33. Theo
THEO
I 'm awake before anyone else, lying in my own bed for the first time in two weeks. Belle's been staying in the guest room since she moved in, maintaining some independence even as she's integrated into our pack life. But tomorrow changes everything.
Tomorrow, her heat start, and we finally bond properly.
The thought should probably make me nervous, but it doesn't. Eight years in the military taught me to prepare thoroughly for important missions. This is the most important mission of my life.
I can hear movement downstairs. Marcus, probably. He always gets up early when he's processing something, and we're all processing the magnitude of what's about to happen.
I pull on clothes and head downstairs, finding Marcus exactly where I expected him to be, in the kitchen, making coffee with the kind of precision he usually reserves for construction blueprints.
"Couldn't sleep either?" I ask, settling onto one of the bar stools.
"Too much to think about." Marcus pours two cups, slides one across to me. "Tomorrow changes everything."
"In the best possible way."
"I know. It's just..." Marcus runs a hand through his hair. "We've been waiting for this for so long. Now that it's actually happening, I want to make sure we do it right."
"Define right."
"I want Belle to feel safe. Cherished. I want her first bonding experience with us to be everything she deserves,” he says.
The concern in his voice makes sense. Belle's only experience with heat has been managing it alone, terrified and isolated. We need to show her what it's like to be cared for properly.
"She trusts us," I point out. "Yesterday, when she told us about her heat starting tomorrow, there was no fear in her scent. Just anticipation."
"Good anticipation or nervous anticipation?"
"Both. Which is normal."
Felix appears in the kitchen doorway, hair sticking up in several directions. "Are we having an emergency pack meeting? Because if so, I need more coffee than exists in this house."
"Not emergency," Marcus corrects, pouring a third cup. "Planning session."
"For tomorrow." Felix settles onto another stool, instantly more alert. "Our omega's first heat with us."
"Exactly. I want to make sure we're prepared for everything."
"What kind of everything?" I ask, though I can guess where Marcus's mind is going.
"Logistics. Nest-building supplies. Food preparation. Temperature control. Making sure Belle has everything she needs to feel comfortable."
"You made a list, didn't you?" Felix observes with amusement.
Marcus pulls out his phone, scrolls to what is clearly a very detailed list. "Seventeen items. Cross-referenced by priority and timeline."
"Of course you did." I shake my head, but I'm not surprised. "Read it."
"Nest-building materials. We need more blankets, pillows. Soft textures that will hold our scents properly."
"Already handled," Felix says. "I ordered everything yesterday. Premium materials, optimal comfort specifications."
"Food preparation. High-protein snacks, hydration options, easy-to-digest meals for when she's too distracted to focus on eating."
"I can handle that," I offer. "Military rations taught me to think about nutrition under stress."
"Temperature control. Her room needs to be exactly the right temperature. Too hot and she'll be uncomfortable. Too cold and she won't want to leave the nest."
"HVAC system is already optimized," Felix says. "Individual room controls, backup heating if needed."
Marcus continues down his list. Security measures. Privacy considerations. Communication protocols if she needs anything. Backup plans for potential complications.
"Marcus," I interrupt gently. "You're overthinking this."
"Am I? Because this is important, Theo. This is the moment that determines whether Belle feels safe and loved during her most vulnerable time, or whether we fuck it up and damage her trust in us forever."
The intensity in his voice reveals the real concern. Marcus isn't worried about logistics. He's worried about being worthy of Belle's trust.
"She already trusts us," Felix points out. "Belle chose to share her heat with us. She could have managed it alone like she has for years, but she chose us."
"Because she loves us," I add. "And we love her. Everything else is just details."
Marcus is quiet for a moment, processing this. "I just want to be perfect for her."
"Marcus," Felix says gently, "you don't have to be perfect. You just have to be you. The alpha who showed her what passionate commitment looks like. Who made her feel safe enough to consider sharing her life with us."
"Besides," I add, "Belle doesn't want perfect. She wants real. Authentic. The same qualities that made her fall in love with us in the first place."
"You're right." Marcus sets down his coffee cup with obvious decision. "I'm overthinking this."
"Little bit," Felix agrees with a grin.
"So what do we actually need to focus on?" Marcus asks.
"Being present," I say immediately. "Available for whatever she needs, when she needs it."
"Following her lead," Felix adds. "Let Belle tell us what she wants, how she wants the bonding to happen."
"And making sure she knows she's completely safe with us," Marcus finishes.
"Exactly."
We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes, drinking coffee and processing the reality of what's coming. Tomorrow, Belle will go into heat. We'll help her through it. We'll bond with her properly, permanently. She'll become our omega in every way that matters.
"Are you nervous?" Felix asks suddenly.
"About the bonding? No," I answer honestly. "About being worthy of her? Absolutely."
"Same," Marcus agrees. "I've closed million-dollar deals without breaking a sweat, but the thought of Belle trusting me with her heat makes my hands shake."
"Because it matters more than any business deal ever could," Felix observes.
"Because she matters more than anything ever has," I correct.
"Think she's nervous?" Marcus asks.
"Probably. But not about us. About the intensity of it. About letting herself be that vulnerable."
"Can't blame her for that," Felix says. "Heat cycles are intense under the best circumstances. Her first one with a pack..."
"Will be incredible," Marcus finishes firmly. "Because we're going to make sure of it."
"Speaking of which," I say, "we should probably discuss coordination. Who takes the lead when?"
"I was thinking we let Belle decide that," Marcus suggests. "See who she gravitates toward first, who she needs most in the moment."
"That works. As long as we're all available and ready."
"What about after?" Felix asks. "After the bonding is complete, after the heat ends. How do we handle the adjustment period?"
"Carefully," I say immediately. "Belle's going to need time to process what happened, what it means for her life going forward."
"We all will," Marcus adds. "This changes everything for all of us."
"Good changes," Felix says firmly.
"The best changes," I agree.
We spend another hour discussing details. Practical considerations for heat management. Emotional support strategies. How to make sure Belle feels loved and cherished throughout the entire process.
By the time we're finished, the sun is fully up and I can hear movement upstairs. Belle, probably getting ready for what might be her last normal day before everything changes.
"Are we ready for this?" Marcus asks as we clean up the coffee cups.
"We've been ready for this for three years," Felix points out.
"We've been ready for this our entire lives," I correct. "We just didn't know it until we met Belle."
"Tomorrow," Marcus says with obvious anticipation.
"Tomorrow," Felix agrees.
"Tomorrow," I confirm.
Tomorrow, our pack becomes complete. Tomorrow, Belle becomes ours in every way that matters. Tomorrow, we prove that we're worthy of the trust she's placing in us.
I've never been more ready for anything in my life.
Mission status: Prepared and ready to execute.
Objective: Claim our omega and make her permanently ours.
Expected outcome: Complete success.
Everything else is just details.
And we've always been good with details.
"You know what?" Marcus says suddenly, setting down his empty coffee cup. "We should go out tonight. Have a drink, celebrate the end of our search."
"The end of waiting," Felix agrees with a grin. "Tomorrow changes everything, but tonight... tonight we're still three alphas who found their perfect omega."
"One last night before we become a complete pack," I add, and the idea feels right. "Belle's spending the day at the library, tying up loose ends before her time off. We should mark this moment."
"To the end of searching," Marcus says, already reaching for his keys.
"And the beginning of forever," Felix finishes.