Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Marie
Ican smell my alpha’s scents all around me as I walk into the nest store. The Nesting Omega is a newer boutique catering to omegas. I’m surprised the guys chose this place since it’s on the higher end of luxury.
“Marie, I think you’re forgetting that your pack is rich,” Lore murmurs as he cages my body and walks behind me. “Get whatever you want, don’t look at prices. They don’t matter, and you deserve nice things.”
Chewing on my bottom lip as I look around me, I nod tentatively. This is hard for me to do. I never buy anything without asking myself how many hours of work it’ll cost me. Shift work is grueling, especially the hours I’ve been keeping.
“Do you need some help spending my money?” he asks.
There’s a thrum of danger in his voice and I quickly shake my head. While I can feel more of his emotions, I can feel a door separating us. I’m curious what he’s keeping from me, but it also scares me. I can feel the need to spank me coming from him, and I squeeze my thighs together at the thought.
As much as they’ve spoken about spanking me, they’ve never done it yet. I think I’m warming up to the idea.
“Who will do my tattoo?” I ask in an effort to get my body’s response in control.
Lore smirks as he takes my hand, well aware of how he’s turning me on.
I changed after my pack ruined me in the best of ways, but I left the cum on my breasts and inner thighs.
My sweater and pants won’t give up the secrets I’m keeping, and I chuckle under my breath as Ransom winces as he walks, a basket in hand.
Neither one of us will ever be the same now.
“Burner has a tattoo kit and tends to do them,” Lore explains. “He’s patient, draws his own art, and very professional. We can go somewhere else if you’d like.”
“I like Burner,” I admit. “He made sure I felt comfortable pretty quickly.”
“Burner doesn’t like many people, but I hear he helped start your nickname,” he says. “Fuck, this place is big. Help me out, Princess. Walls or floors. What should we do first?”
“Oh. I thought I would just buy some sheets and maybe a chair for my nest. Is that really necessary?” I ask.
My pack growls at my words, and I get the feeling my spanking may happen from multiple alphas today.
“Walls,” Ransom grunts. “Those should go first if she decides she wants to paint.”
“We’ll paint if she wants color,” Storm amends. “I don’t want her on a ladder.”
“You’re impossible,” I sigh, walking toward the back left hand corner of the store where the paint is.
There’s so many colors, I can’t make up my mind, and Wilder calls someone over to help. The associate is an omega who curls her nose up at us, and I feel very subconscious, knowing I reek of alpha cum and pheromones.
“Is there any way to see paint swatches?” Storm asks, ignoring their reaction.
My alphas are wearing their cuts with sweatshirts underneath since it’s freezing out. I have a comfortable wool duster over my clothes, but I know my alphas appear dangerous. They just won’t cause shit at a store.
They’re one percenters, not rabid or feral. This girl needs to adjust her attitude before I make her.
Lore rubs my back, fully aware of my aggression, and I lean into his body as he releases the kinks in my body.
“Which ones would you like,” the woman asks.
“The diamond cream, navy admiral, and the emerald, please,” I reply. “It’s difficult to visualize how it’ll look from the cans.”
“You’re right,” she says with a nod. “I’m Hastings. I’ll bring them over to you. I don’t know if this is helpful, but there’s wallpaper around the corner. Sometimes having a full picture can transform your nest into a beautiful space.”
“Thank you,” I say, watching as she nods, stiffening again as she backs away from my alphas.
“Do we smell?” Wilder asks, making a face as the woman leaves.
“I think she may have a problem with the MC,” I say, shaking my head as I walk around the corner. “Oh.”
There are so many different choices, but it does help that there’s photos next to the wallpaper. Rubbing my finger over the different textures, I find myself smiling excitedly.
“Wallpaper for the win,” Ransom murmurs, watching as I look around.
There is a sunflower pattern that I think would be pretty on the back wall of my nest, and I find a textured cream pattern that’ll look good on the remaining walls. By the time Hastings returns, I’ve made up my mind.
She doesn’t look put out at all as she pulls out a notebook to write down what I want, ignoring my alphas until Storm tells her the dimensions of the room.
“I’ll be your consultant for all of your nest needs,” she says. I can almost hear the inaudible groan from my alphas, but outside of her prejudices against my men, she’s been helpful. “I suggest looking at rugs next, as that’ll help you pull together your other items for your nest.”
