Page 37 of Who We Were

I told myself I wouldn't pressure my little mate into hanging out with me or accept the food I've delivered every day for every meal. I promised her that even if she didn't want me, I would still be here for her in any way she wanted or needed.

I think I made a mistake. A really fucking big one.

Here I thought I was doing the right thing by allowing my omega to settle in and decide what she wanted to do with me. Every day she has thanked me and closed the door, shutting me out of her home.

I thought giving her the space to make her own decisions was the right fucking thing!Goddammit!

The muffin is left on the porch and her iced latte gets set on the entryway table as I push my way into her home. With both hands free and a newfound determination to make everything better, I frame her slightly hollow cheeks in my palms.

Thankfully, Amaya doesn't push me away, even as my exceptional height towers over her and makes her neck crank back. I'm studying her pleading gaze when her plush bottom lip wobbles.

My heart cracks in sadness and my alpha's rage slams against my rib cage.I did this. I left her alone.

"Amaya, what's wrong?"Besides the fact that your fourth mate is also a failure,I add in my head.I try to be sweet and comforting, but I'm on the verge of growling at her to give me answers and solutions.

Actually,fuck!That's the mistake I already made.

We alphas and betas learned a lot about omegas and the care they commonly need at the rehabilitation center.I can't believe I forgot my training. Omegas are known to need an alpha to take the lead for them when they are struggling. To make the hard decisions and sometimes the little ones.

Amaya is different. She's been struggling foryears, and I justlefther to drown under the pressure of making choices.Fucking hell. She has spent years being told what to do and how to do it, how to feel and behave.How did I not think of this before?!

"Amaya," I snap, swallowing the urge to bark and force the truth from her.

"I—" She trembles. "I don't know."

I narrow my gaze and bend down until our noses are just about to touch. "Omega. Tell me," I rumble, hoping to reach her other half since the woman standing in front of me can't answer.

A whine tumbles from my mate’s lips as her eyes slam shut. I'm scooping Amaya and her sheet into my arms before kicking the front door shut in one desperate move. A choked sob is muffled in my neck, making my feet rush us forward to the couch.

My ass hits the corner of the couch and I'm immediately tucking her thin sheet around her better, then pull her body asclose as possible. As my fussing comes to an end, my eyes land on the coffee table where it looks like she's been storing the food I've given her.Storing, not eating.

Instead of asking about it right now, I work my fingers through her hair and tug the thick locks out of their messy bun. Those things can cause headaches if left in for too long. At least that's what they told us in our classes at the center.

My patience runs out fast, especially when I start rubbing her back only to feel her fucking ribs. "Omega, I'm gonna need you to talk to me now before I lose my shit."

She huffs and shifts on my lap but doesn't pick up her head. "I d-don't know what's wrong," Amaya murmurs.

I think through what the academy taught her and made the omegas do. It revolved around separating their omega sides from their person, and while I can't imagine what that's like, I'm pretty sure that's the issue right now.

"Okay, little mate," I soothe and rest my cheek on her head. "Your omega knows, doesn't she?"

Amaya's silent except for her sniffles for a few minutes, but I wait her out. I truly don't know what she's grappling with to get both halves of her being to work together, so I will trust she's doing her best to figure out how to help both of us.

A little puffed whimper sounds close to my ear, then she's nudging her nose further into my neck and rooting around for my scent gland. The spot where my scent is most potent.Her omega.

"Little mate," I coo, hoping to coax the instinctual side to me.

I smile into her lavender scented hair when she gives me a little contented sigh and wiggles happily. "Mate," she breathes.

I hum, allowing my purr to rise naturally from my breastbone. The vibrations settle her further; only now she's wiggling her little ass on my rapidly growing erection. Not wanting to get distracted, I shift her to the side a little.

"What's wrong, Omega?" I ask again.

Silence.Again.

"I'm tired, Vincent."

My purr stutters, then cranks up a notch.

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