Page 6

5

AMAYA

D rip. One, two— drip. One— drip. One, two, three— drip, drip. One, t—I don't hear the next drop of water taunting my parched mouth. The soothing presence of crisp snow and budding familial love connecting my heart to my dad pulses with uncharacteristic rage.

"Dad?" My confusion is just a puff of air against my freezing arm, but as I'm gathering some semblance of calm to send to him, my soul is rocked and split wide. Vincent's bond tugs in a catastrophic amount of guilt that he manages to break through the barriers I've built between us.

The shock of both my dad and my alpha's immense feelings sends me reeling into the recesses of my mate bond with Vincent.

Vincent's anguished groans are the first things that register. "No, no, no, no. I'm sorry. I'm so, so fucking sorry," my alpha cries.

Then he comes into view. Kneeling in the hazy gold fog that surrounds us, his bloody forehead, dangling wrist, and cuts littering his body stand out in stark contrast to the gentle thump of our bond around us.

My knees wobble, the weakness seeping into my tired bones even here. Now that he's shattered the numbness meant to separate him from my pain, I can't give him a brave face. I can barely even stumble my way to him.

While I'm inching toward my mate, my belly cramps with hunger pains. My limbs are stiff, trying to drag me down, but I can’t let them. My alpha’s cries urge me forward.

"I didn't know. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. So, so, so sorry!"

Just as his voice rises to a wail, I crash down on all fours before him. "Vincent," I whisper, tears blurring my vision. "Breathe, please ."

He doesn't open his eyes, though, even when I grip his cheeks in my shaking hands. "You're right!" he shouts, making me jolt back in shock. The move makes me woozier.

With tears flowing freely, I crawl back to him and plead with my alpha to hear me. "Who's right?"

"You're right, Paul!" he shouts as tears stream down his face. What? "You're right. It's all my fault!"

My belly twists, and if I had anything in there, I'd puke. What the hell is going on? Why is my strong alpha reduced to his knees and yelling about my father?

Then my dad's roar echoes through our trembling bond like there are speakers all around us. 'She's gone because of you!'

No. That's not true!

Vincent croaks out a sob and doubles over. "All my fault. I'm so, so sorry."

"No!" I yell and reach for my alpha, only to tumble right through him like smoke. "VINCENT!"

"Alright, omega slut. You're next."