I lead her up the stairs with my packmates following close behind, pausing at the nest door. “After you.”
I brace myself for her reaction as she gingerly opens it and steps inside.
THIRTY-THREE
Delilah
My heart pounds as I take in the space.
I walk straight into a small, snug area with deep sofas, but it’s the door beyond that, which leads into the heart of the nest, that captures my attention. It’s painted in a warm orange, illuminated by soft golden lights. A humongous bed with heavy drapes stands in the center, with peach-colored fabric hanging across the ceiling to look like waves. As I pay more attention to the lights, I realize that they’re shaped like tiny butterflies. This isn’t just a nest—it’s a whole freaking floor.
A door beyond the main nest leads out onto a balcony that overlooks the forest, only making the inside seem cozier. Like downstairs, there’s a fireplace here too, but it’s not burning, surrounded by a sea of unlit candles.
“Woah…” I gasp. Here they come again. The tears. “This is…”
“You hate it, don’t you?” Jagger’s caramel scent begins to char. “Fuck. We can change anything you don’t like.”
“Is it the colors?” Tae asks. “I wasn’t sure whether to go with something more neutral.”
“Is it too cold?” Nash questions, ever the practical one.
“It’s not that.” I turn to face my alphas, my vision swimming. “This nest… It’s everything I could have ever wanted. I’ve never seen a nest split across different rooms before.”
“We thought you might want a separate chill out space, then the main area, and a bathroom, obviously.”
Omega nesting instincts are baked into our DNA. Ever since I was a little girl, long before I knew for sure that I’d even present as an omega, I envisioned what my perfect nest would look like. “This is better than anything I could’ve imagined or wished for.”
“Are you sure?” Jagger chews his inner cheek. “We can change anything.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you.” I smile so wide, my cheeks hurt. “All of you.”
I let out a gentle groan as my toes disappear into the thick carpet. It feels like walking on a cloud. Tae moves to follow me when Nash’s arm shoots out to grab his shoulder and yank him back.
“Wait!” Nash growls.
“Oh, shit.” Tae’s face falls. “I’m so sorry, Delilah. I forgot. I’ve never been inside am omega’s nest before. I forgot it was rude to?—”
“It’s okay.” I hold out my hand. It’s up to an omega to give people permission to enter their sacred space. “I want you to come inside. All of you.” As I move deeper into the nest, I catch hints of their scents, already steeped into the fabrics. “You already scent marked the room?”
“If you don’t like it, we can take the items away,” Jagger quickly replies.
“I love it.” I select a cushion from a nearby sofa, raising it to my face to rub my cheek against it, inhaling Tae’s rich espresso scent.
“You haven’t seen the best part yet.” Tae claps gleefully. “Show her, Nash!”
Nash moves to a panel on the wall then presses a button. The lights dim, and a mammoth circular sun painted on the ceiling begins to move. With a mechanical tick, the panel shifts back to reveal a large round window, offering the perfect view of the starry sky directly above the bed.
“Whoa…” I gape at it. “You made that?”
Nash shrugs. “I’m good at making things.”
“It’s stunning.” I stare up into the inky sky. “This is all… too much.”
“Delilah.” Nash takes my hand, his palm rough against mine. “You’re our scent match. Nothing will ever be enough for you.”
At his words, my tears finally spill over. “S-s-sorry.” I sob. “This is just everything I’ve ever wanted. I never thought I’d even find a pack that wanted me.”
“We’re the lucky ones, cookie.” Tae pulls me into his protective embrace, holding me close until my breathing returns to normal.
