His thoughts left him. He hurt. Zan stood over him, strong and in-control, and he could do anything to Olivier.
Ollie shut his eyes, terror closing his throat. Feet away, Jenn wailed helplessly. This wasn’t how today was supposed to go.
Zan grabbed Olivier’s arm, dragging him bodily across the planter. “I’m not done with you by a long shot.”
If there was anything left of Ollie after this... what would Eric say? Would he be disappointed?
A car screeched to a halt next to them. Black, sedan. Familiar. A door slammed.
Eric strode forward, his eyes blazing. Then he grabbed Zan by the collar and punched his face hard, his knuckles crunching into Zan’s jaw.
“Don’t you dare,” Eric snarled. “Don’t you fucking dare hurt my omega!”
Zan recoiled, his grip loosening around Olivier’s arm. Olivier scrambled backward, his heart thumping.
Eric slammed Zan against the nearest tree, smashing his fist into Zan’s face. Then he turned, meeting Olivier’s eyes over his shoulder. “This guy—he hurt you? In the past.”
Olivier nodded, mute with horror. Eric was here. Eric was hitting Zan.
Zan lunged at Eric. Ollie’s heart clenched. “Eric!”
Zan’s fist connected with his jaw. Eric roared, grabbing Zan’s arm. Then he swung Zan back into the tree and grabbed his hair, smashing his face into the trunk.
There was a crunch. Blood smeared darkly on the bark. Zan tore himself out of Eric’s hold, whirling around.
“Stay away from him,” Eric snarled, his eyes flashing.
“Yeah? Or what?” Zan spat blood on the ground, his nose broken. Then he glanced at Eric’s name tag from Total Sounds, and recognition flickered in his eyes. “Some alpha you are, marrying into your omega’s family.”
Zan sneered. Olivier shook, wishing Zan would leave. With every moment that Zan remained... Eric could learn about Olivier’s filthy past.
“I’m not marrying into anyone’s family.” Eric stepped in front of Ollie, shielding him from Zan’s eyes.
Zan scoffed, eyeing the red-and-blue lights of the mall security car in the distance. “I’m surprised you’re protecting something so used, Lancaster. There’s not much that omega’s good for.”
Olivier flinched, wishing Zan hadn’t said that. Eric knows I’m used goods. He doesn’t need a reminder.
Eric clenched his fists. “I don’t care what you think. Get out of my sight.”
Zan shrugged. He threw a glance at Olivier, sending a chill down Ollie’s spine. “You haven’t won this. Olivier’s been mine longer than you’ve ever had him.”
With that, Zan turned and disappeared between the cars. Eric watched him, jaw clenched, his shoulders tense.
It wasn’t until a minute passed, when Ollie was sure Zan wouldn’t return, that he could breathe again. Just barely. He felt naked, now that Eric had seen the person who had tormented him.
Olivier’s been mine longer than you’ve ever had him. What if Eric left?
Eric turned, raking his gaze over Olivier. “You okay?”
Ollie nodded shakily. Don’t look at me. “Jenn—is she okay?”
Eric gritted his teeth, striding over to the cart where Jenn was still wailing. It was only when he picked her up that she quieted, her cheeks glistening with tears.
Olivier closed his eyes, burying his face in his stinging hands. This wasn’t what he wanted Eric to see. Ollie wasn’t supposed to mess up in front of Eric. Bad enough that Eric had to tolerate having him around. Ollie didn’t have to put Jenn in danger, too.
I should leave. Let Eric spend some time with his daughter.
But Olivier hurt everywhere, and he still didn’t know where his car was. He leaned forward, trying to convince his body to move.
Eric knelt beside him in a rush of cedar, warm and solid, his hand sturdy against the small of Ollie’s back. “You okay?”
Olivier nodded. “Yeah.”
No, he wasn’t.
Eric sighed. Then he pressed his forehead to Ollie’s temple, and breathed out. “Tell me the truth, Ollie. Please.”
Olivier swallowed hard. “Why?”
“‘Cuz I love you, okay?” Eric’s breath fell hot on his jaw. “When I saw that bastard dragging you and you fell... I was so afraid I wouldn’t get to you in time.”
Olivier froze, his ears ringing. He heard nothing else Eric had said, except I love you. “Don’t—don’t just tell me what I want to hear,” he said, his heart twisting. “I can’t—can’t deal with that.”
Eric clicked his tongue, but he leaned closer. “I’m not you, Ollie. I don’t lie.”
He loves me? Olivier’s chest squeezed. He chanced a look at Eric’s face, seeing the honesty in Eric’s brown eyes, the concern. Olivier whimpered. This is just a dream. A really bad dream.
“You love me as your brother,” he mumbled, looking away.
But Eric caught Ollie’s chin lightly, tipping his face back so their eyes met. “No. I love you as my omega.”
There was nothing in his gaze but care and affection. Olivier choked, his ears ringing, his heart pounding so hard he couldn’t breathe. Eric... loved him? “You—you...”
“Yeah,” Eric whispered. Then he leaned in and kissed Ollie on the lips, his mouth damp and soft.
Ollie’s heart stuttered. This had to be a dream. “Oh.”
“It was that phone call,” Eric murmured. “When I heard you talking to Jenn, I just... You lied to me about that baby, you bastard.”
Olivier flinched, but Eric pulled him closer, his lips whispering against Ollie’s cheek.
“I just wish you’d told me. I want that child. Been wanting to put a baby inside you.”
Olivier stopped breathing. Eric really wanted Ollie to have his baby. That was... wrong. And so very right. “I’m sorry,” Olivier mumbled, bowing his head. “I just... I didn’t want you to choose me instead of the rest of the family. I thought... if the baby wasn’t yours, you wouldn’t stay.”
Eric huffed. Then he pressed his hand to Olivier’s belly, right over their child, and the tight iron band around Ollie’s heart cracked open a little. “I’m gonna stay no matter what,” Eric said. “You should know that by now.”
“But Zan, he—”
“Fuck him,” Eric growled, dragging his nose against Ollie’s cheek.
Olivier closed his eyes,
