Chapter 38 #2
Elm had experienced what it was like being on the end of Levi’s indifference. Knew how successfully he could compartmentalize people into various categories, including ones that reduced them to little more than a thing.
“I’m not good.” Levi ran his thumb over Elm’s bottom lip.
“I would never accept anything I didn’t choose myself.
I would never have chosen him. He was never going to be my omega.
I didn’t tell you because, in my mind, that wasn’t sex.
We were both reduced to puppets, and we’ll have to carry the shame of that for the rest of our lives. ”
Elm cupped Levi’s face in both hands. “That wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t either of your faults. There’s no reason for you to feel ashamed.”
“You ran from me.”
“Because I thought you tricked me into loving you so you could stick it to my brother.”
Levi grimaced and Elm laughed.
“Poor choice of words,” he admitted. “You get what I’m saying.”
“And you?” the alpha asked. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
He hummed. “I’m sorry I broke my promise.”
“I’ll punish you for that later. Once we’re stable.”
Once Levi was confident Elm wouldn’t get scared and leave him again, he meant.
“I love you,” Levi declared. “That’s real. No matter what anyone else tells you, I need to know that from now on, you’ll believe me over them.”
He blew out a breath. “It occurred to me that Kian was probably trying to throw a wrench into our relationship. I was going to come back to the restaurant and confront you both, but then…” He lifted a shoulder. The rest was obvious.
“Were you scared?”
“Not at all.”
“No?”
“I knew you were coming for me.” Elm brought his fingers to the edge of one of the second-skins, tracing it. “You took a bullet for me.”
“I’d take one again.”
“How about neither of us get shot at instead?”
Levi took Elm’s hand and pressed his palm over his heart. “I’m the Dominus of the White Frost, treasure.”
“If you’re going to follow that up by asking me if I can accept that,” Elm drawled, “don’t bother. I already did when I accepted the claiming bite.”
“We both know you had no idea what you were doing back then. I took advantage.”
“Regrets, alpha?”
“At the risk of scaring you away? Never. I would do the same thing all over again. Even if this isn’t a lifestyle you can accept, even if you hate the idea of being a part of the mafia, I won’t ever release you, Elm.
You’re mine to keep. But I hope you can come to terms with it. I don’t want you to be sad.”
There’d been plenty of time to wrap his head around that when they’d been at the lodge.
Being the Possessio was already something Elm had acknowledged within himself.
The role he would take on now that they’d rejoined society would have to be discussed, but there was only so much he could handle all at once.
“Your knot has gone down alpha,” he pointed out.
“It went down a while ago.”
“Bring it back.”
“Omega.”
He wrapped his arms around his neck and clung to him. “I’m processing. Please. You were right. It is comforting. When you’re locked inside of me, I feel grounded.”
Levi opened his mouth, but a sudden knock on the door interrupted them.
“Dominus,” Wook’s voice called through the wood, the secretary smart enough not to attempt entering. “The leader of the Eumia is here requesting an audience with you and the Possessio.”
Levi glanced at Elm questioningly.
He sighed. They were going to have to have this conversation sooner or later. “We’ll be right there!”
The alpha got up and then disappeared into what Elm assumed was an attached bathroom. When he returned, he was carrying a wash cloth. He made quick work of the mess between Elm’s thighs, then tossed the cloth into a basket in the corner, and moved to the wardrobe.
“Will these fit me?” Elm took the offered bundle of clothing, standing and setting them down. “Where’s the underwear?”
“No underwear,” Levi replied. “You won’t be wearing clothes for long. And yes, they will fit. They’re yours.”
“These aren’t from the lodge.” Elm slipped into a pair of flowy white pants, then pulled on a thin t-shirt. A cable sweater went over it, left open at the front, and he wiggled his bare toes against the soft carpet. “These are also not meant for braving the cold, alpha.”
“Yes, because someone isn’t permitted outdoors at the moment.
” As usual, Levi’s outfit was the same but in black.
He adjusted the collar of the sweater around Elm’s shoulders, patting his arms once he was satisfied.
“I bought you a new wardrobe. There’s no point in lugging clothing to and from the lodge when your alpha is the third wealthiest man on the planet. ”
“Only the third?” Elm teased.
“Would you like to meet the first?” Levi held out his hand, and after Elm took it, led them to the doors. “Oberon is also known as the Purse of the White Frost.”
“Who is the second?”
“The Imperial family,” he replied. “I believe your brother is friends with the heir.”
