“He was just keeping my heart beating.” Spike grinned at the EMT. “He’s the best omega in the world.”
The EMT clicked her tongue, smiling. Micah felt an overwhelming relief. There wasn’t anyone judging them here.
He followed Spike into the ER, standing close while a nurse seated Spike in a wheelchair.
“I want to kiss you again,” Spike murmured, wriggling his fingers. “You’re too far away.”
Micah glanced at the people in the emergency room. Then he looked back at his alpha, and thought about his regrets. He wouldn’t hold back anymore.
So he stepped forward, linking his fingers with Spike’s. Spike beamed, even with his swollen eye and the dried blood on his face. Micah leaned in close. Just savored his alpha, stroking his cheek. Spike dropped a light kiss on the corner of Micah’s lips, then along his jaw, nuzzling Micah’s ear.
“Is the baby okay?” Spike asked, concern flashing through his eyes. “I thought I saw you fall...”
Micah shook his head, stroking his belly. “I fell on my shoulder. I think our baby will be fine.”
Spike brightened, cupping Micah’s belly with his warm palm. Then he slid his palm around to Micah’s back, squeezing his ass. There was something hard in the way between them—Micah’s phone.
Micah remembered the flight. “I called Kai,” he blurted. “Earlier. When you were unconscious.”
Spike had begun to smile, except his smile fell. Worry bloomed through Micah’s chest.
“What happened?” Micah asked.
Spike looked away, his ears red. “Kai said he wasn’t coming back. He—” Spike took a deep breath, meeting Micah’s eyes. “He broke up with us, too.”
Micah’s chest tightened with dismay. “I told you to join him in Colorado, didn’t I?”
Spike’s expression turned solemn; his mouth pressed into a thin line. “He told me to get back with you. He didn’t want to come home. I couldn’t leave you here.”
Micah thought back to the calls. Both times, Kai hadn’t mentioned what he felt about Spike. Micah had heard his concern and anger and relief. But was Kai flying back to visit his alpha, or was he coming to see his brother?
He checked his phone. Found a flight, Kai had texted. Tell me his room number. But aside from that, he hadn’t said anything else.
“He says sorry,” Micah said finally.
Spike froze. Then he glanced away, and muttered, “Screw him.”
Micah stopped breathing, dreading an argument between Spike and Kai. Except the look in Spike’s eyes... that wasn’t Spike wishing ill on Kai. It was Spike hiding his curiosity, his yearning and his anguish.
So Micah wrapped his arm around Spike, and whispered, “He said he’s flying back.”
Spike’s breath stuck in his throat. “But is he—does he want me as his alpha?”
Micah winced. “I don’t know.”
And the light went out of Spike’s eyes.
Micah hurt, watching him. Over the phone, Kai had said I love you. But that had only been to Micah. If Kai didn’t want to say the same to Spike... what would Micah do? “We’ll find out soon,” Micah whispered. “And if it goes wrong... I’ll still be your omega, okay?”
Spike squeezed his hand, his shoulders slumping. “It wouldn’t be the same without him.”
No, it really wouldn’t. Micah stood with Spike, kissing his jaw. Comforting him.
Then, they waited.
39
Kai
Four hours. That was how long it took to board a plane, fly across two states, and drive all the way to Meadowfall. It had felt like an eternity.
Kai had been lucky that there was a flight almost boarding when he’d arrived at the Denver airport. He’d bought a ticket to Highton, and from there, he’d rented a car, driving an hour to Meadowfall.
As the hospital pulled into view, Kai’s palms grew sweaty.
He’d spent his time on the flight looking at the pictures on his phone. Spike on the ground. Micah’s gaze full of pain. Kai had made himself look, because he needed to remember this for life. He needed to remember what Spike and Micah had been through when he hadn’t been there. It was a price they all paid because Kai had left, and he couldn’t breathe through the guilt in his chest.
He’d come up with plans and more plans. He’d decided he’d quit the team and return to Meadowfall. He’d even looked up job openings in Meadowfall, but none of them were very good, when the furthest education he’d completed was high school.
Kai pulled into the parking lot. He found a spot and parked, then made his way through the quiet hallways, ducking past nurses and the occasional patient.
He found the ward Spike was in—Room 403. The door was closed. Standing out there, with his two most important people behind that door... he felt nervous, suddenly. Scared. Wasn’t sure if they would really accept him back, after he’d left.
His heart thumping hard and wary in his chest, Kai grasped the cool metal handle, and pushed the door open.
Inside the six-bed ward, most of the lights had been turned off. At 2AM, Kai wasn’t supposed to be here. The two beds closest to him were occupied, the patients alone and asleep in them.
But the furthest bed—its occupant was hidden behind the curtains drawn around it, a soft glow lighting the ceiling above the bed. Low murmurs drifted from behind that curtain.
He could smell them, though. Juniper and honey and gardenia. His throat went dry.
And the walk to that bed felt like the longest walk he’d ever done in his life.
Kai tread slowly, quietly, letting the door ease shut behind him. The voices quieted the moment they heard his footsteps, but he’d heard Micah’s soft, mellow tones, and Spike’s rumbling growl.
Outside the curtain, with just a couple feet between him and them, Kai stopped. He reached for the edge of the curtain, unsure what to say, aside from I’m sorry and I love you.
He swallowed past the lump in his throat, blinking hard. Someone’s chair scraped against the linoleum floor. Then there was movement, someone standing, and a thin hand grasped the edge of the curtain. It pulled back.
“Kai,” Micah
