Chapter 18
Baal flicked his lighter and held it underneath the cigarette dangling from Levi’s lips. A scream skated across the cold night air, but neither of them gave it any mind, settling against the side of the barn as their men worked around them.
They’d taken out the last of a trafficking ring, the final piece of scum left on this side of the planet. Blood stained their fingers and the snow, and there were over a dozen bodies strewn about the front of the small farm the organization had been using as cover while in hiding this past year.
Across the way, one of their alphas, Stolas, dragged a body by the ankle towards a pickup truck, whistling an upbeat tune as he went.
“You’ve seemed restless,” Levi broke the quiet between them, plucking the cigarette from his mouth and letting out a stream of smoke. He was staring up at the night sky, gazing at the stars, seemingly oblivious to the sheer carnage that surrounded them.
“You’ve got brain matter on your shoe,” Baal pointed out, rolling his eyes when his best friend didn’t even look, let alone bother to shake it off.
“Is it your omega?”
He scowled at his multi-slate, holding himself back from checking. It would be for the millionth time in the past two days, and would no doubt supply the same results.
An empty inbox.
“He’s been ignoring my calls and texts,” Baal admitted.
Since he’d left Espen behind to keep an eye on things, he knew both Thorn and Aster were safe, which was the only reason he was still here, and not already back in the city demanding answers.
“Things were fine when I left. Fine the first half of the trip. I can’t figure out what I could have done to piss him off this badly. ”
“Maybe he’s realized that you’re a monster and he’s better off keeping his distance.”
Baal clenched his jaw. “There’s still a single bullet left in my blaster.”
“Staging a coup de ta?”
“Levi, I’m serious about him.”
“I know.” He took another drag. “He’s all you ever talk about. Has been for years. You met once when he was like seventeen. I don’t get what could have been so appealing about him that you were never able to let him go.”
“You wouldn’t,” he stated. “You’ve never fallen for anyone before.”
Levi grunted.
“I told you when I saw him last year and recognized him,” Baal reminded, “he’s mine.”
“That’s the only reason I didn’t send anyone to kill his worthless father and demand the money outright,” Levi said. “But while you may have fooled the others, on New Year’s, I saw that collar for what it was. There was no bite underneath it.”
Baal clicked his tongue. “He isn’t ready.”
“He isn’t? Or you aren’t?”
The problem with being friends with someone as long as the two of them had been, was how well they knew each other.
“Everything else fell into place too easily. I don’t trust it,” he admitted. “I can’t risk pushing him too far. What if I forced the bite and that was the final straw for him?”
“So what if it is?” Levi lifted a single shoulder. “He can’t leave you once he’s claimed, no matter how badly he wants to. It’s the only way to secure a mate. Give them the bite. Make them unequivocally yours. It’s rather simple. I don’t see why anyone would complicate it, least of all you.”
“Just because you’ll force it on your omega when you finally meet them, doesn’t mean—”
“Up until a year ago,” Levi interrupted, “you would have done the same.”
That was true. He would have. Hell, Baal had been planning on doing just that, in fact.
The second he’d seen Thorn standing next to his father at Frost Loans, he’d fantasized about taking him.
Sometimes it was sweetly. Sometimes not.
But the fantasy always ended the same, with his teeth buried in Thorn’s neck.
“His old man just had to go and die,” Baal growled. It’d thrown a wrench into his plans. Originally, he’d been all set to approach Jack Winters and offer him a deal. His son in exchange for his debts cleared.
Baal would have had him convince Thorn to enter the White Hunt, knowing his omega would do it for his little brother. Then, it would have been a simple matter of Baal chasing him down, taking him, and claiming him. Wrapped up nice and neat, all in one go.
But then Jack had drunk himself to death, and Thorn had overextended himself by taking on yet another job…
Baal hadn’t been able to go through with the initial plan.
He’d worried Thorn’s mental state couldn’t handle it.
