Page 49 of Into the Fire: After

If Lin wanted to take a swipe at me, he could bring it.

Lin

Thenoisegratingmyears didn’t matter. The ache in my head didn’t matter. Not even the alpha next to me, with his familiar yet still unwelcome scent, mattered.

Only her. My omega in my arms. She mattered.

She was in danger. I had to protect her.

The other alpha kept his hand on my neck, a slow and steady massage. He didn’t reach for my omega, the only reason he still breathed.

Mine. Protect.

My ears popped as the loud sound around us changed. A small thump jostled us slightly. I grasped my omega’s limp body to mine, on high alert.

The wall opened beside me, the rival alpha finally leaving. But then he turned. He reached out his arms. Like he wantedmy omega.

A warning growl rumbled through me.

“Taryn!”

A shriek from outside had me scouring the area for danger. Any threat to my omega would be eviscerated. Painfully. Swiftly.

An alpha. Sprinting toward us. Red hair swinging out behind. Her pomegranate and vanilla scent hit me like an arrow to the chest.

Brea.

Omega’s mate.

My omega.

My omega’s mate.

My mate.

No. Omega. Mine.

The two alphas met and spoke, their voices too far to hear. Then suddenly, she was there beside me, her hands reaching for my omega.

She shimmered, unreal. Rippled like heat. The air around me whined. I growled in warni—

I choked on the sound.

I blinked my eyes. Once. Twice.

I looked down in my arms, at Taryn’s face, peaceful.

Then I looked up.

Brea. My omega’s mate.

My mate.

My alpha was territorial, but he knew who belonged to him. And even he couldn’t so much as pretend to want to hurt Brea, any more than he could ever harm Taryn.

I let out a shaky breath and reached toward Brea. She grasped my hand, kissing the back of it as she reached to stroke Taryn’s face, her own wet with tears. She kissed her omega’s cheeks, murmuring sweet nonsense words to her. I looked out the door to my right, watched Brooks and Caine, sobbing and embracing much the same way.

Then there was a warm hand on my own cheek.