Lucifer came home at noon, like he had promised. Gadreel was long gone. Alex reached up, running light fingers over the silver collar. When the door opened, she jumped, waiting for the alpha to storm through, mad as hell.

But he didn't. Instead, he just stepped in, hanging his coat on the wall. "Hey."

"Hey." Alex shifted uncomfortably. "How was work?"

The alpha shrugged. "Oh, you know." He walked over to his omega, sitting down beside her. "How was your morning?"

Alex shrugged. "Fine. Boring."

"Huh." Lucifer took her hand, his other one coming to rest on her jaw. "I can change that."

Alex pushed him away. "No thanks." She stood up. "What do we want for lunch?"

Lucifer stood up as well, following her into the kitchen. "We're going out."

"Oh." Alex frowned in confusion. "Why?"

"Business luncheon. Michael's going to be there, and he's bringing Adam." Lucifer studied his omega. "You'll want to change into something nice."

Alex frowned. "I don't have anything nice."

"Of course you do." Lucifer led her into the bedroom, stepping into the closet. "I bought a lot of clothes for you."

Alex's frown deepened. "Oh. Those are mine?" She watched as Lucifer pulled out a small blue dress.

Lucifer chuckled in amusement. "Guys don't wear dresses," he told her. "All of them are yours."

"I don't like dresses." Alex plopped down on the bed, watching as Lucifer tossed the dress next to her. "I'm not wearing it."

Lucifer's raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"I'm not wearing a dress!"

Lucifer stepped towards her. "You're wearing the dress."

"I hate them." Alex stood up, frowning. "Luce . . ."

Lucifer towered her, eyes darkening. "Alex," he growled. "You're going to wear what I tell you to. We're going out to dinner, and you need to look nice."

Alex held his gaze for a brief second, then look away. "Fine, fine." She grabbed the dress, stomping off into the bathroom. "I'll wear the damn dress."

Lucifer watched her go. He shook his head, slightly amused.

...

Alex stomped out of the bathroom ill-temperedly, flopping onto the bed.

Lucifer straightened his tie. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"Nothing."

Lucifer turned, quirking an eyebrow. "Alex." He sat down on the bed next to her. "Don't lie to me. What's up?"

Alex lowered her gaze. "I said it's nothing. I . . . I just don't feel that good."

"Ah." Lucifer took her hand loosely. "I'm sorry. We won't stay out too long." He stood back up. "You're going to want to wear heels. I think there's a nice gold pair in the closet."

Alex frowned again. "I can't wear heels," she insisted. "You know I can't. I trip!"

"You'll get use to it." With that, Lucifer shooed her off.

...

Half an hour later, Alex stepped through the door of the Talbot Restaurant. Lucifer took her hand, looking around. Then he led the way over to a table. Alex recognized Michael out of the three men seated there. She glanced around, then did a double take. Adam was seated on the floor against the wall, hands resting on his knees, eyes trained on the ground. Alex tightened her grip on Lucifer.

Lucifer held out a chair, motioning for Alex to sit. She did, glancing to her immediate right where Michael sat. Lucifer sat down beside her. "Brother." He dipped his head in a formal greeting.

Michael ignored him. "Why is she here?"

"Why is Adam over there?" Lucifer countered. "If he's just going to sit in the corner, why did you bother bringing him at all?"

"He's an omega. And so is she."

Alex shifted her chair closer to Lucifer, shying away from the other alpha. Lucifer noticed, a frustrated noise rumbling in his throat. "My omega will sit wherever I want her to sit," he replied coldly. He then turned to the man to his right. "Zachariah, I didn't get to introduce you to my omega. This is Alex."

Zachariah blinked. "Huh. Good for you."

Alex frowned. Her eyes flickered over to Lucifer. "Luce. When do we eat?" she asked quietly, keeping her voice low and respectful.

Lucifer didn't acknowledge her, and Alex frowned again. She felt the gazes of the other alphas turn to her, and she studied her lap. One hand reached under the table, tightening around Lucifer's wrist to comfort herself.

Michael snorted in disgust. "I expected more from you, brother. This is getting ridiculous. There's no room for a wild omega in our line of work."

Alex felt Lucifer's muscles tense. "It's a work in progress," he growled. "Rome wasn't built in a day."

Michael frowned. "Omegas aren't cities." He glanced backwards towards Adam. "I had him broken in two days." He turned his gaze back to Alex. "I can take her for a week. Whip her into shape."

Alex felt ice run through her veins, and she looked up at Lucifer, eyes wide.

Lucifer shook his head. "No, no. Thank you for the offer, but no. I'll break my omega my way."

"Your way?" The older brother let out a scoffing laugh. "Last time you tried your way, Gabriel stepped in and took him."

Lucifer's face twisted into a frown. "Gabriel had no right to Sam." He looked over at Zachariah, then let out a breath. "Perhaps this is not the place to speak about this." He picked up a menu, handing one to Alex. "Chose what you want, love."

