Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 11

I tried to keep aware of the passage of time. Yesterday had been Sunday. Today must be Monday. I had been kidnapped on Thursday night. I reminded myself of these details as if it made any difference. I was waking up in this cold room, in a tiny uncomfortable cot alone. It was such a sharp contrast to the warmth of Orion in his huge bed with his expensive sheets. I got to my feet, feeling all the walls for weaknesses. The ceiling was too high to inspect properly even if I stood on the cot. I felt the floor. Everything was sturdy, smooth stone. At least it was clean. I flushed the toilet to make sure it worked. I used the sink to wash my hands and to take a bath with a washcloth that had been left there. I had to put on my same white dress from yesterday.

The door opened. My face fell when it was not Orion. It was a different guard from before. They probably worked a shift system. A tray of food was left for me, bread, cheese and water. I finished all of it, still famished. I had only had breakfast yesterday and that was after a few days without food. The tray was collected. The door opened and shut so fast. The person had moved at inhuman speed, both to deposit the tray and to retrieve it. They probably could not chance me trying to ambush the door when it was opened as I could not be harmed as Orion had said, making it difficult to restrain me in an altercation. I knew he meant it when he said he would kill anyone that harmed me. He had done that before, right in front of me. I scolded myself for having soft feelings towards him. He was a monster and a murderer. He would probably grow tired of me and begin mistreating me himself, insulting me and smacking me as my ex had. Or he would just keep me locked away forever. He was a king in his world, a rich one.

I could not tell night from day in the cell but I could mark the mealtimes. Three small meals were served each day. Lunch was identical to breakfast. Dinner was bread, cheese and ham with a milky chocolatey drink that made me sleepy. I dozed off only to repeat this day. Tuesday passed by without incident. I fell asleep, wishing I could change my clothes. I was regretting picking out a white dress. I could not have known it would be the only thing I could wear for days. I remembered the huge closet filled with clothes all specifically my size. Would he order a similarly sized girl so the clothes would not go to waste? This is the none-sense I had time to ponder in my cell.

I wept bitterly after my dinner on Wednesday. Three days had passed and no sign of him. Surely, this was my new life. I pushed his handsome features out of my mind. I could not bear to look at my memories of him. I wanted to die. This was not living. Maybe if I had been prettier or more impressive somehow, I would not be tossed aside this way. I tried not to think like that. That was how I always thought after my ex had accosted me. I refused my meals on Thursday, leaving behind all the food but drinking the water. On Friday I did not even drink the water.

Third Person

The guard entered the breakfast room. There was a huge feast for Saturday morning brunch as was customary. The delicious smells taunted him but he had a very specific message to deliver. The red-headed mate of Alpha Perseus was in his arms. Alpha Orion sat alone, looking despondent which is how he had looked ever since he cast his mate into the cell.

“Please excuse me, Alpha Orion and Alpha Perseus, forgive me my Lady,” the guard said.

The guard was tall and well-built with an olive complexion, brown wavy hair and brown eyes. He was handsome and young and quite ambitious. He hoped to rise in the ranks under Alpha Orion’s army and he was taking his job in the dungeon very seriously. The future Luna was a prisoner there.

“Yes, Magnus,” Alpha Orion said.

The scarlet she-wolf looked at him. Alpha Perseus stared at him.

“I thought it my duty to inform you that Lady Orchid has begun refusing her meals. She is starving herself,” said Magnus.

“What?” Snarled Orion.

“Yes, my Lord, Thursday she drank the water and ate nothing. I observed her, hoping for improvement but yesterday she ate and drank nothing. I dared not let today pass without some kind of remedy. I fear for her health. She is our future Luna is she not?” Magnus said, bowing reverently to Orion.

Orion signed, covering his face with his hands. The scarlet she-wolf had a flower name too. Rose. Rose’s eyes widened with worry.

“Please,” she whimpered, planting k****s on the neck of Alpha Perseus. “Let her go. I need female companionship. We became friends in the cellar.”

