Chad smiles at her, a small, appreciative curve to his lips. “I love staying with you, but I’ve never really had a proper nest of my own. And, honestly? If my parents’ money can go toward something that actually makes me happy, I’ll take it. Because they sure haven’t figured out how to do that.” He shrugs, thesmile fading into something more reflective. "This feels like something I need for me."
“You’re staying?” The words tumble out before I can think them through, surprising even myself. But I need to hear him say it. To confirm that he’s choosing to stay.
And not just because of me, because he didn’t even know I was part of this pack when he decided to settle back here. But now… now he’s staying. Even with everything unresolved between us, the mess of the past, the uncertainty of what comes next, he’s staying.
Chad looks up at me, something playful sparking in his eyes despite the heavy tension hanging around us. His lips twitch into a half-smirk, the familiar cheekiness slipping through. “Well, I have to put down roots somewhere.” He shrugs lightly, but there’s more weight in the gesture than he lets on. “I mean, things aren’t exactly perfect, but... who knows? Maybe it will all be worth it in the end.”
The comment’s light, teasing even, but there’s an underlying honesty there that I can’t ignore. He might not be sure about our bond yet, but he’s offering something. A chance. A future, maybe, if I’m willing to put in the time and effort.
Chad leadsus to his new place, and I’m not sure what I expected, but it wasn’t this. It’s a full house, not just an apartment like I’d imagined. The front lawn is neatly manicured, a dogwood tree standing proudly in front of a large bay window that juts out from the house. The kind of window you could sit by for hours, just watching the world drift past. The siding is a soft, inviting blue, and a white wrap-around porch stretches along the side, giving the place a sense of warmth and home.
Chad pulls out a key, his movements deliberate but calm. He glances back at us for a moment, something unreadable in his eyes, before pushing the door open and stepping inside. Lakelyn and I follow him in without a word. Mason trails after us all, still silent. The quiet click of the door behind us echoing through the space.
The interior is simple, clean, and open, with hardwood floors that gleam beneath the soft lighting. The walls are painted a warm, inviting cream, making the space feel bright and airy, but the house is mostly bare. Just a small couch in the corner and a rug laid out in the center of the living room—a clear sign he hasn’t had time to fully furnish the place yet. The emptiness gives it an almost echoing feel, but somehow, it doesn’t feel cold. It’s more like a blank canvas, waiting for life to be brought into it.
Chad doesn’t linger in the bare room. He gestures for us to follow him up the wooden staircase, the sound of our footsteps soft against the polished steps. The second floor feels just as sparse until he opens a door near the end of the hallway.
His nest.
The room is a different story. The space feels intimate and cocooned, filled with piles of blankets and pillows that spill over the oversized bed in a soft heap. The bedding is dark—deep, rich tones of charcoal and navy—and looks impossibly soft, almost inviting you to sink into it. With sparkling lights attached to the ceiling to round out the space. Despite the minimal furnishings in the rest of the house, he has made this room feel like a sanctuary. It’s warm, comforting, and personal, the one place in the house that truly feels ready to be lived in. A safe place for him.
The room is more than just a nest—it’s an invitation. He’s offering us trust in a way only an omega willing to open himself up would. The blankets and pillows, the dark, soft bedding, all of it feels like an extension of him—of the vulnerability he’sallowing us to see. It's not just a place to sleep; it’s a sanctuary he’s built for himself, and now, he’s inviting us into that space, sharing it with us.
I glance over at Mason, and we both know this isn’t just about sleeping in the same space. This is Chad pulling back the layers, exposing a part of himself he usually shields with sharp words and a quick wit.
Chad steps aside, his fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt, and for a second, I see the nerves creeping through. His eyes dart between us, searching our faces for any sign of rejection. “It’s not much,” he says, offering a half-smile. His voice is light, but there’s a weight to his words like this moment matters more than he’s letting on. “But it’s mine. And… if you’re okay with sleeping here, with me—” his words trail off as if he’s unsure how to finish the thought.
I take a step forward, my gaze locking with his. “It’s perfect, Chad.”
For a beat, his eyes widen, surprise flickering across his face before the corners of his lips tug up into a real smile. His cheeks flush pink, and for once, instead of brushing off the compliment or hiding behind some sarcastic remark, he just nods, accepting it. There’s a quietness in his acceptance, like maybe he’s starting to believe he deserves it.
Mason steps closer, standing solid at my side, his voice low and steady. “It’s more than enough.”
Chad’s eyes soften at Mason's words, and before I can even process the warmth in the air, Lakelyn moves to Chad’s side, slipping her arms around his waist. She nuzzles into him like it’s the most natural thing in the world, her presence grounding him in a way that makes something deep inside me stir.
The way they fit together, their easy connection—it’s more than just comfort. It’s this unspoken bond that pulls me in, too, like gravity. I’m watching them, and I realize I want thatcloseness, that feeling of belonging, with both of them. The pull isn’t just toward one of them. It’s toward everything they are together and everything we could be.
Chad glances at me, a question lingering in his eyes, but there’s no hesitation in what I feel anymore. I’m already falling for them both.
CHAPTER 41
Chad
I glance around the room,feeling the moment settle over me. This is what I wanted, right? A pack. A real one. Something steady. Something that feels like home. But standing here now, with all three of them looking at me like I’m worth sticking around for… yeah, it’s terrifying.
While I decorated the nest today, I envisioned sharing the space with Lakelyn and Mason—of inviting them here and sharing this part of myself. It makes me feel vulnerable. Adding Dean into the mix makes it feel like it’s on another level, like I might be dreaming instead.
Lakelyn’s still tucked against my side, her warmth grounding me, and I’m so grateful she stopped me earlier. If she hadn’t, I’d probably be halfway across the state by now, making every excuse not to face this. I still can’t believe I offered my nest as the place to sleep. My first night in my nest and I’m going to spend it with the three of them.
“So, this is happening, huh?” I blurt out, my voice coming out a little sharper than I meant. “Guess you guys are just gluttons for punishment. Can’t wait for the daily dose of snark thatcomes with me.” I throw in a smirk, trying to lighten the weight pressing down on my chest.
Lakelyn looks up at me, her smile soft, like she knows exactly what I’m doing and doesn’t mind. Mason’s mouth quirks into a half-grin, and Dean just… watches me, a little too intensely. But none of them pull back. No one looks like they want to bolt.
“Snark’s part of the charm, Pretty Boy,” Mason says, his voice low but with an easy confidence. He crosses his arms and leans back against the wall behind him like he’s completely at ease, like my sarcasm didn’t even faze him. My stomach dips at his nickname, and I swallow, shifting my attention to Dean.
Dean just shrugs, that fire in his eyes simmering low. “We knew what we were signing up for.”
I stare at them for a beat, trying to figure out if they’re being serious. “You sure about that? Because you all seem a little too eager to sign up for this mess,” I say, waving my hand in front of me like I’m some kind of disaster they’re all just too blind to see.
