21. Piper
CHAPTER 21
Piper
I still didn’t want to see their cheating betraying faces, but I wouldn’t have disappointed Otis for the world.
Damn Rook for not being a meathead.
“So how does it work?” Teddy asked. “We each get assigned a Spirit Guide? Someone from history? I hope I get someone cool like the Buddha. Or Elvis Presley.”
“ Buddha ?” Otis asked, scandalized. “He’s not going to get out of bed for the likes of you .”
“Who is going first?” I asked, taking a sip of my tea.
“I will,” they all said simultaneously.
After Rook produced his credit card, Otis waved to me.
“If you would like, you can ask them a few introductory questions and I will search in the books for a Spirit Guide I might care to bother while I feel out the universe’s vibrations.”
Hmm, some questions . . .
Actually I did have questions.
“Why did you cheat on your damn wedding night ?” I asked Rook bluntly. “Why should I trust you won’t do it again?”
His eyes bulged, but he didn’t look away.
“I am so sorry,” Rook said.
“If you can’t be honest, then this conversation is over. I didn’t ask if you were sorry.”
The big Alpha tightened his hands on the couch, but I just waited.
“This is not an excuse. But I was thinking about my career. Beatrice was—comfortable. I wanted to date her because she helped me in my political career.”
“Very moving,” I said as Otis pretended to dab tears from his eyes.
“And when you saw me, you thought, that’s not going to get me 5-10 points higher in the polls.”
“I was wrong,” Rook said simply.
“Oh-ho,” Otis snorted. “Disgusting.”
My friend always had my back and I only crossed my arms at Rook, watching how the Alphas were all on their knees in a ring around me, looking like they want to nibble my toes, their eyes devouring me.
“Piper, I was expecting an Omega that looked like the other Omegas from the Capitol. You weren’t like that. I’m sorry I realized too late that you were so much better for me.”
He stopped abruptly, two spots of color high on his cheeks, his fists clenched together.
“It was too late,” I said.
There was silence for a moment as he stared brokenly at me.
“The Spirit Guides think this is all bullshit,” Otis put in. “They aren’t buying any of this. We’ll see. I’ve heard from Queen Elizabeth I and Cleopatra and they both weren’t buying it. However, I will see if there’s any way to get back in their favor.”
I was watching Rook but all he said was, “I am honored to be guided by two such exemplary women.”
I narrowed my eyes.
Rook was smart.
There was a little twitch between my legs, a slight throb there when his dark eyes met mine, but I ignored it.
Work! I silently ordered my suppressants.
“Me next,” Teddy begged.
“Why did you cheat on me then?”
When he looked utterly panic-stricken, I held up my hand again.
“Actually, go back to the beginning. What were your reactions when you scent-matched with me?”
He looked intensely guilty, gnawing on his full lower lip.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” he said in a panic. “I want to talk about what I feel about you now.”
I just crossed my arms and glared at him.
“All right, all right” he said in a panic. “I didn’t want to get married. I just. . . wasn’t ready to settle down.”
“And you claim you are now ?”
“I scented you. I knew you were my fated mate. You’ve got to believe me, Piper. As soon as I saw you, all thoughts of any other woman left my head. It’s fucking wild!”
The only response to this was to roll my eyes, so I rolled them.
“What about you, asshole?” I asked Erain, interrupting Teddy.
“I have no excuse,” he said in a low tone.
“I heard what you said,” I retorted. “I heard what you all said. You didn’t give a shit then about me and I’m supposed to care now just because you were forced to scent me?”
“It’s more than that—“ Erain said.
“Are you going to deny you said those things?”
“I can’t deny it,” Erain said. “I can only apologize profusely, and swear I’ll be better. ”
“You dick is literally trying to dig a hole in the coffee table,” I pointed out.
“I beg you,” he said again, resting his head on my uncaring ankle. “Please let me prove it to you.”
His hands were tight around my ankle, but thanks to my suppressants I was able to take my other foot and pry him off.
“I will have to consult with the Spirit Guides and my friends in the Great Beyond,” Otis said.
“Naturally,” I agreed. “I would not dream of making a move without their guidance.”
“But in 3-5 weeks I might be able to come up with a personalized plan for exorcising the psychic demons that have plagued you.”
“3-5 weeks?” yelped Teddy. “Please, no! I need something now. I want to show you now, Piper. I’ll do anything.”
“A rush job?” said Otis, scandalized. “The Spirits can not be rushed in these delicate matters.”
“What if I added another $30K,” said Rook, “on top of the usual fees and our deep respect for the Spirits?”
“Perhaps,” Otis said, “something could be arranged. But I will make no promises.”
“We will await their ruling,” Rook said, clasping his hands together.
“Thus concludes your therapy session,” I said.