Page 76 of His Stolen Omega

“Of course you did.” Elm wasn’t even surprised. “It’s tempting to demand a five-course meal just to be a dick—because you’d deserve it—but I’m actually not a picky eater. Anything is fine.”

“Noodles on their own are a snack, not a meal.”

He frowned. “Who mentioned noodles?”

“Baal.”

“The underboss?” Elm twisted on his seat, looking around, but the rest of the main level was still quiet. “Where is he?”

“Not here.”

He sighed. “And where is here, while we’re on the topic?”

Levi tossed diced vegetables in a wok and then moved to another burner where he had thick slabs of meat searing. “Frost Lodge.”

The aroma of salt and fat had Elm’s mouth watering, and he struggled to remain focused.

“Where is that?” he asked.

“Wintersoll Peaks.”

All the way out there?!

“No one will find you,” Levi continued when Elm grew quiet. “There’s only one road into the city, and the hovercar parked outside has biometric controls. If you try to run, you’ll lose your way in the forest. If I can’t find you in time, you’ll die of hypothermia. That isn’t a very pleasant way to go.”

“Guards?” The implication there was only one vehicle sort of told him all he needed to know already, but he wanted confirmation.

“There aren’t any.”

“Because I could hurt them?”

“Because they could try to hurt you.”

That was…Elm knew he should be more cautious, shouldn’t buy into whatever the alpha told him, but…He did.

“Your pheromones make me want to trust you,” he stated.

“They do.” Levi didn’t even try to hide it.

“It isn’t real.”

“Our kind have survived following nothing but instinct for centuries. Who are you to decide that none of that matters?” He began plating the food, movements steady and unhurried. The alpha obviously believed there truly was no escape from this location. If Elm wasn’t mistaken, he might even say Levi looked happy.

He expected the alpha to direct them into the dining area, eyebrow lifting when Levi turned and slid a full plate across the island toward him instead.

The meat was sliced into thin strips, slightly pink and juicy looking. It was laid over a creamy white sauce, next to a mix of sauteed vegetables. A moment later, the alpha placed a flaky roll on the edge.

Levi spent a moment lingering before a full wine rack, made a selection, and then came back with two glasses. He uncorked it and filled them, setting one at the corner of Elm’s plate before finally pulling a stool out from under his side and taking a seat himself.

“You’re letting me drink?” Elm wrapped his fingers around the flute of the glass. He’d been given coffee, tea, juice, and water during his captivity, but even when Levi had taken wine with dinner, Elm had never been offered so much as a sip.

“Can you handle your alcohol?” Levi asked absently, swirling the contents of his glass.

“Yeah.” At least, he could before. Elm’s uncertainty must have been written on his face, because the alpha reassured him.

“It’s just the two of us for miles. Even if you lose control of your pheromones, you can’t hurt me. Enjoy the meal, omega. If you like the wine, feel free to finish the bottle.”

“Free is kind of a funny choice of words given this situation, don’t you think?”