Page 321 of Labor of Love

I’d survived then, and I would now. “It’s going to be okay, Little Bean. Eventually.”

A surprisingly soft knock startled me, and I quickly wiped under my eyes before opening the door. My giant neighbor stood in the flickering light of the hallway, a bowl with brown liquid and chunks of beef cradled in his huge hands.

I tried to smile, but I was sure it was more of a grimace. “Thank you, seriously. It smells so good. What is it?”

“It’s just beef stew.” He looked over my head into my barren apartment. “Did you find your spoons and stuff?”

It was such a simple question, but it was said in a deep, gravelly tone that reached into my brain and unlocked my unsteady emotions. My chin wobbled, and my eyes began to burn all over again.

“N-no.”

And then, I was bawling, despite my promise to myself I’d stay strong. Tears streamed down my face as I shook and wrapped my arms around myself. Why did everything have to be so hard? I just wanted something to go easy for once in my life.

“Oh, fuck.” There was a clatter, and then warm hands clasped my shoulders. His face—not really handsome, but a little less scary than my first impression now that he wasn’t scowling—was blurry in front of mine, hazel eyes wide in concern. “It’s okay. I’ll help you look for your silverware. You don’t need to cry.”

I sucked in a shuddery breath, lips trembling. “I-I’m sorry.”

Why was I apologizing?

“Why are you apologizing?” the Alpha asked, giving me a close-lipped smile that made a dimple appear in his left cheek.

“I don’t know!” I said, and then I threw myself against that wide, huggable chest. The scent of Alpha surrounded me, and I let it soothe me.

I promised myself it’d only be this once, and only for a moment. I was just having a hard day—okay, week—and this poor Alpha simply happened to be in front of me when I broke. It was biological, not desire. I would have sought comfort from any Alpha in that moment.

It didn’t matter that this one looked terrifying and yet had readily agreed to share his own food with me, an unclaimed, pregnant Omega he’d never met before. He’d provided more for me and Little Bean with that one bowl than my ex ever had. And he’d recognized why I was uncomfortable going into his apartment and insisted on bringing the food to me. On top ofthat, he was now offering to help find my cutlery instead of running at the sight of my tears.

But, really, he could have been any Alpha.Bi-ol-ogy.

After a moment of hesitation, big, strong arms wrapped around me. He was so warm. My Omega instincts purred with happiness as a wave of safety washed over me for the first time… ever?

“It’s alright, angel. Whatever it is, I’m sure we can fix it. Just tell me, and I’ll take care of everything.”

Oh man.

I was so screwed.

2

VIKTOR

My instincts went haywire with a sobbing Omega in my arms. All the hidden, primal parts inside me fought to break free and tear apart whatever or whoever had caused him such distress. I had already been struggling before he’d even knocked on my door, the scent of ripe, pregnant Omega drawing me to the entrance of my apartment every time he went by.

I’d tried to catch even a hint of Alpha, either mixed with the Omega’s scent from bonding or from helping to carry their belongings to their new place. If I had, I would have been able to settle down and actually eat my dinner… probably.

There had been nothing.

Each time he’d gone past my door, I’d been drawn closer and closer—until my face had been smashed against the jamb, trying to suck as much of him into my lungs as I could. I’dneverreacted to an Omega like that. Sure, I’d been attracted—maybe even slightly distracted—by a particular scent, but never anything like this, where it called to every atom in my being like a siren.

And then he’d knocked, and things had only gotten stranger.

I held on to the Omega until his tears started to slow and he began to hiccup.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, voice stuffy.

I smiled down at the top of his curly head. Fuck, he was short, and sweet, and it was obvious he’d been trying to hold himself together all on his own for far too long. “You don’t need to apologize.”

He sort of shrugged against me, and I thought he would pull away, but instead, he sighed heavily. “Maybe, but just because you’re an Alpha doesn’t mean it’s your job to take care of me.”

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