In the dimness of the shower stall, Valen looked handsome. Young. Harris stared, sharp yearning unfurling in his chest. He shouldn’t want another alpha this much, even now. Maybe it had always only been Valen, and Sam.
Was there anything that could bring them all back together?
“I’m too old,” Harris said, glancing at the smooth skin of Valen’s eyes, the anger in his gaze.
“Shut up, damn you,” Valen snarled. “I’m sick of your ‘too old’ bullshit.”
Then he set his hands on Harris’ chest and shoved him into the wall.
Valen leaned in, his lips crashing over Harris’, his teeth biting hard into Harris’ lower lip. He shoved his tongue into Harris’ mouth. Harris tasted a trace of coffee, and Valen. Wanted to lean in, pull Valen against him and never let go.
Instead, he shoved Valen away. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Valen flinched. Clenched his jaw. “Just checking.”
“What? That I’m old enough?”
“You taste good to me.” Valen turned, heading for the door.
Harris caught up just as Valen yanked the door open, fluorescent light shining into the cubicle. He caught Valen by the throat, yanked him backward. Couldn’t believe the desire that still hummed in his veins.
He knew everything about Valen, knew Valen’s recklessness and his optimism. Knew the shit Valen’s parents had put him through.
For Valen to crash this hard, for Valen to even cry in front of him... Harris had hurt Valen a ton. What kind of bastard was he? I shouldn’t even be allowed to touch him.
And if Valen was this affected, then how was Sam doing?
Harris shoved Valen against the cubicle wall, looked into his eyes. Valen glared back, all angry heat, his chest heaving.
“What the fuck,” Valen growled.
Harris feasted his eyes on the alpha before him, remembering Valen’s easy smile, his vulgar jokes. Couldn’t believe how much his chest ached for Valen Tolstoy.
He realized he could no sooner abandon the station, than let Valen go.
Harris kissed him, a fierce, biting kiss that tore into Valen’s lip. Valen gasped, his fingers digging into Harris’ arm. “That’s fair,” Harris whispered. “Beat me up enough, V.”
When Harris leaned away, Valen’s lip was bleeding. And something inside Harris roared. He wanted Valen as his. Couldn’t stand to see him cry, couldn’t allow Valen to walk away again, his job be damned.
Valen’s chest heaved. “You can’t be serious,” he muttered. “You kicked us out, damn you.”
Harris swallowed. “Sorry.”
“That’s it? You kick us out and now you’re saying sorry?”
“Do you want to see Sam, or not?” Harris muttered. Couldn’t bring himself to say I still love you.
He shoved past Valen into the locker room. Valen growled. Tackled Harris from behind, made him trip.
They thudded onto the floor, pain jolting up Harris’ hands and knees. “Damn it, V.”
“I love you,” Valen whispered, pressing his forehead against Harris’ back.
That made Harris’ chest grow tight. Still wasn’t sure if he deserved Valen’s love. So he shoved Valen off, and stood. Offered Valen his hand.
Valen caught his hand, cracking a smile. “You’re talking to me again?”
“Maybe,” Harris said.
The two of them looked a mess, Valen drenched from the surprise shower, Harris with his face aching—probably starting to bruise.
“I’m heading out,” Harris said. “Off work now.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“You don’t even know where I’m going.”
“We’re gonna find Sam,” Valen said.
Harris hesitated. He hadn’t even explained anything to Sam, just told him they were breaking up. And that was after Sam said he could be Landon’s dad.
Gods, will Sam even forgive me? Harris deserved all the shade they threw on him—he’d been the one to mess up.
But the thought of Sam’s bright eyes, his hesitant smile... Harris realized he needed Sam, too, needed to hold him and be gentle with him, kiss his belly. Valen was great with roughhousing, but Harris wanted someone to protect, too.
“I shouldn’t be Sam’s alpha,” Harris said. Wasn’t even sure Sam would want to see him, or even allow Harris to see the baby.
“I shouldn’t, either,” Valen mumbled, looking at the floor. “I should’ve tried harder to stay.”
“Why’d you leave, then?” Harris growled. Of all people, he hadn’t expected Valen to leave his omega.
“Because he made me, damn it!” Valen glared up at Harris, his eyes burning. “I don’t... I still don’t know how I feel about the baby.”
“But you love him.”
Valen’s throat worked. “Yeah.”
“Then that’s enough. You’ll learn the rest along the way.”
Valen met his eyes, grimacing. “It’s not enough for Sam.”
But that didn’t make sense, when Sam had known all along that Valen was wary of the baby. Harris remembered Valen nuzzling Sam’s belly, Sam looking down at him with warm eyes. Sam understood that Valen had been trying his best.
“It’s something other than the baby,” Harris said, looking sharply at Valen. “What else did he want?”
“He wanted me to get back together with you.” Valen squirmed, his cheeks turning dark red. “Wasn’t intending to. I made him promise to check up on you this past weekend. Thought you’d hook back up with him.”
“And he never did.” Harris ran his hands under the faucet, then dragged his wet palm down his face. They’d all been pushing each other away, thinking they’d settle into a pair. Instead, they’d all split apart. “We’re a mess.”
“What if he meant to see you?” Valen asked suddenly. “And he never made it?”
A sick feeling slid down Harris’ spine. “Gods, please don’t let something happen to him.”
They looked at each other through the mirror, horrified.
“Did Wyatt ever call the cops on that robber?” Valen asked. “Sam got home okay last week, but I’ve not heard from him...”
“Didn’t hear news on the robber,” Harris said.
What if Sam was out there, a robber lurking around waiting to pounce? Or worse? He was seven months along; he couldn’t do much to defend himself.
“We gotta go,” Valen said, his breath hitching. “C’mon.”
Valen caught Harris’ hand; Harris didn’t have the strength to pull away. Not from Valen, not anymore.
They strode toward the locker room door, bumped into Amos there.
“Hey,” Amos said. His eyes dropped to their linked hands, and his eyebrows shot up.
