Chapter 7 Wells
Wells
Claire and I dry off. Luckily, only her legs are wet. She slips back on her beach pants and throws her wrap over her shoulders. I take a little longer to dry off to put my shirt back on. Every second feels like these Alphas are absolutely going to lose their minds.
Once we’re both dressed for roaming the ship, I grab her purse, that’s likely worth thousands of dollars, and fling it over my shoulder and place a hand on her lower back to lead her off the pool deck.
I knew this cruise was going to have lots of juicy drama, but Jesus Christ, these Alphas are straight up going full on animal kingdom in the pool.
“Hopefully none of them are pissing in the pool the way they’re trying to mark their territory around here. It’s like they’re all sharing a single-celled hive mind,” I complain and Claire snorts.
“Are you including Forrest in that observation?”
“Absolutely, though I think he mostly controlled himself.”
“It has me nervous. We don’t even have all the cruisers on the ship yet and it’s getting this crazy.
I’m guessing a lot of the other Omegas are feeling unsettled, probably why I was the only one at the pool.
If all the Alphas keep acting like Neanderthals, then I doubt we’re going to see many packs form over these coming weeks. ”
“You feel unsettled?”
Her beautiful blue eyes stare into mine for a moment as we reach the elevator. She has to use her bracelet to get to the heat suite level.
She shrugs as she fidgets with the ugly motion sickness band on her wrist. There’s a sense of pride there, that Forrest forced the doctor to give them to her. I wonder if she finds that as hot as I do.
“Yeah. It’s just a lot of newness at once.
Feeling sick last night didn’t help either.
I’m not usually shy, the opposite really.
If you asked my family, they would probably tell you I can’t keep my damn mouth shut.
But here? I don’t know…the stakes feel so high and I don’t have the same comforts to lean on as I do at home.
Don’t get me wrong, I packed a shit-ton of suitcases, filled with things that center me.
But this is my first time traveling alone.
Oh…I’m rambling,” she says as we slip into the elevator.
“You’re not. I like hearing you talk,” I say.
“Forrest doesn’t seem like much of a talker.”
I laugh and shake my head. “He can be when you get to know him, but he is far more introverted than me. I grew up in a massive family, and then I had my skiing community.”
I leave out what Forrest’s childhood was like. That’s his story to tell.
There’s a line of Omegas, along with a few Alphas, waiting to tour the heat suites. Claire bites her nail nervously as we wait patiently in line. Her purse buzzes at my side and I hand her the bag.
“I think your phone is vibrating.”
She pulls out her phone and sighs, not answering the call, and shoving the device into a side pocket.
“Do you need to answer that?”
“No. It’s just my dad calling me for the fiftieth time. Would you like to tour the suites with me?” she asks, and I grin.
“Of course.”
“So, do you have an overbearing family, too?”
“Well, I have two omega moms, five Alpha dads, and two Beta dads. I’m one of eight children, so I’d imagine that saved me from my parents being too overbearing, but there was never a dull moment.”
Claire blinks at me with those big blue eyes in shock.
“A pack of nine?” she says in astonishment and I laugh. “Are you looking for a pack that large?”
“Oh hell no,” I reply with a deep laugh. “What my parents found was something special, but even I can admit their pack might have been too big.”
“But you loved growing up in pack life?” she confirms.
“Absolutely. It might have been chaos, but my parents loved each other. I loved having so many siblings and cousins. Also, not to toot my own horn, but I think having two Omega moms has more than prepared me for the task of caring for an Omega.”
“Is that so?” she says, popping her hip and clutching her purse.
“Undoubtedly. My needs might not be pheromone driven, but they're still there. In fact, I think every pack should have a Beta.”
She smiles. Her teeth are perfectly straight as she bobs her head. “Even though it’s my Beta father who keeps blowing up my phone, I agree.”
“Really?” I question, surprised by her answer.
“Of course, someone has to be the sane one in the pack. Though I don’t think my dad is very sane.”
I bark out a laugh. “One of my Alpha dads was a wrestler for fifteen years. I think I can relate to having parents who aren’t particularly normal.”
Her cheeks heat, and we shift up the line.
“So. What kind of nest are we looking for?” I ask her and she licks her lips.
“Well, I looked at the virtual tours and I have some in mind. A few of them we can absolutely skip.”
“Like the Under the Sea nest?” I question, and she bites her lip, holding back a laugh.
“How did you know?”
“I’m pretty sure that nest is going to stay vacant this entire cruise. Unless there’s a Disney adult on board with a heavy Little Mermaid fixation. What were they thinking?”
“You looked at all the nest virtual tours?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’m here to find an Omega, to build a pack. I—we—wanted to be prepared for everything.”
She looks at me for a long moment. “Which rooms do you think I’m most interested in?”
“Are you already testing me, sweetheart?” She goes to backtrack and I shake my head. “You should be testing me. We only have so much time onboard, and figuring out who you have a connection with is important.” I tap my chin a few times in contemplation as I look at her.
And fuck if she isn’t beautiful to look at. She’s probably way out of mine and Forrest’s league. Truly in some sort of league of her own. But if she’s willing to give us a chance, I’ll take whatever crumbs she’s willing to give.
“It’s gotta be the Princess room, or the Vintage Verity room,” I supply and her lips part open.
“Am I that transparent?” she says in a low tone and I shake my head.
“Not at all. I just thought about the rooms I found to be the most high quality and chose them.”
“High quality, huh?”
“Well, you brought a Birkin to the pool and nearly started a fistfight at the pool over you. Let’s not disillusion ourselves here. You could likely have anyone here on their knees and begging for a morsel of your attention. So yes, Claire, you should expect nothing less than the best.”
