Page 160 of His Stolen Omega

It was different than when he’d shot Zan with that arrow. Maybe because he’d had time to come to peace with it. Maybe because he’d hardened since then, despite having been kept in the comfort and safety of the lodge. He couldn’t explain the why of it, but that probably didn’t really matter anyway.

He shot the man dead and then pointed the weapon at the others, taking them out one by one in quick blows. His hand remained steady and his conscience clear, the thought of them trying to kill his alpha fueling his actions.

If their roles were reversed, Levi would do this for him.

The Leviathan had even killed his own for Elm’s sake.

He—

Several cars arrived, screeching to a halt around him, and Elm ignored them, finishing off the job before their backup could save them. By the time he finally turned to glance away from the carnage, it was to find Levi and his brother rushing out of the nearest one.

“Omega!” Levi raced toward him, panic in his gaze.

Noting it, Elm dropped the weapon and took off in his direction. Even without knowing what was about to happen, he could sense the alpha’s fear.

He’d only just thrown himself into the Leviathan’s arms when the van he’d been standing next to caught fire and exploded. They both fell to the ground, Levi on his back, Elm on top of him.

The alpha rolled, protectively covering him with his large form as bits of metal and glass flung out around them.

Levi grunted, signaling he’d been hit somewhere, and Elm’s heart lurched into his throat.

The second it became safe to move, he shoved the alpha off, hands roaming everywhere he could see.

“I’m fine,” Levi reassured, clicking his tongue when Elm found a cut on the back of his left shoulder.

“Something sliced you open,” Elm said.

“Calm down, omega,” he insisted. “It’s nothing.”

“You’re bleeding!” That reminded him of the gunshot wounds he’d only just suffered and Elm gasped. “The stitches are torn also.”

“It’s—”

“Shut the hell up, alpha,” he snapped. “You’re injured. That is not nothing.” His gaze moved around, taking in the rest of their company.

Baal and a few others were busy putting out the van, Kian was standing a couple of yards away, and—

“Over here!” Elm called out as soon as Wook stepped out of a car with one of the medics from the restaurant. He moved aside to make room for the doctor, but refused to give them too much space.

Baal walked over. “The authorities are on their way. I’ll stay and deal with them, but you and the Possessio should leave. It won’t do to have your faces involved.”

“What about reinforcements?” Elm asked.

Kian stepped forward. “Odette and some others found the Serpent’s base. Followed them from the restaurant when they were looking for Elm. They’ve cleared them out.”

“The only way to properly destroy a snake den is to set it ablaze,” Levi grunted, motioning toward the burning van pointedly.

Kian nodded and clicked the earbud attachment in his ear. “You hear that, Odette? Destroy the whole building.”

The doctor urged Levi to his feet, and Elm rushed to help, but they only managed a step when Kian blocked their way.

“Elm—”

“Not now,” he said, maneuvering himself and Levi around his brother. “I’ll call you later.”

“You—”

“Fuck off, Kian,” he snapped. “If you keep putting my alpha at risk, I’ll be forced to do something about it. Don’t make me.”