Page 57 of His Snowbound 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 himdown, 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.