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57

EMMETT

F our days in the hospital feels like four months when we get inside a car for the first time. Of course, it must feel longer for Amaya. I can't even begin to imagine what she's feeling.

My omega is unreadable. I swear every situation she's been in these past few days makes her uncomfortable. The only time she seems relaxed is when all four of us are surrounding her. It should make me feel good that she needs us, but damn it, I want my wild girl to find her independence again.

As much as the alpha in me hates the idea of Amaya doing shit on her own, it's important. I'll always be here for her to lean on, but I also want to cheer from the sidelines as she lives her life.

I just hope I'm a part of that life.

When the time is right, I'm going to bring her to get a professional massage. I have never seen someone tense up so often in my life, and I've been friends with an uptight jackass since I was a kid. Samuel. I'm talking about Samuel.

A throb in my skull alerts me to the annoyance of my possessive side. Maybe I'll watch some videos on massaging . I don't want anyone touching my omega.

A rumble of approval vibrates my right arm, making me frown and look over at Vincent squished into the back with me. "What?"

He smirks and leans in, raising the temperature in the back seat about a hundred fucking degrees. "I felt your possessiveness, Alpha."

I huff. My reaction has absolutely nothing on the feral coursing through his veins all the time. "I'm always feeling your crazy ass possessiveness too."

Vincent bares his teeth, and I'm reminded once again of the edge he's on. "Mm, keep sassing me, Emmett. See what happens."

Oliver groans from the seat in front of us. " Please , can I be there?"

"You can join, Beta." Vincent's voice is a low thrum that sends pleasure straight to my dick.

"Join what?" Amaya's head lifts from the window and looks between the three of us. We all stare at her in surprise since I could have sworn she was softly snoring a minute ago.

With her foot that’s in a cast on Oliver's lap to keep it elevated and her messy bun on top of her head, she looks fucking adorable even with the purple bruises marring her face. And the short shorts with Samuel's sweatshirt covering her thighs? Never mind, it's about a thousand degrees hotter in here.

Vincent's eyes narrow on her before flicking down to make sure the seatbelt is still secured—which he's done every thirty seconds since we got in the SUV. "You should be resting."

She's tired, it's obvious, but still her lips kick up on one side. "The sexual tension aroused me."

Oliver's mouth drops open, and I snicker. Vincent fights his smile, trying to be an overbearing alpha male, but she wins, and Vince's tough guy facade cracks. Lunging between the seats after unstrapping his seat belt, he hovers over her in her captain’s chair. "Fuck, I missed you, golden girl."

Tears spill from her eyes, and her shaking hand touches his stubbled jaw. "I missed you too, Alpha."

I feel more than see their kiss. I meet Oli's gaze, emotion roaring between us and filling the car with warmth.

"Seatbelt," Samuel scolds from the passenger seat up front. Remy nods beside him in agreement as he drives us closer to the airport.

Vincent's groan echoes through the space, but he pulls away from a blushing Amaya and buckles himself in. He grumbles about being stuck in the back, all the while staring at the little circles Oli rubs on her knee.

"Five minutes, Vincent. You got this," I tease, having just checked our ETA for the airport.

The look he sends me is pure fucking alpha, making my jeans feel far too snug to sit comfortably for the rest of the drive.

"He better not scratch my car."

Glancing at Samuel, I roll my eyes and go back to watching Maya trying to get comfortable with Oliver. "Lucas won't do shit to it. Calm down."

"Whatever.” He pouts, sinking into his seat with his arms crossed.

"At least our flight is one-fourth of what the drive would be. Honestly, you should be sending him a fucking thank you so we can get our omega home early."

He sighs and looks around the private jet Remy's mom arranged for us to fly home. She's a nice woman, and incredibly supportive of Amaya. "I guess. It's pretty nice. Who would've thought we'd ever travel this good, huh?"

I take in the cream color lounge chairs, the couch Amaya is struggling on, and the fully stocked bar. The bathroom is fancy, I bet, but there's no way I'm taking my eyes off my omega long enough to see.

It's only an hour-long flight. I can hold it.

"Pretty nice," I murmur. My attention is on my girl, not Sam, even though I'm right beside him. Vincent is obsessing the same way I am.

Finally, Amaya settles in with a blanket over her lap and her head resting on Oliver's shoulder. It's not her nest, and there aren't enough materials on board to fix it, plus everything is lathered in descenter. She's unsettled; it's making my heart pound.

"There you go," Oliver soothes, leaning his head on top of hers. "You just rest. We'll be home before you know it."

Through the bond I can feel him relaxing the longer Maya leans against him. She seems more relaxed with him, probably because his beta energy is meant to soothe. I try not to be jealous, but I want her snuggled up to me the same way.

We all watch as her eyes flutter closed and her shoulders loosen. My body uncoils with her. Oliver releases a contented sigh and whispers, "Good girl."

Amaya stiffens, and my back goes ramrod straight. I watch with a ball of emotion lodged in my throat as she sits up and turns away from him. With nowhere to go, she lifts her leg onto his lap instead and slumps against the armrest.

Confusion and hurt twist Oliver's expression. He watches her, opens his mouth a few times but stays quiet and turns a pleading gaze on me. I can feel the turmoil stabbing his heart like it's my own.

I don't know, Oli, I almost say, but she needs to sleep. Instead, I push understanding and love through the mating tether holding us together. His eyes crinkle and he hangs his head.

My eyes don't leave Amaya for the whole flight, and her body never relaxes.

What happened to you, sweetheart?