His arms come up around me, and he holds me tight. One hand rubs my back as he sighs.
“Fuck,” he curses, burying his face in my hair. “You smell so fucking good, baby.”
The second thing I notice is the scent of rain and dirt. I look up to see Olly watching us intently.
“Make a better door than a window, Em,” he says.
“You don’t like it, fuck off,” Em says, and I can’t help but smile because he’s here. My mate is here, and he’s safe.
“Hungry,amigo? I made dinner.”
I sniffle, feeling a sense of relief as Em rubs my back and says, “I guess some food wouldn’t be a bad idea right now. I can’t remember the last time I actually ate something.”
I frown at his admission.
“Why don’t you lead Emmett to the table, Auryn?” Olly says, his voice cool and comforting.
I nod, grabbing Emmett by the hand and doing as he says. When we get to the table, Em sits down, grimacing as he does so. Olly and I both flock to him at the same time.
I growl at Olly, who jumps back. “Just trying to help,” he says, his gaze flashing from me to Emmett.
“He doesn’t need your help,” I growl, feeling strangely protective of this beta touching my mate.
It’s a feeling I’ve not had before. Olly should back off, if he knows what’s good for him.
But also…I know I shouldn’t be snapping at Olly. He’s likely the reason Em is alive right now, given the state he was in when we brought him in. But for some reason I can’t help it.
I watch as Gage sets a hand on Olly’s shoulder, pulling him away.
To his nature, Olly doesn’t look too upset. Only intrigued. I sit in Emmett’s lap, and he whimpers as I wrap my arms around him. Olly says, “Be careful—”
I can feel his pain, his distress as he grimaces. He’s putting on a good show, but I know.
I just…know.
The purr that erupts from my chest is beyond my control. Everyone quiets. Everyone except Em, who whines. Whimpers as he tightens his arms around me.
I’m vaguely aware this isn’t a normal reaction. I know that. But something inside of me tells me this is the most natural thing in the world.
Holding my omega.
No…not omega. Alpha. Emmett’s an alpha. I’m not sure where that odd thought came from.
“I’m good,” Emmett murmurs against my throat. “I’m okay right now.”
“You sure?” Gage asks, sounding just as shocked as Olly, who lets out a gasp.
Emmett peels his face away from my neck, glancing back at them. Some strange tension passes between them, which also makes me anxious. I don’t like this beta looking at my mate. I don’t like this alpha looking at what’s mine, either. My purring turns into a growl, and then Olly says, “Don’t worry; we’re not going to hurt him. He’s safe with you.”
That makes the growl go away.
“Emmett…we need to talk.” Gage says. I know he’s right; we do need to talk about what happened.
“Food first,” Diego says. A moment later, he sets a plate of enchiladas in front of me, and I groan with relief. I shift a bit so Em can get to them, but otherwise I don’t move.
“Auryn, you should eat, too,princesa.”
I eye him skeptically, but ultimately Emmett shifts me again to grab the fork. I watch as he cuts a slice, prepared for him to take a bite. But he offers it to me.
