Chapter 36
There’s a small emergency nest store on campus, but mail order seems to be the most common way to get new supplies.
I hate both options because the campus spot is so limited, and when you order through the mail you never know how things are going to feel, or look…
or smell. There have been some really rank deliveries to the dorm, and I don’t want to be one of those. Ugh.
But I also haven’t been to a big nest store in years, not since I first presented, so my nest back at school is pretty sparse.
Most of my pillows have gone flat, and while a lot of blankets just get softer with age…
it happens right before they disintegrate.
We have a different chain of stores in California, but this one should still be able to ship stuff home for me.
Plus, we’re getting out, spending time with Teddy, and having lunch after the store.
It’s win-win, really. My best friend is on my left side, with Sam next to him, holding his hand.
I just want to squee at how cute they look together, and while I’m not perving on my bestie’s alpha, his accent is something else.
What is it about that deep, twangy voice that makes me shiver?
Ugh. Greg laces his fingers through my right hand as we cross the parking lot.
He sometimes has a similar twang, but he works hard not to show it.
Garret, Kelly, and Steve opted to stay in the car this time. Kelly volunteered her alpha for me to use in case security here wanted to be obtuse about Greg being with me, but I told her if it comes to that, I’ll just kick somebody’s ass and walk out. I have other options.
That was a lie, and I don’t have any better options.
I doubt I could cozy up enough to any of these guys and pretend they were mine without laughing my ass off.
But I’ve also been avoiding making this trip back home because I couldn’t handle having my family take me and listening to them criticize my life and probably my nest choices for who knows how long it would take.
But Greg is big, and he can look all alpha-y if he needs to.
Not that I want him to. He’s my big teddy tiger.
Note that I didn’t say teddy bear. Bears freak me the fuck out.
They’re just so damned big, and slobbery.
I saw a few of them when we were growing up on the family camping trips, but they tended to avoid us, since my family makes a pretty large group—and loud, so fucking loud, especially now with all the added packs and kids.
But those things have huge fucking claws; they could take your head right off.
How the hell does anyone go from a huge killer beast to a fluffy stuffed animal?
Were they projecting their own fears and trying to make it manageable by reducing its size?
Greg knows how I feel. The first time I called him a teddy tiger, he laughed his ass off.
Even more so when I explained my reasoning.
But he admitted that his family never went camping and the only place he’s seen anything like that is in a zoo, so he has no idea how scary those fuckers are.
There’s not much that scares me, not really. But bears…oh yeah. Those things are horrifying.
A tug on my hand brings my attention to the fact that I must be lagging a bit behind, and I look up to see my pretty beta staring back at me, a look of curiosity on his face, checking to see if I’m ok.
Of course I’m ok. We’re in town; there are no bears here, and I can take on anything else I need to.
Ok, I’m not a huge fan of snakes either—Indiana Jones had that one right, but I’d take a whole fucking temple of doom full of snakes over a fucking bear.
Returning his smile, I let him pull me against his big body for a hug.
The weather is surprisingly warm today. Not that I know the area, but a year ago Teddy got snowed in here with his whole pack, so it feels strange to be walking around in just a pair of yoga pants and one of Greg’s T-shirts.
He keeps offering to buy me shirts in his size, but then they wouldn’t smell like him, and I’m not sure he gets that concept.
He would need to wear them around for a while before they’d have his scent, and what’s the point of him buying clothes for me when I can just steal his to wear over my normal tops?
They’re already broken in and cozy. Especially his overshirts.
This place is bigger than the ones my parents usually go to.
With aisles and aisles of blankets and pillows in every conceivable texture and color.
Teddy chuckles quietly beside me. “Close your mouth, Shorty. You’re gonna let in flies.
” First of all, eww, that’s gross. Second, holy shit this place is big. Third, fuck him, this is awesome.
Sam wraps his arms around Teddy’s shoulders, pulling the big omega’s back against his chest, his raspy voice with that twang murmuring quietly against the side of Teddy’s temple before leaving a soft kiss there.
“Be nice, little omega. Just ’cause you get to come here once a month when Kelly and Steve go to the bookstore isn’t a reason to be mean. ”
Teddy doesn’t really look chastised. He cuddles back against his alpha and smirks at me now that Sam can’t see his face. Fucker.
I say that with fondness.
Truly.
My gaze flicks past him, my attention suddenly caught on a big head of blond hair that’s clearly visible over the regular shelves.
The store doesn’t have super tall shelves, probably because their target audience rarely even reaches six feet in height, but it looks vaguely familiar, straw-colored and sticking up all over, like someone is carrying a scarecrow down the aisle, making a beeline for a huge machine in the center of the store.
I don’t know why I’m so drawn to it, but my feet move without my say-so, and the next thing I know, I’m practically dragging Greg along after me.
Teddy’s voice is in the background, almost yelling after us about stuffing pillows.
I stumble around the corner at the end, and there is the alpha from yesterday, holding open a book full of tiny samples of cloth…
wait, no, those are normal size. Fuck, I’m pretty sure the book is large too, but it looks just a bit over average in his huge paws.
What the hell is his name again? Shit, I was calling him Moose, but I can’t remember what his name actually is.
There are two men with him now. A slightly older guy who’s a bit taller than Greg, but also thin and rangy—like he looks more like a runner than the big guy.
There’s also a much smaller brunet…oh. I can’t believe this fucking asshole.
Why the fuck was he letting that beta bitch hang all over him yesterday if he already has an omega at home?
Guess my shithead radar must be on the fritz.
Damn, he seemed so sweet.
No, I can’t believe that.
I mean, the guy is short, but he doesn’t smell anything like an omega.
In fact, as I get closer, he smells a lot like home. The orchard my abuelos started.
