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“Seraphina, how long have the cats been alone?” Lex moves closer, and I hear the stool slide out.
I decide not to look at him as I admit, “Hours.”
“Exactly. You’d never leave them alone for too long,” Lex remarks. “Also, as much as you want your freedom, you won’t leave the little nest you’ve got going. Hey, whose shirt is that?”
I drop the water dish and spin around, growling, “Did you touch it?”
Lex slides off the stool with a chuckle, seemingly unfazed by my protective reaction. “Just checking,” he says before turning to Max. “Another one of yours?”
With an audible sigh of relief, I turn my attention back to them. The tension in the room has eased, and Lex seems to have accepted Max’s presence.
“It’s mine,” Max replies, his tone steady. “Seraphina needed something to wear.”
He just lied for me to appease my brother.
On the other hand, Avery seems to be enjoying the interaction between the two alphas. He leans closer to me, whispering, “Your brother and Max are like two alpha wolves sizing each other up.”
I shake my head in amusement. “Yeah, they are. Let’s hope they don’t start marking their territory in my apartment.”
It’s enough for Lex, and he walks toward the closet. “Call me after your heat.”
Lex’s abrupt decision to depart leaves me baffled, and I can’t help but call out, “What?” as confusion wraps around me like a shroud. My brother avoids me as if I’m carrying a contagious disease, careful not to get his scent on me.
“Seraphina, you are about to go into heat.” He retrieves his coat from the hanger and turns to Max, his tone laden withconcern. “Take care of her and keep her out of whatever mess happened today.”
Max gives his solemn vow. “You have my word.”
No one is addressing the omega in the room, and I’m ready to throw a tantrum. Lex turns back to me, and I see him wince. “Sorry, sis, but I don’t want to be anywhere near you when the next preheat cramps kick in. I love you, and maybe” —he turns to Avery and then to Max— “let yourself indulge for once.” With that, he silently exits the apartment, leaving me bewildered and irritated.
“What the hell was that?” I frown, my irritation burning through me.
“I like him,” Avery comments, unfazed.
Horror washes over me as I realize he’s heading for my nest and will see the button-down shirt. They are going to know just how weak I am.
“Avery,” Max barks at him when he’s halfway up the steps. Avery pauses and slowly turns to face us.
“Did she invite you into her nest?” Max’s tone is firm.
Avery stammers, “Well, no?—”
“Get down.”
“But—”
“No,” Max interrupts, shaking his head. “You are supposed to protect her. Do I need to babysit you while you protect her? Screw your head on, man.”
Avery blows out a resigned breath and concedes, “You’re right.” He stomps down the steps, clearly chastised.
I yawn, exhaustion slipping over me like a heavy blanket. Napping isn’t something I do often, but I know with my heat close, I’ll need to. I glance up at my nest, longing for its comfort, and then back at the guys. I could go up, grab the shirt, and snuggle down, but I’m not quite ready to invite them up, so I stand frozen, uncertain how to navigate this new territory.
“Seraphina, do you want to gather some pillows and blankets, and we can rest on the couch?” Max offers, breaking the silence and providing a simple, comfortable solution.
With a sigh of relief, I nod, mustering up a weak smile and appreciating Max’s thoughtfulness. “That sounds good,” I reply, relieved to have a plan to escape the swirling confusion of the day. I head to the closet and pull down my backup tote of pillows and blankets. The sofa already has more than enough, but I’ll need more if I’m napping there.
I pull my hair to one side, absentmindedly twisting a strand around my finger. “I just need a nap.”
Realistically, I know that it’s the preheat preparing me. Soon, I’ll be ravenous, and there’s no escaping it. Except, I don’t want to stop this heat. I have held it off long enough. All I need is to just get through it.
