Page 79 of His Stolen Omega

A moment that didn’t last, since the alpha was still standing there, hovering.

“Stay over there and don’t look.” Elm turned so his back was to him, trying to shield as much of his project as possible.

“I thought you said you had a high tolerance,” Levi drawled. “One bottle of wine and you’re this drunk?”

“I’m only kind of drunk,” he corrected. “If you can remember it after, it’s only kind of.”

“Oh? Did you get black out drunk often at university?”

Elm chuckled. “Sometimes, I woke up in a stranger’s bed and was super confused. That’s actually what I thought happened when I first woke up in your basement. But then I remembered all the horrible things that’d been done to me, and saw you creeping from the other side of the bars.”

“I wasn’t…” Levi growled, but seemed to drop it, more interested in a different part of that statement. “From now on, you aren’t allowed to drink in front of other people.”

He snorted. “There’s literally no one else here.”

“We’ll be keeping it that way.”

“Sure.” It’s not like Elm had a say in the matter. His hands were starting to sting, even through the gloves, and he brought them to his mouth and blew on them.

“Enough—”

“No, I’m almost finished!” He hurriedly got back to his snow creation.

“Did your brother use to play with you like this?” the alpha questioned.

“Kian?” He grinned. “He’d pretty much do what you’re doing. Watch over me and wait it out. Grumble about the cold.”

“I’m not bothered by the cold,” Levi argued. “You’re the one who’s going to regret being out here.”

“Almost…Done!” Elm stood, shaking out his legs to get feeling back into them, and then stepped aside, dramatically holding his arms out toward the snow statue. “Ta da! What do you think? Totally worth it, right?”

“That is not a snowman.” Levi stared at it.

“This is better.”

“Is it?”

“You like rabbits.” Elm took in his handywork, then pursed his lips. “It’s a rough sketch. When I recreate it with clay, it’ll be better. More detailed. But you get the gist. It’s cute, right?”

He’d made the bunny a little higher than the snowline currently was, so that his head could peer up over it. His long ears were carved over his back, and he had four distinct legs and paws. The tail was just a clump of snow attached to his backside, but it did the trick.

Between its front paws, Elm had made a moon cake.

“What does it matter if I like rabbits?” Levi asked.

“I don’t know. You cooked me dinner. It felt right to return the gesture.” Why was he making a big deal out of this?

Stupid alpha.

Levi stepped forward, inspecting it as though it really was some great work of art, and Elm felt pride swell through him despite knowing how ridiculous that was. He was still drunk enough not to care though, so he swept those negative emotions aside and opted to bask in this rare moment of contentment.

When was the last time he’d breathed fresh air?

Stood outside?

Hell. Worn shoes?

He stomped his feet and smiled.