Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 26

Orion

I had begun Operation Obtain Orchid’s Love and I wasn’t going to let anyone throw a wrench in my well-oiled machine, not even my mother. I spotted her with the two Marys. I still had to bring Orchid over to her but I would get rid of the Marys soon.

“Mother, my beautiful Luna Orchid is ready to learn her duties,” I said smiling at Orchid.

Orchid smiled faintly.

“I brought two of your friends, Dear,” said Mother, bringing the Marys forward.

They curtsied for me.

“Why so formal?” I said with a laugh.

The Marys erupted into giggles.

“Welcome girls, welcome! Do excuse us! We need to ready Orchid for the post of Luna! She is to be our new Luna quite soon! No time to waste!” I said quickly without really making eye contact with anyone.

I grabbed my Mother’s arm and Orchid’s arm and steered them away from the noble she-wolves.

“Dear, you’re being awfully rude!” Said Mother indignantly.

“Is that so?” I asked, feigning shock. “I am merely eager to begin!” I said with a frown.

“I am ready to learn Luna Orla,” said my Orchid right on cue.

I beamed at her. I pulled her to me, wrapping her securely in my arms.

“Do not let anyone ruffle your feathers,” I said.

I kissed her forehead and then the tip of her nose and finally her mouth. Her lips moved against mine eagerly. I deepened the k**s, albeit a bit inappropriately as we were among the pack members and my mother. A few of the men cat called. I broke away from Orchid and playfully snarled at them. My warriors and I were always on good terms. I was more of a warrior Alpha than a dignitary sitting around giving orders. I fought alongside them to earn their respect even though I didn’t need to. I nuzzled my Baby. She had her arms around my waist, clinging to me for dear life.

“Won’t you stay for my lesson?” She murmured into my shirt.

Truth be told, I had much to do elsewhere with regards to Orchid actually. I was meeting with her mother in person today discuss fetching her dog and her friends and her mother for her birthday. I also wanted to get some human items for her that might bring her comfort. I didn’t know what those things were yet but I hoped her human friends would enlighten me.

“Baby, I have to plan your birthday celebrations. I’m taking advantage of this opportunity apart to better surprise you,” I murmured in her ear, planting k****s on her neck.

She snuggled even closer to me and refused to let go.

What is this nonsense! I want to begin her training! Said my Mother over mind-link.

Be patient with her Mother! She is human! I said.

You don’t have to remind me, said Mother disparagingly.

Orchid sighed after a little while and extricated herself from me.

“See you later tonight,” I whispered in her ear.

She smiled. I kissed her earlobe and she giggled. I was sad to part from her but there was so much to do.

“Magnus,” I said as soon as I found him among the warriors.

“Alpha!” He said with a bow of his head.

You are to watch Orchid today and make sure no harm comes to her whether physical or emotional at the hands of anyone including my Mother, I said privately.

He nodded to show he understood and then hurried off. I watched him join Orchid and Mother. Bisa was following behind Orchid too.

I felt better knowing that she had a few familiar faces with her to make the day more bearable. I made my way to the dungeon. I walked past the rows of cells. I found the cell that was really just a magic mirror reflecting the cell opposite it. I stepped into the mirror causing the reflection to swirl. I passed straight through it and found myself in Gregoire. There was a limo waiting for me. I got into the backseat and the chauffeur started the car. I sighed, leaning back. I was dreading seeing Orchid’s mother again. She had every reason to dislike me. She had not been keen on handing over her daughter. Very few mothers would be keen on such a thing. I watched the human towns unfold before me as we passed by them. I recognised the street on which Orchid’s childhood home was. The chauffeur parked a few houses down as I had instructed. I got out and walked up to the gate. I looked around, making sure no one was watching me. The street was empty save for my chauffeur. I felt paranoid for some reason. My wolf was growling as if something was amiss. I called at the gate. Orchid’s mother peaked through the window. She hurried down the garden path and unlocked the gate for me. She locked it behind me and scurried up the path with me following her. She locked the front door once we were both inside and peeped out. She seemed satisfied.

“Is something wrong?” I said quickly, knowing that something was indeed wrong.

My wolf had sensed the need to be stealthy before I saw her behaviour.

“No,” she said curtly.

I would pry later.

“Tea,” she offered, frowning as though she hoped I would say no.

“Yes, thank you,” I said with a grin.

