Sam rolled his shoulders. “That’s in the past.”
His bed was cold at night now. Sam had taken to sleeping on the couch, so it felt as though there was someone sturdy at his back.
Gods, turning to a couch to feel safe? He was pathetic.
“I think they’ll realize that they’re missing you,” Wyatt said sagely.
“But their jobs!”
At that, Wyatt winced. “Well, they’re welcome to work here if they wanted. It’s not quite the same as walking into fires, though.”
Sam laughed weakly, pulling away from Wyatt. He almost regretted sending Valen away. He missed Valen’s laugh, missed Valen’s jokes. And Sam missed Harris, too, missed cuddling up to Harris in front of the TV, missed Harris sampling his food with a smile.
The life lesson no one taught you, was that losing two alphas was harder than losing one.
“Hey, Wy,” Raph said from the kitchen doorway. “Bathroom break. Mind grabbing James for a bit?”
Wyatt released Sam, padding over to Raph. He took his three-month-old into his arms, and Raph pressed a lingering kiss to Wyatt’s lips.
“Thanks,” Raph murmured, his gaze warm.
Sam turned away, his chest aching with loss. He’d wanted that. Maybe Valen might have done that with Sam, but Valen didn’t truly want the baby, did he? And Harris had let both of them go.
I thought you wanted to be Landon’s dad.
Sam scooped the chopped green onions into a bowl, setting that in the fridge. If only everything in life were as easy as cutting vegetables.
He’d sent in an application to the college bookstore—maybe they were hiring again. Maybe he’d lose himself in his work, and later his baby, and everything would be fine.
But every so often, Sam would remember the warmth of Harris’ hands, the brush of Valen’s lips on his skin. His body ached, needing touch.
Served him right, letting Valen and Harris close. At least, if he lost Landon now... he was the only one who had to suffer through the pain.
Sam sucked in a deep breath, straightening his shoulders. Life went on. Landon was kicking in his belly again, and that was everything he needed.
If only he could convince himself that his baby was enough.
33
Valen
Your mother’s at the station, Dad’s text message said. Get down here.
Valen stared at his phone, sick to his stomach. He didn’t want anything to do with the station. Didn’t want to see his dad, or his mom. Worse of all, he didn’t want to see Harris.
“It’s 11 PM, Dad. Why the hell would Mom be at the station?”
Valen scrubbed his face, rolling over on the bed of his truck. Wasn’t like he had anything else to do before his next shift. He had no omega to care for, no alpha to fuck. I don’t need you, Sam had said.
He breathed into his hands, trying to shake off the tightness in his chest.
Since that last day at Harris’ mansion, Valen had been spending his nights in his truck, wondering what he was going to do with his life. Wondering if he should return to Sam, hand Sam his credit card. At least he’d be able to help pay for Landon.
He’d been driving by Sam’s workplace, too, just to check that Sam’s car was there. He’d stopped doing that a couple days ago, though. Felt too much like a stalker.
The phone buzzed again. Probably wasn’t a text from Sam or Harris. Valen crawled off the back of his truck, climbed into the cab, and changed into a clean set of uniform. If Harris saw him, Valen wanted to look presentable.
His heart missed a beat.
Had Sam met Harris over the weekend? Had they gotten back together?
Valen didn’t know, but his thoughts whirled, made him antsy.
The station was quiet when he pulled into the back. Valen trudged up the stairs to the office, expecting to hear shouting, some kind of argument. Found the office empty instead, the blinds of his dad’s office closed.
Still made him uneasy to walk through the office. Sam had tripped on these stairs. Valen had kissed Harris here, right by his desk, and his dad had found them.
Harris’ lips had been firm, his breath hot. Valen shoved that memory away. Opened his father’s office door.
Inside the office, two people turned. His dad, austere as usual, smelling like birch. His mom wore a frown, her hair falling past her shoulders, her lips pressed into a line. She was shorter than Valen and his dad, her thin arms crossed over her chest. Valen remembered her poppy scent, was surprised to realize he’d kind of missed it.
“Mom, Dad,” Valen said.
“Valen.” Mom turned toward him, sullen. “You didn’t answer my message. Your father said you work here.” She wrinkled her nose.
“I didn’t invite you over,” the fire chief said, looking at her askance.
Mom glared. “I just wanted to see my son.”
At least they were on civil terms.
“I don’t have a room for you at the moment.” Valen tucked his hands into his pockets, staying by the door. Mom didn’t step forward—no hugs in this family.
“You do have a bed somewhere, don’t you?” Mom asked. “I could borrow it.”
Valen sighed. “No, I don’t have a bed.”
“What do you mean?” Mom curled her lip. “Are you homeless?”
Even Dad frowned, then.
“I left my place,” Valen said.
“What about your omega?” Dad asked.
“You have an omega?” Mom scowled. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You didn’t like Sam,” Valen said. Didn’t have the patience to argue with them right now. “Sam’s pregnant with my baby.”
“And you left him?” Dad curled his lip. “You call yourself an alpha? I’m surprised that wasn’t Harris’ kid.”
Mom looked sharply at Valen, and Valen flushed, one second from leaving the office.
Yeah, maybe it should’ve been Harris’ child. Wasn’t like I had a choice when Sam told me to leave. But what if Valen had stayed anyway?
“He’s been sleeping with my second-in-command,” Dad said, disgust flickering through his eyes. “You were pretending to be Harris’ omega, weren’t you?”
Valen flinched. Put that way,
