Page 56 of The Omega Archives: Part Two

Lying.

She really had to get her act together.

“Well, I’ve gotten rather good at it,” I insisted.

“It still doesn’t make the rest any less true,” said Marko. “The things you’ve done to keep yourself safe are impressive, but it doesn’t mean it’s the best wayfor youto live or enjoy your life. Because itis meanttobe enjoyed, most of the time.”

“Maybe you should become a therapist.”

He snorted, pushing backupto stand and taking my plate to the sink. “Nah, I’m pretty sure I just spouted some shit my therapist said to me. She’d be thrilled.”

Marko went to therapy? It shocked me, but an odd pride filled my chest. I never imagined an alpha who would take that kind of thing seriously, but I guess he had to.

We both had to do difficult things to make sure we stayed alive.

“So, what will it take?” he asked.

“What?”

“What will it take to make you feel safe now?” Marko rephrased. “Now that you are off your suppressants and staying here. What will it take?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “It’s always just been me. I want to be sure I can defend myself and save myself still. I don’t...need you.”

I thought it was a bit of a blow, but Marko only nodded. “I can show you some basic self-defense– once youare feelingbetter. You can at least stand a chance against your monsters then.”

“Really?”

“Once you are feeling betterand getthe all-clear,” he repeated.

I nodded. “Okay. Deal.”

He nodded once more before trailing around the counter without a wordheadingdown the hall without question.

Chapter

Seventeen

ELLA

“Girl, you have no idea how relieved I am to hear from you,” Rita gasped over the phonethe momentshe picked up.

My phone was finally chargedand back up and running, though it was still slow.

Either way, it got the job done.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Things haven’t exactly been steady the past week.I’mreallysorry I didn’t get to call sooner with my phone dying andwell,everything else going on.”

“You need to tell me what happened. I got back home, butyou weren’t there. I didn’t know what to do,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated.

“I thought about calling the police even though I doubted you’d want me to do that with everything,” Ritawent on. “I was about to pick up the phone and do it anyway. Better Omega Services than dead,right?”

I guessed so. Wayto let Rita put it all into perspective.

“You’re lucky that I ran into your new boss at the librarywhofilled me in on the details.”

“Mr. Wolfern?”