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SAMUEL

" I 'd suggest you think about what's going to come out of your fucking mouth, 'cause I'm seconds from busting your teeth in."

I have never been so spitting mad in my entire goddamn life. This motherfucker thinks he can waltz into Amaya's life and tear down the one person who has been everything for her, all while he's been absent her entire life.

Honestly, I might just rip Paul's tongue out of his mouth even if he doesn't say another word to piss me off.

"Listen kid?—"

"NO!" I shout, advancing on him without caring about the scene we're causing in the hospital hall. " You listen, old man. You will never speak to Vincent like that ever again. If you so much as look at him wrong, you'll have his entire pack to deal with."

I'm not getting enough air in my lungs, but nothing else matters besides keeping my pack safe. I've already failed Amaya twice. There's no way I'm going to fail my new pack brother again.

We never should have left our omega and Vincent alone after her heat. Not only was Amaya in a vulnerable state, but Vince was too. An alpha who took the brunt of her neediness and demanding nature would be exhausted and riding whatever instinct swallowed him whole.

I don't know why Vince left Amaya home alone that night, but it's not his fucking fault. I'm very aware that Amaya would not approve of her dad's behavior, but that's not why my alpha is riding me to snap Paul's neck for his gutting display of disrespect.

I may never bond Amaya, hell I might even be cast aside, but Vincent is my scent matched brother. Not only that, but he's the most admirable man I've ever met. He's meant to be a leader, and this scumbag, currently lifting his hands in surrender, beat him when he was down.

"I'm sorry, Sam," Paul says, his voice strong. Not good enough . "I shouldn't have done that. Shouldn't have said those things."

"Obviously!" I growl, gritting my jaw to keep myself from saying something I'll regret too.

The angry bully I saw minutes ago fades with a heavy slump of his shoulders. Paul’s eyes shutter, and his neck gives way for his head to hang just as his ass hits a plastic chair against the wall.

"I'm so fucking sorry," he whispers. "I?—"

My teeth gnash. "Who the hell do you think you're apologizing to? You didn't shatter my soul while I was laying broken in a hospital bed. You didn't disrespect and annihilate my mate."

The reminder of who he hurt drags a choked grunt from his shaking shoulders. "Amaya… Christ ."

"Imagine if she heard what you said to the one person who has done everything and been everything for her since he caught her scent. Did you even know he graduated top of his fucking class in rehab so he could heal? FOR HER !"

Paul flinches. Everyone fucking flinches, but I'm not done. "We are all hurting, Paul. And blaming each other isn't going to get us any fucking closer to saving Amaya."

"You're right," he relents.

I scoff. "That's what Vincent said to you."

Paul grunts like my jab physically hurts him, but he can fuck right off and wallow in his guilt just like I've been doing since I wronged my omega. There's nothing else to say, no forgiveness to give until he fixes the damage he caused.

I'm heaving and trying desperately to garner some semblance of control when a familiar voice bounces through the white hallway.

"Please tell me you didn't break the one person who can track Amaya?"

Kate's voice is nothing but a rabid screech forcing my shoulders to hike up in an attempt to cover my poor ears. Whirling around, I see the short-haired omega fast approaching with some furious looking dudes on her heel.

I think I recognize the bright blond guy, but my wariness of the other two rises before I can even attempt to greet who I'm assuming is Kate's pack. Beside the platinum blond alpha is another, more dominant man with ebony skin and a tight scowl pinching his features. On the end, with dark hair and a more animated facial expression, is another alpha. I don't know who the hell the pack leader is, but they look like a force to be reckoned with.

"Kate," I say evenly with a respectful nod, but I don't take my eyes off the three threats behind her.

"Sam," she sneers, coming to a stop, her tiny exterior vibrating with rage. "What's going on?"

"Where do I begin?" I huff, sending a glare at Paul who is now standing stiffly at my side.

"Where's Amaya's bonded?" the animated guy asks. I narrow my gaze, but he just sighs with an eye roll. "My name is Remy. I'm Kate's alpha, and an OPS detective."

Paul stiffens. "OPS detective?" he repeats.

Remy nods grimly. "Yes. Since my pack and I are in town for the foreseeable future because of Kate's support position with Amaya, Baltimore and the surrounding areas are under my jurisdiction."

"Amaya?" I croak, hope bubbling in my chest.

"My top priority," Remy answers the unspoken question. "We have a plan. There are omegas across the country that have been taken, and agents assigned their cases. Since Beck and Kate know Amaya well, she's mine."

I don't fucking care about why we’ll have his help. My tone is desperate, like the step I take toward them, as if they might leave us alone in this nightmare. "What's the plan?"

"Vincent," Kate answers.

Fuck.