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SAMUEL

I have no idea what in the fuck is going on anymore. Emmett's been in la-la land since Vincent bit him and started the process of their bond. It won't be complete or run fully through the pack until Em bites him back, but there's an unspoken agreement that they'll wait for Amaya. I think. Or maybe they need to build their own relationship first.

Fuck if I know.

Vincent is an echo of a pulsing thrum through the pack bond, lighting Emmett's tether up as a reminder that there's a new alpha coming into our pack. I'm not upset. I'm just really damn lost.

Every so often I get a weird feeling from Emmett which I am inclined to believe is him seeking out Amaya through Vincent. I don't know, it's all so very complicated. I'm thankful to Vince for giving Em this peace of mind that I never could have done.

I can't believe my best friend has been struggling with his place in our pack for this long and I didn't know. Actually, that's fucking stupid because I've been shutting him and Oli out for years now.

Holding in a groan, I rub my forehead. The uncertainty of everything and not knowing how to help makes me want to punch something. If Paul ever shows his face around here again, I might just take a swing. Fuck knows he deserves it after how he's treated Vincent.

"Sam," Oliver murmurs from his place by Emmett. I drag my frown away from Em and look at my brother expectantly. "Stop that."

My gaze now narrows on him. "Excuse me? What am I doing?"

If this is going to be another emotional yelling match, I really don't want to be a part of it. It's happened way too many times these past few months.

"Stop staring," he hisses, gaze flitting between me and his mate.

"I'm not staring." Oliver rolls his eyes and Emmett still sits there, unmoving, with his eyes closed. "Okay fine, I'm staring," I grumble, leaning back on the couch and turning my attention to Vincent on the floor.

What the fuck he's doing down there, I have no idea.

"Samuel," Oliver groans. "Your alpha vibes are skeeving me the fuck out. Leave them be."

I huff a laugh. "My alpha vibes?"

"Yeah, you're practically coating Amaya's living room in your anxious tang. Stop it, let them work."

Closing my eyes, I let my head drop back against the couch with a groan. "What the hell am I supposed to be doing, Oli? It's been a week and a half and we still have nothing ."

"Shut up," Vincent grumbles from the floor. The alpha seems to be feeling much better, but he's a bit rough around the edges these days. Guilt basically oozes off of him.

Oliver jumps up at the sound of Vincent's low voice. "Do you need anything? Water, maybe a sandwich. How can I help? I can call Lucas."

Ugh, not that asshole. The way he just waltzed into Amaya's home like he owned the place and took control of our situation irks the shit out of me.

Sitting up, Vince glances at Oli before rubbing his eyes. "No thank you, Oliver." Vincent declining makes my brother deflate, but before he can shake off the disappointment, Vince is studying him. "On second thought, can I get a glass of water, please? Lunch sounds good too."

"Of course!" Oliver practically bolts from the room, leaving his fresh cut grass scent in his wake.

I lean forward, watching Vince watch Oli with a look of sadness and fondness. "Thank you for that," I say genuinely.

Vince flicks his attention to me as he stands and cracks his back. "No need to thank me, man. He needs something to do to feel useful and to keep his mind off of everything."

I nod, knowing exactly how Oliver feels, but it doesn't mean I'm not grateful to this alpha for providing my brother with said distractions.

"So," Vincent drawls, sitting on the cushion beside me. "You ever give a fifteen-year-old tequila?"

"What?" I sputter. "The fuck are you on about?"

"You know," he leans forward, studying me and my shocked expression, "after all these years and bullshit, she still takes comfort in the foundation you built when you were kids."

"Wh-what are you talking about? Amaya?" My heart beats wildly in my chest while my brain ping pongs around in my head trying to keep up with Vincent.

Nodding grimly, Vincent zones out on the dark TV screen. "I don't know what she's doing, Sam," he whispers like he's afraid to admit it. "It's like she's broadcasting these memories at me with high intensity."

He blinks. I blink, waiting for him to continue. Emmett moves out of the corner of my eye, listening in on the exchange.

"I can't feel her . All I get is dull aches and pains, and a whisper of my weeping omega. But her present feelings are snuffed out and muffled by her memories of you guys." He scratches his chin. "You were all there for her in your own ways after her grandmother died."

"Nana," Oli's voice cracks as he enters the living room again. "She was so heartbroken."

"Lonely," Emmett adds quietly. "Maya felt so alone."

Nodding sadly, I say, "She would zone out a lot. Her eyes were always so damn sad. It physically hurt me."

Vincent nods like he knows exactly what we're talking about. "So you sang," he gestures to my brother. To Em he reveals, "You accepted her pain and gave her space to feel what she needed to."

I can see in their twin expressions that it's hard for them to grasp the high praise they've been given when we've all done so much damage. But I know it’s true, I was there.

"Sam," Vincent continues. "You gave her adventure. Amaya continued to live and explore because of you. I'm not so sure the tequila was a good idea.” He chuckles. “But you did everything you could to chase away her demons."

My throat closes with an emotion I don't have the capability of understanding. Did I do that?

"All three of you battled those demons with her. And from what I'm gathering, because of your devotion back then, you're saving Amaya now."

"What do you mean?" My brother seems hesitant to know Vincent's insight, and honestly, I am too, but the more we know, the better.

"She's—" Vincent chokes, his face contorting in a wince. "I don't think Amaya's okay, guys."

It feels like my face tightens. The tears suck all the moisture from my pores. "What?—"

"So she's disassociating in you . You created safe memories; that's where she is. It's why I can't fucking find her!" Vincent's voice rises as his body does. "My omega has to fucking hide in memories that make her feel comforted and not alone, because she IS alone!"

Oliver rears back. "Vincent?—"

"NO!" Vince paces back and forth, ripping his hat off at chucking it toward the front door. "She's hiding from me!"

Fuck, I didn't see this coming. I stand, noting Emmett pulling his beta away from the irate alpha that seemed to come out of nowhere. "Hey, man, let's calm down for a second, okay?” I plead.

"NO!" Christ, is this what talking to a child is like ? "Why would she run from me like this? I can help her too. That's all I've ever wanted to do—is love her and be there for her and now she's shutting me out!"

I worry we're getting dangerously close to him saying something he can't take back, but he bypasses the obvious jab he could have made at our shitty absence in her life.

"Sam," Emmett warns as I inch closer to Vincent. I wave him off, though.

Suddenly, Vincent's wild pacing comes to a halt, stunning me to my spot a few feet away from him and the window. "You alright?" I hesitate.

Fuck, it's like some kind of horror film as he turns around. Tattooed neck flexing and cocking with a stricken look on his now pale face, Vincent looks like he's seen a ghost. His hands grip his chest over his heart. I watch with horror as tears fill his blood-shot eyes and his mouth drops open on a gasp.

"Amaya," he whimpers and crashes to the ground.