Sold To The Billionaire Alpha
Chapter 19

I felt strangely peaceful now that escape was no longer a priority. I woke up, my skin sticking to the incredibly warm alpha as usual. I had never been more disappointed in my life. It stung to know that my own parents had sold me, used me as a bargaining chip. What if Orion had been a true fiend, forcing himself upon me. How could my parents do such a thing to me, their only daughter, their only child?

Orion began to stir. He stretched and I took this opportunity when his arm was no longer pinning me to him to scamper off into the bathroom. I sighed locking the door. I soaked in the tub until my fingers pruned. When I was done, I went to my walk-in closet and picked a simple black dress.

At breakfast, Rose asked me to be her maid of honour. I had never even been a bridesmaid before. Clothes were brought to the mansion by the personal shopper of the brothers. He was a slender, short human with deep chocolate skin and a bushy beard. I tried on every option Rose had been eager to see. It was her day after all. Rose finally selected a dress for me. It was a blush-coloured long dress with a slit up to my thigh. It was quite pretty but my gloominess would not allow me to marvel properly at the fashion made available to Rose and me.

My jaw actually dropped when I saw Rose in her wedding dress. It even cheered me up a little. It was a white ballgown. The bodice and straps were beaded with iridescent jewels. The skirt of the dress boasted many layers of tulle under a satin overlay. The veil was dazzling with silvery embroideries interspersed throughout the fabric as it traveled from Rose’s red crown to her feet forming a train that swept the floor. Rose had her red hair down in waves. Her makeup consisted of nude-pink lips, rosy cheeks, well-defined eyebrows and winged eyeliner. Her face was highlighted using a shimmery powder that made her glow in a way that could be seen even from a few feet away. Her high heels were white satin pumps. She lifted her bustled skirt to show me a lacy garter on one of her thighs for Perseus to remove with his teeth after. She was a vision, truly breathtaking.

Her wedding day was as beautifully decorated as she was. Both Rose and I clutched bouquets of roses and orchids. The cathedral where the ceremony was held was massive and had more of the same depictions of wolves on its stained glass windows like those at the Caro House. The place was packed. It felt strange to be out in the realm that Orion had spirited me away to. I had become accustomed to his mansion and being outside of it in werewolf country I felt exposed and vulnerable. I doubted there were any other humans present at the wedding. A redheaded little girl scrambled down the aisle, her curls bouncing, and her basket of flowers swaying. She threw flower petals in her wake as an orchestra played classical music. The pews were decoded at their ends with huge bouquets of roses. I went after the flower girl, unescorted, smiling stiffly at the guests.

Rose’s father walked her down the aisle. He was beaming with pride and Rose was silently crying tears of…joy? I was not entirely sure. She had said she did not want to get married but when Perseus, looking dashing in her tuxedo, unveiled her, her eyes filled with love for him. Orion stood behind his brother as the best man. He looked unrealistically handsome. I spotted the Marys near the front eyeing the elder Alpha and giggling to each other. I could not help but wonder how Rose had managed to forgive her father for selling her like a herd of cattle. I sighed. Would I ever be able to forgive my own father? Would I ever be truly relaxed around Orion?

The vows were said and more tears were shed. Orion kept glancing at me during the reciting of the wedding vows with a small hopeful smile on his face. Perseus planted a steamy k**s on his blushing bride, eliciting cat calls and whoops from the spectators. He grinned at his guests when they broke apart. Orion came to lead me to the parking lot where our chauffeur was waiting.

The reception was held at the brothers’ mansion. I sat scrutinising the event, my expression sullen. The champagne was free-flowing. The meal was served and it was fit for a king. The band livened up the room with an uptempo number. They then switched to a slower, more romantic song. Orion came over and asked me to dance. I let him lead me to the dance floor. All eyes were on us and the red-haired bride and her Alpha. I let my Alpha spin me around the dance floor. We slow-danced. Orion held me so gently like I could break at any moment.

“Are you ok, Orchid?” Said the huge alpha, concern in his blue eyes.

I nodded stiffly.

When the song was over, Orion dipped me and pressed his lips to mine while I was dipped. My heart fluttered. He was a great dancer. He knew how to lead effectively.

“You look stunning, you know,” he murmured to me as he pulled me back into a standing position.

Another slow song started and we kept dancing. He seemed unwilling to relinquish me.

