Page 37 of Corrupt Me

I have no idea what to brace myself for but Violet and Sofie waiting off to the side gives me a little hope. We’re half an hour early, mostly because I wanted to speak with my father before the sermon. Maybe I should have come earlier but I don’t want to linger here. This place no longer brings the comfort it once did.

“Bitch, seriously? You brought the quiet one? I thought you’d bring the big one to scare off Teo again!” Violet squeals as I lightly punch her arm.

Sofie just looks disappointed. “I always miss the good shit. But yes, hello. Mr. Fox, right?” She sticks out her hand and Amiri lets go of mine to shake it. “Manners, too? Jesus, Camila, you went from like a -2 with Teo to like a gazillion. When do I get my Alpha?” She swoons dramatically into Violet’s side, Amiri sparking a smile that I know is going to get me in trouble.

“I have a few Alphas that would be more than excited to know you. I heard that you were quite the life of the party for a bit.”

Sofie’s cheeks turn a deep red and I slap a hand over my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing. The happy exchange halts as my father steps out onto the steps to start welcoming members. He catches my eye, narrows his, and then gestures inside without a word. My shoulders fall as I realize he wants a private meeting, one that Amiri can’t attend. My friends both reach out for a hand and squeeze it before I head into the church, Amiri on my heels.

I wade through the pews, head tucked into my chest until I reach the small alcove by my father’s office. “I… he won’t talk to me with you in there, Ames but I won’t close the door. Just sit here on one of the pews. I’ll call you if I need you.”

“I’ll be right outside, sweetheart.”

“He won’t do anything to me in the church. It’s why I came.” At least I hope he won’t do anything. My father is nothing if not pressed about his image. However, if he plays off any foul movements as disciplining his daughter and putting a Beta in her place, he might get away with it. God, I should have left a long time ago. I reach up to place a quick kiss on Amiri’s cheek before walking into my father’s office. He’s sitting behind a large wooden desk, a place I used to find comfort in.

Now? This place feels like the principal’s office and while I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m sure that my father will make it seem otherwise.

“Camila, it’s been two days. Two. Days. Your attitude is out of control. Your behavior… Teo’s father told me all about the gallery yesterday and while I agree that Teo was out of line, you have been uncooperative. What happened to obeying your father?”

I thought with the hours I was gone, he might have changed his perspective but he hasn’t. Teo is still an unproblematic Alpha in his eyes and he only believes and hears what he wants to. No doubt rumors of Teo’s behavior has been swirling around for a while, including how he treated Penelope and was hanging off other women that night. None of that matters. I’m not sure why my father keeps seeing that Alpha with rose-colored glasses.

“Dad, this has nothing to do with obedience.” I swallow, gearing up to reiterate everything I said the night I left. This will be the first time Amiri has heard the story and no doubt he’s going to be even more furious about a problem I’ll ask him not to touch. “It has everything to do with the fact that you can’t respect my boundaries. You can’t respect that I want nothing to do with the Alpha you’ve been shoving me at for years. I tried to like him, love him even but we want different things.”

“You mean like what’s in your diary? Teo showed me those vile desires. A Beta should not want. They are there to support. To help. Never to be the center of attention. Those sinful things you wrote in there about what you would want men to do to you-”

I had no idea Teo had gone so far as to show my father my diary. Teo must be desperate for me to return to him but I’ve never been a Beta that so easily rolls over and allows people to trample on me. I do speak out occasionally. Just not enough. Well, I’m putting my foot down now. “Dad, he invaded my privacy and he should have never shown you that. Regardless, there is nothing sinful about wanting to be loved and touched. There is also nothing wrong about declining to be with an Alpha that has assaulted me multiple times.”

My father just wants me to be a good little pack Beta but I can’t do that. I won’t disrespect myself like that. I go to add to my previous statements when a familiar presence pushes into the room. I jump out of my chair, my hands raised when Teo comes to stand by the desk. A dark look hovers over his expression, his eyes boring into mine.

“Dad, what is he doing here?”

“I asked him to be here. The differences in your stories are astronomical and I can’t imagine that there is this much animosity between the two of you when everything was just fine a few weeks ago. The church’s image will not suffer because my daughter and the next pastor are at odds. You are supposed to be a pack. So, you will have this discussion here.”

Oh.

Oh.

No wonder my father keeps trying to push me into Teo’s arms. The next pastor? Fuck that. He’s a hypocrite in every sense of the word and I refuse to listen to one sermon out of that Alpha’s mouth. Knowing that my father is disregarding the problems I keep bringing up makes me no longer want to be part of this congregation.

“Pastor? Teo? Since when?”

“He went to school for theology, Camila. It was always something that was going to happen but we wanted to present both of you together. As it is, I’ll be presenting Teo this morning without you by his side unless you can come to an agreement.”

I take another step back, visibly upset. My gaze darts between the two of them because there’s no way they’re serious. “An agreement?” My body starts to shake, panic rising in my chest. Just the thought of spending any more time than I have to with Teo makes me cringe. “What possible agreement could I come to with a man who tried to attack me?” Why can’t my father understand? “He came into my place of employment and threatened me and Violet. I lost my job!”

Amiri steps inside and saddles up against my side, wrapping a firm hand around my waist. When both my father and Teo stare at him in shock, his explanation tells me there will be no good ending to this conversation. “Camila asked me to wait outside saying that she needed to speak to her father privately. However, with Teo in here, I’m not comfortable leaving my mate alone.”

My father stands, his brows furrowing. “Mate? That’s impossible. She’s only just broken up with-”

“It’s very possible and she has told you many times she is not with this Alpha. If you’re done trying to gaslight her into an unhappy and abusive marriage, I think we’ll take our leave.”

Teo leans back against the desk, a wild smirk playing on his lips. “You think you’re just so great, Camila. Finding Alphas to play into those desires of yours. They’ll get bored, though. And then what? You’ll come crawling back. And that settlement discussion we’re supposed to have? You’re not good enough to negotiate. Just take the money my father is offering and let it be over.”

They’re both delusional.

I also can’t stand this for one moment longer. My body is starting to shut down even though I want to stand here and fight until my voice is hoarse. My hand moves to my bracelet, lightly tugging at it when Teo takes a step toward me. Apparently, he didn’t learn with Kolsen not to challenge a mate in front of their Alpha or Teo just thinks Amiri looks less threatening.

My breath catches in my throat as I turn to bury my face in my Alpha’s chest. His hold on me tightens, that rich scent enveloping me in a cocoon of calm control. “None of this is going to get settled here, I’m afraid.” There’s a dark tone to my Alpha’s voice that runs straight to my pussy. God, I must be so weird to think that Amiri’s anger is hot. “However, threatening my mate in a back room is definitely not a way to start a conversation. Teo, we’ll set up a meeting. Ezra, I would say it’s a pleasure to finally meet you but it truly isn’t. Camila isn’t coming back here or to your house.”

---