Despite the terrible revelations, it heartened Valentin to know that Asher had been disgusted enough by his parents’ actions to cut ties with them.
“I stayed close while Zeller still lived at home. I did what I could to protect him, even though he barely tolerated me after everything that happened. But once my brother left, there was nothing for me there.”
“They haven’t searched for you? Or Zeller?”
“I don’t know if they’ve given up looking for Zeller. For me, they can follow me through my socials or whatever. I’m not hiding. I just refuse to see them.”
“And your older brother?”
“Jem? I text him occasionally but that’s it. He’s a lot like our alpha father. Not much lost there.”
The night of the assault on Valentin, Asher had slipped away while Xan took Valentin to the hospital. The following week, he showed up for another Beta Night, explaining that he’d needed a moment, but was ready to talk about the past. They delved into the whole thing that evening. Asher stumbled out of the club in the early morning hours, leaving Valentin shaken in his office.
When Asher returned for the next Beta Night, instead of sharing unbearable truths, they shared a drink, and theconversation came easier. Valentin found himself hungry for stories about the years after Zeller gave birth. Even though it was painful to hear about what had happened to the man he still considered his omega, someone he would never stop loving, he liked knowing that Zeller had stood up for himself and hadn’t given in to his parents’ demands.
A month after their fight-fueled reunion, Asher and Valentin were in a positive stasis. Valentin recognized his own loneliness in Asher, and they both appreciated having a connection to the past, even if that shared history was largely bleak.
Valentin put his highball glass on the desk and grinned down at his phone. It was an enticing picture of Wes and Assa. Rumpled in their sheets. Four more days until he finally saw the couple again. He couldn’t wait.
“I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen you smile this past month,” Asher said, sipping his cocktail. “What’s going on?”
“Texting with—I, um, have a date on Saturday.”
Asher’s cheek twitched. “You don’t have to worry about telling me. I don’t expect you to stay loyal to my brother’s ghost.” He raised his glass. “I know you loved him.”
“I love him still,” Valentin was quick to clarify. “That won’t change. I’ve never been with an omega other than Zeller, and I never will be.”
“Your date is a beta?”
“Two betas, actually.” Valentin eyed the other man, watching for judgement.
He found none.
“Good on you, brother,” Asher said. “I hope they can give you a bit of happiness.”
The sentiment gave Valentin pause. He held his glass to his lips before asking, “I know we’ve been getting along, but youreally seem to mean that. Not that I don’t appreciate it, but why would you care if I’m happy?”
Asher shrugged. “If you’re happy after everything my parents did, maybe that means Zeller is out there being happy too.”
Valentin hoped so. It was a strange push and pull he was getting better at living with. He was more intrigued by Wes and Assa every day, but Zeller was always in the back of his mind. He’d accepted that. Forgetting Zeller was not something he would ever do.
His phone buzzed and another pic came through. Wes and Assa in skimpy athletic shorts and T-shirts, out for a run. Valentin’s mouth watered at Assa’s alabaster skin and rosy cheeks. Wes’s tee was so threadbare his dark nipples were visible underneath.
“Dude, you look like you’re about to lick your screen.” Asher shifted in his seat.
Valentin guffawed. Asher wasn’t wrong. He definitely wanted to lick something. Saturday couldn’t come soon enough. “Alright. What else can we talk about?”
Asher snapped his fingers and pointed in an exaggeratedaha!motion. “Hey, I know… How about you tell me why those alphas tried to beat you up behind the club?”
Valentin snorted. “We’ve been over this. When I inherited The Cracked Heart from the previous owner, someone wasn’t pleased with the transaction. That was his way of reminding me.”
“But why? Who?”
“Asher—” Valentin’s features tightened. “I’m not going to risk getting you involved. Obviously, these men are dangerous.” He pointed to the fading cut on his cheek. “I won’t jeopardize your safety.”
Asher nodded curtly, as he had the other times they’d had this conversation.
Valentin rolled his eyes. Asher was the middle son of a prominent old-money family, not some vigilante.
