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28

OLIVER

I thrive in chaos, right? Yes. My own chaos though. This? This is not my jam. At all.

I feel guilty for blocking everyone out with my earbuds shoved in my ears, but I can't deal with all of this. It's one thing to feel the stress of everything when it's just the four of us. But add in the other packs dropping by constantly and Paul sitting like a statue in Amaya's window nook? I'm about to lose my mind.

We don't need me flipping out when Sam's doing that perfectly. Every time someone rings the doorbell, he snarls and yanks the door open so hard I worry it's going to snap off its hinges.

Now I understand why it always pissed Amaya off when we came over.

We are once again stuck waiting for Vincent to figure out how to locate Amaya through the pull of the bond. While we are one step closer to finding her, it still feels like we are never going to find her.

I'm very aware of the fact that it hasn't even been twenty-four hours since Vincent had a breakthrough in the bond, but so much can happen in as little as five fucking minutes.

So I wait, trying to avoid the thrumming energy Emmett is channeling from our tether into seeking out our omega through Vincent too. I'm a few too many people removed from her, so all I get is what Em is feeling. Nothing from her. Sometimes I get a little snippet of Vince, but he's working so hard to push himself to the side to let Amaya through that he's nothing but a passing emotion trickling down to me.

My ankle spasms forcing my bouncing leg to pause. The pen I've been clutching for the past twenty-seven minutes digs circles and random lines into last week’s grocery list.

I don't even hear the lyrics drowning out Lucas' encouraging words in the living room. As much as I think I would feel better getting some space from all the crazy, I can't bring myself to leave. We've only gone home a few times to get more clothes and other random shit, but this is our home base. Amaya's home is the closest we can be to her right now, and there's no way I would choose to nap in my own bed.

Bent over the counter, I press my forehead to the cool surface. I feel the vibrations in my chest, but I don't know if my groan is actually audible.

Seconds later, heat presses into my lower back, drawing my head up and around to see who's holding me. Emmett leans against the counter beside me, dragging his hand up and down my back. I offer him a small smile that definitely doesn't reach my eyes. My alpha narrows his gaze and plucks one of my earbuds out.

"You alright, Oli?"

Raising a brow, I reply, "What do you think?" I may not be an omega, but I'm also not an alpha. The alpha vibes in this house constantly make me want to crawl under the sink and do some deep breathing exercises.

Emmett's terse expression softens into one of understanding. "What can I do, my love?"

I shrug and melt a little beneath his palm. "I'm enjoying the back rub." He laughs quietly and steps behind me to dig his other hand into my tense muscles.

"You should go rest," he murmurs.

I shake my head, not wanting to nap right now. Vincent is deep in his head with Lucas guiding him, and my brother looks ready to implode. "Maybe later," I lie.

We both know I'm not going to walk down the hall into one of Amaya's guest rooms and sleep until my body forces me to later. Sleeping under my omega's roof without her here is fucking torture, but I have to stay somewhat rested for when it's go time.

"Oli—"

Ding dong!

"Motherfuckers!"

I snort and Emmett groans at Samuel's shout of annoyance. Springing off the couch, my brother rushes around the sectional. "I said I would call when we knew more! We don't need you breathing down our goddamn necks. She's OUR omega," he hollers, reaching the door and ripping it open in a fit of rage. "So?—"

"Samuel Jenkins! What is the matter with you?!"

Shock rips a curse from my throat as I scramble away from Emmett and around the counter. "OH FUCK! Mom?!"

Spitting mad bright blue eyes lock on me over Samuel's shoulder, then the sweetest woman to ever live shoves past my brother and points a threatening finger at me. "Language!"

My lips curl inward and I stop my forward trajectory, slightly afraid of her. Fuck, if she's this angry, it's only a matter of time before ? —

"Explain, right now!"

I cringe, Dad's booming voice thundering through the doorway. Reid, Samuel's biological dad and pack alpha, is terrifying all the damn time. I was used to it growing up, but not being around his overpowering energy constantly has my beta instincts wanting to dive under the sink again.

"Look," Sam starts, dragging a hand through his hair.

Papa Scott, our second alpha dad, brushes by him, slamming a big hand on his shoulder. His strawberry blond locks are in messy disarray like Sam always wears his. He chuckles. "Try again, son."

I would laugh, but I'm kind of freaking out.

Why are they here ?! How did they find us? And when was the last time I checked my fucking messages?

"I'm sorry, Momma," Samuel says softly, moving to her and kissing her cheek. Grudgingly, she accepts it, but as soon as he pulls away, her hands land on her hips and she looks at me expectantly.

"Sorry, Mom," I whisper, swooping in for a kiss, then Emmett's there gathering my mom in a bear hug and greeting her with excitement. She smiles and I relax.

"Where the hell have you two been?" Reid demands stomping in after Sam.

Papa Scott hikes a thumb over his shoulder toward Vincent. "And who's the hunk?"

"Guys..."

Thank fuck ! Pops is here. My bio dad and Alpha Reid's brother, Taylor, steps through the door, shining brown hair and rolling green eyes as usual. I've always gravitated toward my pops and it's not only because he's a beta like me. We are both so similar, and if you add Scott's humor and nonchalance, that makes me. Oh, and add Mom's beauty, of course.

"Hey kid."

"Hey old man!" I hoot, diving in for a hug and low key hiding from the mounting tension.

"Now," he drawls, squeezing me a little too hard. "What's this I hear about my boys having an omega?"

Shit.