Perseus regarded his beloved with a soft expression.

“Brother?” He said, looking at Orion who had now put his head on the table like a sick child at school.

“We were there for each other when Boris brutalised us,” Rose added, hoping to upset the brothers.

They both snarled at the name. Rose had an even better line.

“Orchid acted that way because she is probably traumatised. Boris removed her from her cage just so he could beat her. It was Mr Caro who must have stopped him after he had already harmed her. She must have feared for her life,” Rose said, her eyes filling with tears.

Orion rose to look at her. Perseus was captivated by her every word.

“I remember his taunting. He said something. What was it? Ah he cursed at her. He said ‘Payback is a b***h and so are you’ and then he dragged her out of the cage and up the stairs by her hair. Her screams were awful. I could not phase because of the silver collar and the wolfsbane. I screamed and cried. I thought he would kill my friend when the cellar door shut and I didn’t know where they went,” Rose said, burying her face in Perseus’ chest.

Orion looked horrified.

“Her punishment was to be a week in there. I was going to fetch her Monday morning or perhaps Sunday night as I get not a wink of sleep without her,” grumbled Orion.

“That would mean a total of four days without food, my Lord. She is a small human. I am merely concerned. Forgive me, but they are not the sturdiest,” said Magnus.

“She has fainted so many times,” Rose cried. “She may perish before you can make her immortal.”

Orion roared in anger. Rose hid in Perseus’ chest. She knew she was pushing the elder Alpha a bit too much but she had to try. She was very certain of her bond with Perseus after the mating and marking which Orchid initially interrupted. Rose knew Perseus would not put her in a cell. Their bond was fixed after protocol had been observed. She touched his mark on her neck. Any pain she felt he would feel, so he was feeling sorry for Orchid. He beseeched his brother on her behalf with an alternate idea for the remainder of her punishment.

Orchid’s POV

The door opened. I was exhausted from crying, my eyes swollen and puffy. I was too weak to stand after I had stopped eating. I sniffled. Orion came into view. I shot up, not sure where this surge of energy came from. I ran to him and flung my arms around his waist. He did not hug me back. I looked at him with eyes that were filled with hurt and brimming with tears. He looked at me. He had a pained, guilty expression.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered to him. “Will you forgive me?”

He sighed.

“Why aren’t you eating?” He said, his voice rough and hoarse.

“I’m depressed,” I said. “If I have to remain here in this cell, I might as well starve and hopefully die eventually.”

I knew I was being a little melodramatic. There was still hope for me. I was very young. I could still escape from this place. Orion folded his arms. I released him taking a step back. I probably looked awful. I probably smelled awful. Orion thought otherwise.

“You’re healing nicely,” he said. His deep voice soothed me. He trailed his fingers gently across my cheek. I leant into his touch. There was a tingling sensation between my legs as I became moist. I was so weak. I cursed myself inwardly. Orion could smell it. His eyes became very bright with excitement. Perhaps, I should try flirting with him again.

“Your punishment will continue upstairs,” he said.

“What?” I squealed.

“Tonight is a banquet hosted by my brother and me to celebrate him finding his mate. You will work as a server,” Orion said, humour colouring his deep rumble of a voice.

I knew I was pushing my luck. It was a step up from the cell but it still stung.

“Are you not going to celebrate finding me?” I whimpered, tears falling of their own accord.

Orion’s eyes softened. He caressed my bruise again. It was no longer swollen and the mark was fading. I refused to meet his eyes, even shutting my eyes tightly when he lifted my chin.

“You don’t want to be here with me so there is nothing to celebrate. Rose and Perseus have solidified their bond. This is their engagement party,” he said wistfully.

I gasped. Orion led me upstairs. I followed behind him. He did not hold my hand as usual or carry me around like a princess. I considered pretending to faint but I had already been called out by his brother for my bad acting and the resulting argument between Orion and me had led to my imprisonment. I entered the breakfast room. I was shocked to see Rose locked in a k**s with Perseus at the table. They broke apart and she spotted me.