I pivot though, focusing on something that will hopefully settle our omega, help her feel more safe and secure.
“We’ve got a week until you said it might start. We’d like to take you shopping for your nest.”
Sage freezes, and the knife she was poking her food with screeches on the plate. Then she looks up at me with wide eyes.
“My nest?”
“We noticed you’ve started stacking blankets in your closet,” Vee says.
My eyebrows go up. I hadn’t noticed that, but I’m glad she did. Definitely time to get her settled in a proper nest then.
“We actually have a nest room here, at the back of the house. I didn’t show it to you before because I didn’t want to put too much on you or freak you out, but I think it’s time. Would you like a real nest, Sweetling?”
Sage’s scent perfumes in the air as she stares at Neveah. Then she leaps up, her pupils blown, eyes locked on Vee.
“Yes, alpha,” she says, voice breathless.
I’m tempted to tell her to finish eating, but we can come back to it. This is more important right now, clearly.
We all stand and follow Vee upstairs to the second floor, then down the hallway to the back of the house. Riley throwsan excited grin at me, causing my own lips to pull into a smile in return. Vee opens a door that I had assumed was a closet, revealing the bare bones of what will be a perfect nest.
A recessed floor filled with a fluffy mattress and cushions, wide windows, low benches along two walls, and an adjoining bathroom.
Sage halts in the doorway, though, her face falling and her perfume fading.
“It’s white,” she says.
I frown, unable to decipher what her flat tone means, then look back inside the room.
“We can paint it whatever color you want,” Vee says. “We left it white so it would be a blank canvas, but I don’t care if it stays that way or not. I want it to be whatever will make you happiest. Whatever will make your omega feel safe and cozy.”
Sage loosens at that, her scent brightening again as she steps tentatively into the room.
“We can go shopping tomorrow if you want,” Riley says, looking between me and Vee as though we would dare deny either of them. “Get all sorts of fluffy, comfy blankets and pillows, pick out a different color for the walls. Maybe even some twinkle lights or glow in the dark stars for the ceiling or something.”
I’m about to tell him not to pressure her, but she turns big, excited eyes his way.
“Twinkle lights and stars?”
“Sure,” he shrugs. “Whatever you want.”
“Can we go today?” Sage has wandered into the room, but she spins around to face us as her pleading gaze strikes me right in the chest.
Vee is the one to answer, thankfully. I think my brain got lost in Sage’s big brown doe eyes.
“Stores are all closed by now, Sweetling, but we’ll go first thing tomorrow.”
“Why are you all being weird in the doorway?” Sage tilts her head, eyeing the three of us crowded at the door.
“We won’t come into your nest without being invited,” I say.
Riley nods, looking hopeful, and Vee remains stoic as she watches the emotions flick across our omega’s pretty face. Confusion, bewilderment, hurt?
“This is your safe space, Sage,” I say. “We’d love to be a part of it, but an omega’s nest is sacred. We won’t enter unless you expressly tell us we can.”
“Oh,” she whispers, looking around the space with new eyes.
I try to contain the anger flooding my system at the fact she didn’t know this. I can only imagine how the alphas she lived with violated her omega instincts, and I try to turn my thoughts away from that. I focus on the pack in front of me, settling on Sage’s excited gaze.
