Chapter 38 Faye #2
“Is this too much, Faye?” Ren reaches across the table to clasp my hand, probably sensing that I’m struggling to process this.
If he can read me this well when we’re not bonded, he’ll turn into a mind reader after.
“You don’t have to live with us yet, if you don’t want to.
While it’s unusual, some omegas live apart from their packs. ”
Damon slides his hand under the dining table to squeeze my knee, making his thoughts on living separately very clear.
“No,” I blurt. “It’s not that I don’t want to.” In fact, it would be much easier. “I just don’t want to be far from the Stellas. I didn’t really have many friends before moving here, so I’d like to stay close to them. What about one of the beach houses?”
Despite what happened at Amora’s last night, I loved the vibe, and it would be amazing to wake up to that gorgeous lake view.
“I’ll see what I can do.” Cole taps away on his phone. “In the meantime, Ren and Damon can take you shopping to get everything you need while you’re here.”
“What about me?” Laz pouts. “Can’t I go?”
“Not until you finish your essay,” Cole scolds him. “You handed in your last two assignments late, and I’m not making another donation to the graphic design department to stop them from throwing you out.”
I gasp. “They almost kicked you out?”
Laz rolls his eyes. “Cole exaggerates.”
“Tell that to my bank balance,” Cole mutters.
“It’s not that Laz is a bad student,” Ren comments. “He just doesn’t seem to understand the idea of deadlines.”
“I work on my own timeline.” Laz huffs. “But fine. I won’t go shopping.” He moodily stuffs an entire chocolate muffin into his mouth.
“You can come next time,” I promise. “If you complete your assignments on time.”
“If you can find a way to motivate him, little omega, I’d appreciate it,” Cole adds.
Damon smirks. “I’m sure she can think of a few ways.”
“I’m off to run a few errands. I’ll see you later.” After standing from the table, Cole bends to kiss me on the cheek. “If you need anything at all, call me. Though you’re in good hands.”
“She’s not leaving my side all day,” Damon vows.
After I’ve changed into another of the outfits that the guys bought me, Frank gives us a ride down to Nora’s Nest Nook. Despite my insistence that I could walk, Damon’s treating me like I’m maimed after my fall yesterday.
It’s the first time I’ve been to Nora’s. It has a quaint, cottage-like exterior with a lavender sign and a dreamy feather logo. The window display is minimal, with gauzy drapes and twinkling candles. A bell tinkles above the door as we enter what is an absolutely massive store.
It smells inviting, like freshly baked cookies on a summer breeze. The store has multiple levels and arrows to direct you in the right direction. The, “Soft Furnishings Department” is in the basement, this floor stocks, “Omega Wellness and Gifts,” and the floor above is, “Electronics and Lighting.”
My mouth falls open as I look around. I’ll bet any giftable item I can think of will be sold here.
We’re surrounded by shelves lined with perfumes, and shelves stacked high with chocolates and sweets.
They even have a florist corner with the most gorgeous bouquets I’ve ever seen.
At the back, there’s a toiletry section laden with colorful rows of bubble baths, shampoos, and lotions—many of which I recognize from Cole’s bathroom shelf.
“I’ve never been in a store like this,” I say, mesmerized.
“Nora’s will have everything you need.” Ren grabs a shopping cart. “Put in anything you like. It’s our treat. How about we start in the basement?”
We travel downstairs in a huge elevator that has lilac-colored velvet walls and a calming lavender scent.
When the doors open, we’re transported into comfort heaven.
There are rows of blankets in every color and pattern you can imagine, from animal print to florals and pastels.
I’ve never seen such a variety of cushions and pillows.
Some of them are even bigger than Damon and promise to contour to your body.
Others claim to be 100 percent slick-proof while retaining their softness.
Everywhere I look there’s velvet, fur, tassels, pom-poms, and feathers.
It’s complete fabric overload. They even have shelves full of stuffed animals.
Anything I touch and vaguely like, Damon throws into the cart.
“I don’t think I need ten different throws,” I point out.
“But you like them, don’t you?” he responds as if that’s reason enough.
“Let us spoil you, baby.” Ren winks at me. This shopping trip isn’t just about me. It’s about them too. “We’ve been waiting years for this.”
Ren dons a serious expression as he offers me two blankets to stroke, asking which texture I like more.
“What color would you prefer?” he asks. “The magenta or hot pink?”
“Aren’t they both the same?” Damon’s forehead crinkles in confusion, examining them. “They’re both pink.”
