Page 48 of Bonds and Beasts

“I talked to the doctor about that. I’m not sure I really had one. It’s hard to remember through the touch deprivation haze. Dr. Fray said that my cycle didn't sync right because of my hormones being out of sorts from touch deprivation. And Dr. Hollis said the same thing at the hospital.”

We all let that sink in.

“So,” Dean starts, stunned gaze directed at her. “This will be your first ever biannual heat?”

She nods. "Is that okay?"

“Is that okay?” Bello growls. His pupils are huge and his expression is half feral, but he visibly fights his alpha down. “Being with you for your first real heat? Yeah, Beauty. It’s more than okay.”

I completely agree.

Adison

The Nest Store is still big, still bright, and still full of people, but this time I know where I stand with my pack.

My pack.

I know they're here with me, no matter what. I feel more secure and more safe than I have since my parents passed.

Easton, ever the practical thinker, takes a sheet at the entry desk listing all of the essentials (and some of the best nonessentials) for a nest.

"It says we should start in the paint section," he declares and points toward the first section to the right. It is a wall of rainbows. Not just swatches, but screens on which you can load pictures of the room in question and test out the colors in the space. It's fascinating. But after excitedly looking at too many colors in a short period of time, I feel like I do when I sniff too many candle scents at once. My eyes have gone numb to the colors, and I can't decide what actually looks good anymore.

"Go with your gut, Beauty," Bello encourages. "It's not like we can't change it if you change your mind."

That's true. I am an heiress and the guys have enough money from their movies and royalties to redecorate a million nest spaces. I choose and we move on to throw rugs and blankets. Dean bounces a pillow off my back when we get to the enormous cushion section and I grab one to retaliate. Soon we're in a full-on two-person pillow fight, and Bello's smiling and shaking his head while Easton is pretending not to know us further up the row.

Next is lights, wall decor, and appliances. I'm flagging by the time we enter the last order into our phones. Everything will be delivered to our home.

Our home. The phrase still gives me a sharp pang of excitement.

"Adison."

I turn to find the three of them looking at me. I realize it's not the first time Easton has said my name to get my attention.

"Sorry." I cringe sheepishly. Easton slides his two large hands over my hips and searches my eyes.

"Oh, Sweetheart. This was a bit more than we should have done in one day. This should have been spread across two days. You've been doing great with the touch therapy, but this was still a lot for anyone."

I want to protest. To insist that I'm fine and I can handle things like the damn adult I am. But a much bigger part of me wants to go home, crawl into my bed, and have them cuddle and purr for me for the rest of the night. I'm beat.

"Want to go home, Beauty?" Bello's deep voice asks as he comes around and runs a hand from the top of my head down to the base of my spine. I nod. Dean has his phone out texting the driver to bring the car around. He has a bag hanging off his arm that I hadn't noticed before. With everything being delivered, there's no need for a bag.

"What's that?" I ask him.

Dean glances up and then follows my gaze to the bag on his arm. "Actually…" he starts, pulling the bag open. Bello and Easton are both looking at it curiously too. This was clearly a Dean idea. "This might be perfect right now since you're tired." He pulls out a big, plush, warm blanket covered in light pink pumpkins and smiling ghosts. It was in the Halloween section I was eyeing, but passed over, since that wasn't what we came for.

I take it from his outstretched hands, and it's soft and lush under my fingertips.

"Here," Dean takes it back and unravels it, wrapping it around my shoulders as the car pulls up. As Bello moves to open the door, I step close to Dean, go up on my tiptoes, and kiss him. His lips are warm and he presses forward. I open for him and his tongue sweeps into my mouth, caressing me.

A cough and another hand on my back. "Let's head home,” Bello's deep voice says. We break apart, me smiling, but Dean’s growling low at Bello, baring his teeth.

Bello growls back, flexing his dominance until Dean bares his neck in forced submission.

"Hey," I say, standing on tiptoe in an attempt to get between their glaring sightlines. This keeps happening more frequently. Until we bond, it will continue happening. That's why courtships tend to be short. Either packs bond and become one unit, or they decide they don't want to and split. If they stay together and don't bond, they're likely to tear each other apart eventually. "Let's go home."

Bello nods, releasing his grip on Dean, who slumps a little and glares.