My breath caught. "Yes."
A smile spread across his face, slow and warm like sunrise. "Can I tell the others? They should know. They're going to want to see this."
Panic flared again. "Oliver?—"
"They won't laugh," he promised. "They won't think it's weird. This is... this is something we've been hoping for. That you'd feel safe enough with us to let your omega take the lead." He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You trusted your instincts. You built a nest. You included all of us in it. Daphne, that's not something to be embarrassed about. That's something to celebrate."
I searched his face for any sign of mockery, any hint that he was just being polite. There was none. Just genuine warmth and something that looked almost like pride.
"Okay," I whispered. "You can tell them." Oliver pressed a kiss to my forehead—soft and quick and achingly tender, before pulling back with that same bright smile.
"Drink your coffee," he said, nodding to the cup he'd left on the nightstand. "I'll be right back with the others. And Daphne?" He paused at the door, looking back at me with eyes that held a universe of feeling. "Thank you. For trusting us enough to need us."
Then he was gone, and I was left alone in my nest, heart pounding for an entirely different reason than fear. I reached for the coffee, wrapping my hands around the warm mug, and waited.
For the first time in my life, I wasn't dreading what came next. I was looking forward to it. Because whatever happened when those four alphas walked through that door and saw the nest I'd built with pieces of them, I knew one thing for certain;
This was where I belonged.
Chapter Forty-Three
Daphne
Iheard them coming before I saw them. Footsteps on the stairs, multiple sets moving with varying degrees of restraint. Oliver's measured pace. Garrett's steady tread. Micah's near-silent steps. And Levi—Levi was practically running, his excitement audible in every thudding footfall.
"Levi, slow down," Oliver's voice drifted through the door. "You're going to scare her."
"I'm not going to scare her, I'm going to…" The door burst open and Levi tumbled through, eyes wild with barely contained joy. He froze the moment he saw the nest, his mouth falling open.
"Holy shit," he breathed.
"Language," Garrett muttered, appearing behind him, but his voice was distracted. His eyes had found the nest too, and something soft and wondering crossed his face. Micah was next, stepping into the room with his usual composure, but even he couldn't hide the sharp intake of breath when he took in the scene. His gaze tracked over the pillows, the blankets, the clothing woven throughout, landing on his own sweater tuckednear my feet. Oliver came last, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed and a small smile playing at his lips. Like he'd already processed the shock and was now just enjoying watching the others catch up.
I pulled a pillow closer to my chest, suddenly hyper-aware of how ridiculous I must look. A grown woman sitting in a pile of stolen clothing and bedding like some kind of feral creature.
"I can explain—" I started, but Levi was already moving. He crossed the room in three long strides and dropped to his knees beside the bed, his face level with mine. His eyes were bright, almost glassy, and when he spoke, his voice cracked.
"You used my hoodie," he said breathlessly. "That's my favorite hoodie. And you put it in your nest."
"I'm sorry, I should have asked—" I stuttered, feeling my cheeks start to heat up
"Are you kidding?" Levi laughed, the sound wet and joyful. "Daphne, this is the best thing that's ever happened to me. You can have all my hoodies. Every single one. I'll go buy more hoodies just so you can steal them."
"That's... that's not necessary." I muttered, feeling very out of my element at this moment.
"It's absolutely necessary." He reached out like he wanted to touch me, then stopped himself, hand hovering in the air. "Can I... is it okay if I..."
I nodded, not trusting my voice, and Levi's hand found my cheek, cradling it with a gentleness that made my chest ache.
"You nested," he whispered, awe in his voice as he looked around, "You actually nested, and you used our stuff. All of us. Do you know what that means?"
"Oliver tried to explain, but I'm still not entirely—" I quickly tried to tell him before I was cut off by a different voice this time.
"It means you trust us." Garrett's voice was rough as he moved to stand at the foot of the bed. He was staring at hisflannel shirt like it was the most precious thing he'd ever seen. "Omegas don't use alpha scents in their nests unless they feel safe with those alphas. Unless some part of them has decided..." He trailed off, swallowing hard.
"Decided what?" I asked, shifting a bit. I didn’t learn everything I needed while being in foster care but from the looks of this…it means something.
"That we're your pack," Micah finished quietly. He hadn't moved from near the door, his posture carefully controlled, but his eyes... his eyes were soft in a way I'd never seen before. "You have accepted us. All four of us. That's not something that can be faked or forced. It's instinct."
