“That was a rough sketch. Should I touch it up a bit?”
“Nope.” No fucking way. I grin down at Callisto. “Rough seems to suit our pack pretty well.”
He winces, probably thinking of what he put us through going into rut, but what I really mean is all the shit that’s brought us to this point.
“I think I’m healing, Leanne,” I say, smiling and reaching one hand down to Calli. He mounts the lowest rung to reach me. “I heard all about omegas who loved making their nests, but I thought I could never have that. Just walking past a nest used to give me nausea. But look at me now.”
“Indeed, look at you,” Leanna says, pleasure all through her voice. “You’re glorious, Red. You’re doing a wonderful job.”
I roll my eyes a little, deserved considering the shit that phrase put me through, but I keep those thoughts to myself. “Hey, I gotta go,” I tell her. “I’m about to hang some lights on my mountain.”
Leanne laughs and tells me to go get ‘em before we hang up.
“I’m so proud of you, too,” Callisto says softly.
I squeeze his hand in reply, and then he promptly orders me to get down from the ladder since I can’t risk a fall before filming. With a laugh, I comply, but only because I’m already finished with the curtain.
Once the bed’s done, we get to work positioning the planter boxes and biggest pots. The fountain I ordered goes up on the wall in the back corner, and Rickon calls a plumber to come out next week to get it working.
When he gets off the phone, he sets the top 100 pop list to blare from his phone as we lose ourselves in potting soil. Within hours, the space transforms from bare bones to a luxuriousPersian-inspired courtyard full of greenery, bright mosaics, and textured wood surfaces.
I can’t wait to see how it looks after sunset with the globe string lights hanging from the rafters.
“That’s the last plant,” Rickon says, pouring white stones into the top of a planter box. “But did you miss that pot?” He juts his chin toward one of the biggest containers.
“No.” I pop my hands on my hips, puffing for breath. “I decided to put an orange tree there. And I’ll order some lanterns for the pillars and—” I break off and giggle. Hard to believe I’m this excited over a nest space.
Rickon feels the mix of emotions and pulls me into his arms. “It’s stunning, Red. Full of life and vibrancy.”
I snuggle into his chest and sigh. “It is wonderful,” I echo. This space is all mine. “I promise I won’t try to burn this one down,” I add.
Rickon laughs. “I’m over the moon to hear that.”
He graciously doesn’t mention the fire sprinklers installed in the rafters, but I know we won’t be needing them. The only future fires will be the ones in my body.
Callisto walks over. “I think we’re done for the day. And it looks like Zack’s claimed the egg chair.”
We turn together and study the big alpha slotted into the egg-shaped swinging chair in the back corner in time to see him dig one foot into the floor to swing himself.
I laugh. “Well, that’s the downtime corner anyway, so I’m glad he likes it.” A daybed couch, the swing chair, and a pair of recliners give my alphas plenty of choices to catch some zzzzzz’s when they take turns during my heat.
Zack sees us and waves, his contentment blazing through our bond. The omega’s happy, so her alpha’s happy.
“Come on,” Rickon says, dusting his hands off. “Let’s get dinner and have an early night. You have to be on set by dawn.”
I groan and strip my gloves, but I’m not really upset. It’s been a tiring day.
Before locking the door, I take one last look at the hot house. It’s lush and colorful, and a truly inviting space to step into. For the first time in my life, I wish my heat were closer.
Not that we have long to wait now.
Chapter fifty-five
Zack
I stroke one hand over my leash as I watch my omega get ready to act. It’s my old, familiar collar, smelling like me and Ri-ckon. He smiled as he clipped it in place, and we both know it means something important. People stare as we walk through the busy set, but I get several waves and a few welcomes.
“They missed you,” Ri-ckon whispers from the other end of my leash.
