“You don’t want to see this. Or hear this. I’m done playing with him. Put your fingers in your ears.”
Aaren gave them a last look, and left the room quickly.
“Good boy,” Hades growled.
“What the fuck are you saying to him?” Ballus spat. “Only weak, spineless alphas tell their omegas shit like that.”
“Yeah? And who’s the weak one here?” Hades took great pleasure in grabbing Ballus’ hair and lifting his head off thefloor. Then he slammed Ballus’ face down, over and over, until his bones cracked and he whimpered in pain.
Then Ballus stopped whimpering, stopped moving entirely, and the snarling beast in Hades’ chest finally grew quiet.
Hades sat back, his heart finally starting to slow down. He looked at the growing pool of blood beneath them. Then he stood, heading to the bathroom to wash his hands. He scrubbed under his nails with soap, and pulled out his phone.
Fury answered almost immediately. “What’s up?”
“Might’ve just done something,” Hades said. “Fucker threatened Aaren. Has been abusing him for months. I took care of him, but now I need help with cleanup.”
“All right. Be right there. I might bring a friend along. Hang tight.”
It was only when Hades stepped out of the bathroom and saw Aaren huddled into a ball on the couch, that he froze.
The violence and the killing—that was second nature to him.
But Aaren wasn’t involved in that life.
Hades had just ended a man, with Aaren mere rooms away.
He swallowed hard, his pulse speeding up.Fuck. What do I do?
This,thiswas why he had stayed away from omegas. Hades could be a ruthless beast, and... What if it was too much for Aaren? Aaren had accepted him up until now, but that was before he had seen Hades’ true nature.
What if Aaren wanted to leave him?
“Sweetheart?” Hades said, feeling more shaky than he had in a long while.
Aaren jerked his head up. Then he hurried over, scanning Hades for injuries. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Hades cleared his throat. “It’s over.He’sover. Don’t go in there. You don’t want to see that mess.”
Aaren frowned. He watched Hades for a second, almost more perceptive than Hades was comfortable with. “Something’s wrong.”
Hades swallowed. He took a few breaths. “You know that I’m violent. I’ve told you this before. It’s just... I never thought I would do that in front of you. It’s not pretty.”
“And?” Aaren was still watching him closely.
“And I’m afraid that I’m too much for you,” Hades said, nervous now where he hadn’t been with Ballus. “I... might have lost a bit of control. You know what happened in that bedroom. He’s dead. I made him dead. If you don’t want to stick around... I understand.”
Aaren watched him for much longer this time. Then he stepped in close, wrapping his arms around Hades. “I trust you. And I trust you to keep me safe. He would’ve hurt me otherwise.”
Hades’ knees could’ve buckled; he was so relieved.
“Yeah. He didn’t even know you’re pregnant. But if he did...” The way he was going, Ballus would’ve hit Aaren, maybe hit him in the belly too.
Aaren hugged Hades more tightly. “I’m not scared of you,” he whispered. “You’re my alpha.”
Hades’ heart tumbled. He had to swallow twice before he could speak. “Sweetheart.”
“Mine,” Aaren said. And he trailed his wrists down Hades’ arms, covering Hades in his tulip scent.
