Page 67 of Alpha Dragon's Mating Contract
“Raptor!” Walren cried.
Raptor snapped out of his rage-fueled haze. Then he remembered that there were two omegas in his restaurant, both of them with babies. He couldn’t leave them unprotected to go chasing after Larei.
Instead, he watched as Larei disappeared into the crowd. “Fucking damn it!”
Raptor stomped back into the restaurant, glancing at the disheveled omega under the table. The man was trembling, watching Raptor warily.
So Raptor crouched some distance away, raising both hands to show he didn’t mean any harm. “Hey. Are you okay?”
Bright orange eyes flickered around the restaurant and landed back on Raptor. “Did you mean what you said? You’re gonna give me money?”
“Yes,” Raptor said. “I can also provide a safe place for you to stay, if that’s what you need. Not my own home—a safe house for omegas.”
The young man chewed on his lip. He looked grimy, with multiple holes in his worn clothing.
“Walren, could you—” Raptor looked up.
Walren was pale, his eyes wide, rocking slightly on his feet. Crap.
“Be right back,” Raptor said to the omega under the table.
He hurried over to his office, gathering Walren into his arms.
“Sweetheart? Are you okay?”
Of course he wasn’t okay. He’d just seen the jerkwad who had broken his leg and left him to die.
And Raptor had been distracted trying to put out the fires—first Larei, then the new omega.
Raptor leaned back to study Walren’s face. Walren’s throat worked. He exhaled shakily and leaned into Raptor, sagging when Raptor hugged him and Zebbie.
“It’s—It’s awful,” Walren mumbled, his voice cracking. “I didn’t think I’d... ever have to see him again. My kn—My leg hurts.”
Raptor was filled with the sudden bitter regret that he had let Larei go. “Fuck! I should’ve killed him when I got the chance.”
Should’ve driven a hot poker into Larei’s eye. Should’ve shaken him until his neck snapped.
“No!” both Walren and the new omega yelped.
“Why the hell not?”
“Because you’ll get in trouble,” Walren said. “And nothing will happen to him while you’re stuck in jail.”
“You’re right.” Raptor released Walren and folded his arms. “I need a better excuse to kill him so the cops don’t come after me.”
Walren buried his face in his hands and groaned.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Raptor said, trying to gentle his tone. “He hurt you and left you to die. He doesn’t deserve better than death. I should’ve come to you immediately after and—”
Walren leaned into Raptor, resting his head on Raptor’s chest. He slid his own arm around Raptor’s waist and rubbed his back. Raptor’s heart stuttered. “No, I’m okay. I didn’t need your help urgently.”
Raptor frowned, stung.
“I mean, I’m not the one in a life-or-death situation,” Walren hurried to explain. “You did the right thing by going to the omega first. It’s what I would’ve done.”
“Glad to see I’m not your first priority,” Raptor grumbled. But he gave Walren a light squeeze to show that he was kidding, before glancing over at the omega.
The runaway omega cleared his throat awkwardly. “Sorry about the window. I didn’t mean to. I just... I was trying to escape from him.”
