40. Oliver

40

OLIVER

I half expect Amaya to turn around and tell me not to worry about her friends. The girl I knew when we were kids would always console me when my anxiety started showing. She's the only one who never expected me to be anything but myself.

When a smile wasn't plastered on my face, she never looked at me funny. Amaya always made it known that she loved me whether or not I was cracking jokes.

So why the hell had I forgotten who she was when it mattered most?

My kindhearted omega walks down her driveway without a backward glance at me even though I'm freaking out. The last time we saw Beckett, I thought he was going to fucking murder me.

"So you've met Beckett?" Vincent drawls and when I glance at him, he's smirking and fuck if it doesn't set me further on edge. Never have I seen this alpha smile, and this one is nowhere near friendly.

"Uh," I stammer. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't like us."

Vincent snorts and doesn't hide his words. "Can't imagine why."

I turn back to the driveway just in time for Beckett to realize we're here. Amaya is on the other side of the car with her friend and dad, so at least she isn't in the line of fists and rage.

"Why are they here?" Beckett snarls at Vincent, having stomped his way to us.

To my utter surprise, Vincent growls, then shoves his way between the blond alpha and us. Emmett tugs on my shoulder and places me behind him, which almost makes me take my first step inside my omega's home.

The yummy scent of flowers invades my senses, calming me enough to put a hand on Emmett's back to soothe him as well.

"Watch your mouth, Beckett," Vincent warns, squaring off with him.

Nudging my alpha to the side a bit, I watch Beckett frown and study us. "You can't be serious?" he hisses incredulously. "You're protecting them? After everything Amaya has been through?"

Emmett growls low in his throat. If I'm being honest, I don't really care for my omega's name in this guy's fucking mouth either.

"Careful," Vincent warns, his fists twitching. "I'm doing what my omega asks of me, and she hasn't requested I beat them to death like you look like you're about to."

"But they?—"

"Are not your fucking concern, Beckett!" Vincent snarls, cutting the other alpha off. "They are my fated pack, and Amaya is my omega."

Beckett's eyes are bright blue fucking steel. "She's my friend."

If I were a betting man, I would assume Kate would be insanely upset over the way this alpha is reacting to Vincent's protectiveness of Amaya. But my omega and her friend stand at the base of the porch, not moving a muscle to add in their two cents. Kate looks pissed, but she's only aiming her ire at Emmett and me. Amaya looks tired if not annoyed by the show of dominance blocking her from getting back inside.

"Alright, boys, that's enough." Mr. Arison interjects, stepping up onto the porch now as well. I'm tempted to use the excuse of it being too crowded out here and enter Amaya's home, but I would never disrespect her or her space. To us, Mr. Arison says, "I'm pretty sure my daughter doesn't want you here."

Vincent stiffens and my jaw about hits the ground when he growls at Amaya's dad now too. "Amaya can speak for herself, Paul ."

The tension and thickening of scents makes me want to bolt, but I have yet to hear from my omega. Whatever she wants, she gets, and it looks like that's the main thing connecting us to Vincent. Thank fuck .

A dramatically loud sigh draws my attention to Amaya. "Insufferable," she mutters and trudges up the porch steps with Kate hot on her heels. "Excuse me."

With a bit of shuffling, Amaya darts between all the testosterone and into the safety of her home. I kind of wish she wasn't so little in this moment because I would have loved for her to brush up against me.

"Thank you, Vincent," my sweet mate whispers to the big alpha once he's hovering behind her in the doorway once again. She addresses us. “Guys, now's not a good time."

My heart sprouts fucking wings and flies away when she makes eye contact with me. Far too soon, they flick to Emmett, and I swear I hear the stirrings of his purr, but he swallows, then nods.

"See you soon, Maya," my alpha murmurs with affection. "Vincent." With a curt nod to him and her dad, we leave our omega behind in the hands of the people she does trust.

I will earn her trust back if it's the last thing I do.

See you soon, baby girl.