Sam slipped his hand into Valen’s. “I’ve never seen him that worried,” Sam said quietly. “He was here last night, you know. We both were.”
Valen looked up at Sam. Found the splotch of red on Sam’s neck, right over his scent gland.
Sam blushed.
“Big H?” Valen asked, before he started coughing again.
“We, uh, we hadn’t intended it.” Sam was pink all the way to his hairline. “I asked him to. It wasn’t his fault.”
Well, that settled things, didn’t it? Harris and Sam were a pair. Valen looked away, envy eating through his chest. You could’ve at least told me first.
“It’s not like that,” Sam said. “Harris loves you, too.”
Didn’t seem that way, when Harris had stayed for ten seconds, and then walked right out.
Sam should’ve been mine. Except he really was better off with Harris.
Valen sucked down air, feeling like he didn’t have enough strength for this.
The door opened. Harris strode in with a nurse, a deep crease across his forehead. Valen tried not to look at him. Hurt to be close to Harris right now.
The nurse checked Valen’s vitals, then the oxygen concentrator and the IV. Asked if Valen felt comfortable. He nodded and rolled his eyes.
Of course there was nothing wrong with his body. He was just godsdamned excited, and now he felt like he’d taken a dive into the pits.
“I’m fine,” Valen muttered. Broke into a coughing fit. “Just the visitors.”
The nurse frowned at Harris and Sam, and said she’d be back in fifteen.
Harris growled. Sam stepped up close, slipping his fingers into Harris’ hand. Valen looked away.
“We were worried about you,” Sam said, setting his other hand on Valen’s chest. He met Valen’s eyes with some trepidation. “Harris called this hospital when he woke to ask how you were.”
Gods, Valen wished he could string two sentences together without coughing. He looked at Sam’s scent gland, then back at Harris.
For the first time in forever, Harris blushed.
Okay, Valen could be happy for the two of them. He wasn’t a selfish prick.
“It’s really not like that,” Sam said. Then he released Harris and climbed onto the bed next to Valen, their thighs touching. “I love you, too.”
Valen’s heart kicked again.
Harris glanced suspiciously at the pulse monitor.
Valen rolled his eyes. I can’t be excited, can I? He sat himself up.
“Harris was on your side of the bed last night.” Sam squeezed his hand. Valen stared. Then he looked at Harris, trying to wrap his mind around that. Harris, on Valen’s pillows? Had he... missed Valen?
Harris narrowed his eyes. “Don’t say things like that.”
“It’s the truth.” Sam blinked innocently. Harris growled. Was he blushing harder?
“I’m letting the two of you talk,” Harris muttered. “I’ll wait outside.”
Harris reached over, slipped his palm against the back of Valen’s head. He leaned in, pressed his lips to Valen’s forehead—a brief kiss.
Then he turned, striding out the door. Valen held his breath.
“He loves you,” Sam said quietly, following Valen’s gaze. “He just can’t say it.”
Valen swallowed, trying not to let his hopes soar. So he raised his eyebrows at Sam. “Really?”
Sam nodded, lacing his fingers with Valen’s. “Yeah. He looked so angry last night, when he was here. But I think he was angry at himself.”
Valen winced. And his heart fluttered. If Sam was right, if Harris really did love him... why the fuck had Harris not said so?
Sam slipped his arms around Valen’s waist, burying his face in Valen’s shoulder. “I was so afraid I’d lose you.”
“Sorry.” Valen grimaced. He’d made Sam feel bad. Hadn’t anticipated this at all. How long had Sam been worried?
“I’m just glad you’re fine,” Sam said, nuzzling into Valen’s shoulder.
As much as Valen hated to admit it, maybe Harris had been right about Valen sacrificing himself. But it wasn’t like Valen wanted Harris to go in his stead—someone had to take the risk. And they were both committed to the job. Couldn’t leave just because it was risky.
Sam took Valen’s hand and set it on his belly. Valen stopped breathing. There was the baby, too.
“But the bond,” Valen said, his throat burning. He coughed again, until it felt like he was heaving his guts out. Sam frowned, rubbing his back. “Harris.”
He looked at Sam’s scent gland, his heart sinking.
Sam shook his head vigorously. “It just means I haven’t bonded with you, Valen.”
And maybe Valen shouldn’t have been this glad to hear it. Sam didn’t only want Harris. “You—you mean it?”
“I’m yours too,” Sam murmured, pressing a kiss to Valen’s cheek. “You’re my alpha.”
Valen’s throat grew tight.
He pulled Sam’s shirt up, looking at the swell of Sam’s abdomen. It had been two months. Somewhere in there, a baby was growing. Their baby—Sam’s, and Valen’s. And Harris...
“Harris?” Valen asked, looking between Sam’s belly and his eyes. Seemed like he could only say a word without coughing too much.
Sam understood him, somehow. “I’d like him to be the baby’s dad, too. What do you think?”
Valen nodded. Before Sam walked back into his life, he’d never thought about being a dad. If Harris really wanted to... then yeah, the three of them could be parents. It was probably the best thing Valen had heard that day, on top of Harris loving him.
And maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, marrying Sam. Maybe a marriage between them could work out. His dad and grandmother’s inheritance would be a bonus.
Right now, he couldn’t see a future without Sam. Or Harris.
“You want—” Valen coughed “—want me as your alpha?”
Sam held his wrist out, his scent gland exposed. “Yeah.”
Valen’s heart swelled so full, it felt like it might burst. He took Sam’s forearm in his hand, brushed Sam’s scent gland with his thumb. Sam shivered.
Valen pulled his mask off. He knew he shouldn’t. But Sam’s dahlia-and-honey scent was a comforting change to the odorless oxygen he’d been breathing. Beneath Sam’s scents, there was musk, and Harris’ oak.
He pressed his nose to Sam’s cheek, breathing his omega in.
“You should—should be Harris’,” Valen whispered.
“Yours, too,” Sam murmured. He dragged his own wrist down Valen’s jaw,
