He missed them. Oh, how he missed them. He missed Lucan’s smile, his care for Sando, the way he made sure Sando was eating and drinking and taking breaks. He missed their lunches and Lucan’s dry puns and hugs. And Maz, quiet, strong Maz, who was like an anchor that kept them safe. So kind, compassionate, caring. It had been so long since he’d been with them, since they had shown him how amazing sex could be. He ached to be touched, held.
He closed his eyes as he dragged in a ragged breath. What was he to do? How could he justify leaving his father? Who would take care of him? “We’re pack,” Maz had said, and he wasn’t wrong, but his father would never forgive him for it. If Sando walked out on him, he’d lose his love and respect…and the access to the research they were carrying out. Would it be worth it?
Choosing a relationship over his career would be the ultimate betrayal. His father might forgive him for having had sex—though Sando still didn’t understand why that topic made his father so furious—but he’d never accept Sando sidelining his career for…for love.
Lucan loved him. The thought was still too big to wrap his mind around. How could an amazing man like Lucan have fallen in love with him? All Sando had to do was look at Maz to question the whole concept. Compared to Maz, he was…nothing. Maz was kind and caring and super hot and also smart and a doctor, and he always seemed to know what to say. Sando could completely understand Lucan falling for him because he was about as perfect as an alpha could get.
So why on earth would Lucan fall in love with Sando as well? It didn’t make sense. He was clumsy and uncoordinated and chaotic. He constantly forgot things, lost track of time, he knew he wasn’t a good friend, and his physical traits weren’t that appealing either. Yet Lucan claimed he loved him, and since Lucan had never lied to him, Sando rationally knew it to be true. Besides, it did correspond with Lucan’s behavior toward him, which had certainly been caring.
But why? Why had Lucan fallen for him? And why would Maz not only allow it but encourage it too? He’d stood next to Sando and had declared him to be worth waiting for. Lucan’s love didn’t make sense, but Maz’s role in all this was even more baffling. Sando just didn’t understand, and he’d kept looking at it from every angle over the last month, ever since Lucan and Maz had shown up unexpectedly.
The coffee machine beeped to signal the coffee was ready, and with a tired gesture, Sando took two clean cups out of a cupboard and filled them with coffee. He added a little milk for himself. His stomach seemed to like that better. He took a deep breath, then straightened his shoulders and walked back into the living room, which they had now set up as their office and working space.
“Here’s your coffee, Papa.”
His father grunted something that could pass for a thank-you, but his eyes were fixated on the papers in front of him. Sando had just lowered himself in his chair again when there was a knock on the door. His father waved his hand. “Go see who that is.”
Sando didn’t even bother to respond but dragged himself up and walked to the front door. As soon as he opened it, his breath caught. His heart did a little jump, and inside him, his soul cried out with joy. “Lucan.” He swallowed. “Maz.”
“We’re here to take you to lunch.” Lucan held up a little bag that undoubtedly contained one of his delicious sandwiches. He knew exactly what Sando liked.
Sando’s stomach dropped. “I can’t. My father…”
“Your father can survive an hour without you.”
Lucan’s voice was firm, and Sando cringed. The beta didn’t understand. Things weren’t that easy. “It’s not… You don’t… I can’t just leave like that.”
“Sure you can. It’s called taking a break, and it’s a healthy thing to do.”
Sando wrung his hands. “I want to come, I really do, but… He won’t like it.”
Something flashed in Maz’s eyes. “Why doesn’t he like you hanging out with us?”
Sando shrugged, avoiding Maz’s inquisitive gaze. “He wants me to focus on my career, not on…not on other things.”
“Even friendships?”
“I…I don’t think he understands the concept of friendship. He’s a loner, always has been.”
“That’s sad, but that doesn’t mean you need to make