“Thank you,” I reply, nervously looking for the rugs.
“They’re about half way down this wall, on the left hand aisle, Miss,” Hastings whispers, winking before disappearing again.
“I suppose she’s not all bad,” Storm grumbles as we begin walking. “It’s only when she looks at us. I wonder what her deal is.”
“Her eyes look familiar,” Lore says, pursing his lips as he thinks.
Hastings appears to be a little younger than me, and has beautiful black hair pulled back in a braid. She looks really polished to be someone Lore would know, but I’m a great example of being a seemingly normal sister with a brother in the mafia.
I manage to find a couple of bohemian rugs that make me happy. It’s a different direction than my utilitarian lifestyle, but I’ve never had the time to be able to have fun. My life has revolved around surviving and cleaning up my brother’s messes.
Next up is lighting, and I decide on low level wall ensconces. I’m not a fairy light type of omega, though they’ll do in a pinch for soft lighting. I also don’t think the loft needs a chandelier. That seems too fancy for me.
I want a comfortable space I can comfortably use.
“What kind of sheets do you want?” Wilder asks. “I also think you need more than a mattress on the ground. Let’s see what they have.”
Hastings has found us as she finds it necessary to write down what we want, but otherwise makes herself very scarce.
In fact, everyone gives us a wide berth.
My emotions are still raw after my heat, and I’m grateful for the non-fluorescent lighting in the store.
My nerves can’t take how hot those lights are.
I don’t like to go shopping when I feel as if I’m fried from the inside out.
This was one of the most intense heats I’ve ever had, and I’ve never been this sick before.
Lore remains close by, though I can feel a tether between us.
I’ve never heard of that happening before, and it makes me more certain than ever that we may never be able to be very far from the other for long.
“I like the recessed mattress look,” I muse.
It’s like a frame that outlines the bed with a little platform to make it easier to put sheets on it.
There’s a minimalist vibe to it that I enjoy, and the black option helps tie in the black of the sunflowers.
“We also need a bigger mattress. I noticed people kept falling off.”
Storm hides a smile as he heads in the direction of the mattresses without being asked, ready to flag Hastings down if necessary. He’s decided he doesn’t fucking care what her issue is, she has a job to do.
“Are blackout curtains around it too much?” I ask. “They’d have to be hung from a wrought frame above the bed, and I kind of like the idea of it floating from the ceiling.”
“What color?” Wilder asks, ignoring my first question.
“There’s nothing you can decide you want that we’ll think is too over the top,” Lore says. “We want to spoil you, because you deserve this.”
“Okay,” I say, trying to believe it as I nod. “I want black velvet curtains.”
“I can make it so the curtain rods disappear because they’re wrapped in velvet,” Wilder says, his hands in his pockets as he thinks. “Then they will look as if they’re floating.”
“Yes, please,” I say, beginning to get excited. A part of me wonders if anything I ask for will be considered too crazy.
“You’re insane if you think we’re going to deny you anything,” Ransom says. “Where did she go?”
“I’m here,” Hastings says, breathless as she hurries over. “I was getting your mattress details to the right person, Marie. What else can I get you?”
I gave her my name at one point when she wouldn’t stop calling me “Miss.”
Wilder explains how much velvet I need for the curtains, not because I can’t speak, but I don’t know the dimensions of the room.
“I’d also like navy blue cotton sheets, please,” I add once Wilder is done. “Point me in the direction, though, because I need to feel the material.”
“The struggle is real,” Hastings admits, giving me a real smile. “It’s just behind you. Feel free to take anything out that you’d like. Something so close to your skin has to be touched.”
“Thank you!” I exclaim as my alphas chuckle under their breath. “You get it.”
We walk around to do what Wilder calls “fondling the sheets” as Storm returns to us.
“You took forever,” I pout, letting him pull me into a hug.
“I got sucked into the vortex of this place,” he admits. “There’s so many cool swings. Can we get one so I can fuck you in it?”
“I haven’t been on a swing since I was a kid. I’m a little confused by the logistics,” I say.
“I’m not,” Ransom chuckles. “Trust me. We need a swing, Sugar.”
We spend our time finding everything we’ll need, including a swing and plants. Lore also suggests putting in a bathroom so I won’t have to go downstairs if I don’t want to, and I agree after he suggests an open concept option.