“He is.” Elm’s nerves frayed as they made their way down a short hall and to the stairs. The second he spotted the foyer and knew they were close, his fingers tightened around Levi’s.
“Promise you won’t run?” the alpha lowered his voice and asked. “Promise, and mean it this time?”
“Promise you won’t hurt Kian. He’s an asshole, but I love him.”
“More than you love me?”
“That isn’t fair,” Elm said. “It’s different.”
“How so?”
“Shh.” They turned the corner and a receiving area came into view.
Several White Frost guards stood against the walls, eyes straight ahead, pretending they weren’t watching over the enemy currently lounging on the white sofa.
Kian stood out like a sore thumb. Unlike the Leviathan, he was edgy with a slightly manic appeal.
Though he was also dressed in black, his clothing was more casual.
He didn’t stand when they entered, acting for all the world as though they were the guests visiting his kingdom instead of the other way around.
“I’m unarmed,” Kian announced as the two of them settled on the couch opposite him, the only thing between them an oval shaped glass coffee table with a snowflake shaped dish in the center.
“My omega can take you down with his pheromones,” Levi mentioned cockily. “It wouldn’t matter if you were.”
Kian chuckled. Then his eyes found Elm’s. “Last chance to tell me to take you away from here.”
“Not even going to apologize, huh?” Elm snorted.
“You wouldn’t believe me even if I said I was sorry,” he pointed out, “because you’d know it was a lie. I thought I was doing what was best for you.”
“By twisting the truth and making me believe Levi willingly slept with Shiloh, when you knew that wasn’t the case?”
“Yeah,” Kian grinned at him, “exactly that.”
“You’re a dick, brother.”
“Sky is at the Eumia compound,” he seemingly changed the subject. “He wants to see you. He misses you.”
“No,” Levi caught on faster than Elm did.
Kian’s grin broadened. “Was worth a shot.”
“If he wants to meet up before the two of you head back to Glyph,” Elm suggested, “then we can meet at a coffee shop. The four of us.” He turned to Levi. “Right?”
“A coffee shop?”
“Our recent success with restaurants leaves much to be desired.”
It was obvious the alpha didn’t like the idea of letting Elm out, or trusting that nothing would happen with the Eumia during the outing, but he gave a single clipped nod of his head in the affirmative anyway, one palm settling over Elm’s knee.
Kian watched the exchange closely, but it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
Elm didn’t want to put that much energy into trying to figure it out.
It didn’t matter what his brother thought of his choice in mate.
Only that he respected it.
“What would you like me to tell mom and dad?” Kian asked.
“Once things have settled, I’ll bring Levi to meet them.” Elm didn’t bother confirming this with the alpha. Seeing his family, visiting Glyph to do so, was nonnegotiable.
Levi must have known that, because he didn’t interject.
“Leave out the part about him being White Frost though.” Their parents somehow didn’t know about Kian and the Eumia.
They found his host business somewhat distasteful, but were satisfied by the fact their eldest was bringing home a paycheck every month and making more than enough to support himself with it.
“Goes without saying,” Kian drawled. With a sigh, he turned back to Levi. “I refuse to call you brother-in-law.”
“We’re in agreement there,” Levi stated.
“But,” Kian glanced between them, “you are Elm’s mate. That does technically make us family. Neither of us wants this to get complicated, and neither of us are willing to give way to the other.”
“Interesting way to suggest a truce,” Elm chimed.
“I’m suggesting the Eumia goes about their business and the White Frost does the same,” he said. “But yes. Basically a truce.”
“I won’t interfere with your business if you don’t interfere with mine.” Levi hummed, considering. “Acceptable terms, Erskine. The White Frost agrees.”
Kian got to his feet. “Then the Eumia does as well.”
“No, no, no.” Elm stood and waved his brother back down. “We aren’t done here. Vague terms are not going to cut it.”
“It seems my Possessio has input he’d like to give,” Levi said, flashing that half smirk Elm’s way. He crossed one leg over the other and rested his hands in his lap, waiting.
“Decades of bad blood doesn’t vanish overnight,” Elm pointed out. “I want both of your words that if there is interference or whatever you’ll sit down and discuss it. No ending the truce or declaring war or taking matters into your own hands. Got it?”
Kian leaned back on the couch. “He’s taking the fun out of everything.”
“He’s thorough,” Levi corrected. “I find it incredibly alluring.”
With a roll of his eyes, he got up a second time. “Have it your way, little brother. White Frost blood won’t be spilled by Eumia hand.”