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AMAYA

" W hat's going on down here?"

I jolt at the sound of Oliver's curiosity. The stiffening of my muscles isn't because I'm embarrassed to be found with one of my alphas kneeling on the kitchen floor between my legs, though. I prepare myself to shut down any jokes made about Samuel's vulnerability.

Emmett, picking up on my mood, slips his pinky into Oliver's hand and wiggles it to get his attention discreetly. With a frown, Oli glances at his alpha and whatever he sees there has the teasing glint in his eye fading to unease.

Twisting his lips, Oliver eyes his brother who still has his face buried in my belly. "Sam, you okay?" he asks with caution.

I give him a grateful smile while I scratch my nails along Sammy's scalp. His deep rumble has butterflies taking flight where he rests, and it's all I can do to keep from squirming.

To distract myself from my rising need, I start to explain our conversation. "We were talking about ev?—"

Sam's head pops up so fast I startle. The intense look he pins me with holds me in place. Oh, and his hot hands on my thighs keep me from falling, too, of course. "Her heat. We were talking about Amaya's heat."

My jaw drops, and blood rushes to my cheeks so fast that I immediately start sweating. I wish I could deny Sam's words, but I guess that was a topic I brought up. Opening and closing my mouth a few times like a fish out of water, I wiggle and panic at the heat searing my panties now.

Locking eyes with Sam, the pleading look he gives me makes me close my mouth and nod. The others don't need to know about our conversation. We will keep it to ourselves. Ours.

"Your heat?" Vincent breaks our connection.

"Yeah," Sam says, standing and leaning against the counter beside me. "Petal asked me to be a part of her heat. And I, obviously, whole-fucking-heartedly accept."

My panties incinerate when he winks and flexes his forearm as he drags his hand through his hair. "Oh, breakfast is ready," he adds like the perfect fucking package.

"You cooked?" Oliver looks a little green. "By yourself?"

Chuckling, I hop off the counter onto my one foot and ignore the snarls of indignation as I crutch over to Oliver. "Don't worry. I supervised." I peck his lips and huff my way to the back bathroom. "Some of it," I toss over my shoulder and giggle when arguing ensues.

Some things never change, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"So..." My heart is in my throat, and my fingers don't have any more blood in them with how hard I'm wringing them together. "I was wondering..."

Vincent pauses the TV and full body turns to me so his knee brushes my ass. He waits patiently for me to find the words I've been rehearsing in my head since waking up this morning.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I recall some of the worries I've been fighting against all day and decide to address those first. "Was I out of line when I asked you," I look to Emmett, "to finish bonding Vincent? Because if I pressured you into anything?—"

"You didn't pressure us, sweetheart." Emmett leans forward and brushes his fingers across my knees. "It was always in our plan.” He twirls a finger in a circle to indicate to himself, Oliver, and Vincent. “We just wanted to wait for your go-ahead."

More questions blare in my head, and I release one that's been demanding my attention the most. "Can you tell me more about why you started the bond already then? If you wanted my blessing."

Em and Vince trade a loaded look. With a heavy breath, Emmett opens up to me. "I was struggling because I didn't know where I fit in here anymore. I felt worthless," he whispers, shame dragging his eyes down to his lap.

I want to go to him, but my crutches are on the other side of the ottoman, and I'm squished between Vincent and Oliver. Before I can try to soothe his ache with words, Emmett lifts his gaze and gives me a real smile.

"You don't need to say anything, sweet girl, but thank you. I'm working on it, and I'll continue to grow so I can be the best version of myself that I can be. There's nothing else to say," Em preaches with confidence.

He’s right. There's nothing else to say except, "I'm proud of you."

"Me too," Sam agrees.

Oliver gazes at Em with love and adds, "So damn proud.”

And Vincent's words are steeped in pride when he chimes in. "Proud of you, Alpha."

Emmett's smile is so wide I don't think I'll ever forget this moment. I especially won't when he flips the attention back on me by asking, "So what else were you wondering, sweetie?"

Fuck, I shouldn't have said anything.

'Want more.' My omega paces, her anxiety making her voice waver. 'Need beta.'

I know, I know! I thought having a slightly stronger connection to Emmett before I bonded him, too, would help settle the anxious energy constantly thrumming through my veins.

And he did, in a way. But Emmett's subtle presence through my bond with Vincent isn't enough to calm the persistent feeling that I should to be on guard for something. Changing my main living space where I was kidnapped was a huge help, as was the added connection between my alphas, but I need more.

I need help.

'Help. Beta.'

The thing about what I'm about to ask, though, is this will be the closest I'll ever get to bonding Oliver myself. My bite, paired with a bite from one of my bonded alphas, will create a tether designed for a beta and an omega. One that isn't as all-consuming as an alpha/omega bond, but one that's meant to soothe and balance the chaos of an entire pack tethered to an omega.

'Say.'

"Baby girl?"

At his voice, I look into Oliver's eyes, and make my decision. I may need him, but the desire to have him, mind, heart, and soul, is as consuming as my bond with Vincent.

"Bond me?" I whisper to my beta, but before I let him answer, I turn to Vincent with a watery gaze. "Give me my beta? Please?"

I could tell them why I need him so much, and how he could help me battle my demons, but at the end of the day, that's not why I'm asking to bite my beta and have my alpha bite him too.

"I love him," I whimper, tears slipping down my cheeks as I all but beg Vincent to understand. But that was wrong. Whipping around at the sound of Oli's gasp, I clutch his cheeks and lay my heart out there for him to accept or deny. "I love you, Oli. Please? Be mine."

A choked watery laugh escapes Oli before his lips are claiming mine fast and warm. "Of course, you beautiful girl. Obviously!" He giggles and I repeat the happy sound.

A warm hand sliding around my belly reminds me there's more than just us at this moment. Peeking at Vincent, I'm afraid of his answer until his heated gaze trails over me, then Oliver.

"Be mine, too, Beta?"

"Fuck," Oli curses and bites his lip then checks with Emmett who gives him a wide smile of approval. "Yeah. Yeah, yes!"

Oli bounces like his giddiness just can't be contained. Vincent's hand shoots out and snatches his jaw. To me, Vince rumbles, "He's ours now, Omega."

In the next beat, two mouths are clashing against mine in a passionate dance that has me twirling toward their love and never looking back.