Alex studied the menu, then looked back up at Lucifer. He was talking with Zachariah, and she tugged on his sleeve. When he didn't acknowledge her, she tugged harder. "Luce," she whispered.

He turned on her, eyes angry. "What do you want?"

Alex flinched away. "I-I can't read," she whispered, voice shaking slightly. "I don't know what the menu says."

Lucifer's eyes softened, if only slightly. "Remember what we discussed," he growled, "about acting like an omega. I advise you do so now."

Alex's eyes widened slightly in hurt. Part of her wanted to tell him that she wasn't going to call him Alpha, but the other part was disappointed that he was mad at her. "Luce," she whimpered.

"Go sit with Adam." Lucifer's eyes flickered over to the other omega, before returning to his omega. She looked like he had kicked her. Those damn puppy eyes. "He'll help you read it," he continued. "When you've decided what you want, come tell me. You may return to the table when the food arrives."

Alex's bottom lip quivered at the thought of Lucifer degrading her to such levels. But she just nodded. "Fine." She picked up the menu and walked over to Adam, crestfallen. She heard Lucifer and Michael talking, but she tuned them out. Then she sat next to Adam. "Hey."

Adam looked confused, then looked over at his alpha. Michael turned to look at him, then gave a slight nod. Adam turned his gaze back to the floor. "Hey."

Alex handed him the menu. "I can't read," she admitted. "Can you tell me what this says?"

"Sure."

Alex detected bitterness in his voice. "What's wrong?"

Adam turned his head to look up at her. "Why do you get to order off the menu?" he asked angrily. "I wish I had . . ." He trailed off, looking over at Michael. "Never mind." He took the menu.

...

He read it to her, even going back when Alex asked him about something. Finally she took the menu back and stood up, made awkward in the heels. She walked back across the room to Lucifer. She slid back into her chair, face flushing as the alphas turned their gazes to her. "I want the chicken alfredo," she told him, placing the menu back on the table.

She felt Lucifer stiffen beside her, and she looked up, confused.

The alpha didn't say anything. "Very well," he finally sighed. "I'll order for you. You can come back when it arrives."

Alex hesitated, then, seeing Lucifer was serious, trudged back over to Adam, head hung. She sat down next to the omega, letting out a sigh. "I don't understand," she whispered, wrapping her warms around her knees. "I think he's mad at me."

Adam let out a huff. "Probably." He looked up, eyes flickering towards his alpha. "Alpha would probably kill me if I acted like that."

"It's stupid," she snapped. "I'm not calling him alpha. He's not my alpha!"

The section of the restaurant fell silent, and Alex blushed a bright red. She hadn't meant to say that so loud. She looked towards Lucifer, then quickly lowered her eyes, wincing. Shit. He was furious. Part of her wanted to run, but she knew that would only make things worse. So she shrunk as far into herself as she possibly could.

The low buzz of voices filled the restaurant again, and Alex finally turned to Adam. He was staring at her, eyes wide.

Alex blushed again, looking for a change in subject. "So," she began. "How, uh, how did you become Michael's omega?"

Adam lowered his gaze back to the ground. "Alpha found me at one of the local shelters." He looked back up. "That's about it. I'm lucky Alpha found me."

"Why?" Alex glanced over at Michael. He was talking with Lucifer, and they didn't look happy.

Adam shrugged. "Alpha is rich. It's a nice way to live, really."

"But you're not free!"

"There's no such thing as free. Don't you see? It's an illusion." Adam angrily stared at his feet. "Sure. Maybe my alpha has a temper. Maybe we don't get along as well as most Myhidr, but at least I'm safe."

Alex grunted in disagreement. "I was free. And Lucifer treats me nice." Her confidence faltered for a second. That might change pretty soon. She glanced over at Lucifer. He still looked pretty mad. "Have you ever got in trouble?"

Adam shook his head. "Not in a long time. The last time was when I spoke out of turn." He let out a scoffing laugh. "Alpha doesn't like that." He sighed. "There was one other time, but . . ." He trailed off wit a sigh.

Alex was going to reply, but a waitress returned with their food. She watched as a plate was placed at her spot. She hesitated, but a rumbling in her stomach made her get up.

She slid into her chair next to Lucifer, head low. No one made any indication that they noticed her return. She watched Lucifer out of the corner of her eye. Only when he started eating did she pick up her fork and do the same.

...

The rest of the meal was completely uneventful. No one looked at her, no one spoke to her, and Alex kept her eyes completely focused on her food. She didn't look up at all. Eventually, Lucifer stood up, holding out his hand. Alex took it, standing up as well, eyes trained on the ground. "Thank you," she whispered.

Lucifer just grunted. "Thank you for the meal," he told Zachariah. "I'll see you in the office tomorrow."

"You're not coming back this afternoon?"

Alex felt Lucifer's gaze come to rest on her. "I think not," he said. Alex winced. She let him lead her away.