Page 73 of Who We Were

Samuel turns to me like he's waiting for me to say something. When I stay silent, he gives me a small chin lift. "What's the plan?"

"Wh-what do you mean?" I stutter, taken aback by his shift of responsibility. "This is your call."

Sam shakes his head, lips turned down. "Not anymore. I'm not pack alpha, not after all my mistakes and your literal challenge that you wontwice."

I didn't challenge him.Did I?!A low growl rumbles in my head, confirming my alpha side definitely took it that way. "Ah no!" I gasp. "Only reason that happened is because you were in shock."

"I was in shock because I realized all the mistakes I've made being a leader, Emmett. I'm not fit to lead, and I don't want to." Sam sighs and rubs the back of his neck. "I have a lot to make up for, Em, and I need to focus on that."

"Well,I'mnot pack alpha!" My words tumble out frantically, and I feel nothing but acceptance in my body.I'm not. This wasn't why I threw him onto his back, but maybe I knew he couldn't lead us anymore.

"Em," Oli interrupts softly. "This doesn't matter right now. The pack bond is as damaged as it's always been. We need to focus on Maya."

Some of my panic dissipates, knowing my beta is right. Without an alpha leading, our pack bond will deteriorate even further, but we have time. Time that needs to be used to take care of our omega.

But I don't know what to do.

Oliver rests a hand on my trembling arm and addresses Samuel and me. "We'll need blankets. We can't be too presumptuous that she will want our scents, so we only take a few articles of clothing as an offering. Wrapped in their own bags," he adds with a slight lilt of a question to the omegas still staring at us.

Freya nods approvingly.

Oliver's confidence boosts. "Make a list of all her favorite foods from when she was younger. Sweets are good, but she will need nutrients. Sam, you'll run to the store and make sure you get cases of water bottles and electrolyte packets. If you see anything you think she might want or need, don't hesitate. Follow your instincts."

Sam nods, pulling out his phone without preamble, and starts the list while still listening.

"Oh, and pick up yellow flowers," Oli adds.

I blink. "Why?"

Oliver stares at me like I'm dumb. "Because the yellow ones smell like Amaya." Sam looks confused too, as do the girls. "What?" Oli snaps.

"What do you mean the yellow ones smell like her?" I ask for clarification.

Crossing his arms, my beta glares at me. "They’re lavender."

Kate snorts, and Freya corrects him. "Lavender is purple and looks more like a plant than a normal flower.”

Oliver's mouth pops open and his eyes glaze in wonder. "So I really did smell her when I gave her dad a tour of the house!"

"She needs more nesting materials," Kate chimes in, breaking the silence that followed Oliver's realization. Personally, I want to know more about that story, but maybe later.

Does she not have a nest?

Oliver nods, zeroing back in on what matters right now, and turns to me. "Em, you're on nest supplies. There's that big ass department store down the road that looks like one big cloud of coziness inside. Same as Sam. Get what you think our girl wants and needs."

I'm really curious when the hell my beta has been inside this store, but that's a question for another time. For now, I'm sodamn thankful he remembers everything we were taught at our designation academy.

"I'm forgetting something for the nesting supplies," Oliver mumbles.

Freya lifts her hand. "Descenting detergent. You'll need to wash the materials, so she doesn't pick up on any other lingering scents from the store."

Oli snaps and points at her. "Yes. Thank you! We will also need to shower before we go over there since..." He waves a hand at the two omegas who smell nothing like our fated.

"I will gather some of our clothes and head over to talk to Vincent." Oliver looks thoughtful.

"What are you going to say?" Sam asks, his voice tight.

I'm worried our resident asshole will have a really hard time with the tattooed hunk who’s been living with our girl.

---