So why are they in a nesting store?
The smallest guy is glaring at me from beside Moose, and everything about him screams to stay the fuck away.
Which just means I have to get closer and be an asshole.
Because people glaring at me for no reason pisses me off.
My voice is raised as I call out to the big guy, and he looks up, surprised, a big dopey grin stretching across his face like we’re old friends.
Aww, yeah, I knew he wasn’t a douche-canoe.
His giant hand comes up, almost causing him to drop the book he’s been fondling.
“Sarah! Greg! Hi! What are you guys doing here? We’re looking at pillows!
” He seems super happy to see me, and I don’t even have time to ask what’s up before he plops the book back on a kiosk and jogs towards us.
“Hey, you two. I didn’t think I’d see y’all again.
” He looks over my shoulder at Greg with a puzzled expression.
“I mean, it’s good to see you again. How are you doing?
What’s…um…what’s up…Oh, wait, this is my pack, lemme introduce you! ”
Moose is a very animated conversationalist, the kind Tio Miguel said wouldn’t be able to talk if you tied his hands behind his back.
Everything he does involves gesticulating, and he nearly knocks over his blond packmate when he tries to wave them over.
Thankfully, long and tall has fast reflexes and manages to catch the flailing arm before he gets an elbow to the face.
“This is Paul.” The bigger alpha intones, clumsily wrapping his arm around the other blond’s shoulders.
“He’s like my brother; we’ve known each other forever.
His baby brother, Josh, is my best friend.
He’s awesome and super smart…and a cop. But he’s not working right now, ’cause of…
stuff.” Moose’s eyes flick behind me just as Teddy comes puffing to a halt at my side.
“Oh, hey boss. I didn’t expect to see you not at work.
Hi Sam!” He waves again at the alpha who settles behind Teddy.
His attention turns back to me, and I’m worried he’s going to pass out soon if he doesn’t take a breath.
But he seems to be on a roll and have great lung capacity, so we’ll see how this plays out.
Maybe he’ll just deflate like a giant balloon when he finally runs out of air.
“And this is our pack leader. He teaches at the college me and Kelly went to. Oh, and Steve—he started there too. I don’t think he has any classes though with the professor, ’cause he teaches history.
My packmate, not Steve. He doesn’t teach anything.
I mean he could, he could totally do some nutrition classes at the gym.
Not that he has to. But if he wants…Shit.
Um, anyway, yeah. We just bought a house, and I was shopping for pillows. How are you doing?”
The big guy finally seems to run out of steam, his face turning red as his eyes drop to the floor, embarrassed.
Both packmates step up beside Moose, and it’s cute that they seem so protective of the big guy.
Paul smiles and gives a little wave, his other hand landing on Moose’s shoulder and rubbing the tense muscles there.
The smaller one is looking between Greg and me, and it seems like as good a time as any to make our own introductions.
Greg’s arm goes around me, offering support I’m not sure if I need.
These guys make me nervous. Not bad nervous, kind of fluttery nervous.
Which is strange in and of itself, since for all I know, every one of them could really be assholes.
I doubt Teddy would hire assholes. Well, Moose could be cool, his packmates could be assholes.
I let my eyes wander to the taller one and return his little wave with one of my own.
“Hi, I’m Sarah. We’re just visiting Teddy for the break.
This is my partner, Greg. Who I will be bonding as soon as he lets me.
” My beta huffs a laugh into my hair. Fuck, why did I say that?
Let’s just move on. “And we met Moose yesterday at the gym where I was being harassed by a pack with a truly unfortunate name. Also, he was getting groped by some skanky beta bit—” Greg’s hand comes over my mouth, silencing my hysterical ramble.
Why can’t I shut up?
Fucking hell.
Please stop me now.
My breath comes out in a huff through my nose, and I finally notice that the smaller man is pointedly ignoring me while giving poor Moose a huge dose of side-eye.
His voice is soft as he quietly addresses the giant alpha.
“I thought you said you reported her; she has no right to touch you without your permission. I told you I would talk to somebody about it if you’re not comfortable.
” The bigger man is shuffling from side to side, looking distraught, his face going red.
Ah, shit.
Before my brain can stop it, my feet are moving, dragging Greg along with me as I step up into Moose’s space, shouldering the smaller alpha out of the way and wrapping my arms around the big guy.
They aren’t long enough to go all the way around, but I’m trying.
His breath hitches a few times, one hand coming up to rest on my head like he wants to pet me, and then he starts purring.
Which is both awkward and sweet. I mean, I like him well enough, and it makes me feel like my bones are going to melt, but this doesn’t seem like the time or place for it.
Greg clears his throat quietly behind me.
One of his hands is trapped between my chest and the stomach in front of me.
Even if he couldn’t hear the motorboat level of sound, the vibrations sinking into my torso would be a dead giveaway.
The other blond, Paul, squeezes Moose’s shoulder again before putting his hand on my arm and gently trying to move me back. His voice is quiet. “Please don’t be offended. He has some trouble with that. He’s not trying to be inappropriate; it just happens sometimes.”
Moose’s hand lifts off my head to rub across his face, and I feel like an asshole for making him even more embarrassed.
His face is mostly covered, but the tips of his ears are bright pink, and it’s so stinking cute.
Which isn’t a word I would normally associate with someone his size, but there’s no better way to describe it right now.
As awkward as it is, I want to keep hugging him…
and have him keep purring for me. It’s been forever since anyone did.
Basically, when I was a little kid and our dads would sometimes purr to help settle us down.
The last time I really remember was when Scarlet was a baby, but she never cared for it like the rest of us girls.
She didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t as soothing as it was to us.
I guess we know why now. I let Greg draw me back so there are a couple of feet between me and the trio of alphas.