Chapter Forty-Six
Valentin
Valentin knocked cautiously on Wes and Assa’s door.
Tucked under his elbow, a large box containing a tool kit appropriate for an eight-year-old was wrapped with a neat red bow.
Valentin had learned that Ryde was like Zeller— dang it!
Zinn—in that he excelled at art, and he understood that the Pashuks were Ryde’s parents, but he couldn’t help hoping that he’d passed on his handyman skills to his son.
It had been three weeks since they’d all gotten the shock of their lives at the hospital, and the men were still settling into a new normal.
They had gone for pizza that night and kept the conversation topics light.
Valentin stayed fairly quiet, listening and learning the dynamics between the others, surreptitiously watching Ryde on the far side of the booth.
He marveled at how much the boy looked like Zinn.
Calder’s teenaged sons, one of whom worked at the restaurant, said the same thing when they were introduced.
Apparently, it was their first time meeting Assa, Wes, and Ryde, not just Valentin.
A few days later, Wes and Assa invited Valentin to dinner, without Zinn and Calder, and they explained to Ryde that Valentin was his alpha father.
They expanded on what they’d told him previously, that Zinn and Valentin hadn’t wanted to give him up but were compelled to do so.
They were quick to reassure him that everyone was happy with the way the situation had turned out.
Ryde took the information in stride and was enthusiastic about getting to know his birth parents, if his fathers approved, which they heartily did.
Valentin was fascinated by his son’s thoughtful questions and easy acceptance of his new family dynamics.
It reminded him of the Zeller he’d known, the young omega who was essentially a prisoner of his parents but still chose to be optimistic and find joy in art, books, and whatever else made him smile. Zeller’s resilience was evident in his child.
No. Zinn’s resilience.
Valentin was determined to get it right. Because time had moved on.
Time moving on was also the reason Valentin, Assa, and Wes had continued dating.
Ryde didn’t know they were more than friends, but he would need to be told soon, because their bond grew stronger each day.
With Ryde in the picture, Valentin felt closer to the couple than ever before.
They were being discreet about the intimate side of things while the situation unfolded, but had agreed their connection was too genuine not to pursue. They just needed to be careful.
Another thing Valentin had to move carefully on was defining what his relationship with Zinn would look like.
The omega captivated him as much as ever. He was still the fierce and highly competent person he’d always been. Only these days, the entire world saw it.
Valentin had loved him for so long, and would always love him. But it was different now. And there was no going back. Calder was Zinn’s partner.
Calder was the father of the baby Zinn would actually be able to raise.
A few weeks after the night at the hospital, he’d met Zinn for lunch.
Just the two of them. He’d picked him up from Felton’s and gotten a tour of the place, allowing him to see how talented Zinn was with cake design.
Calder shook his hand with a kind hello, then shooed Valentin and Zinn out the door so they could speak privately.
They were eating burritos at a picnic table outside a taco truck when Zinn told Valentin very matter-of-factly that he was pregnant.
He explained how awful his heats had been when he’d lived with his parents, and that he’d been planning to use a service until Calder stepped up to help.
After everything Zinn endured, Valentin couldn’t be anything but grateful the other alpha was there for him.
In the back of his mind, Valentin had always thought he would reunite with Zeller one day. It was the reason he’d never had sex with any other omegas—he wanted Zeller to be the only one. And he’d been correct about them reuniting. He just never imagined it would result in simply friendship.
But Zinn was happy with Calder and his sons. He had achieved a well-deserved peace in his life. And Valentin was building a future with Wes and Assa.
“I want you to know that I’ll always love you,” Zinn said, squeezing his hand.
“I feel like we were robbed of our future… In another universe, we’re raising Ryde together, and this baby I’m carrying is yours.
And we’re happy.” He smiled. “But in this universe, Ryde’s parents are Assa and Wes, and we’re so lucky to have them in our lives, and you’re in a relationship with them, and I’m with Calder.
And now that we’ve uncovered all the riddles from the past, I wouldn’t change anything.
Because I wouldn’t want our son to be different than he is.
And I wouldn’t wish for Assa and Wes, and Calder, to not be a part of his life. ”
Valentin took a deep breath. “You’re right, of course. And in this universe, I will always love you too.” You will always be the only omega I ever call mine. “We will be part of Ryde’s family, somehow, and I hope you will let me be in your life as well.”
