide. I can already see myself preparing lunch while keeping an eye on Wolfie as he plays in the sand.

"This is perfect, Axel," I drape my arms around his neck and kiss him.

"There's more," he takes my hand and leads me up the stairs to a huge bedroom. A huge bed in the centre of the room is facing the ocean. The balcony doors are open, and the light breeze playfully lifts the curtains.

"It's so beautiful and serene," I whisper in awe as I walk onto the balcony and admire the ocean.

"I'm glad you like it," Axel's arms go around my waist, and I turn to face him. "And it's ours for the entire weekend."

"Perfect," I whisper before wrapping my arms around his neck. "We're going to need every second to make up for the past two weeks."

"Sounds promising," he leans over, and I sigh contently as he kisses my neck. "But I recall that you said you're hungry."

"We can eat in bed," I push closer to him. "Afterwards."

I take his face between my hands and kiss him with every inch of bottled-up desire. Two weeks were long- too long - and I am burning for him. Everything else can wait.

He picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me to the king-size bed. The linen is soft and inviting against my back as he lays me down and positions himself next to me. Eagerly I reach down to undo his pants, but he grabs my hand and stops "We should talk," he kisses me deeply.

me.

"Once our clothes are off, I'm not planning to get dressed again. So, as much as I want to continue with this," he trails a finger down my neck to my cleavage and I shiver delightfully, "I need to explain what happened with Angela." T

"Dammit," I groan and close my eyes. "You certainly know how to kill a mood."

"I'm sorry, but..."

"I know, I know," I sigh as I push him off me and sit up. "And you're right. But it's so frustrating that she still has the power to spoil things even when she's miles away."

"I should've told you sooner," he sighs.

"No," I shake my head as I stand up and straddle his lap. "I wasn't ready to hear it sooner. Sooner I was too insecure, and I would've freaked out."

"And you're not going to freak out now?" He raises his eyebrows.

"I don't know," I shrug as I run my fingers through his hair. "But I know I won't run away and before that was an option."

"Okay," he takes a deep breath as he places his hands on my hips. "But you must know I never meant for it to happen or go so far."

"I believe you," I smile as I toy with his hair.

"It happened the night I asked her to marry me," his voice is a soft monotone as he tells me. The more he talks the angrier I get.

"Liana," he clears his throat after he confesses everything. "You're pulling my hair."

I inhale deeply as I loosen my grip and get off his lap.

"Are you okay?" he asks cautiously as I pace up and down in the room.

"I'm going to rip it out," I hiss furiously as I turn to face him. "I'm going to rip out her clitoris. I don't care that she tried to kill me, but this!"

I throw my hands up in the air and breathe deeply through my nose.

"Reverse the roles, Axel," my voice is calmer, but my blood is still boiling. "If a man did that to a woman, it would be s****l assault. R**e is forced s****l intercourse, including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. Technically she tried to r**e you. I swear to the goddess, I'm going to rip it out."

"Maybe we should get something to eat or drink," Axel walks to me and takes my hand. "Give you a moment to calm down."

"I don't want to calm down!" I shout furiously. "I want her to pay."

"So do I," Axel replies. "For trying to kill you. When I picked up your cold body, I swore I would kill her."

"Kill her?" I snort. "No way you're killing her. She'll be dead and I want her to feel. I want her to experience all this anger, resentment and pain I'm feeling. You taught me there's mercy in death and she doesn't deserve any."

"Okay, that's it," Axel takes my hand and leads me out of the room. "I'm going to feed you now. We're not making any decisions while you're this angry."

"Oh, but it's fine for you to do it," I protest as I follow him. I have no desire to calm down, but I am hungry.

"I said we," he gently pushes me into a chair and opens the fridge. "We're not making any decisions. I want to kill, and you want revenge. So, we need to agree on what to do with her."

"Fine," I sigh and squint my eyes as he takes out a packet of hotdogs. "Is that what you're going to make?"

"What?" He gives me a pained look. "I'm the alpha, I can't cook."

"Tragically, I must agree," I snort as I stand up and walk to the fridge. "I'll do it."

"But..."

"I'm not being mean," I pick a packet of pork sausages, potatoes, and peas. "I appreciate your effort but a nice place like this deserves more than hotdogs."

"I should've arranged a chef," Axel mumbles sheepishly.

"You can start peeling these," I hand him the potatoes. "I'll start with the peas."

I bite hard onto my bottom lip to keep myself from smiling as Axel peels the potatoes with tremendous concentration. He is so darn cute to me at this moment, and I am overjoyed that he is my mate. Which infuriates me more because Angela dared touch what is mine. "We shouldn't kill her," I say softly as I take the peeled potatoes and cut them into cubes.

"Liana," Axel sighs pleadingly.

"I'm not saying it out of anger," I say hastily. "Don't get me wrong, I'm still angry but that's not why I'm saying it. But she's not a pack member and killing her wouldn't be as straightforward. You'll have her parents to deal with and without concrete proof, they can retaliate and accuse you of murder. I don't want to lose you, and neither do I want us to go through worrying about her family's accusations. Killing her is going to ruin us and she's not worth it."

"But Angela would want revenge," Axel sounds worried. "When I break the engagement, she will come after you and I refuse to lose you."

"Not if you do it right and play the mate card," I turn and smile at him. "Call a meeting with her and her parents. Apologize for breaking the engagement because you found your mate. It's your law, they have no choice but to respect it, even if they hate it. And if Angela acts out after that, her parents cannot blame you."

"You're wise for a human," Axel grins as he puts his arms around my waist.

"And it would do you good to remember that," I wrap my arms around his neck and pull his lips to mine.