29
Parker
I raced up the stairs, my heart heavy with disappointment.
I had expected Zeph to react badly—his history with Omegas was complicated, painful even.
But after everything he’d shared with Phoenix, everything we’d been through together, I thought his feelings for her would at least have softened the blow.
Instead, he’d lashed out, his rage blinding him to the reality of the situation.
And my poor Doll… She was devastated.
I knew her Omega instincts were likely taking over, amplifying every ounce of hurt and rejection she felt. She needed care, comfort, not the wrath of a spiraling Alpha.
But there was no time to dwell on Zeph’s tantrum.
He’d have to figure things out on his own.
Right now, Phoenix needed me.
She needed us.
When I reached the room, I found Kage already hard at work, dragging two mattresses onto the floor of a cleared-out space.
His movements were quick but careful, like he knew exactly what needed to be done.
The instinct to create a safe, soft space for her was immediate.
My mind was racing, already thinking of what else she might need.
“Kage,”
I called, scanning the room. “I’ll get some blankets and cushions.”
Without waiting for a response, I dashed back downstairs, my focus entirely on making Phoenix as comfortable as possible. Or at least, that was the goal.
Halfway down, my brain started spiraling.
Was this enough? Were blankets even helpful? Shit, maybe she needed tea. Or socks. Did she have socks? I should’ve asked. Would offering her socks be weird? Probably. Fuck.
I shook my head like it might help knock the thoughts loose and tried to stay on task. One thing at a time.
Blankets. Pillows. Cushions. Nest things. Soft. Safe. Comfortable. That’s what mattered. I raided the linen closet like a man on a mission, grabbing everything that looked remotely cozy. Maybe too much. Was it too much?
By the time I returned, Kage had already arranged the mattresses side by side, creating a makeshift nest in the middle of the room.
Phoenix stood at the threshold, her body tense and small as if she wasn’t sure whether she should step inside. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and the sadness rolling off her was palpable. Suddenly, nothing else mattered but her.
“Hey,”
I said softly, handing her the blankets and cushions I’d gathered. “We’re going to get you settled, alright?”
She took the materials from me, her fingers trembling slightly, and I began to purr softly, hoping the sound would soothe her. She paused for a moment, listening, and then began to arrange the blankets and cushions, her movements deliberate, as if her body knew exactly what it needed even if her mind was still reeling. I watched her build the nest, placing everything just right, carefully folding the edges of the blankets, adjusting the pillows. When she finished, the nest was a soft, inviting space, full of warmth and comfort. It looked perfect. Just like her.
I crouched down by the edge of the nest and smiled softly at her. “It looks amazing, Phoenix,”
I said, my voice gentle, as I continued purring. “You did a great job. Can I come in?”
She let out a small, pitiful whine, her eyes glassy with emotion, and whispered, “Yes, please.”
I wasted no time, sliding into the nest beside her, keeping my movements slow and careful. She needed to feel safe, secure, and I wasn’t about to rush her. Once I was settled, I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. My purring deepened, and I felt her relax against me.
Kage stood in the doorway for a moment, watching us. “I’m going to grab some more supplies,”
he said quietly. “I’ll be back soon.”
He gave me a nod before slipping out of the room, leaving me alone with Phoenix.
I focused on her, on the way her body slowly started to calm, the tension easing as she pressed closer to me. My purring never faltered, the sound continuous and soothing. She needed to know she wasn’t alone in this—that we were here for her, no matter what Zeph said.
Phoenix shifted slightly, resting her head on my chest.
“One day, I’m going to make you a proper nest. The nest of your dreams, I promise.”
Her voice was small as she replied, “I’m just glad to have this. With you… with Kage.”
There was a vulnerability in her confession that hit me harder than I expected.
“You’ll always have us,”
I said quietly. “No matter what, you’ll always have us.”
She sighed. “But not Zeph,”
she murmured.
“He’ll come around,”
I said with more confidence than I felt. “Zeph’s just… he’s dealing with his own issues right now. But he cares about you, Sweetheart. He’s just got to work through it.”
She didn’t say anything for a moment, but I could feel her processing my words, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly. Finally, she let out a soft breath, her body sinking further into mine as the storm outside continued to rage.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt as she nestled closer, her soft whine barely audible.
“We’ll figure it out. One step at a time,”
I murmured, kissing the top of her head.
She didn’t respond, but I could feel her relax further, her body curling into mine as she buried her face in my shirt. The warmth of the nest, the comfort of the blankets, and the low hum of my purring all seemed to work together to calm her. I gently stroked her hair, careful not to overwhelm her with too much touch just yet.
We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in the safety of the nest. Phoenix’s breathing eventually evened out, her body giving in to the exhaustion that came from the emotional turmoil she’d been through. I held her close, my purring never faltering, my own emotions swirling as I thought about Zeph’s reaction. I understood why he was angry, why he felt betrayed. But Phoenix didn’t deserve this. She’d been trying so hard to protect herself, to navigate this mess on her own.
