Chapter 37 #2
“The Leviathan’s little bitch more like,” the second guy cackled.
“Name calling is unnecessary,” Elm told him.
“Don’t like being called a bitch, bitch?”
“More like your breath is rank and I’d rather not smell it.” Elm anticipated the next slap.
Didn’t piss him off any less though.
Just had to hold it in. Keep them distracted so his alpha and his brother had time to reach him and—
“Too bad you weren’t in the car with him the first time,” asshole number one stated.
“What?” Elm stilled.
“Could have killed you then, right in front of him. Would have made an impact. Shown the world the Serpents aren’t to be underestimated.”
“They’ll get the message once we’ve cut him to bits,” the second guy insisted.
“Time out.” Elm made a T with his hands, waiting for them to stop squawking like demented birds before asking outright, “The truck that ran the Dominus and the underboss off the road a few months ago. That was you?”
“Well, not us specifically—” the third man began, only for the first to cut him off.
“Yeah, what of it? Going to do something about it, omega?” He leaned in for another slap.
Elm caught him by the wrist, unleashing aggressive pheromones in the process, and squeezed hard enough to grind bone.
Whoever these assholes were, they stood no chance against either the White Frost or the Eumia, a fact that became even more glaringly obvious when hives began to form on their skin within seconds of being exposed to Elm’s pheromones.
The driver cursed and the vehicle swerved, causing Elm to lose his grip on the man, but he didn’t cut off his pheromones, pumping them out even harder instead.
He had enough sense to turn in his seat and pull the belt over him, clicking it into place mere seconds before the van swerved off to the side.
They were on the highway, and it slammed into the guardrail a few times, jostling all of the occupants, before coming to the end and veering completely off the road.
The impact when they crashed into a thick tree had Elm’s head hitting the back of the driver’s seat, and sent the three men in the back with him, who weren’t buckled, tumbling around like ping pong balls.
Elm took an arm to the face and was crushed against the door by the weight of one of the men.
He struggled to reach between their bodies, unsnapping the seatbelt and reaching for the door handle just as smoke erupted from the smashed hood.
He landed on his hands and knees outside the vehicle, scrambling onto his feet and shaking his head in an attempt to clear his blurred vision.
There were grunts and groans behind him, and he turned back just in time to see the second guy—who had flung over the seat and been the one shoved against Elm—trying to unclip the snap on his holster.
Elm reached in and undid it himself, easily slapping the man’s hand away. Once he had the blaster, he checked the safety to be sure it was off and aimed it directly at the guy’s forehead. “Who’s the bitch now?”
It was different than when he’d shot Zan with that arrow. Maybe because he’d had time to come to peace with it. Maybe because he’d hardened since then, despite having been kept in the comfort and safety of the lodge. He couldn’t explain the why of it, but that probably didn’t really matter anyway.
He shot the man dead and then pointed the weapon at the others, taking them out one by one in quick blows. His hand remained steady and his conscience clear, the thought of them trying to kill his alpha fueling his actions.
If their roles were reversed, Levi would do this for him.
The Leviathan had even killed his own for Elm’s sake.
He—
Several cars arrived, screeching to a halt around him, and Elm ignored them, finishing off the job before their backup could save them. By the time he finally turned to glance away from the carnage, it was to find Levi and his brother rushing out of the nearest one.
“Omega!” Levi raced toward him, panic in his gaze.
Noting it, Elm dropped the weapon and took off in his direction. Even without knowing what was about to happen, he could sense the alpha’s fear.
He’d only just thrown himself into the Leviathan’s arms when the van he’d been standing next to caught fire and exploded. They both fell to the ground, Levi on his back, Elm on top of him.
The alpha rolled, protectively covering him with his large form as bits of metal and glass flung out around them.
Levi grunted, signaling he’d been hit somewhere, and Elm’s heart lurched into his throat.
The second it became safe to move, he shoved the alpha off, hands roaming everywhere he could see.
“I’m fine,” Levi reassured, clicking his tongue when Elm found a cut on the back of his left shoulder.
“Something sliced you open,” Elm said.
“Calm down, omega,” he insisted. “It’s nothing.”
“You’re bleeding!” That reminded him of the gunshot wounds he’d only just suffered and Elm gasped. “The stitches are torn also.”
“It’s—”
“Shut the hell up, alpha,” he snapped. “You’re injured. That is not nothing.” His gaze moved around, taking in the rest of their company.
Baal and a few others were busy putting out the van, Kian was standing a couple of yards away, and—
“Over here!” Elm called out as soon as Wook stepped out of a car with one of the medics from the restaurant. He moved aside to make room for the doctor, but refused to give them too much space.
Baal walked over. “The authorities are on their way. I’ll stay and deal with them, but you and the Possessio should leave. It won’t do to have your faces involved.”
“What about reinforcements?” Elm asked.
Kian stepped forward. “Odette and some others found the Serpent’s base. Followed them from the restaurant when they were looking for Elm. They’ve cleared them out.”
“The only way to properly destroy a snake den is to set it ablaze,” Levi grunted, motioning toward the burning van pointedly.
Kian nodded and clicked the earbud attachment in his ear. “You hear that, Odette? Destroy the whole building.”
The doctor urged Levi to his feet, and Elm rushed to help, but they only managed a step when Kian blocked their way.
“Elm—”
“Not now,” he said, maneuvering himself and Levi around his brother. “I’ll call you later.”
“You—”
“Fuck off, Kian,” he snapped. “If you keep putting my alpha at risk, I’ll be forced to do something about it. Don’t make me.”
Kian held his gaze for a lengthy moment, and then pointedly retreated. He didn’t say anything more as Elm and the doctor helped Levi to the car and quickly left the scene.