“Aren’t they both the same?” Damon’s forehead crinkles in confusion, examining them. “They’re both pink.”
I giggle as I watch my burly, inked alpha hold up two pink cushions. He arches one eyebrow. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” I snort and hide behind a huge cushion in the shape of a male silhouette that’s called a, ‘Snuggle Buddy.’ Apparently, you can order them in any gender, size, and fabricyou’d like. They’re custom-made to be shaped and smell like your alpha.
By the time we’ve finished in soft furnishings, our cart is full, so Damon heads to the register to pay and load the car, leaving me with Ren.
I watch Damon retreat, mumbling under his breath about pink cushions. “I can’t believe this is all really happening.”
“I told you that you had nothing to worry about with Damon.” Ren throws an arm over my shoulder. “Are you feeling okay?” He watches my reaction closely as Damon gets farther away. “I can call Damon back, if you’re in discomfort?”
I can still sense Damon under my skin, but it’s less intense, like he’s already becoming a part of me. Amora’s metaphor about piercings feels apt, and it’s strange how quickly I’m getting used to it. A giddy excitement bubbles in my stomach at the thought of how it’ll feel to share this connection with the others.
“No,” I reassure him. “I’m okay. I have you here with me.”
Although I need to be close to Damon, being in the presence of Ren—or any of my other alphas—seems to lessen the discomfort.
“You better get used to it.” Ren’s lips spread into a warm smile. “You’re always going to have me.”
“Have you thought about…” I play with the hem of my dress. “When we bond?”
With Damon, our bonding was spontaneous and unexpected. However, Ren is more sensitive, so we need to have a conversation about how he’d like to bond when the time comes.
“It’s all I’ve thought about since we started courting,” he replies. “But there’s no pressure. We’ll bond when the time is right.”
“I know there are bonding ceremonies and stuff,” I mumble. “Is that something you’d like?”
“I don’t need any of the oils, sound baths, or crystals, like we saw upstairs. You’re all I need.” He fingers a strand of my hair. “But I’d like to bond when it’s just the two of us, and I want you to remember it afterwards.”
“So not during a heat.” Being in a sex-crazed state is not exactly conducive to remembering everything. “Noted.”
After spending a small fortune in Nora’s, we grab wraps at Hummus Where the Heart Is, eating them while sitting in the sun, watching the world go by.
“Hey, pussycat!” Rook—Damon’s security guard friend— stops to say hi while on campus patrol. “Heard someone was busy last night.” He jokingly punches Damon on the arm. “The boss told me the news. Congratulations, dude. I’m psyched for you both.”
“Sorry, you’ll have to pick up extra shifts for a few weeks,” Damon tells him, pulling me close. “The only person I’m up to protecting is right here.”
My heart does a flip.
“Don’t worry about it, man. I need the extra cash.” Rook shrugs, fiddling with the gold hoop in his ear. With that, his man bun and beard, he gives me a pirate-biker vibe. “I’m fixing up my old Harley.”
Damon’s emerald eyes light up. The two of them have a long, passionate discussion about motorcycle parts while Ren asks my opinion on an essay he’s working on. After that, we visit almost every shop on campus until my feet ache from walking.
By the time we return to the pack house, overloaded with bags, I only have time for a quick shower and quick change into comfy loungewear—which we bought this afternoon—before the Stellas are due to arrive.
While I get ready, the guys transform the living room into a mini-nest, using most of the things we bought earlier.
“Sorry, we couldn’t fit everything in.” Cole hands me a furry pillow. “It’s not perfect, but we’ll build you a proper nest when we move.”
Cole leads me over to the slider opening out to the backyard where Laz is setting up the pizza oven, Ren is on cocktail making duty, and Damon is firing up the barbecue. A burst of warmth spreads through my chest, seeing how much these men dote on me. How did I get so lucky?”
When the doorbell rings, Cole and I answer, instantly met by a chorus of squeals.
“Outta the way, Cole! Stella sisters coming through!” Sabs pushes past him, holding an enormous bunch of golden, letter-shaped balloons. She’s holding them like a bouquet, so I can’t make out what they’re supposed to say. “There she is!”
Sabs runs over, letting go of the balloons in her excitement. Cole grabs a few mid-air, but most of them soar straight to the top of the tall ceiling.
Sabs remains oblivious to the balloon carnage she’s caused as she gives me a massive squeeze. “Our newly bonded omega! Look at you! You’re glowing!”
