From behind Oliver, Lorenzo's arm drapes across all three of us. His warmth settles on my shoulder, and when I look up through the knot of bodies, he's watching, pride flickering in his eyes.
My stomach growls, Wilson's following the instant after.
"Food," Oliver grumbles into Wilson's back. "Someone needs to make breakfast before I start eating this pillow."
"You'd eat a pillow regardless," Wilson mutters.
"True. But I'd prefer eggs."
Lorenzo withdraws his arm, the nest shifting as he rises. He slips out of the nest and pads into the kitchen without bothering with clothing.
Oliver whines at losing Lorenzo's warmth and burrows deeper against Wilson's back.
"I need to pee," Wilson murmurs.
"Absolutely not." Oliver tightens his arm around Wilson's waist. "You're a heat source and I'm cold. Peeing is canceled."
"Oliver."
"Canceled, Wilson."
I slide my hand down to Oliver's arm, pressing against him where it clamps across Wilson's stomach. "Let him up."
"You're supposed to be on my side." Oliver's eye cracks open, the blue iris peering at me over Wilson's shoulder. "Alpha solidarity or whatever."
"I'm going to solidarily carry you to the shower if you don't let Wilson use the bathroom."
Oliver groans with every ounce of drama in him and finally releases Wilson's waist. Wilson rolls out of the nest; his feet find the floor and he stands, stretching until his spine cracks audibly and his arms shoot above his head.
Wilson lingers for a few moments before heading to the bathroom, just as naked as Lorenzo was. His stride is more confident than I’ve ever seen it, pride rumbling through the new bond between us.
"He didn't cover it. His neck. He didn't pull his collar up." Oliver's murmurs as he decides to curl into me.
I chuckle. "I noticed."
"Nicholas, he's been covering that scar since before we met him. Every minute of every day. Even usually on the way to the shower or at breakfast and… I know he’s been doing better but he just..." Oliver tilts his face up. His blue eyes are clear, the heat haze gone, leaving behind the sharpness that makes him the most perceptive person in any room he occupies. "That's not a small thing."
"I know."
Oliver's hand finds my face. "You gave him the lip because you knew he'd never be able to hide it."
"You should have seen his face when he understood." My voice comes out rough, cracked at the edges. "He offered me his neck first. Tilted his chin up and bared the scar like that was all he thought he was worth. And I just—" My thumb presses against my own lower lip. "I turned his face back to mine and he looked at me and I watched it land. What I was asking. Where I wanted to put it." Wilson allowing me to put it where everyone would be able to see means more to me than I can ever truly put in words.
Oliver's expression does something complicated. His scent sweetens against my chest and he presses his face into my throat and breathes there for a moment before pulling back. "I'm not crying," he says. His voice is thick.
"Your eyes are doing the thing."
"Shut up. That's Wilson's line."
Silence filters between us as Oliver melts against my chest, my arms easily moving to hold him against me. I never thought I would be this comfortable with a pack, especially one as unconventional as this.
“When are you going to bite me, Nicholas?” He tilts his head back. He reads the shock on my face before laughing. “I already know it’s going to happen. I’m not letting you get away. Besides, Lorenzo might have mentioned something while you and Wilsonwere sleeping. I didn’t get all of it but there was definitely something about a bite.”
I drag my nose along his chest, the Omega letting out a soft sound. “I’d love you to bear my mark, Oliver.”
A whine follows before he pushes against my arms. “Tomorrow or maybe next week. If I sit on a cock right now, I’ll die.”
“Stop being dramatic, Oliver. Now, excuse me, I think I’m going to go shower with my Beta.” I push to my feet, Oliver grumbling about loss of warmth before propping himself on his elbows.