I giggle as I watch my burly, inked alpha hold up two pink cushions. He arches one eyebrow. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” I snort and hide behind a huge cushion in the shape of a male silhouette that’s called a, ‘Snuggle Buddy.’ Apparently, you can order them in any gender, size, and fabric you’d like. They’re custom-made to be shaped and smell like your alpha.
By the time we’ve finished in soft furnishings, our cart is full, so Damon heads to the register to pay and load the car, leaving me with Ren.
I watch Damon retreat, mumbling under his breath about pink cushions. “I can’t believe this is all really happening.”
“I told you that you had nothing to worry about with Damon.” Ren throws an arm over my shoulder. “Are you feeling okay?” He watches my reaction closely as Damon gets farther away. “I can call Damon back, if you’re in discomfort?”
I can still sense Damon under my skin, but it’s less intense, like he’s already becoming a part of me.
Amora’s metaphor about piercings feels apt, and it’s strange how quickly I’m getting used to it.
A giddy excitement bubbles in my stomach at the thought of how it’ll feel to share this connection with the others.
“No,” I reassure him. “I’m okay. I have you here with me.”
Although I need to be close to Damon, being in the presence of Ren—or any of my other alphas—seems to lessen the discomfort.
“You better get used to it.” Ren’s lips spread into a warm smile. “You’re always going to have me.”
“Have you thought about…” I play with the hem of my dress. “When we bond?”
With Damon, our bonding was spontaneous and unexpected. However, Ren is more sensitive, so we need to have a conversation about how he’d like to bond when the time comes.
“It’s all I’ve thought about since we started courting,” he replies. “But there’s no pressure. We’ll bond when the time is right.”
“I know there are bonding ceremonies and stuff,” I mumble. “Is that something you’d like?”
“I don’t need any of the oils, sound baths, or crystals, like we saw upstairs. You’re all I need.” He fingers a strand of my hair. “But I’d like to bond when it’s just the two of us, and I want you to remember it afterwards.”
“So not during a heat.” Being in a sex-crazed state is not exactly conducive to remembering everything. “Noted.”
After spending a small fortune in Nora’s, we grab wraps at Hummus Where the Heart Is, eating them while sitting in the sun, watching the world go by.
“Hey, pussycat!” Rook—Damon’s security guard friend— stops to say hi while on campus patrol. “Heard someone was busy last night.” He jokingly punches Damon on the arm. “The boss told me the news. Congratulations, dude. I’m psyched for you both.”
“Sorry, you’ll have to pick up extra shifts for a few weeks,” Damon tells him, pulling me close. “The only person I’m up to protecting is right here.”
My heart does a flip.
“Don’t worry about it, man. I need the extra cash.” Rook shrugs, fiddling with the gold hoop in his ear. With that, his man bun and beard, he gives me a pirate-biker vibe. “I’m fixing up my old Harley.”
Damon’s emerald eyes light up. The two of them have a long, passionate discussion about motorcycle parts while Ren asks my opinion on an essay he’s working on. After that, we visit almost every shop on campus until my feet ache from walking.
By the time we return to the pack house, overloaded with bags, I only have time for a quick shower and quick change into comfy loungewear—which we bought this afternoon—before the Stellas are due to arrive.
While I get ready, the guys transform the living room into a mini-nest, using most of the things we bought earlier.
“Sorry, we couldn’t fit everything in.” Cole hands me a furry pillow. “It’s not perfect, but we’ll build you a proper nest when we move.”
Cole leads me over to the slider opening out to the backyard where Laz is setting up the pizza oven, Ren is on cocktail making duty, and Damon is firing up the barbecue. A burst of warmth spreads through my chest, seeing how much these men dote on me. How did I get so lucky?”
When the doorbell rings, Cole and I answer, instantly met by a chorus of squeals.
“Outta the way, Cole! Stella sisters coming through!” Sabs pushes past him, holding an enormous bunch of golden, letter-shaped balloons. She’s holding them like a bouquet, so I can’t make out what they’re supposed to say. “There she is!”
Sabs runs over, letting go of the balloons in her excitement. Cole grabs a few mid-air, but most of them soar straight to the top of the tall ceiling.
Sabs remains oblivious to the balloon carnage she’s caused as she gives me a massive squeeze. “Our newly bonded omega! Look at you! You’re glowing!”
“It’s nice to see you too, Sabs,” Cole mutters.
Sabs sticks out her tongue at him over her shoulder. “I’m used to seeing you all the time.” She checks out the bite on my neck. “Yep, that’s definitely a claim mark.”
“I made a celebration cake,” Delilah staggers in after her, holding a mammoth box in her arms that’s half her size. “Where do you want it?”