Page 31 of Who We Were

"I think—" I wet my lips. "I'm tired."

"Mhmm," he basically groans, his fingers flexing.

I barely hold in my gasp. "You have my number."

"And youwillcall me if you need or want anything." It's not a request, he's demanding it, and fuck if I shift my legs to find some friction.

"Mhmm," I mimic only to have his hand shift to my throat and squeeze a little. "Yes, yes I will."

"Good little mate."

Then, ever so slowly, Vincent leans in and places a scorching kiss to the corner of my mouth. In my mind, my omega does a little jig just as my pussy flips with her own demand.

"Good night, Amaya. I won’t be far, I swear it."

And to my utter shock, I tell him truthfully, "I know."

Feeling his hot touch release me is something I never want to experience again. The cold he leaves in his wake doesn't only make my limbs tremble, but my lip too. I fight the tears the entire time he walks to the front door, but as soon as it shuts behind him, I let them loose.

Please let him remember the sexual tension and not my trauma.

22

EMMETT

The house is usually tense and uncomfortable whenever Samuel is around, but him banging through the kitchen cupboards only makes it worse.

There's an underlying warning to keep my mouth shut while he throws his mini tantrum. Had I known his crabby ass would be home for dinner, I would have made him a serving. Normally it's just Oli and me. Sam is rarely home before eight.

Leaning back in my chair at the kitchen table, I watch the alpha warily. He's far more uptight than usual. Oliver doesn't really seem to care about his brother's attitude as he shovels a final bite of pasta in his mouth.

I mean, Sam's behavior and attitude are constantly a sore spot in our house, so maybe Oliver hasn't picked up on the extra foulness radiating off of him. I'm not sure if my beta doesn't notice the edge Sam is teetering on or if he just doesn't care. Either way, he speaks, destroying the barrier between us and our pack brother's temper.

"I was thinking about heading over to the new neighbor’s house and saying hi in a bit," Oliver says joyfully. I smile and nod at him. I was thinking the same thing.

"It's late," Samuel snaps without turning around.

Narrowing my gaze on his rigid back, I reply, "It's not even seven."

"It's too soon. Let her settle in," Sam retorts, shoulders lifting to his ears.

I glance at Oliver to see him frowning at Samuel too. Maybe he didn't get the memo to stay quiet after all. I knew anything that came out of our mouths while Sam was in earshot would be met with rude remarks.Like usual.

"It's been three days. Plus, it's Saturday so I'm sure it's not too late," my beta argues. He genuinely seems confused by Sam's reluctance, as am I. "You don't have to come, bro."

Finally, Sam turns around with an irritated huff. His voice is cruel as he spits, "I'm not fucking going there. Neither should you."

"Okay, what the hell is your problem?" I try really fucking hard to stay out of their brotherly squabbles, but he's being a dick to Oliver for no reason. "Did something happen at the signing?"

"Nothing happened," he immediately denies, slamming his hand down on the marble countertop. "Nothing happened," he repeats quietly, then hangs his head.

I catch Oliver's eye and see the same mixture of annoyance, confusion and worry reflected in his green gaze.

"Okay, well now I want to meet her even more," Oliver declares with a smirk.

I prepare myself for their usual verbal sparring, but to say I'm shocked at what comes out of my fellow alpha would be a damn understatement.

"Let’s go out for drinks." Sam sounds pained with his suggestion, but in the pack bond, his alpha rumbles happily.

---