I jump up and open the door. Ivy slips inside, her cheeks flushed from climbing eight flights of stairs. She's wearing a baseball cap pulled low and one of Wraith's hoodies that swallows her whole. Even from here, I can smell her heat scent getting stronger, cutting through the scent neutralizers.
"Made it," she says, breathing hard. "No one saw me."
"You okay?" I ask, watching her catch her breath.
She nods, but I can see she's exhausted. Between the stress and her approaching heat, she looks ready to collapse.
"We should set up your nest," Plague says, gesturing to the supplies he's laid out. Smart fucker even packed a bunch of the blankets from the omega supply store order. "You'll need rest."
I watch as Ivy's eyes scan the room, coming to rest on the sole bed. Her lips press together in a thin line. "Not a lot of room, is there?"
"This was the only thing they had available," Plague says. "But Whiskey can sleep on the loveseat."
Ivy glances at the tiny loveseat, then at me. "That... doesn't look big enough."
"That's what I said!" I crow triumphantly.
"The floor works too," Plague adds, shooting me a pointed look.
Ivy raises her eyebrows. "You knowneitherof you is getting in bed with me, right?"
Plague and I exchange a look. Guess that hadn't occurred to us. Although now that I'm thinking about it, I'm actually kind of surprised Mr. I-Know-More-About-Omegas-Than-Everyone-In-This-Fucking-Pack didn't realize Ivy would rather not share a bed with two alphas she just met, scent matched or not.
Ivy begins unpacking her backpack, pulling out some of her things. Throws, more of Wraith's clothes, a few trinkets. She arranges them carefully on the bed, adding the soft blankets Plague and I brought from the store. Her movements are purely instinctive, omega nesting behavior kicking in as she creates her safe space.
Watching her build the nest stirs up my animal instincts, too. I want to help, to provide, to secure.
I stomp those instincts downhard. The last thing she needs is me going all caveman on her when she's already vulnerable.
I retreat to the loveseat to put as much distance between us as possible in this shoebox of a room. Plague takes the desk chair, his back still rigid. I lean forward with my elbows on my knees and pretend to look out the window.
The awkward silence stretches, broken only by the soft rustling of fabric as Ivy continues working on her nest. I pull out my phone and text Thane and Wraith for an update. Wraith texts me the moment he must see I’m typing, which is shocking. Guynevertexts.
WRAITH
Ivy ok?
whiskey
WHISKEY IS IVY OK
WHISKEY
Chill bro. She's fine. We're at the hotel. Everything good there?
THANE
All good. How's Ivy?
WHISKEY
Nesting. Heat's definitely coming on stronger.
THANE
Keep yourselves under control. Both of you.
WRAITH
