Chapter 18 Sterling
STERLING
Hailey’s eyes are wide as we walk into the nesting store. The place is massive, with mock nests for Omegas to look at.
As I look around, I realize our nest is kinda shit.
“Whatever you want,” I tell her.
“Whatever I want?” she repeats.
“If you don’t spend at least a couple grand in here, I’ll be disappointed,” Hayes says.
I arch a brow at him. The man might not have a knot, but damn, does he walk around like he has one. Hailey just smiles, grabbing mine and Hayes’ hand, while Nate grabs a clipboard and pencil to take down her order.
“Oh my god,” Hailey says as we stop by this one room.
It’s so girly and soft, a massive pink pillow that looks like it could hold at least one of us and Hailey at the same time. She approaches it, placing her hand on the soft material before looking at the price tag.
I expect her to have a moment about the price, but she doesn’t even balk.
She was looking at the tag to give Nate the item number.
It’s at that moment it truly clicks for me.
When it comes to Hailey, she has no issue being spoiled.
I mean, Hayes bought her a BMW after knowing her for a night.
For Hailey, keeping her job is a security issue.
She’s already been put out on her ass once.
I’m sure the thought of that happening again is terrifying for her.
She needs a bond.
I know it’s probably ridiculous to be moving this fast, but when you know, you know. We’ll have the rest of forever to get to know all the fine details about her, and her us, but there’s no denying despite everything, she’s the perfect fit.
“You need this for sure,” Hayes says, pointing at this piece of furniture that has me turning my head.
“What is it?” I ask and Hayes laughs.
“It’s a heat seat. Makes fucking more ergonomic or something. Add it to the list,” Hayes tells Nate.
“I really want some more warm lighting, a Turkish lamp maybe for the nightstand. And oh, we need better towels,” Hailey says confidently.
I swear all of us are hard over the idea of providing for our Omega and giving her the perfect nest.
“Towels are downstairs,” Hayes says.
“I know where we can get a lamp like that. It’s not far from here,” Nate says.
“Perfect,” Hailey says, grabbing his waist and rubbing up against him. I can’t help the little grunt that comes out of me, and she’s quick to come over to me and douse me in her sweet cherry scent.
I’m so fucking happy she doesn’t use deodorizers. She just lets her scent fly and people have to deal with it. She kisses my cheek and skips over to Hayes. He laces his fingers with hers as they go over everything we’re ordering.
An Alpha glances at the two of them and it has this possessive irritation flaring through me. It’s not like my bond mark would change people looking at her, but it wouldn’t hurt either.
I clench and unclench my fists. Jealousy has never been an issue with me, but with Hailey it feels different. I don’t know if it’s just the Alpha and Omega dynamics or because I’m feeling so unsettled without a bond.
“You good?” Nate asks, a light squeeze on my biceps.
“Fine,” I say too quickly and Nate laughs, shaking his head.
“Yeah, fine, meanwhile you look like you’re ready to hit something. It’s the nest store, it’s supposed to be the second happiest place on earth.”
“Hailey still second guessing things is getting to me. You know what she said last night? She asked me if things didn’t work out how our next Omega would feel about her staying in the nest. Words and actions only go so far with her.
I’m not sure what else we can say or do to give her assurance.
I just know if we were bonded she’d never have to second guess a single thing. ”
“Bonding. Do you really think she’s ready for that conversation?” Nate says in a low tone.
“It’s one we need to have. The idea of her going to work tonight is making me feel violent. and I think bonding would ease a lot of her insecurities and nerves. Don’t you think?” I ask Nate.
“I know it would for me, but I don’t want to rush her.”
“We won’t. We just need to let her know that it’s on the table when she chooses it.”
“Do you think if maybe we covered her apartment and gave her a backup plan she might feel better about leaving that place? Not that I don’t understand why she works there, really, I get it.
It’s just other Alphas will be scenting her, looking at her,” Nate says, both of us not knowing how to handle this newfound jealousy.
I grab his hand and squeeze.
“We just have to give her some time and try not to think about it,” I tell him, which is easier said than done.
I’m trying to not overwhelm her with how possessive I feel and I don’t want anyone besides my pack looking at her like that, enjoying her scent. She’s ours, even if we’re not fully bonded yet.
“Oh, these feel amazing,” Hailey says, ripping me out of my thoughts as she holds a towel to her face. “What do you think? Do you like them?” She brings them over to me and Nate for approval.