He was making a huge mistake, and deep down, I knew he’d regret it. But right now, I couldn’t waste time trying to convince him. Phoenix was my priority. Her well-being, her safety—that’s all that mattered.
I kissed the top of her head again and whispered, “You’re not alone, Phoenix. We’ve got you.”
And I meant it, with every fiber of my being.
◆◆◆
My eyes fluttered open. My brain was still foggy with sleep, but my body was wide awake. There was a warm weight on top of me, hips grinding down in slow, deliberate circles. I blinked, trying to make sense of the situation, but my thoughts were immediately cut off by the sensation of my cock—already hard and aching—being pressed against something soft and wet. Someone had already undressed my lower half.
I glanced around the room, half-expecting to see Kage lurking nearby, but he was nowhere to be found. Looked like my packmate was giving me some one-on-one time with Phoenix while he handled the supplies for the next week.
“Phoenix?”
My voice was rough with sleep, but there was no mistaking the red hair spilling over my chest or the familiar scent of her Omega pheromones—vanilla and honey on fire. She was naked, her skin glowing in the dim light of the room, her hands already tugging at the hem of my shirt.
I reached up to still her hands, but she just laughed, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “You’re awake,”
she purred, leaning down to brush her lips against my neck. “Good.”
I groaned, my hips instinctively bucking up into her. “Got everything you need, Doll?”
She pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, her gray eyes dark and hungry. “What does it look like?”
Her voice was dripping with mischief, but there was an edge to it—a desperation that made my pulse race.
“It looks like you’re trying to kill me,”
I muttered, though my hands were already moving to grip her hips, holding her in place as she rocked against me.
My Doll smirked, leaning down to nip at my earlobe. “Mm, maybe. Or maybe I just need something else.”
She punctuated the words with a languid, taunting roll of her hips, her slick coating my length as she teased me.
My breath hitched and my fingers dug into her skin. “Need what?”
Her lips curved into a wicked smile as she whispered, “You.”
The word hung in the air between us, heavy and electric. I flipped us over in one smooth motion, pinning her beneath me as she let out a surprised gasp.
“Your heat’s hit.”
It wasn’t a question.
Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she smirked, wrapping her legs around my waist and pulling me closer. “And?”
she challenged, her nails scraping down my back. “You gonna do something about it, Alpha?”
I growled, my control slipping as her scent enveloped me. I leaned down to capture her lips in a searing kiss, my tongue delving into her mouth as my hands roamed over her body, claiming her in every way I could.
My Doll moaned into the kiss, arching into my touch. “Fuck, Parker,”
she breathed when we finally broke apart, her chest heaving. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this.”
I smirked, my hands sliding down to grip her thighs. “Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea.”
She laughed, but it quickly turned into a gasp as I pushed inside her, her body tightening around me in a way that had me seeing stars. “Jesus, Doll, you’re so fucking tight,”
I groaned, my hips snapping forward as I buried myself to the hilt.
Her head fell back, her mouth falling open in a silent scream as she clawed at my back. “Fuck, Alpha, don’t stop—please don’t stop.”
My hips began to move, slow and deliberate, as I felt her body clench around me. Her breath hitched. “More,”
she whispered, her voice trembling with need.
I obliged, my thrusts growing harder, faster, each one driving her deeper into the nest. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room, mingling with our ragged breaths and muffled moans. Phoenix’s legs tightened around my waist, pulling me closer, urging me on.
I growled in response, my hands gripping her hips as I pounded into her, each thrust hitting that sweet spot inside her. Her cries grew louder, more desperate, her body writhing beneath me as she teetered on the edge of an orgasm.
“You feel so good,”
I groaned, my voice rough with desire. “So fucking tight, Doll.”
Her eyes fluttered open, meeting my gaze for a brief moment before she let out a sharp cry, her body convulsing around me as she came undone.
“Alpha,”
she whimpered, her voice breaking as she clung to me. “Please—knot.”
Her plea was all it took. My pace was relentless as I leaned down to suck a mark into her neck.
“You want my knot, Omega?”
I growled, my voice rough with desperation as I felt my knot begin to swell.
Phoenix’s response was a broken whimper, her body trembling as she clung to me. “Yes—yes, Alpha, please—”
Her words were cut off by a sharp cry as I slammed into her one last time, my knot locking us together as I spilled inside her. She came again a second later, her body squeezing around me as she shattered.
My forehead rested against hers as we both struggled to catch our breath. “Fuck, Doll, you’re gonna be the death of me.”
She laughed, though it was breathless and shaky, her hands sliding up to cup my face. “You love it,”
she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she leaned up to kiss me.
She was right. I did.