To Valen's shock, the chef Harris hires... is the omega who left him, the only omega he's ever loved. Worse, Sam's in heat, and it flings Valen into a rut.
When the embers from their steamy night cool, Sam discovers that he's pregnant with Valen's child. Afraid of a relationship, he tries backing away—only to find that the two alphas he met... won't let him go.
Warnings: Past miscarriage, past domestic violence, discussions on death, violence, some gore
1
Sam
The rich aroma of pork broth filled the air, punctuated by spicy bursts of green onion and cracked peppercorn. To one side, steam billowed from industrial-sized pots, and gas fires roared at the stoves.
The kitchens of Wy’s Drive-In? Sam’s favorite place in the world. One, he was surrounded by food all the time. Two, his best friend owned the place. Three, it was his second home.
Except it wasn’t his favorite place right now.
“If you don’t want to be my best omega, that’s fine,” Wyatt said to Sam, his forehead furrowed. “No pressure.”
“No!” Sam cringed. He wanted to be Wyatt’s best omega. It had taken his best friend two whole years to decide to marry, and Sam wanted to be there for Wyatt and Raph when the time came.
All he needed was a best alpha at the wedding. It was just that Sam didn’t know any alphas he’d invite—he’d been a long time without one.
Sam lined up some scallions. “Are you sure you don’t have an alpha friend you’d ask? It’s your wedding.”
Wyatt shrugged, glancing over his shoulder at his bondmate. “There aren’t many I’d think to invite—it’ll be a small ceremony.”
Wyatt was engaged to his alpha stepbrother, and bonded to him. Raph caught their son’s hands, lifting him into the air for a few seconds. Ben squealed and kicked his legs.
Watching Wyatt and his little family, Sam’s chest ached. He didn’t need an alpha. Most days, he was fine with that. But right now, he was in heat, and that latent hunger thrummed along his limbs, made him crave an alpha’s touch.
So much for those heat suppressant pills he’d popped.
I’m stronger than that.
“I want to be your best omega,” Sam said, slicing up the scallions. “Give me some time to find a best alpha?”
Wyatt rolled his shoulders. “That’ll work. You’re still my best friend, you know.”
Except sometimes it didn’t feel that way, when Wyatt was so busy with his own family. Through the years, Sam had watched as Wyatt and Raph built their lives around each other, their children growing up, Wyatt’s belly swelling with a third child. Four more months, and Wyatt’s new baby would be due.
Watching them, Sam felt lonely, suddenly.
“You’ll be fine without me tonight?” he asked. “It’s busy in the evenings.”
“It’s a Monday—we’ll be fine.” Wyatt grinned. “Besides, Hazel’s itching to take your place at the stove.”
Wyatt’s fourteen-year-old had been asking to cook in the drive-in’s kitchen. In a few years, she’d be working here full-time, helping run the family business.
By then, Sam would be in his thirties. Twenty-nine wasn’t especially old for an omega, but he couldn’t see himself bonding with anyone. He wasn’t ready—would probably never be ready.
A miscarriage hurt a lot. He wasn’t going through that again.
He scooped the diced scallions into a bowl, then started on the next batch. Next to him, Wyatt squeezed his shoulder. “You do need a break, you know,” Wyatt said quietly. “You haven’t taken any time off in the past year.”
“I’ll probably be taking some soon,” Sam said. “I found a new gig as a private cooking instructor.”
Wyatt’s eyebrows crawled up his forehead. “Rich old alpha? That’s where you’re going tonight?”
Heat prickled in Sam’s cheeks. “I don’t know. I’ve only chatted with him online. I’m meeting him for the first time today.”
Wyatt studied him with a suspicious, inquisitive look.
Sam elbowed his friend. “I’m not hooking up with him, Wy. Stop looking at me like that. I don’t even know if he’s bonded.”
Secretly, Sam hoped that Mr. Harrison Fields would look good. That he was intelligent and teachable, so at least the private cooking classes wouldn’t be like walking on needles. But maybe not too handsome, so he could keep his heat-hormones in check.
He most certainly wouldn’t fall in love, or anything like that.
“Besides, I’m just looking for alternatives,” Sam said. “The college bookstore has been laying off its staff. I think I’ll be the next to go.”
Wyatt winced. “I thought I paid you enough.”
“More than enough, actually. Just that I really want my own house, and a new car, and some nice clothes, and...” Sam sighed. “Sometimes, it just seems like too much to want.”
Wyatt pulled Sam into a hug, his growing belly bumping into Sam. “I’ve been there. Who knows? Maybe this new gig will have things looking up for you.”
Sam breathed in Wyatt’s magnolia scent, falling silent.
Things didn’t work so easily in his life. He’d had an alpha once—Valen, who was strong and handsome and confident... and who had backed away when Sam asked if their relationship would be forever.
Sam had been in love, two months pregnant, and the baby had been a secret. Then Sam had left his alpha, and he’d miscarried.
For a long while after that, Sam had felt as though he had nothing left.
He pressed his hand to his belly, his throat tight. Some days, he couldn’t escape the memories of Valen, the times they’d laughed together. The quiet look on Valen’s face when he listened to Sam, when no one else would.
Some days, Sam wondered if Valen had found another mate, if he was doing okay. Then he’d snap out of the past, remember how he was his own person again. That was nice, too.
Just that his heat made things difficult. Hard to forget the rush of pleasure when he took in a thick, big cock, the stretch of his body, the heavy knot of his alpha. No one else had learned him like Valen had, the sensitive spots on his hips, the exact ways he liked
