Page 74 of His Stolen Omega

“What’s wrong with being beta?” Elm growled.

“Nothing. Lots of people would prefer it, in fact, but there are many, like you, who are disappointed when they present. They fail to see the safety in average. In blending in to a crowd.”

“Wow, just call me ugly already.”

Levi’s brow furrowed. “When did I indicate average meant unattractive? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You’re an artist. You should know that.”

“Right. Well—”

“You’re gorgeous, Elm Erskine.” The alpha turned to him and took a single step closer, but Elm was too shocked to register he should move away.

Was that the first time the Leviathan had called him by name? The second?

“Being beta didn’t make you ugly or boring. If you’ve thought less of yourself all these years, you were wrong.”

“…Thanks?” Was it getting hot in here? Elm went to step back, but the alpha’s arm banded around his waist, hauling him against him. The breath knocked out of him as he smacked into him, chest to chest, the tips of their noses practically bumping against each other’s.

Elm’s hands landed on Levi’s shoulders and he gave a push, but the alpha wouldn’t release him. “Stop.”

“I haven’t done anything yet,” Levi said, and it was the last word of that statement that had Elm gulping. “Are you hard for me, omega, or is it for the Rabbit God?”

He was hard?!

Elm tried pulling away again, but was only allowed to move a couple of centimeters, enough to glance down and see he was sporting a semi. It was impossible to miss in the thin material of the silk pants, and he groaned in mortification, and then dropped his forehead to Levi’s chest in a poor attempt to hide.

Why more contact felt safer than allowing the alpha to look at him was beyond Elm’s comprehension, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“You’re speaking to me again,” Levi said then, the mood shifting into something softer.

Elm almost wished for the sexual charge to return instead. It was a lot easier to understand.

“Yeah, well.” He shrugged. “You saved me from those assholes and stayed even though you were injured.” He licked his lips. “Are you okay?”

“All healed.”

“Cool.” Cool?! Good fucking Light.

Why was he acting like this? Was he really that easy? All a guy had to do was compliment his art, correctly guess that he was lonely, and that was it?

The whole reason Elm had needed rescuing in the first place was because Levi had locked him up. Yet he felt grateful. The alpha sticking around, helping him through his heat even while he was noticeably bleeding out…That scratched at an itch Elm felt like he’d had for years.

Gods help him. It made him feel special.

To be sure, Elm gave a tentative sniff, but while the alpha’s pheromones were present, he wasn’t giving off any targeted ones. Not even the soothing one Elm was used to receiving.

“Let go.” He needed to think. Needed space to do it.

This time, the alpha listened, dropping his arm. He watched Elm retreat, putting little more than six feet between them, and then slipped his hands into the pockets of his pajama pants. It called attention to the ripple of his abs.

Was this a lingering effect of his recent heat?

Unlikely.

Despite what Levi had guessed about the creator of the Rabbit God, Elm had always been in tune with his sexual desires. Even as a beta, without the mating period as a drive, he’d enjoyed an active sex life. He’d been the one to proposition Pike even, wearing him down until he’d finally given in and slept with him.

Elm could fuck anyone he even slightly fancied.

But he’d gotten the impression the alpha before him couldn’t say the same.