Basically, the left side of my loft will have a gray, free standing tub for bubble baths, a smaller shower for hosing off in between bouts of heat fucking, a basin sink, and a toilet. It’ll allow the room to be used more often by me, and make it more functional.
Every time I move, I can feel the plug moving inside of me, which reminds me of my alphas. It would be difficult to ever forget them, but I love this feeling.
By the time we’re done, my nest is designed, and everything will be delivered later in the week. That’ll give us time to deal with some of the life stuff we’ve been trying to catch up on.
Heats and grief leave room for lots of loose ends, especially for us. Devon is very high on the list of things we need to deal with, and I probably need to call my brother to give him an update.
Ugh. It kind of makes me want to hide, but that doesn’t work in life.
“Do we have enough yet?” I laugh, grinning as Ransom wraps his arms around me.
“I think we have a good start,” he growls. “I have an idea I’m working on with Wilder. We’ll see if I can get it to work.”
“That’s very cryptic,” I laugh.
“I like to be a little mysterious. These assholes took away my ability to hide things,” he sighs. At my concerned glance, he shakes his head. “I don’t mean it like that, but it’s nice to be able to surprise someone from time to time.”
“You can block Wilder and Storm,” Lore says.
“And you?” Random asks, snorting.
“The bond on your ass tied us too closely, brat,” he says. “For some reason, I hear your intentions loud and clear.”
“Are you going to show me how to block them?” Ransom asks as we look for the alphas in question.
“What fun would that be?” Lore asks, shrugging as Ransom rolls his eyes.
“Wonderful.”
“Don’t hit him,” I murmur. “We’ll get kicked out, and then I’ll have to go shopping all over again.”
“I’ll kick his ass later,” Ransom grumbles.
“You’ll try,” Lore corrects him. “I can best you while recovering from a gunshot. Remember that.”
“Behave,” I murmur.
Ransom and Lore grunt, “Yes, ma’am,” in my direction as I see Wilder and Storm at the front of the storm. My lips twitch as I watch as Storm hands over his credit card to pay before I walk up to him.
“Everything will be delivered in the next twenty-four hours,” he tells me.
Impressed with a turnaround, I look for Hastings to thank her.
“She left the store once I came up to pay,” Storm mumbles under his breath, putting his card away and leading me out to the motorcycles.
“She did?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he sighs. “Her eyes were red. I don’t know what’s up with her.”
“I can’t explain how I know her, and it’s been bugging me,” Lore complains. “It’ll hit me right between the eyes at some point. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with it. I just know it.”
Wilder pulls his phone out as it buzzes, blowing out a breath as he sees who’s calling.
“Hey.” He listens with a nod after answering, and I wonder if it’s Devon. He must have ridden like a bat out of hell if he’s already in Minneapolis. “Yeah, we’re on our way home now, Devon. I’ll see you soon.”
“Fuck,” Lore sighs.
“Hop the back fence and go in the back with the key,” Wilder suggests, shoving his phone away. “You won’t have to break the fucking window this time.”
“Nothing like your brother coming back from death,” I say brightly without a smile.
Lore growls as he pulls me behind him on his bike, and I don’t know what else to say as I pull on my helmet. There’s nothing I can do to make this better, though I hesitate as I think of something.
“If you’re jumping the fence, should I really be going with you on the bike?” I ask.
“I think fate has already loudly stated that you’re stuck with me, Princess. I don’t much want to test how far we can be from each other. I also need you with me. I’ll help you hop the gate,” he chuckles.
“Devon has a hard-on for hurting Marie with his words when he’s pissed,” Ransom warns. “Try not to kill the fucker. I think you’d miss the little shit.”
“Already talking shit about your ex-prez,” Wilder tsks. “Didn’t take that long, huh?”
“Pretty sure the only loyalties that matter are the ones that lie in the present,” Ransom shrugs, revving his engine before pulling away.
“The new kid is showing you up,” Lore smirks.
Rolling my eyes, I wrap my arms around his waist as I say, “Spank him later, baby. Let’s go face the music.”
Lore’s body trembles with amusement as he begins the drive home, even though he doesn’t make a sound. I have no idea how Devon will react to his brother being alive, but something tells me I’m going to need to grab my gun.