It’s so unexpected that I blink in shock for several long seconds before my instincts demand that I fix the problem. The main issue I’m facing is that I have no idea what I did wrong or how to correct it.
This might not be about me at all.
She’s had a rough few days, and she’s just acclimating to life without the suppressants.
I run my thumb over the side of her skull, trying to figure out how to purr.
Alphas purr to comfort omegas.
It’s a known fact.
I just can’t figure out how to force my body to produce the sound.
“If you needed access to my pheromones, all you had to do was ask,” I say, keeping my voice low and soothing. “You’ve had a lot of changes. This morning was a clusterfuck. What went down would stress anyone out. I came to check on you earlier, but I assumed you wanted to be left alone.”
“I’m just frazzled,” she says. “I’ve never had such an uncontrollable need to nest. Then I couldn’t get comfortable. It felt like no matter how much I burrowed, something wasn’t right.”
“And you thought having access to our scents might help?” I ask, gently massaging her scalp.
“It’s stupid. I’ve never been led around by my instincts before. I think I quit the suppressants prematurely.”
“You only get one life. It’s not worth the risk of messing up your health.” I soothe my palm down her back. “We’ll get the hang of adapting to your needs.”
“I didn’t know Magnum was going to show up here,” she says out of nowhere. “I could lie and say I would have warned you if I did, but I’m not sure I would have.”
I chuckle. “I appreciate the honesty, but Moretti should have been the one to give me a heads-up.”
“Yeah, he should have.”
“All right. How about we settle in the nest and see if it helps your system regulate?” I offer, scooting forward on the couch and preparing to stand.
“You’ll stay with me?” she asks weakly. “I don’t want to go in there if you’re going to leave me.”
I’d like to see someone try to pry me away from her. It wouldn’t go well for them.
“I’ll stay with you,” I assure her.
The den nest is lit only by the thin strips of LED lights that line the bed frame and the top of the cabinets up by the head of the bed.
Vanessa stashes the clothes and bedding that she stole from me and Moretti under the pillows. The sheets she took off the pack bed were already stashed around the nest, meaning she’ll now be surrounded by all three of our scents.
I’m so ripe that I can’t believe she wants me touching the clean bedding, but omegas like strong smells in the days and weeks leading up to their heat. It’s even better if those smells come from potent alphas and contain thick hits of their pheromones.
“Want to face me or away from me?” I ask, climbing onto the edge of the mattress. I lie on my side, facing the middle as I wait to see which she’ll choose.
She made me kick off my tennis shoes before coming into the nest, and it’s a battle not to pluck off my sweaty socks.
“I want to be able to smell you,” Vanessa says, flipping over and scooting toward my front. She pulls her knees up, putting her almost in the fetal position, but I’m tall enough that it means I can bring my knees just below her feet.
She wiggles her face closer, once again plastering her nose to my chest, and it makes me feel ten feet tall. She seems drawn to me, or at the very least, my scent.
I wish I knew where her head was at.
I’m treading on dangerous ground.
Getting attached to her is a dumb move on my part, and I know as much. I’m fully aware of how badly it could blow up in my face, but my instincts want to be close to her.
Vanessa weaves her hand between my arm and my chest, and her fingers dig into my back. She sniffs around, hunting out where my scent is strongest.
