Spike’s heart almost broke. “If you did, you’d have given me a bonding mark ages ago.”
Kai glanced at him, but he didn’t look surprised. Did he... already know?
Spike flushed. Gods, I need to shut up. It’s a secret. “Not that I want to be an omega or anything. I just... Forget it.”
Kai reached over, squeezing Spike’s thigh. Unlike the other times, it didn’t comfort Spike now. “Davis might not mind taking you as his alpha.”
Spike laughed mirthlessly. Yeah, it wasn’t like Kai wanted Spike, anyway. What else was new?
And it wasn’t like Spike was fit to be Micah’s alpha, either.
“I’m broke,” Spike said, his chest too tight. “There’s fifty bucks in my wallet—I just gave the last couple hundred to Mom. I’m gonna be a liability to Micah. Hell, I don’t even know what to do if we’ve really knocked him up. I need to get another job.”
“I’ll get another, too,” Kai said, his jaw tightening with resolve.
“You need to focus on basketball. And your grades.” Spike scowled. “I just... I hate that I’m the money black hole. You’re helping to pay my tuition. I’m living in your dorm room. I’m using textbooks that your scholarship paid for. I work part-time jobs and it’s never fucking enough.”
Kai pulled into the parking lot of their dorm, braking so hard that the car screeched into a lot. Then he cut the engine and clicked off their seatbelts.
Spike blew out his frustration. Kai reached over, grabbing Spike by the nape of his neck. Then he hauled Spike across the center console of their secondhand car, and Spike blinked.
At first, he thought Kai might kiss him. His heart skipped.
But Kai pressed their foreheads together, those gray eyes boring into Spike. “You know, all you need to do is tell me you’re short on cash,” Kai said.
“You’re not my sugar daddy, Kai.”
“I’m your sugar brother, right?”
Spike stared. Then he snorted, and a laugh rose up through his chest, easing the tightness there. Kai’s eyes crinkled along with him.
Maybe it was enough, just being around Kai and Micah. Spike should realize when he was being too greedy.
“It’ll be okay,” Kai said. “I trust Davis to tell us when he needs something.”
“He might not.” Spike remembered the professor trying to cover up his scars. Scars that Spike had inadvertently caused.
“Then we’ll ask York.”
“York’s gonna sever our friendship the moment he finds out.”
“What, because we might’ve given him a new sibling?”
That was... horrifying to think about. Spike stared at Kai, his thoughts whizzing by. “So if—if Micah has a baby and if he marries one of us, does that mean we’d become York’s stepdad?”
Kai raised his eyebrow. “Maybe you might become York’s stepdad. Not me.”
“Yeah, because you aren’t staying around,” Spike muttered.
“I’ll pay for anything Davis needs, though.”
Spike elbowed his stepbrother. “That still isn’t the same as being there for him, you know. Micah needs someone.”
Kai cracked a smile. “That’s what you’re here for.”
“If he lets me, I guess.” But if Spike or Kai ever became York’s stepdad... that was fucked up.
The idea was so ludicrous, that Spike couldn’t help laughing again, the ache easing away from his chest. And now he could breathe.
Kai released him, shoving Spike’s forgotten shirt against his chest. “C’mon, we need to get home. I need help with my homework.”
“Ask Micah.” Spike wriggled his eyebrows.
Kai gave him a dirty look. “He might start failing my assignments from now on.”
“Then we’ll need to, ah, persuade him harder.” Spike followed Kai out of the car, rolling his hips. “Did you hear him moan when he took your cock? Fuck, Kai. I want to hear him moan all the time.”
Kai shook his head in exasperation, but the tips of his ears had turned pink. Spike grinned. It wasn’t often that Kai got flustered, but when he blushed, Kai was adorable.
And Kai would be even more adorable with Micah Davis, wouldn’t he? Kai was the alpha Micah needed. He was serious and hardworking. He had a bright future.
Despite Spike’s earlier jealousy, he knew Kai would be the better alpha for Micah.
He caught up with Kai, slinging his shirt over his shoulder to cover up the scars. There was no way he could have everything. So being here with Kai, with Micah Davis’ scent on their skin... that was good, too.
6
Micah
Micah rubbed his thumb over the morning-after pill box, his skin prickling with embarrassment. Across the counter, the pharmacist looked pityingly at him.
Twenty years ago, Micah had done the exact same thing: held a box of morning-after pills in his hands, wondering if he would regret them, too. Except he was far older now, he was covered in scars, and he wore the scents of two different alphas on his skin.
The pharmacist probably thought he’d paid a couple of alphas for sex. On any other morning, she wouldn’t have been wrong.
How had Spike and Kai Ventura even decided to sleep with him? The very idea was unbelievable; no one would find this scarred body attractive.
Spike’s had the biggest crush on you for ages.
Kai had probably said that so Micah would feel better. That was nice of him.
Micah hobbled to the cashier, wishing he’d brought along his walking stick. His leg twinged, grounding him.
This was real. His ass ached pleasantly, and last night, two strong alphas had held Micah, and kissed him.
He blushed, remembering the way Spike had pressed their foreheads together. He’d touched Micah with care, like he mattered. And Kai, well. Kai had been hungry for Micah, all hard cock and demanding thrusts.
Micah gulped, his throat going dry.
This time next week, they’d probably have another omega in their bed. That was fine. An experience like that... Micah didn’t expect to have it again.
How would he look Kai and Spike in the eye when they came to class, though? They’d seen him beg. They’d touched his scars. And between his legs.
Face burning, Micah avoided everyone’s stares at the cashier stand, grabbed a scent suppressant, and paid for that, too. Then he hurried