“Absolutely. Calder and I want the Pashuks to know this baby. We plan to be as generous with our son as they’ve been with Ryde. And that means you, too.”
“You’re truly okay with it if me, Wes, and Assa are in a permanent relationship?”
“Not gonna lie. It’s a little weird.” Zinn shrugged. “But it’s probably one of the least weird things that’s happened in the past few months. I’ve known that they’re poly. I don’t judge it. I will say I didn’t realize you leaned that way”
“I’m honestly not sure if I do. At least, I’ve never used that label on myself. It’s less a poly thing and more a Wes and Assa thing.”
Zinn chuckled. “You didn’t choose the lifestyle, the lifestyle chose you?”
“I guess.” Valentin smiled.
“Well, to answer your question, I’m okay with it. At least this way I know they’re with one of the two best alphas in the state.”
Valentin laced their fingers together. “Wes and Assa aren’t the only generous ones.”
Zinn grinned. “Plus, this way, I’ll get to pet Decoy every once in a while.”
Since their talk, it had been a little strange for Valentin.
Acclimating to everything he’d learned. Nevertheless, each day was better than any he’d had since leaving prison.
Wondering about Zeller was his constant condition for nearly a decade.
With that onus gone, he could finally forge a path forward.
Bergam was still an annoying gnat in the background, and the club wasn’t the smashing success he wanted it to be, but those were minor annoyances compared to having Zinn and their child back in his life, and now Wes and Assa.
Even Calder was a surprisingly welcome addition. The other alpha had been considerate and approachable with Valentin, never seeming resentful of his presence. He’d never gloated about having won Zinn like some alphaholes might have done.
Valentin understood Calder’s appeal. He’d experienced the tragedy of his first husband’s death and lived a full life before meeting Zinn.
He had incredible perspective. Valentin thought he could learn a lot from him, even though Calder was only eleven years older.
Valentin’s alpha father had been a grumpy, stoic man, and Keyes Parkenson was literally evil.
But Calder was the type of alpha Valentin could admire.
It was Calder who opened the door for him at Wes and Assa’s house. He took the present from beneath Valentin’s arm, lurching when he grabbed it. “Whoa. I wasn’t expecting it to be heavy.”
“It’s the best toolbox I could find for someone Ryde’s age. Steel and aluminum.”
“I’m sure he’ll love it. Bet he’ll be just as handy as his alpha father.”
Valentin smiled. How could he not appreciate Calder when the man said things like that?
They went into the dining area and found Wes, Ryde, and Zinn engaged in a fierce game of Go Fish.
“Assa’s in the kitchen finishing dinner,” Wes said. “Sorry I made Calder open the door for you, but I was afraid to leave my cards in case these guys decided to help themselves. I’ve won two in a row and I’m about to make it three.”
“Dad! I would never cheat,” Ryde said indignantly.
“I know, nugget. But I’m keeping my eye on Zinn.”
“Daddy Z would never cheat either!”
Zinn winked at the boy, then lifted his chin at Valentin in greeting.
Valentin loved that Ryde had christened Zinn ‘Daddy Z.’ He knew it meant a lot to him.
He’d been surprised when Ryde dubbed him ‘Papa V.’ Surprised, but thrilled.
Calder was still just ‘Calder,’ but he imagined he’d be ‘Papa C’ soon enough.
Wes was down to one card. On his next turn, he drew the five he needed and declared victory. “Maybe next time,” he teased Zinn, waggling his eyebrows.
Ryde glanced up and greeted Valentin. “Hey Papa V—did you bring me a present? Daddy Z and Calder brought one too.”
“Yes. We didn’t get a chance to give you anything for your birthday last month.”
Above Ryde’s head, the four men exchanged a pointed look. Today was Ryde’s actual birthday—April 30. Someday, they would tell him the truth, but as far as the world was concerned, they’d decided to stick with the March 30 date. Asher knew too, obviously, but he wouldn’t say anything.
Zinn had recently reached out to his brother, to tell him he was safe and that he had connected with Ryde and the Pashuks and Valentin.
He also told him about Calder and the baby.
But he wasn’t ready to speak to Asher in person yet.
For the first time, Zinn’s life wasn’t filled with negativity, and he wanted to wait before reconciling with the brother he still believed had betrayed him.