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61

AMAYA

D o we think that since I slept in all our post-orgasm pheromones, it will cover up the fact that I've only cleaned myself with wet rags for almost a week and a hose before that?

"Golden girl..." Vincent hums, clutching my hip and rolling into me even further. "Why don't I go see what the guys are doing for breakfast while you shower?"

So... no. Fuck, I'm going to have to shower at some point.

Thankfully, my belly rumbles at the perfect moment. "Can I eat first?" I whisper, really hoping he doesn't push the issue.

Nuzzling my neck, he kisses me softly. "Sure, little omega. Let's go see what those mates of yours are up to."

His sleepy state seems to wear off immediately when my belly screams for food. Like a rocket, he launches out of bed, and before I know it, he has a T-shirt and sweatpants on.

In the soft lighting of my nest, I watch as he gathers my pretty robe and stalks towards me. There's nothing sexual about his task as he moves me around to cover me up, yet my right toes curl into the fluffy blanket beneath me. My left ones would absolutely be doing the same if they weren't trapped in a cast.

Ugh, buzz kill .

"Hey, where'd you go?" Vince whispers, tucking a lock of greasy hair behind my ear.

Somewhere that still hurts... Bacon wafts through the open door of my nest, effectively distracting me from everything.

Vincent chuckles. "Let's go get you some bacon. How does that sound, Omega?"

My head bobs, the move making me feel like a child, but I don't know how else to be right now. My alpha wants to take care of me, and I'm not capable of much at the moment, anyway. And no, not because some asshole fractured my ankle. Mentally, emotionally? I'm tired and confused. I can't even think about showering without fear that I'll panic.

Like yesterday when I saw the scene where I was stolen from the comfort of my home. Oh god...

"Come on, golden girl," Vince rumbles, hoisting me up in his arms. I'm too trapped in my worry of how I'll react when we get downstairs to protest being carried.

My gaze lands on the shattered pieces of my nest door though, and before I can question just what the hell happened, Oliver's there with a shit-eating grin. "Vincent was a little beastly last night, and the door offended him. Don't worry, baby, Samuel is going to replace it."

Sam? Why would he fix it?

I don't question it though, because like every other time I feel like saying something, my throat closes up. Why can't I just be normal? Actually, when was I ever normal?

'Mates,' my omega answers with a firm nod. 'Happy with mates.'

The burn in my eyes comes on so fast I can't stop the tears from falling or from my mates seeing. Unfortunately, while I was busy pouting, we somehow made it downstairs, and now I have all four mates staring at me with matching looks of horror.

"What's wrong? Fuck, just tell me what you don't like, and I'll have it fixed," Samuel rambles, tugging his phone from his pocket.

I sniffle and wipe my cheeks. "What?"

"Is it the couch? I knew I should have gone with leather again," Sam grumbles, already tapping away on his phone.

"Sam," Emmett mumbles, but he goes ignored.

I try to peer around the line of my childhood best friends, but I can't see shit beyond their bulky forms. Tugging on Vincent's shirt, I implore him to move us around them so I can see what all the fuss is about. When he listens, I suck in a gasp.

Gone is my brown leather sectional and in its place is a dark gray plush one. The closer we get, the more I see a new earthy green rug peeking from beneath an ottoman instead of my old coffee table— that I bashed my head on .

Which reminds me... Snapping my head up to Vincent, I study my alpha and grab his head. I move his head around, searching for anything out of place. How could I forget he got hurt that night, too?!

"Amaya." I'm the worst omega. "OMEGA!" Vinent snaps, yanking my instinctual side forward to get my attention. In a slow, steady voice, he says. "I am completely okay. Just a mild concussion and a sprained wrist. I took my motorcycle around the corner too fast. If you want to know more, I will tell you, but not right now."

My brows furrow even further. "But..."

"No buts," he scolds and shifts me in his arms until my ass is planted on the back of the couch and my legs are wrapped around his waist. "Later. All that matters is we're both okay, and my new motorcycle has already shipped." He winks and adds, "Right now, you're gonna tell Sam and Emmett what you think about all their hard work."

I pin him with a look that speaks to the sass that I didn't know still lived in me. "Promise?"

My alpha dips his head and caresses my lips with his. "I promise I'll tell you anything you want to know later," he whispers against my cheek and takes a little nibble of my jaw as he moves away. But not too far in case I fall without his body holding me up.

Blinking away from him, I take in my main level for the first time with the softness of my new couch comforting my bare legs. There are new stools at the island that match the couch that look cozy. Everything else in the kitchen is the same, especially with Oliver hopping around in excitement. He used to bug his mom with that all the time growing up.

My eyes keep taking the changes in, and I can only gape at the big freaking table taking up space in my open concept main floor.

"If it's too much, I'll get a smaller one," Sam says fast, as if he wants to beat me before I say something negative. "I just thought?—"

"It will be perfect when we have our families over," I say with a genuine smile on my face.

Sammy blows out a relieved breath where he stands beside it. "Exactly, Petal."

My cheeks warm at his nickname for me. When his green eyes move to the ceiling above the door, mine follow, and I gasp for the second time this morning. "Oh my god," I squeal, wiggling to get down, but Vincent's arm snaps out to keep me where I am.

Huffing at him, I go back to studying the beautiful chandelier. It's not all diamonds like you'd see in a mansion. No, this one looks like a shiny weeping willow trickling down from my ceiling.

"It's so pretty," I breathe, and I know I have hearts in my eyes. "I love it." When I drop my gaze to take in my mates, I get stuck on the gaping hole that used to hold my front door.

"What happened to all the doors? Did Vincent hulk out on that one, too?" I tease and nudge him. Happiness flitters through my body, sending tingles up and down my arms. What an odd reaction .

Emmett shifts near the doorway, drawing my attention. "Uh. I may have removed it prematurely. Don't worry, though. The new one should be here in a few minutes,” he rushes out.

A big grin splits my lips, and I wiggle my hands at him. Emmett comes to me like I ask and stops in front of me. I grab his hand and tug him between my legs. With my arms around him, I whisper, "Thank you, Em."

He drops a kiss on my head and murmurs, "Everything for you, sweetie."

When he moves back, I look at Sam and beckon him over too. I make him replace Emmett, but there's hesitancy between us. Looking over his shoulder at the gorgeous chandelier, I breathe out my animosity toward the alpha who broke my heart. With my legs and arms, I tug him to me and squeeze him like I'm coming home.

"Thank you, Sammy," I whimper and dig my nose into his throat. "Thank you so much."

I cry and I cry, soaking his shirt as he whispers wonderful things into my shoulder. Is this what moving on feels like?