“Oh, you’re smooth,” she says, a nice flush of pink flowing down her chest.
The line moves and we’re finally at the front. A woman with a beaming smile greets us and asks us to scan our bracelets before taking us down the hallway.
“Our first nest is the Under the Sea suite” she says and both Claire and I have to hold back our laughter. Yet, neither of us tell her we could skip this room.
When we enter, it’s just as bad as it looked on the virtual tour.
It’s like some Little Mermaid fever dream.
They painted the walls in a deep blue with a mural of ocean creatures.
The most diabolical part, the giant fucking water bed in the middle of the room.
Who in their right mind has an orgy on a waterbed?
“Perhaps something else?” the attendant says.
“I’d like a bed that’s on the floor, and something a little less dark,” Claire suggests.
“I have just the suites in mind. Follow me,” she says as we trail behind her down the hallway. “This is the Princess Suite,” she says and as soon as we walk in I can see Claire’s eyes light up.
Someone truly built this nest for a princess.
Though the lighting is low, it’s far brighter than the other room.
The walls are a blush pink, the trim and ceiling accented in golds with warm lighting around the edge.
A massive round bed covered in pillows and blankets sits in the middle of the room, built into the floor.
“Each nest also has multiple pullman beds, if you don’t want any of your heat partners in bed with you.
All your meals will be brought to you and as you know, moderators will watch your heat for your safety.
The emergency button for this room is here,” she says, pointing to a red button by the door. “Would you like to see the bathroom?”
“Yes please,” Claire says and we walk into the large ensuite. The countertops are white marble, there are two sinks, and gold-rimmed mirrors hang on the wall. Behind us, there’s a large glass shower and a massive tub with gold fixtures.
“This is lovely. Something I would design for myself,” Claire says.
The attendant seems happy, like she actually enjoys matching Omegas with their dream nest.
“Wonderful. We can put this as your first option. Would you like to see the others to have more options?”
Claire nods, but I can tell something is off. I put a hand on her lower back, and thankfully she doesn’t startle.
“What’s wrong?” I ask and she shakes her head. “You can tell me, I won’t judge you.”
“It’s just silly Omega stuff.”
“Omega stuff is never silly,” I say, and she leans in toward me, so the attendant can’t hear.
“Just the idea that I won’t get my first choice, that I’ll have to settle for a nest I don’t want, has me on edge. I know it’s ridiculous. I’m on this cruise because I obviously couldn’t find a pack the old fashioned way, so I have to take what I can get.”
She shakes her head again, like she’s frustrated with herself.
“You deserve the nest of your dreams. It’s not ridiculous,” I tell her. “You should never have to settle,” I say and she stands up a little straighter.
We go through a few more nests and Claire lists off her top choices.
I can’t help but to glance over at the tablet when she’s talking to the nest matcher and see who her pre-selected heat matches are.
Of course, every Omega had to pre-select some Alphas based on scent, in case, god forbid, they went into heat on the first day.
Logically I know that, but I can’t help but to feel irritated over the idea of not being here for her heat.
I just met her. But at the same time I’m a big believer of when you know, you know. Forrest and I have never met an Omega and been on the same wavelength.
Claire finishes up everything she needs with the attendant.
“Oh, could you add him and his Alpha to my list of potential heat partners?” Claire says and then turns to me.
“Wait, that was really presumptuous of me. We just met, and obviously consent for this goes both ways. It’s just…
I don’t know the other Alphas I chose, that was all scent based and I actually know you and Forrest. Sorry, never mind. ”
“No. Put us down. Forrest and Wells Torrin,” I say.
“Forrest has your last name?” she questions and I nod.
“I’ll put them down as your initial requests and the other Alphas with preferred pheromones second,” the woman says, and Claire nods.
We leave the suites and wait for the elevator.
“I’m sorry for putting you on the spot like that. I was rambling again. I swear, I’m not usually like this. It’s just. Fuck. I don’t know what it is.”
I let my instincts take over. Wrapping my arms around her and holding her in a firm hug.
Her body melts against mine as her smaller arms wrap around me, and she rests her head against my chest. When one of my moms was stressed all they needed was confident physical touch, assurance from someone they could trust, and it seems like the same is true with Claire.
The hug lasts longer than any hug should with a ‘stranger’. Eventually, she sighs and pulls away as the elevator doors open.
“Thanks. I needed that. This is all just a lot of new things at once,” she says.
“Why don’t you go to your room and rest before dinner,” I suggest and she nods in agreement.
When she gets in the elevator, I lean in. “Can I be honest, though?” I ask, and she glances up at me. “You adding me to the list was a huge fucking turn on.”
Her lips part, and her back straightens, some newfound confidence rushing through her. I can’t imagine a woman like Claire ever doubting herself, but my words seem to soothe her, which strokes my ego.
“See you tonight, Wells,” she says as the elevator doors close.
I have a huge grin on my face as I head back to my room. The second the mechanism on the door whirls and I walk through, Forrest is standing before me with his hands on his hips.
“You were gone for forever. What happened? You didn’t message me back.”
“Claire asked me to help her with her nest. Oh, and as of today we’re on her heat list,” I say, plopping down on the bed, all nonchalant.
“She what? She wants us to be in her heat?”
“Well. More than she wants some stranger she scented in a pamphlet to help her during her heat,” I say with a grimace.
Forrest looks dumbfounded, his brows furrowed as he takes in my words.
“So, we have to make sure we stay at the top of her list,” he says, and I grin.
“Now you’re getting it,” I reply as a deep sense of hope overcomes me. Forrest wasn’t sure if this was for us, if this would even work. Now he’s ready to plot with me to make sure this Omega chooses us over everyone else.
Maybe this will all work out after all.