A good omega follows the omega creed.
“Fuck the creed,” Max says savagely. I glance at him with surprise, and he grabs the blanket and holds it out to me determinedly. “This space is yours, Ava. If you want it.”
I hesitantly take the blanket from his outstretched hand. My space.
Glancing up, I see soft sheets hanging from the ceiling, creating a tent effect. Fairy lights twinkle in strands from wall to wall.
I bite my lip.
“You built me a nest?” My voice wobbles, and I swallow.
Luc’s eyes are soft. “You can change whatever you want. We had to build it quickly, but we tried to think about what you might like.”
I take in the jewelled tones, the cozy atmosphere – even the scents don’t feel strange. This feels like heaven.
“I love it,” I whisper. “I’ve never had a nest.”
Leaning back a little, my hand brushes something cotton. Tugging it, I lift out a white shirt. It smells like… gingerbread?
Nikolai’s wide eyes meet mine, and I realize my face is basically buried in his shirt as I inhale deeply. My fingers clench on it, and his eyes note the movement, a smile twitching at his lips. They gave me their clothes?
I glare at him.This is mine,I silently communicate through frowns and squinty eyes.You can’t have it.
I carefully tuck it back into position before turning to them.
“I think I’d like to get up now,” I decide.
As if on cue, my stomach growls.
I’ve never seen four grown males move so quickly.
ChapterThirty-Four
Nikolai
Heat simmers in my chest as we follow Ava into the kitchen.
Watching her tug my shirt from the pile we gave her, seeing her fingers clench and smelling the sudden spike of her vanilla scent… it’s awakened something in me that I thought was gone forever.
Guilt and desire wrestle for control, and I can’t stop myself from pulling a chair out for her. She slides into it carefully, shooting me a shy smile that goes straight to my knot.
Shit.
This is not going to happen, I tell myself.She’s been through hell, asshole.
But I can’t stop myself from running my eyes over the soft curve of her neck or appreciating the way her nose wrinkles when Bastien hands her a coffee. Truthfully, there’s not a part of her I’m not drawn to like a fucking beacon. And that scares the shit out of me.
“What would you like to eat?” Luc asks. He’s been quiet since Ava woke up, but he’s tracking her every move with predatory stillness, drinking in every movement she makes.
She shrugs, lifting her frail shoulder. “Whatever is easiest.”
Bastien tuts at her dramatically. “Luc doesn’t cook for just anyone, you know. I’d make the most of it.”
Luc makes a vulgar gesture at his brother, and Ava laughs quietly.
Everyone pauses, drinking that laugh in like it’s the damn elixir of life.
Something has changed, I realize as we sit together in peaceful quiet. Ava feels… more relaxed. Maybe because we’ve spent four days with her tucked between our bodies, wrapped in our arms, entwined in our scents.