She sighed and went to make it. She put the kettle on and returned. I was admiring the framed photographs, many of them of my Orchid at various ages. There was a photograph of her with a dark-haired man with a rather pointy face. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. He seemed to be in his twenties and had his arm around my Orchid who was in a cocktail dress and beaming at the camera.

“Who’s this?” I asked.

“Orchid,” said Orchid’s Mother.

I sighed.

“It’s her boyfriend,” she said.

“Her ex boyfriend,” I corrected.

“He doesn’t seem to think so,” muttered her mother.

“Pardon me,” I said.

“Never mind,” she said, running into the kitchen as the kettle began to whistle.

“What kind of tea do you want?” She asked.

“What kinds do you have?” I asked.

“Green, earl grey, chamomile, chai or ginger,” she said dryly.

I did not actually drink tea.

“Earl grey,” I said.

That sounded manly.

She put the tea bag in a teacup and poured the boiling water over it.

“Milk,” she offered.

“No,” I said.

“Sugar,” she said.

“Yes, two, please,” I said.

She put the two cubes of sugar in the tea and plopped a teaspoon in there. She didn’t stir it. She just handed it to me. I took it and began to stir the sugar in.

“Orchid takes her tea with milk and three sugars,” she said absentmindedly with a small smile.

I added a third sugar and a drizzle of milk. Orchid’s mother smiled slightly.

“For Orchid’s birthday, I want to bring Mighty to live with us,” I said hesitantly.

“Knock yourself out. The poor dog hasn’t stopped pining for her,” she said.

I frowned. Poor thing.

“Is he here?” I asked. “Mighty!”

Mighty came out. His tail was wagging so much his entire second half was wiggling. He was a small sausage-shaped black dog, a rescue.

“Hey there!” I said.

He sniffed me and then jumped up putting his front paws on my knees.

“Good boy!” I said patting his head.

“And I wanted to talk to her friends?” I continued.

She nodded gravely as if we were discussing something awful.

“Did you invite them?” I asked.

I had specifically told her to invite them.

“It slipped my mind,” she said.

I sniffed. “Ok,” I said.

“Point me in the right direction,” I said.

She glared at me.

“You owe Orchid this small happiness,” I said.

She sighed.

“Their names are Daisy and Kathyann,” she mumbled.

I nodded.

“Last names?” I asked so I could put my people on it.

“They work on Richmond Street,” she said stiffly, essentially refusing to give their last names.

“Doing what?” I said.

“Kathyann is an optometrist,” she said with a deep sigh as though I was slow for not guessing what jobs they had.

There could not be that many optometry places on Richmond Street. That should be easy.

“And Daisy?” I asked. I had to prompt her for every single thing.

“Daisy is a doctor like my Orchid,” she snapped.

My Orchid, I mentally corrected. Orchid was mine. I quieted my growling wolf and plastered a smile on my face.

There could not be that many hospitals on Richmond Street. I would look out for private institutions too. If there was a coffee shop on that street, the barista would have seen the girls come in.

“Do you have any pictures of my Orchid with her friends?” I asked.

“No,” she snapped.

“You’re lying but ok,” I said.

She sighed deeply again.

“What about the cats?” I asked as she ushered me to the door.

“You can take them if they’ll go with you,” she hissed.

“They’ll go with you and you’re coming,” I said simply.

“I am?” She asked incredulously.

“Yes, don’t you want to attend Orchid’s surprise birthday party?” I asked.

She grumbled to herself, muttering something under her breath. I heard her of course. I was a werewolf. I could hear a hummingbird’s wings. She said, “This Neanderthal has got a lot of nerve.”

“Yes, I want to see my daughter,” she said.

“Ok what time to send a car for you, Mighty and the cats on the day before Orchid’s birthday?” I asked before she shut me out.

“We have to spend the night?” She asked, panicked.

“Yes,” I said. That wasn’t true but I didn’t want her to change her mind without time to convince her again. That would ruin Orchid’s birthday.

“Fine!” She huffed.

“And Orchid’s Dad?” I asked quickly.

She actually slammed the door in my face.

“He’ll come too,” she yelled from the other side of the door.

“Thank you!” I yelled back.

I got in the car.

“Richmond Street,” I said to my chauffeur.

I hoped her friends had gift ideas and would agree to go shopping with me. All girls liked shopping right? Even human ones?