“I can’t believe this is really happening.” I grab one of my T-shirts and Hale turns toward his room to grab something that smells like him. “Do you think we’re ready for this?”
I rarely voice any insecurity, but Hale’s a good listener and doesn’t judge. Last night when I slept with Kady, it was different. Then, I was in control. However, heat is a completely different ball game. What if we’re not enough for her?
Being as young as we are, finding an omega was never on our immediate to-do list. Naturally, we made sure we had a nest, like any self-respecting pack would do, but it was more of a backup measure.
“We have to be,” Hale says with a quiet confidence, grabbing his pillow. “She needs us.”
I follow him down the hall, stopping when he pauses at the nest entrance. “We’ll wait here until she’s ready. This is her space now.”
I clutch onto my dirty T-shirt and wait, shifting my weight from foot to foot. Not being with her right now is driving me crazy.
“Do you think Riven is okay?” Hale eventually breaks the silence. “It must be a lot for him to process.”
“If you saw his face, you wouldn’t be asking that question.” I smirk. “He looked happier than Larry when he got hold of the last of your mom’s muffins.”
“Hale? Calder?” My head snaps around at the sound of Kady’s voice. “Is that you?”
Fuck. Just hearing her voice is enough to make my cock twitch with longing. I glance down the hall as Riven’s door is pushed open, and she emerges like some ethereal spirit withRiven’s blanket wrapped around her. Behind her, Riven hovers, wearing only a pair of boxers and a blissful smile.
“How’re you feeling, beautiful?” Hale asks.
“Better.” She grins up at Riven, whose cheeks flush in response. “Much better.” She plays with the blanket. “But I can already feel another wave approaching. This is definitely not a spike.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got you.” Hale rubs her back . “Do you want to move to your nest and get it ready?”
Her eyes light up before she nods solemnly. An omega’s nest is serious business. “Yes.” She looks down at the clothes in my hands. “Are those yours?”
“Hale thought you may like having our scents in the nest.” I hold up my shirt. “If you don’t want them, I’ll?—”
“No.” She snatches the T-shirt from me so quickly that it moves in a quick blur. “I mean, that’d be nice.”
The grin that spreads over my face must look ridiculous, but I can’t help it. Kady Sinclair, the sassy ice queen, just admitted that it’d be nice to be snuggled up among my dirty laundry. I don’t think I’ve ever felt prouder.
“This is your nest now.” Hale motions through the doorway. “Your sacred place. You should go inside first. Make sure it’s all to your liking.”
She shuffles in, turning back when none of us follow her. “What are you waiting for?”
“We need your permission to come inside,” Hale replies. “This is your nest now, Kady.”
“Well, you have my official permission,” she declares, waving her hand casually.
I take a deep breath and nervously glance at Hale. The look in his eyes tells me I’ve got this. Coming into this room wasn’t a big deal before, but knowing it’s now Kady’s—our omega’s—nest changes everything.
I watch her every move as her blue eyes flit over the room.
“Would you like me to change the lighting?” I point to the panel on the wall.
“Can you make it a little warmer in tone and dimmer?”
I’m grateful that she gives me purpose as I tinker with the dial. When I turn around, I have to stop myself from grabbing my cock as I watch her tight little body inspecting the space. Every movement of her lithe limbs feels like an invitation, beckoning me closer. I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying something that’ll interrupt her flow.
Kady’s eyebrows lower and her mouth pinches together in concentration as she moves to the bed. I’m pretty sure she’s so absorbed in her task that she’s oblivious to how mesmerized the three alphas observing her are.
Witnessing her nesting instinct take hold is fascinating. She carefully lays Riven’s blanket over the bed then gives a satisfied nod before fluffing some cushions. She then brings some smaller pillows up to her face to rub them across her cheek before placing them down again. I lean against the door jamb, watching as she lies back, extending her long legs across the mattress before running her feet up and down the fabric, smiling.
She stretches her arms out, turning her focus back to us. “Can I have the rest of the items you brought?”
“Of course.” Hale rushes forward like he’s delivering an offering to a deity.
