Chapter Seven
Bari
I would be the first to admit that Alpha Rogers-Sylas, rather-had taken me off guard. I don’t know why I assumed that any Alpha would be so sex-focused that even a heavily pregnant Omega would have his blood pounding, but Sylas was clearly cut from a different cloth than the Alphas I’d known in my misspent youth.
We sat and held hands in comfortable silence for nearly an hour as I soaked up the last of the sun’s warmth and the comfort from Sylas’s Alpha pheromones. When the pink and orange streaks had faded from the sky, Sylas spoke again.
“Are you feeling any better, Bari?”
I considered his question for a moment as I took an internal inventory, realizing with surprise that Ididfeel marginally better. “I believe so, Sylas,” I admitted. “The anxiety that seems to gnaw at me day and night has dissipated a bit and I feel more centered.”
“Excellent,” Sylas said, squeezing my fingers lightly. “It’s nearly dinner time, but if you don’t have any other plans, it might be helpful for us to have another session just before bed to help you sleep.”
“I would appreciate that,” I agreed, feeling more hopeful than I had in the weeks since my husband cast me aside. “This room will be too cold to be comfortable soon, though.”
Sylas nodded. “I’m sure that there is another space we can use. I’ll ask Chuck if he has a suggestion.”
I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to give Sylas the wrong impression. “You could come to my room?” I offered. “It will have more privacy for direct skin contact.”
If I’d expected Sylas to celebrate at either the invitation or the implication that we might do more than hold hands, I’d have been disappointed as he just nodded seriously.
“Excellent. My understanding is that the more direct skin contact you receive, the sooner you will feel yourself again.” Sylas rose and offered me a hand, tugging lightly to help me rise. Once I was on my feet, he guided me to the door with the lightest touch of his fingers in the small of my back. “If you’ll excuse me, the drive was long and I’d like to freshen up before dinner.”
I murmured my understanding and stepped aside to allow him to pass me as he strode down the hall. While he was clearly a gentleman, Sylas was also professionalism personified and I found myself quite curious about his lot in life. Specifically, why was such an appealing Alpha available to wander the globe offering physical comfort to abandoned Omegas when he should have a mate and family at home? Nosy or not, I decided that that would be an excellent topic to raise during dinner. After all, surely I had the right to know a little about the man who was touching me while my own Alpha refused? Deciding that it was a completely acceptable course of action, I chose a table in the corner of the room with plenty of space for Sylas to join me and, of course, a seat for Paul.
To my surprise, neither of them appeared in the dining room for the meal and I was left alone until one of the counselors, a sweet young man named Jeremy arrived with his husband and young daughter in tow.
“Bari, I was hoping to find you here,” Jeremy said warmly. “May we join you?”
“Of course.” I acknowledged the introduction to his Alpha husband, Kade, and smiled at the curious look that precious Bella leveled at me as she gnawed on a breadstick. “Was there a particular reason that you sought me?”
Jeremy nodded. “Actually, yes. We received formal notice this evening that your husband has requested a dissolution hearing. The Council of Elders has scheduled a review for Friday and you will need to be there.”
Even though I’d known the hearing was the next step, learning that a date had been set sent dread creeping through me. I swallowed, trying to clear the lump that had suddenly appeared in my throat. “I understand,” I agreed, proud that I’d somehow managed to keep my voice from wavering. “I’ll plan accordingly.”
There was a sad look in Jeremy’s eyes as he nodded. “Director Keir thought you might want to have Sylas with you for comfort.”
I understood the logic in the suggestion-after all, I was extremely vulnerable and the hearing would be emotionally devastating- but I wasn’t sure I could face my husband, the being I’d expected to spend my very long life with, standing beside another Alpha regardless of whether or not Ahearn still wanted me.
And, of course, I already knew that he didn’t.
“I’ll speak with Sylas,” I finally said when I realized Jeremy was waiting for a response. “I’m not certain that it is a good idea to deliberately antagonize my husband despite the state of our union, but I will seek Sylas’s opinion.”
“There’s one more thing,” Jeremy’s husband, Kade, interjected. “Chuck has also arranged for you to consult with an attorney who specializes in Omega rights law before the hearing. He will be here tomorrow afternoon.”
“That was very kind of him,” I murmured, shoving my half-eaten food away and struggling to my feet. “I should find Sylas now. He wanted to have another therapy session before I went to bed.”
“Have a good night,” Jeremy said with a kind smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow when the attorney arrives.”
I nodded, barely hearing him and rushed into the hall, intent on making it to my room before the little I’d managed to eat revolted.
