Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 86

Liana

POV

"My blood turned her into a wolf?" Axel asks cautiously.

"The correct answer is, I don't know," Michelle replies. "We have no references to work with. I'm just in the dark as you are and I'm going with my gut."

"And your gut says I'm changing," I sigh. "Or has already changed."

"If you had all the wolf's trades I would've said yes," Michelle explains. "Until then, it's mostly a maybe. But humans always have some difficulty carrying a wolf's baby to term. You have little to no pregnancy symptoms or problems and you're not even halfway through the pregnancy. I'm not going to risk your health and the baby by stopping the blood transfusions. There's no way to tell what's going to happen in the end."

"Okay, then," I climb off the bed. "Let's go home."

"Liana, are you sure you're okay?" Axel asks as he and Michelle study me suspiciously.

"Yes, Alpha," I wink at him, but he does not even smile, and I sigh inwardly. "Axel, there's nothing we can do now but wait and see. By all medical terms, I'm healthy and so is our baby. Sure, my condition is a bit of a mystery but that's not going to change if I stay here."

"She's right," Michelle nods. "I'll run every possible test I can while you monitor her and her symptoms."

I hold my hand out to Axel, and he takes it. Together we say goodbye to Michelle and leave.

"I have a meeting, but I'm going to cancel it," Axel says as we walk to the car. "I don't want to leave you alone right now."

"No, Axel," I stop dead in my tracks and force him to turn to me. "This isn't a health scare. Wolfie and I aren't in danger. Drew's going to take me and your dad home and you go to the office."

"But..."

"Go," I silence him with a quick kiss. "I have wedding arrangements to finalize, and you have to generate funds to afford it."

"I never took you for a gold digger," he smirks as he places his palm against my cheek.

"Oh, definitely," I sigh theatrically. "I want everything that glitters."

"I love you," he laughs heartedly before he kisses me tenderly. "I'll see you at home."

I smile softly as I watch him get into the car and leave.

"Ready Luna?" Adele asks and I nod.

I am about to get into the car when I notice a familiar figure. Even from a distance she looks sad and lost.

"Hold on, I know her," I say as I start walking.

"I'm not allowed to leave you alone," Adele says as she follows me.

"Then come along," I grin.

With long strides, I walk towards the lonely figure.

"Hello, Gwen," I greet her politely and she blinks a few times before she recognises me. "How are you?"

"So, it's true," she sneers as she looks from me to Adele. "You're the alpha's mate."

"Yes, it is," I smile. "But I'm not here to talk about me. I want to know how you're doing?"

"Why?" She snorts. "Do you want to take what I have left?"

"What?" I frown dumbstruck. "I don't understand."

"Oh, cut the crap, Liana," Gwen yells. "You're not the victim here. You never were."

"And I never claimed to be one," I cross my arms in front of my chest. "I still didn't take anything from you."

"Bullshit," she screams and instantly Adele places herself between me and Gwen

"Watch your mouth," Adele hisses. "You don't talk like that to your future Luna."

"It's okay, Adele," I say softly, and she comes to stand next to me. "I want to hear what she has to say."

"He was mine," Gwen starts crying. "He was mine first. We were in love and then you came along, and everything went to shit."

"Gwen, I'm a human," my words are soft and calculated. "I would've never known that he was my mate if he didn't tell me so. You know how many times he came to my restaurant until I agreed to go out with him. You were there, for goddess' sake. You're blaming the wrong person."

"Don't," she hisses as she nearly pushes a finger up my nose. "Don't you dare blame him. He's dead and it's your fault."

"There are none so blind as those who will not see," I smile sadly. "I'm sorry for your loss, Gwen. Best of luck to you."

I turn around and walk back to the car.

"You still don't get it!" Gwen yells and I turn back to face her. "You took everything from me. The man that I loved and the life I desired. Look at you! You're mated to the alpha and are surrounded by luxury. That was supposed to be my life and now you're living it." "That's not my life," I laugh sarcastically. "That's what you see, but it's not my life. I'm mated to the love of my life, Gwen. And I'm surrounded by people that care. That's all that matters to me."

