Page 85 of His Stolen Omega

“What do you mean?”

“I was relieved when you stopped thinking of me as a thing, but this…” He crossed his arms and leaned back against the cabinet. “None of this feels normal.”

“What’s normal, exactly?”

“I am,” Elm said. “I’m—”

“No longer beta,” Levi stated. “And before you insist otherwise, you were never average. Care to try again? What constitutes as normal?”

“Stocking an art room for your captive is definitely not it.” He blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair.

“You’re agitated,” Levi realized. “Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“I thought you would be pleased.”

“There.” Elm glared. “That. That’s why I feel uneasy. Why are you trying to please me? What possible reason could you have to take it this far? This is just a bigger cage, I understand that, but fine dining, and art studios, and silk pajamas, and kissing—”

“Did you not like it?”

“Leviathan.” He felt like he was going crazy. “Please.”

The alpha watched him closely for a moment, and then offered, “If I tell you it’s a new approach, that keeping you content will help speed up stabilization, would that make you feel better?”

“I’ve been with you too long,” Elm said, mostly to himself. “I can recognize when you’re attempting to bury the lead by offering a believable smokescreen. What’s the veiled truth here? What don’t you want me to know?”

“You’re emotional. Let’s call it a night. You’ll feel better after you’ve slept.”

“Levi.”

“Come, omega. You can explore more tomorrow.”

“Damn it, I am not a child!” He lost his cool. “I don’t need you to hold my hand or put me to bed!”

“No, you need me to teach you how to control your own nature so you don’t go around accidentally causing mass suffering.”

The words stung and Elm flinched. “I’ve gotten better.”

Before the attack in the basement, he’d improved a lot. The alpha had taught him how to activate and siphon his pheromones, and Elm had been well on his way to perfecting that ability. Then his heat had hit and he’d been reduced to a thing leaking seductive pheromones all over again, unable to even call on his dominant side to defend himself.

“I’ve closed you off from the outside world,” Levi began. “There’s no risk of anyone else getting in here and tainting you with their pheromones. With just me as a touchstone, your body will adjust faster. It’ll balance itself out, and once you’re past that final hurdle, this sense of helplessness will be gone.”

“Will it?” Elm shook his head. “You’ll still be here.”

“Don’t confuse being powerless with being helpless. They aren’t the same thing.”

“Why did you kiss me, Levi?”

“Because I wanted to.”

“And when you want to do more?” The answer was written across his face, and Elm wondered if the alpha meant for it to be as obvious as he was making it, or if Elm had simply gotten better at reading his mostly blank expressions. “If this is about fucking, let’s just do it now.”

“Pardon?” His eyes narrowed.

“Get it out of the way.” Elm looped his thumbs in the waistband of his pajama pants, but didn’t pull them down yet. “If you’re planning on buttering me up so you can fuck me eventually, let’s just do it.”

If this was some type of game, some sick conquest thing where the alpha thought he’d break Elm down, sleep with him and go back to being an asshole, Elm wanted no part in it. He’d be a prisoner, a damaged omega, and a lonely artist, but he would never be anyone’s bitch.