How had they broken apart so horribly?
Chest aching, Valen padded upstairs, pulling open the closet he shared with Harris. Dumped his clothes into a backpack. Found a scarf from Sam, and tucked that in, too.
Back when he’d moved into Harris’ place, he hadn’t much other than the shirt off his back, and a few DVDs. He’d been let go after the video rental store closed down, and he hadn’t much idea what he wanted to work as. He’d never been good with school, didn’t want to sit at a bank crunching numbers. His dad had told him to work at the station.
Gods, he’d see Harris at the station again tomorrow. Wasn’t sure what he’d say to Big H. Probably nothing.
Valen stepped into the bathroom, dropped his toothbrush and toothpaste into the backpack. Then he stopped by the dresser and picked up Harris’ aftershave. Uncapped it, breathed in the menthol and spice.
For a moment, he thought about taking the aftershave with him.
Sam had told Valen to return to Harris. Thing was, Valen couldn’t. Not when Harris had blown him off at the station, when Harris didn’t need him, anyway.
Valen wasn’t crawling back to an alpha who had no use for him.
It hurt his heart, but he’d recover someday. Besides, he’d made Sam promise to check back on Harris in a week. Maybe they’d get back together then.
Valen breathed in the aftershave again, then capped the bottle. Hesitated, before setting it back on the dresser.
Someday, Sam and Harris would get back together. When that happened, all this pain would be worth it.
Valen zipped up his backpack and turned.
Harris was standing in the doorway of their bedroom. Valen’s heart stumbled; his cheeks burned. Harris had seen him sniffing the aftershave.
They stared at each other, neither moving. Valen listened to the silence of the house. Wondered what Harris was thinking, but he couldn’t read him. Felt the bonding mark on his neck prickle.
Standing in front of Harris, Valen realized he’d never be as good an alpha as Harrison Fields. Harris was distinguished, he was wise and clever and respected. Valen? Valen was nothing compared to him.
When it seemed as though Harris would not speak, Valen gathered his courage, walking toward the bedroom door. Wished there were another exit so he didn’t have to face Harris.
It wasn’t like Valen had an omega left. Neither of them did.
When Valen had moved in with Harris so long ago, this wasn’t how he’d imagined saying goodbye.
He brushed past Harris at the doorway, feeling as though he was leaving a part of himself behind, just like he had with Sam. Took another step forward.
“How’s the baby?” Harris asked. “And Sam.”
Valen swallowed. That’s all you have to say? “He’s fine. Sam, too.”
Then he strode down the stairs before Harris could ask how Valen was doing. Wasn’t like Harris cared about Valen, anyway.
Valen closed the front door behind him, and looked at the too-empty driveway. Wondered how Harris was doing by himself, all alone in the mansion. At least Sam had his family to fall back on—his mom and brother—he’d be okay.
Later, when he was alone, Valen would shower at the station, and drive to the college campus to catch some sleep. There were always cars at the campus—no one would question a truck parked there in the middle of the night.
Funny how he was sleeping under the stars now, and he didn’t have anyone to share their beauty with. He’d done that with Sam, a long time ago. Tried to persuade Harris to go star-gazing, but Harris never wanted to.
Valen tossed his backpack on the passenger seat, climbed into the truck. Shut the door.
Wasn’t like a pair of alphas could ever have their happily-ever-after. He should’ve known that from the start.
32
Sam
“Valen didn’t drop you off today?” Wyatt asked, wiping down the kitchen counter. Around them, the pots of broth simmered, and faint music drifted in from the rest of the restaurant.
Sam winced. “No. We broke up.”
Wyatt looked sharply at him. “Harris?”
“Him, too.” Sam squirmed. “At least, Valen’s supposed to get back together with him.”
“Gods, Sam.” Wyatt set his cleaning cloth down, stepping over. “What happened?”
“Things blew up.” Sam leaned into the counter. He chopped up some green onions. Wished he had an entire bowl of onions, so he could cut them all and cry. “Valen’s dad found out about him and Harris. Harris said he was breaking up with us. Then I tripped and fell.”
Wyatt gasped. “Are you both all right?”
“Yeah. I think so. Valen brought me to the A&E, and then I broke up with him there.”
“Oh no, Sam. Why?” Wyatt groaned, pulling Sam into a hug. “I thought you guys were doing fine!”
Sam laughed into Wyatt’s shoulder, but it felt more like a sob. “I don’t know. I guess we were never meant to be.”
“You mean like Raph and me?”
Wyatt smelled like magnolia and baby, and Sam tried leaning into him, his belly getting in the way. Unlike Wyatt, he didn’t know if he could carry this child to term.
Wyatt had been returning to the drive-in after James recovered from jaundice. While it had taken things off Sam’s workload, Sam didn’t know what else he could do with his spare time.
Back home, Kade had said Sam could borrow the nursery at his mom’s place. It was nice of Kade and Felix, being there when Sam had no alpha. Embarrassing, too, when Sam had introduced Valen and Harris to his mom.
So much for hoping she’d get a good impression.
But maybe Valen was back with Harris now, and at least they were happy with each other. Sam didn’t belong there. Didn’t know what he’d tell Landon when he grew up, either. You had a couple other dads, but I chased one off. The other left.
Sam couldn’t do that to his baby. “I don’t know. I don’t belong with them.”
“Both of them