“You will be the most beautiful bride,” he whispered to me.

I was silent, lost in my own thoughts.

“Is there anyone back in the human world you wish to have at our wedding besides your parents?” He asked.

He was a bit presumptuous in the way he spoke of our wedding as if it was a given but then again, he had successfully purchased me as a bride. I had never even known I had been for sale.

“I want to see my dog, Mighty, and my three kittens,” I said. “They were strays before I rescued them,” I added.

“Sure!” Purred Orion. “Perhaps, they should come to live with us then?” He asked.

He was willing to do whatever was necessary at this point to placate me.

“Wait, how do werewolves feel about cats? I figure…I assumed you would like dogs,” I said, feeling a bit silly and trying not to offend him. Wolves were undomesticated dogs in a way.

Orion chuckled, “Most werewolves in my pack love animals. They are quite in touch with nature. Both dogs and cats are fine. Birds, fish, reptiles…pets are just as popular among werewolves if not more so,” said Orion.

It dawned on me that I knew relatively nothing about a world where I would be Queen of some sort.

“Will someone…train me?” I asked.

Orion raised his eyebrows.

“Will someone sit with me and council me. Prepare me to be a Luna. I can’t be expected to know much automatically. I’m human. All I know about werewolves is from television and novels,” I explained.

I didn’t know they even existed just a few weeks ago. Orion twirled me about the dance floor, making my dress swirl around me. He gathered me up back into his arms and glided across the floor with me. He was so effortlessly graceful.

“My mother can teach you,” offered Orion.

I gasped. “Your mother? Where is she? Is she here?” I asked.

I had been so focused on sulking, I had missed out on a few key details.

“Of course she is here,” chuckled Orion. “It’s her baby’s wedding.”

Orion nodded in the direction of a statuesque blond woman with piercing grey eyes. She was wearing a silver dress that complimented her eyes and she had her long hair braided elaborately and wrapped into a bun, pinned with diamond-studded bobby pins. She was fussing over Perseus, adjusting his lapels and smoothing his shirt and tie. She kept shooting disapproving glances at Rose. Ugh. She seemed like one of those mothers who was practically jealous of her son’s love interests because she was so possessive of him. How could she possibly have a problem with Rose when Perseus had literally stolen her from her pack? Rose was far from a husband hunter. Quite the opposite way around actually. There was a handsome older blonde man, his hair a bit darker than Perseus’, standing close to Rose. He had a loud, raucous laugh and seemed even more of a Viking than his sons. He was still muscular and very strong looking despite being retired.

“That’s the former alpha, your father,” I guessed.

Orion nodded.

“You’re not going to introduce me to your parents?” I asked, feeling a bit worried. I felt so betrayed by my own family. I needed Orion to at least be serious about making me a part of his even if that had not been my idea originally. I didn’t want to feel totally alone. I felt a pang suddenly. My ex had always been hesitant about introducing me to important people in his life. It was a bad sign. I extricated myself from Orion and left the dance floor. He was hot on my heels.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, his tone pleading with me.

“You don’t want me to meet them,” I stated. It was not a question.

“You’re so fragile right now. The last thing you need is to worry about trying to impress my parents,” cooed Orion.

“Well, what if they don’t accept me? What will become of me?” I asked.

Orion burst into uproarious laughter, startlingly me.

I gave him an indignant look.

“Orchid, I am the Alpha of my pack. I need no one’s permission to be with my Luna. I however would appreciate the blessing of my parents just as I sought the blessing of your parents,” he told me.

Ugh, don’t remind me! I thought to myself.

Something dawned on me all of a sudden.

“Aren’t you immortal?” I blurted out.

He nodded.

“I will age and die,” I said bluntly.

He chuckled. “No, Baby, when I mark you, I will gift you immortality,” he said simply.

So this would be my life literally forever. I was not sure how I felt about that.

“Mark as in bite?” I asked.

“Yes, in a manner of speaking,” he said diplomatically.

I wondered what that would feel like. I had been expecting Orion’s rough ways to mean I would hate him touching me but I loved nothing better than being touched by him. Perhaps, even his bites would feel good.

“You’ll bite me often?” I asked apprehensively.

His raucous laughter was back. He almost doubled over at that one.

“I’ll bite you once!” He said breathlessly when he had recovered, mirth still colouring his tone.

I smiled and he lit up like a Christmas tree.