Page 56 of Omega's Faith

The summer house's interior is as beautifully decorated as the main house, with as little personality. Alex drops onto a couch, legs spread wide. He looks the picture of alpha arrogance.

I sit carefully on a chair across from him, hyperaware of his scent underneath all the whiskey.

Pastor David remains standing, looking down at both of us. "Marriage is a sacred covenant—"

"Is this the part where you tell me I'm going to hell again?" Alex interrupts. "Because that’s not going to get us far."

"Alex," I warn.

"What?" He toasts Pastor David with his glass. "Good luck with that, Padre."

"I'm here," Pastor David says with strained patience, "because your omega asked for help. Because despite your behavior, he's trying to honor his vows."

"His vows to honor and obey?" Alex's eyes find mine, challenging. "How's that working out, church mouse? Feeling properly submissive?"

Heat flares in my cheeks.

"Don't call me that."

"Why?" He downs the drink then gets up to refill his glass from a half empty whiskey bottle on the side board. “Little, little mouse,” he sings, then he grins. “Bossy little mouse with a bigbite.”

I suppose in some ways I’m glad he’s drunk and being a jerk. Pastor David can see what I’m dealing with.

Still, he was half-conciliatory this morning. I can’t help thinking this would go better if he were sober.

He slumps back into his chair and raises his glass as if toasting us. He looks Pastor David up and down, then curls his lip.

“I’m guessing you’re the reason my little church mouse is so prissy. You’d both be happier if you’d just unclench a little.”

“Alex, I am trying to make this work.”

“By bringing this guy? Please.”

I stop, take a breath. "If you don't participate in this counseling, I'm going home."

“Lol, no you won’t.”

"You heard me. I'll go back to my parents. I don’t care about the media thinks."

"You wouldn't. You don't believe in divorce."

"I don't," I correct. "And I won’t divorce you, but if you’re not going to live with me, then I might as well live with people who actually care about me, instead of alone in an empty house."

We stare at each other. The tension between us is electric, all heat and fury and that ever-present chemistry that makes me want to climb into his lap and shut him up with my mouth.

This is the only threat I have. I know I’m not worldly but I do know that after the endless photo opps and journalists and magazine spreads and paparazzi that keeping them happy is something that Alex cares about.

Or at least Diana cares about it. Alex cares about keeping Diana happy so she doesn’t cut his party money.

"Fine," Alex says finally. "Counsel away, Pastor. Tell me how to be a good alpha. Tell me how to want children I'll definitely fuck up. Tell me how to believe in a God who took both my parents before I was eighteen."

The last part comes out different—raw, unexpected. Pastor David's expression shifts slightly.

"Loss can either bring us closer to God or push us away," he says, sitting finally. "You chose distance."

"I chose reality. No magical sky daddy was going to bring them back."

"Alex!"