I watch as she carefully places it on the garland before leaning back to inspect it.
I hastily bring my hand up to hover behind her back in case she leans too far. Cato still has his hands on her hips, but I can’t help the protective instinct.
I love working closely with her like this. I’d been avoiding her because she seemed afraid of me when we first met.
It wasn’t enough for fate to scar most of my body. I kept growing, and growing, until reaching my current giant stature. Either of those things tend to make people nervous, but combined, well, I don’t blame people for staring or moving out of my way. With how some of them react, I can only assume they think I got all these scars in knife fights or bar fights with broken bottles.
I’ve never been one for fighting, that’s Cato’s thing. The one thing my looks are good for is preventing fights since even alphas assume they’ll lose.
It’s nottheirreactions that bother me though. It’s the nervous and scared scents of omegas when they see me that agitate my alpha.
Like any alpha, I want to help omegas, instincts urging me to fix whatever’s upsetting them. In this case, the only solution is for me to stay away. It’s a confusing mix of push and pull, which results in me feeling even worse. That’s why typically I avoid omegas as much as possible.
When I heard our next trainee was an omega, I panicked.
My packmates reassured me everything would be fine. Our omega trainee would get used to working with me just like everyone else. We’ve had plenty of nervous trainees before.
Despite their reassurances, I had several days of quiet panic. I finally decided I would just avoid her when we’re not on the clock until she got used to being around me.
Hestia never had that fear scent, but she stumbled away when we picked her up that first day, so I assumed her descenters just covered it up.
Now, I think she might actually enjoy spending time with me. She even made sure to get a photo with us, pouting so cutely when we didn’t immediately join her. I’m glad Henri suggested it because now that’s my phone background.
Once Hestia decides the mantel is done, we move on to the tree.
We get the tree in the stand and pull out the lights. Hestia tries to help, but Cato sets her on the arm of the couch.
“I can do it too!” she says.
“We’ll get the lights on and then you can do the fun part and decorate it,” Orion says.
Hestia huffs but stays put.
We get the tree covered with cozy white lights in no time.
Charm and Henri come in just as we finish, Henri still brushing wayward snow off his curls.
“Were you able to get everything done?” Orion asks quietly while Hestia is distracted looking at ornaments with Cato.
“It’s all set up,” Charm whispers back, and Henri nods.
“What did you set up?” Hestia asks, making us jump.
Somehow she teleported over during our brief conversation.
I glare at Cato. The one time we needed him to keep her attention.
“The, um, other decorations. We put up a few things around the station we didn’t think you’d want to be involved in. Hanging wreaths on doors and—and putting garland on the banister,” Henri says quickly.
“Oh, okay! I’m happy to help with anything though,” she says with a smile.
Henri and Charm join us now that they’re done with our surprise.
Cato picks Hestia up so she can hang ornaments on the higher branches, and Orion pretends he doesn’t see it.
She hums along to the music as we work. Her scent spikes whenever we get close. It plays right into my fantasy, our omega happily decorating our home for the holidays.
I’m not playful like Cato, but I still orbit around Hestia, moving closer whenever I see an opportunity, brushing her hand when I give her an ornament.
