She plops his pillow down next to her, smooths down Ezra’s scarf, then makes a huffing noise as she tries to stretch my T-shirt over the cushion without it rumpling.
“It doesn’t cover it!” Her features pinch in frustration.
“How about I make the cushion smell like me instead?” I step forward.
“I guess that’ll do.” She holds out the cushion for me to take, and I rub it over myself, paying particular attention to the scentgland points behind my ears which I’m sure are giving off a load of alpha pheromones right now.
Kady lets out a relieved exhale as I hand it back to her, hugging it to her chest like a teddy bear. It’s fucking adorable, and it makes my heart melt. Her face relaxes as she breathes it in deeply. “Much better.”
“Is there anything else you need, omega?” Hale asks.
“I think I have everything I need.” Her nose scrunches up.
“Kady?” I ask sharply, panic gripping my lungs. “What is it?”
She winces again. “It’s nothing.”
From her expression, it’s obviously not nothing.
“Are you hurting, omega?” My voice deepens, almost a bark but not-quite. “You can’t lie to us.”
Her eyes widen. “I guess it hurts a little.”
Hale joins her on the bed, pulling her into his arms. “Our job is to take away your pain. We want nothing more than to take care of you. That’s what should happen during heat.”
“I know.” Her eyes flicker around the nest, chewing on the inside of her cheek. It’s clear that there’s something she’s not saying. Fortunately, she speaks before one of us has to press her. “It’s just that the past heats I’ve had with alphas have been more transactional.”
“Transactional?” Hale frowns. “What do you mean?”
Thinking about Kady being with any alpha but us makes me feel like someone is skewering my chest with a white-hot poker. However, I appreciate that it’s highly unusual for omegas to save themselves for packs, nor would I ever expect them to. Constant suppressant use takes a toll on their bodies, and many omegas don’t even want—or never do—find a pack. If Kady didn’t find us, I’m sure she’d be having transactional heats forever.
“Well, it was all about the knotting.”
“And they didn’t take care of you afterwards?” Anger barrels through me at just the thought. “They didn’t feed you, clean you, hold you close, or tell you how incredible you are?”
“Well, no.” She lifts a shoulder. “But I did write up contracts that specifically outlined that non-knotting interactions were to be kept to a minimum.”
“I thought an omega would want all those things.” Riven chews on his lip, looking like he’s trying to fathom what she’s saying. “Satisfying an omega is about more than the physical act of knotting. There are many factors that go into making sure an omega’s needs are met.”
“Riven’s right.” Hale sets a hand on her thigh. “It sounds like you haven’t had any alphas properly satisfy or take care of you.”
“Fucking assholes,” I grumble.
She deserves to be spoiled. How could they just knot her then run without giving her proper aftercare? It makes my blood boil. When alphas learn their designation, they’re given a guidebook with some online lessons to watch about how to look after an omega, but many don’t bother. Or worse, don’t care.
“I didn’t need them to take care of me.” Kady juts out her chin, though her voice shakes a little. Perhaps she’s starting to realize that she has a lot to gain by letting others look after her for a change. “I’ve always been perfectly capable without an alpha. I just needed a little help with knots during a heat.”
It’s a relief to know that from now on, she’s going to have the four of us to look after her.
“Letting your alphas fulfil all of your omega needs during a heat doesn’t make you any less independent,” I tell her as Hale pulls her closer to his chest.
She snuggles up against him, her shoulders visibly relaxing.
“We’ll show you how a real alpha should act,” Hale promises, running his fingers through her blonde locks. “Are you going to let us take care of you?”
Her small hands curl into fists. She’s obviously struggling with heat symptoms but still trying her damnedest to hide it. “I’m down for knotting, but the other stuff is all new to me.” Her knuckles turn white with how tightly she’s squeezing her nails into her palm. As much as I want us to take her pain away, we can’t rush this, or we risk her shutting down completely. She needs to feel in control right now. “What if I can’t let go?”
“You already know how to,” I tell her. “You did a pretty good job of obeying me last night.” I smirk at the memory. “Remember how good that felt?”
