Her fingers clench on my arm. “I want that,” she whispers.
It’s a confession, dropping into the quiet like the first breath after being underwater.
“I just… I don’t knowhowto have it, Nate. Where do I even begin? How exactly do you build a nest?”
“Now that is the magic question, kitten,” I say, keeping hold of her as I stand up. She squeals, hooking her arms around my neck.
“Luckily, you have a master to help you.”
Who’s laughing now, assholes?
I’ve been prepping for this day on every single shopping expedition we’ve ever been on, and I didn’t even know it.
ChapterThirty-Four
Gabrielle
Nate’s words play on a loop inside my head as he carries me towards the doorway.
All of us want you, Gabrielle. Without question.
This pack… wants me.
Permanently.
It should feel petrifying.
I never wanted a pack.
I ran from that possibility the second they set me free from the Omega Compound, literally running from my supposed rescuers, from their pretty promises about omega choices and bitemarks and helping omegas to find the pack that was right for them.
I didn’t want to listen, too afraid of my own shadow and too angry at everyone who contributed to what we went through by doingnothing.
I never thought any pack would be right for me. But these alphas are slowly creeping their way into my heart, sneakily worming their way in through kind words and kinder actions.
My rambled thoughts scatter apart as Nate sets me down, sliding my body against his until my feet are resting on the floor, his large hands spreading over my hips to hold me steady when I wobble.
He rests his chin on my head as I stare at the open space in front of us.
“Wow.”
They have everything here. Everything that could possibly be used to make a nest.
My heart twitches. I never dared to think I’d ever be able to create a nest of my own. I’ve never felt safe enough, not since my very first day as an omega, when I awakened in a violent burst of pheromones and ended up in a cage for my trouble.
Blocking out the memories, I lean back into Nate, feeling his warmth soak through my back. “Where do we start?”
It’s all so… overwhelming.
Nate clasps my hand in his.
“We’ll start at that end,” he points. “Work our way around? We can have a look first, think about what you’d like, and then pick anything up on the second run.”
My mind goes to the small wad of cash stuffed into my trouser pocket.
I’m so close to being able to afford my own deposit.
Maybe I’ll just pick out something small.
