Page 72 of Who We Were

EMMETT

“We have a problem, and it's not just the fact that you three still need at least eight kicks in the dick."

Oliver sighs, batting his eyes at the omega on our doorstep. "God, I love getting verbally assaulted before the door is even open all the way. How'd you know?"

I don't even notice the girl behind Kate until she snorts and nudges Kate with her elbow. I'm still a lot confused about why Amaya's best friend, who last I knew wanted us dead, is standing on our doorstep.

"You don't have a weapon, do you?" I ask warily, trying to peek between Kate's crossed arms.

Kate narrows her eyes and cocks a hip. "Why? Do I need one?"

"I—"What the fuck is happening right now?

I don't know if I feel relieved when Sam steps up beside Oliver, but at least he can handle the murderous omegacurrently glaring daggers at me.At least she's notthrowingdaggers.

"How can we help you ladies?" Samuel greets.

Oli curses when Kate's sugary bubble gum scent sharpens in annoyance and attacks my nose. Swallowing the urge to gag a little at the potency of her raspberry scent, I take a step back and decide to let Sam handle it.

"Kate, chill," the other omega grunts and nudges her fuming friend. "Hi, I'm Freya," she introduces herself but doesn't reach to shake our hands.

Fine by me. I wouldn't touch her, anyway. There's only one omega, one woman, who's allowed to touch me.

Speaking of… we were just about to leave.

"Nice to meet you, Freya," Sam replies diplomatically. "What can we do for you?"

Nice, straight to the point. If he hadn't stepped in, I doubt I would have been able to get past the fact that Amaya's best friend hates me. And judging by Oliver's green face and shifting feet, he's struggling to push past Kate's ire toward us too. I'm a little shocked her scent is so revolting to him, considering he's a beta. Maybe it's because nothing will ever compare to our scent match.

Freya eyes Kate, but Kate just glares at Sam.Yeah, I don't like him very much these days, either.

The blonde omega sighs. "Amaya's heat cycle has started."

A haze like I've never known coats my vision pink.Heat. Omega. MY omega. In need.

"No! None of that," Kate shouts, snapping me out of my alpha's overpowering presence trying to dominate all rational thought.

I don't know where my growl ends and Samuel's begins. Hell, I'm pretty fucking sure my beta is also about to go feral for his mate.

Freya stomps. "Stop itrightnow! This isn't about you. If you really want to make up for your mistakes, you're gonna have to shove your needs aside and take care of your omega the waysheneeds!"

"Wh-what?" I rasp, trying really damn hard to focus on her words. The meaning behind them is a bit harder to grasp.

"Amaya doesn't need your knots, you assholes," Kate interjects, scaring me a little.

I frown, and I see Samuel tense even more out of the corner of my eye, but he doesn't deny that's also where his mind went. Now I feel like an ass. There's no way Amaya would want us in her nest.

"But." Oli hesitates and looks between Sam and me with furrowed brows. "How else would we help?"

Kate grumbles and pinches the bridge of her nose like we're giving her a headache. She doesn't have instincts slamming against the reality of our situation demanding we run to Amaya's house and claim her.

Freya nudges Kate back a few steps.

"What are all theotherthings an omega needs during a heat cycle?" I can practically feel Freya biting back her judgmental tone, but when it finally registers what we need to do, I don't blame her.

Blinking away the last of my horny haze and putting my instincts in a proverbial head lock to get my alpha to listen, I stand up tall. "Comfort. Amaya needs her pack to take care of her other needs."

Oli huffs and mumbles with exasperation, "Well, we're dumb."

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