I touch the insanely soft material. “They’re perfect, baby girl,” I tell her. She preens, turning back to Hayes.
“Let’s get some of the extra-large ones for you guys, and a good amount of wash cloths too.”
“Good plan,” Hayes says, writing it down.
I’m not sure I’ve seen Hailey happier than she is right now, picking things out for her nest. I just have to hold on to that feeling and shut my possessiveness and frustration down. Patience is key and I can do that, at least I think I can.
Hailey has us moving things around the nest. We’ve moved the heat seat no less than eight times, but I’m not complaining. It has to be perfect. An alarm goes off on her phone and she lets out the most frustrated noise.
“You okay?” Nate asks her, and she bites her lip and nods.
“I’ve got to head to work,” she says sadly. “Can you guys…can you scent mark all the new stuff? It doesn’t smell right.”
“Of course we can,” I tell her, and she holds her phone to her chest, looking longingly at her nest.
“If you want to call out,” I suggest.
“Hayes. Hayes will come with me. Don’t worry, I won’t…I wouldn’t,” she starts stuttering and I approach her, opening my arms.
She hugs me and rubs her face all over my chest. I give Hayes and Nate a look that neither of them seems to understand, and I sigh as I hold her. Scent marking is totally normal, but the amount she’s doing is concerning.
I haven’t asked her more details about her first heat. There’s also a chance hers will be more sporadic because of her late designation.
“Nate and I will work on the nest while you’re gone,” I say, not able to bring myself to mention where she’s going right now.
She wraps her arms around herself and nods.
“Come on, I’ll drive. Do you need to eat before?” Hayes says and Hailey shakes her head, giving the room one more anxious look.
As soon as I know she’s out of the room, I sit on her bed, trying to get my own hormones in check. Nate is in the same boat, pacing around the nest. It was so obvious she didn’t want to go, that she would be more comfortable here, in her nest that she’s been perfecting all day.
“We should go too,” Nate says, his hands on his hips as he looks around the room.
Both of us are driven by this need to protect her and claim her as ours, but until she’s ready, until we’re bonded, there’s nothing we can do.
“You know damn fucking well we can’t step foot in that place,” I say and he sighs.
It’s one thing to know that other Alphas are scenting her, watching her. It’s a whole other thing to actually witness it. I’d probably end up in a brawl and tossing her over my shoulder and dragging her home.
“I can’t. I don’t know what to fucking do,” Nate says, his scent going bitter.
There’s only one thing I can think to do, and it will be two birds with one stone scenting this whole place.
“Get on your fucking knees,” I tell him, spreading my legs and pointing to the floor.
He pushes his tongue against his cheek before coming to stand between my legs.
“You think this will help?”
“She said she wanted her nest scent marked. So that’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to get on your knees and do what you’re told and not think about the rest,” I tell him.
Nate groans, falling to his knees as I run my hands through his dark hair. This is how it always works with me and Nate. It’s why I’m pack lead. I center everyone, even myself.
“You’re going to make me forget all about it by how well you take my cock, aren’t you?” I ask him.
Alphas are always the neediest designations, no matter what people say, but Nate? The lost man who needed to have his confidence rebuilt brick by brick, he needs reassurance more than most.
His hands grab at my pants and at first I don’t assist him by lifting my ass up, making him work for it, until I finally cave, letting him pull my pants down to my ankles. He frees my cock and grips me by my knot, squeezing hard, the way I like it.
Fuck. It has me thinking about how tight Hailey’s Omega pussy is going to feel when I finally knot her.
Nate moans, like he’s having the same thoughts, his tongue swiping the tip, before he sucks me down. His eyes stare up at me as he swallows my cock and I fist his hair.
“That’s right. Look at you taking my cock, scent marking our Omega’s nest. You’re such a good fucking boy.”
He garbles around my cock, and I grab him by his hair, tugging him away from my length.
“Take your dick out,” I tell him, and he quickly frees himself from his shorts. “Come here,” I order him and he stands as I grab his ass and bring him closer to me so I can taste him.
Our scents come together in cozy harmony and it helps me forget what has me so upset right now. This is the one thing she asked of us before we left, and knowing she smells like us while she goes to work gives me some sort of relief.
I suck Nate down, my fingers squeezing his ass cheek and moving toward his tight little hole.