Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 18

Alpha Orion set me down on his bed. Disappointingly, he did not immediately continue our escapade. He looked at me with hopeful eyes. He caressed my cheek. I leant into his touch. So many thoughts were racing through my mind. So many different feelings ran through me.

“Orion,” I said, gazing at him as he sat next to me.

“Baby,” he said.

I lay my head on his shoulder.

“Bisa told me something…” I began

“Who’s Bisa?” He asked.

“The server I was with the night of the engagement party,” I said.

He nodded, his face grave as he recalled what must be a truly unpleasant memory for him. It was a horrid memory for me too but recently my life had been a series of incredible highs and horrific lows.

“She told me you wouldn’t marry me without my father’s consent. She said it was really important to an Alpha. She also said you would give my mother jewels. Does that mean I’ll get to see my parents again? So you can ask their permission? And they’ll be at my wedding?” I said, all my thoughts coming out jumbled and all at once as usual.

Orion had a peculiar expression on his face as though he were trying to work out a very tricky problem.

“Yes, the approval of the parents, especially the father, is paramount to an Alpha when it comes to his mate,” Orion said.

I smiled, eager to be reunited with my family. I would not need to run away after all. I could do this. I could stay with Orion and get used to this life. It was certainly glamorous and filled with decadent pleasures.

“I meant to tell you all of this as we got closer but we had a little falling out and that caused a setback,” said Orion.

I assumed that by “little falling out” he meant when he threw me in the dungeon for complaining about being kidnapped and insulting him and his brother.

“And then you were in such a fragile state after I pulled you out of the water,” he said.

I nodded, encouraging him to continue.

“I should have told you sooner so for that I am also sorry but you should know that…I already have your father’s permission to marry you,” he said softly.

I was confused. A chill crept through me. The implications of this were troubling.

“You know my parents?” I asked.

“Like I said the Caro family arranges these things. Part of what they do is negotiating with the family,” he explained.

My heart rate sped up.

“Meaning?” I prompted, feeling a little out of breath.

“Meaning that they spoke to your father. The casino that he gambled at often is actually owned by werewolves and the loan sharks after him were their human associates. Through the Caro family, I arranged to pay off all his debts as well as all of your student loans as we spoke about before. The Caro family also negotiated an additional price, separate to the fee I was paying them. This price was named by your father in exchange for your hand in marriage,” Orion said softly, his arms encircling me.

I felt nauseated. My father had sold me to Orion with the Caro family as the middle man. The same thing had happened to Rose. I felt betrayed by my own father. It felt as though he had gambled me away just like salary after salary.

“Your parents are quite wealthy now, millionaires after the exchange,” said Orion smiling sadly. “And I did send your mother jewels, an entire chest filled with them. You are my little princess so I wanted your mother to have finery befitting a queen.”

I was silent.

“Your mother was reluctant to hand you over according to the Caro family but your father insisted. He would have been killed by loan sharks if he had not payed them off right away,” Orion said.

I could not replace any words to say.

“Your father did ask to meet me. I met with him, the Caro family and your mother. Your parents had many questions concerning your safety and treatment. I explained to them that being an Alpha’s bride would make you like royalty in the eyes of werewolves. They wanted you to have a good life. There was no malice,” he said, imploring me with his eyes.

I shut my eyes, focusing all my energy on taking deep breaths.

“They made sure visiting you was part of the deal. They get to see you a minimum of once every three months. We drew up a contract. This sort of contract is legal and commonplace among werewolf high society in my pack,” he added quickly.

I did not want to see them, at least, not for a while anyway. They sold me to a beast so they could live in the lap of luxury.

“Your father’s life was on the line. Please, try to understand,” beseeched Orion.

I had nowhere to run. A few moments ago, I had been on cloud nine, now I was emotionally back in the cellar. Orion pulled closer, cradling my head to his chest.

“Shhh, Baby, it’s ok,” he whispered.

It was only then that I realised I had started crying. Orion wiped the tears away. It was not okay. My own parents had sold me to a stranger to pay off their debts. I had spent all this time yearning for something that did not exist, a place where I was truly safe.