I blinked my eyes open to see Hayes smiling gently down at me.
“Hey,” he whispered. “Rylan filled me in. Kota is already arranging for us to go private shopping. Are you up for this?”
“Yes. I don’t know how fast it’ll hit. She just thought it might help settle me.”
“Then we try it,” he promised, kissing my forehead before walking us out of his office.
My alpha carried me all the way down to the car before putting me inside. I drifted in and out as they drove.
Anytime I opened or closed my eyes, I could hear my alpha purring, a calming lullaby that kept me relaxed.
Sometime later, Greer nudged me awake. I was feeling a little more like myself as I opened my eyes and stretched.
At least I was rested enough to function.
“You know, I was thinking,” Kota said. “We have so much space to fill. What if we had a family nest, so to speak? A big nest we can use on nights the pack needs to be together. Something all of us can use to get through heats or things like this. Then individual nests for each of you so you have your own space, just like we would.”
“I actually love the idea of a pack nest. Something that fits all of us.”
“Exactly,” he agreed before hopping out and holding out a hand to help me from the car.
“We can start at the omega store then hop over to the pack store,” Greer offered. “Then we can come back when you’re better for a full shopping trip.”
Honestly, the last thing I felt like doing was shopping, and the pack picked up on it. They closed ranks around me, guiding me through the stores, encouraging me to look around.
The more aisles we went down, the more I felt my omega perking up, pointing things out that she loved.
My choices were almost entirely black, I even found some sheets with little bats stitched into them for the nest.
Kota handled ordering the mattresses with Hayes while everyone else picked out little things they liked. Rylan’s selections added more color to our nest. Almost everything would complement my choices perfectly and I loved that I’d see bits of my pack in this nest.
Picking out the family nest felt less intense than my own. My omega was content knowing she was getting one, but with us feeling so off, this wasn’t the time to shop for our personal safe space.
Right now, I needed to be surrounded by my pack. Even during a heat.
We quickly filled one cart, then two.
Despite the practically two-hour nap I’d taken on the way here, a few more aisles and I was ready to pass out again.
Once again, my pack proved they were perfect.
Greer picked me up right there in the middle of the store, nestling me against his chest.
“I’m taking her out to the car. Somebody else buy this. If you need money, I’ll send it over.”
“No, I can pay for my stuff,” I protested weakly.
“Hush, little bat. Let us take care of you,” he ordered, his voice stern.
I was drifting off again before we even got to the car. When I woke back up again, we were home.
My skin felt like it was burning, and I knew that a heat spike was imminent. I wasn’t needy yet, just uncomfortable.
This stage of pre-heat was the calm before the storm.
“Let’s get you inside. You’re burning up,” Hayes said.
I was practically sweating where our skin was touching, but he didn’t seem to mind. When I tried to wiggle free he only held me tighter.
