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VINCENT

A perk of being a part of a pack is having multiple mates around to help when their omega is struggling.

During our cozy time today, I'm pretty sure we were all aware that Amaya's mind was elsewhere, but by an unspoken agreement, we gave her space. No matter how much my alpha urges were trying to force me to demand she tell us why her anxiety was buzzing through the bond, I made myself relax.

All I want to do is fix and erase the bad, which is impossible. Logically, I know that, but seeing my omega in pain and struggling against something I can't see makes me want to explode. I can't fight the monsters in her brain. Only she can do that, and in order for any of us to help, she needs to let us in. Something I learned in rehab was that nobody can help you if you don't allow them to.

I would have gotten nothing from the countless hours of therapy had I not put in the effort. That's what Amaya needs to do, and while she figures out how to ask for our help, I'll do my best to make her comfortable and happy.

Like right now, Amaya and Emmett are walking upstairs to her main bathroom. I’m curious to know why she chose him to help her when I could have done it just fine, but I also need to trust that she knows what she needs. Plus, I'm really proud of her for asking for help.

Before they took her from me, I witnessed Amaya suffering in silence and afraid to ask for support. She had it no matter what from me, but that didn't do much good until she accepted me.

Last night, she accepted both Oliver and me. Now she's letting Emmett in, and we saw her open up a little to Samuel earlier, too, with their long hug. My omega is trying. I mean, shit , we've only been home a little over twenty-four hours, and she isn't blocking us out.

Trauma is unique to the person suffering through it, and I admit I've been fucking terrified that she would shut down. The bright smiles she lit the house with a few hours ago gave me so much hope my feral edge smoothed out enough for me to sit still and chat with my pack.

My pack . How surreal. I'm not quite sure how I fell into the role of pack alpha, but I suppose that's a good thing. It means my qualities made for the right fit on their own without me trying, right?

What's even better is I didn't have to fight Sam for the title. It was never my goal to lead this pack. I just want everyone to be happy and safe, which came out very dominant at the hospital and ultimately changed the pack hierarchy.

"Do you think she's okay?" Sam asks Oliver, who looks surprised by the inquiry.

"You're asking me if she's okay?" Oli repeats slowly.

Samuel frowns and hikes his ankle up onto his knee. "Well, yeah. You're closer to her than I am right now."

A few inches away from me, Oliver tenses a little and it makes me wonder how this conversation might have been handled in the past. Sam sighs and adds, "Oli, I'm not mad Maya is comfortable with you and not me yet. As far as I'm concerned, it makes sense. So relax. I'm not about to bite your head off for being a good fuckin' guy."

I peek at the beta who mumbles a quiet, "Alright," under his breath.

It seems like the brothers still have some work to do to mend their relationship, too. It's none of my business, though. At least not yet. As pack lead, if their relationship takes a turn for the worst, I will need to step in because it will affect all of us, but for right now, they are siblings who need to work through their issues, and that doesn't include me.

Clearing my throat awkwardly, I stand and toss a wave over my shoulder. Hopefully, I'll figure this pack leader thing out sooner rather than later.

No sooner have I filled my glass of water, my partial bond with Emmett is being yanked on so damn hard I almost drop it. Swirling around the pulsing aura that is Em, Amaya's golden hue explodes like a fucking bomb in our tether.

"Fuck!" Dropping the cup into the sink with a dangerous clatter, I bolt around the island and up the stairs, all the while cursing my slippery fucking socks. I don't even think I shout their names. Before I know it, I'm rushing through the cracked ensuite bathroom door.

The first thing I see is Emmett's broad shoulders hunched over the tub, then come the bubbles thrashing around the lip of the white porcelain.

"Shh, Maya. I'm here, I'm here, I'm h-here," Emmett's voice cracks on the last word, breaking my heart and sending it shattering to the depths of my soul.

Gasping breaths and whimpers reach my ears, automatically drawing me closer to see my little omega. Her eyes are squeezed shut, and her hands are holding Emmett's wrists in a vise grip, where they gently clutch her cheeks.

My frantic gaze strays to her kicking leg while the left one wiggles around in the sling hung over the tub. Her top half, covered mostly with lavender-scented bubbles, hardly moves like she's frozen in her memories.

Emmett keeps talking to her and holding her head above water. His minty scent swirls around the steam in the room. I wonder if his mint is why Amaya seems to be sucking in greedy breaths like she instinctually knows her alpha's scent is meant to soothe.

Inching forward, I fold my body so I'm crouching low. Instead of approaching my fearful omega, I tuck my body around Emmett's from behind. He jolts, but I shush him and relax a little when he seems to calm with my presence.

"You came," he croaks while wiping his thumbs beneath Amaya's bloodshot eyes. "I-I don't know what to do."

"I'll always come, Alpha," I whisper in his ear. "Tell me what happened quickly."

Emmett takes a shuddering breath, his shoulder blades digging into my pecs. "She didn't want to shower, and said it would be worse than the bath. They hosed her down, Vincent. The bath is triggering her because of the?—"

He doesn't finish his thought, but I understand. Amaya drowned. Of course, the bath would trigger it. How did I not think of this? I'll just have to be really fucking glad that she did.

"We will talk about the shower thing later," I murmur and run my hands down his wet arms. "Keep talking to her."

I pull away long enough to grab her purple loofa and her flower-scented soap. After setting them down beside Emmett, I pull the drain plug for a few seconds so it's not so deep. Peeking at Emmett, pride fills my chest when I see he isn't looking at her almost bare breasts. He's solely focused on her fluttering golden eyes. I resume my position and pull one of his hands away from her pale cheeks once she's stopped thrashing her legs.

I make a mental note to text Oliver to bring some painkillers up in a bit since she definitely upset her ankle.

"Now wash your omega, Emmett. Talk her through what you're doing, starting at her shoulders and neck. Good. Now, her chest, but no lower. Good job, alpha. Repeat that very gently, and try to coax her into washing the rest of her body."

Sitting behind Emmett and watching him take care of our omega while she blinks away the horrors of her past makes my throat thick with emotion. I don't know how long I soothe Emmett while he soothes Amaya, but finally, she takes the loofa from him and finishes washing her intimate parts.

Now that she's lucid, Emmett releases her and washes her good foot and calf so she doesn't have to strain to reach. I nod to her head next while she soaks; he knows what I'm saying without words. I pull her shampoo and conditioner out of the cupboards behind me and hand them over.

Settling in, I watch my mated alpha wash my fated mate. I feel warm and content. I'm so damn proud of both of them for asking for help when they needed it. The only way we will ever move on from the shit we've survived is to lean on each other.

So when Amaya is all dried off, and I'm carrying her to her nest, I harbor no ill feelings when she whispers to me that she wants to sleep with Emmett and Oliver tonight.

With a soft kiss to her pink lips and rosy cheeks, I tuck her in and watch my pack beta and my alpha snuggle in on each side of their childhood best friend.

I have never felt more like I belonged somewhere in my entire life, even as I settle on the couch beside Sam and drink our bourbon. I may not be in bed with my golden girl, but relaxing with my packmate is fulfilling in another way I've always craved.

Even though I never belonged in my birth family, I know without a doubt I belong with my fated one.