So he’d reevaluated, moved things around, come up with the bullshit breeding contract idea, and was now bidding his time.
“He still needs to warm up to me,” Baal said.
“And if he really gets pregnant?” Levi asked.
“Yeah, right.”
“It could happen,” the sour note in his voice gave him away, and Baal was reminded of what his friend had gone through.
“Are you thinking about—”
“No.” Levi took one last puff and then flicked the cigarette bud away.
“You could go find him,” Baal suggested.
“To what end?”
“I don’t know.” He wasn’t the only one who’d been restless, was all he was saying, but Leviathan wasn’t the type of person who took advice, not even from his oldest friend. So Baal opted to try lightening the mood. “What the hell would either of us do with a baby anyway?”
“Hell if I know.”
“We’ve collected all of the bodies,” one of their soldiers stepped forward and announced before bowing.
Levi motioned at Baal. “Let’s get this over with so you can return to your omega.”
Best thing he’d heard all week.
* * *
The rut hit him swiftly and unexpectedly.
Fortunately, he’d already landed and was in the city.
Unfortunately, he’d been a half hour away from Thorn’s place, and the frosty omega still wasn’t responding to his calls.
Baal sped most of the way, and by the time he pulled into the driveway and slammed on the brakes, his cock had completely ruined his pants and was straining so hard, the seams were ripping.
He stumbled and almost face planted on the ground, a strong arm catching him and helping to steady him back on his feet. The smell of another alpha had him growling, baring teeth, and swinging before he could help himself.
His fist connected with Espen’s jaw, but the other man merely stepped back a safe distance and dipped his head respectfully. “Underboss.”
“Where is he?” Baal swayed on his feet.
“Inside, sir.”
“Cancel my schedule indefinitely. Post guards on the street, but warn them not to get close. If I smell anyone near the house while I’m with my omega, I’ll tear their heart out.”
“Your rut came earlier.”
“Yeah.” He stripped out of his coat haphazardly, dropping it into the snow as he made his way to the front door.
Espen was wise enough not to try helping him again.
He must not have processed Baal was in rut at first, or he would have known better in the beginning as well.
He didn’t call out to him either, remaining by the car until Baal had made it to the house.
Then he turned on his heel and disappeared into the night, off to follow the orders he’d been given.
Baal struggled with the locking mechanism, frustration growing as arousal started to clog his mind. His cock throbbed, his balls burned, and he could already smell the tantalizing scent of his omega seeping through the cracks between the doorframe.
He had his blaster out in a flash, a bullet shot through the wood just above the knob in less time than it took to blink.
There was a sound of alarm from within the house, but he was already pushing his way inside, pausing just within the threshold when his senses were fully assaulted by the smell of omega.
And fear.
He frowned and lifted the gun, stepping further into the home and spinning toward the living room, seeking out whatever threat had scared Thorn.
“Omega.” He found him standing by the couch, shaking, a rush of sourness tainting his smell as Baal approached.
“Baal?” Thorn stared at the weapon. “What are you doing?”
“Rut,” he managed, dropping the gun so his hands were free to tear off his clothing.
“Wait.” Thorn started to retreat, freezing in place when Baal growled at him warningly.
“Omega.” He was too far gone to carry on much of a conversation. If he didn’t bury himself in that warm heat in the next sixty seconds, his junk might implode. “Mine.”
With a gasp, Thorn spun on his heels and took off, inadvertently activating Baal’s alpha instincts to hunt.
He caught up with him at the front door, hooking an arm around the omega’s middle and hauling him back inside.
Baal had enough sense to slam the door closed, shoving the chain lock in place since he’d completely destroyed the other one, and then dragged his struggling omega down the hall toward the bedroom.
“Whatever you’re upset about, tell me later,” Baal instructed, tossing Thorn onto the bed. He followed after him, sealing their mouths together in a heated kiss before the omega could get a word out edgewise.