"Oh, it's so easy for you," she looks at me as if I crawled out of a gutter. "Judging me from your holier than thou pedestal."

"No, Gwen," I shake my head. "I was too hurt and betrayed by you to have time to judge you."

Gwen does not respond as Adele and I turn around and walk back to the car.

"Adele," I say softly when Gwen cannot hear us anymore. "I want you to arrange for someone to keep an eye on her. She doesn't look well and there's a little boy at home."

"Sure," she agrees. "But I'll have to inform Axel."

"I didn't expect anything else," I smirk. "As long as I'm not planning a surprise party for Axel, you're free to report to him anything I say or do."

Axel POV

My meeting is the furthest thing on my mind as I sit at my desk and wait for my visitors. I am not sure if I am excited or anxious about Liana's condition. After I got to know her, it did not matter to me that she was a human. I will love her even if she is a three- headed leprechaun. But it is exhilarating to imagine her as a wolf.

There is a knock on my door before Juliana allows my visitor to enter.

"Austin," I get up to shake his hand. "Nice to see you again."

"Thanks for meeting with me," he smiles and takes the seat I am offering to him.

"I hope there's no trouble," I sit down and look at him. "I'm very satisfied with our deal."

"So am I," he rubs his neck uncomfortable. "But something has happened, and it has our board on edge."

"I'm listening," I say as alarm bells start blaring in my head.

"We received this," he reaches into his briefcase and hands me a document. "It's from your previous supplier, Jack."

"I see," I murmur as I scan the document and the longer I read, the angrier I get.

"Let me assure you, Austin," I put the document down and look at him. "This isn't want happened. I didn't place a year's worth of supplies and cancelled at the last minute."

"Though nothing illegal has transpired, we cannot afford such a loss," Austin admits. "Our company is still in its infant stage. We cannot increase production just to be stuck with redundant stock. Financially, we simply will not survive." "Okay," I nod. "What do you propose?"

"I hate to say it, but the board feels that we should cancel," he sighs. "According to our contract, the penalties for contract breach are less than the alternative."

I take a moment to calm myself and overthink his words. I did an extensive background check on Austin, and I know he is trustworthy. I also know that he is from a middle-class family and needed capital to start his business.

"I don't care what your board says," I look him dead in the eyes. "I made a deal with you and not with them. I want to know how you feel about this?"

He looks at me for a moment before he smiles.

"I would like to continue doing business with you," he admits. "You're our biggest client and I liked you from the first time you came to see me. But it's not entirely in my hands, Axel. If the board votes against me, my hands are tied."

"In that case, we can come to an agreement," I smile satisfied. "I will pay the entire year's order in advance."

"Axel, that's financially stupid," he shakes his head in disbelief. "You'll lose thousands of dollars' interest."

"For me, this isn't about money, Austin," I say thoughtfully. "It's about trust and honour. This is an investment for me in your company and you. Your software is excellent, and I want it. But more than that, you're a good, hardworking man and I want to do business with you. So, to get your board off your back, I'll pay in advance and everyone's happy."

"I don't know what to say," he chuckles. "I came here with the very unpleasant task of cancelling our business. I didn't expect this in a million years."

"I'll arrange for payment before you leave for Dallas," I smile reassuringly.

"May I ask one more thing?" He asks cautiously and I nod. "If you're willing to do this for me - a practical stranger - why are your business partner of decades slandering you?"

"I was engaged to his daughter," I sigh. "But I called it off and now he's pissed. It's a complicated and messed-up story. But that's between you and me. Your board doesn't need to know that." "Personal reasons," he nods. "I get it."

"I'm going to give you copies of our correspondence," I add. "That will be enough proof to your board that I didn't place any orders or backed out at the last minute. Jack's claims are lies and simply a manner to get back at me. Needless to say, we parted on bad terms."

"I'd appreciate that," Austin stands up and smiles from ear to ear. "And I must add, after today's meeting, I'm looking at a bonus. Securing an income of this magnitude for a year is unheard of."

"Not to mention the years to follow," I say satisfied. Jack did not win this round.