17. Yun-Sun #2
“Now is no time to worry about things that don’t matter,” Vili announced, all traces of his uncertainty gone and replaced with total confidence.
“My kitten is upset, so we prepare to make her feel safe and cared for. Running off to punch stupid people is not going to help. It will only make our pretty lady sad. So we need pillows, blankets, big hoodie, and something sweet. Oh! I will make my cocoa. Yes, that will work best.”
The three of us looked at each other, rather confused by this change in attitude. We had strong personalities in our pack, but Vili was our go-with-the-flow champion. To see him giving orders was odd as much as it was heartwarming.
“I’ll grab a hoodie and the pillows off my bed,” I said, holding out a hand to Gareth for him to pull me up. “Where should I bring it all?”
Vili cocked his head as if he didn’t understand what I was asking. “Here,” he answered, pointing to the bed. “This is her nest, no?”
Okay, I deserved that look. Of course, it made sense to establish this space as warm and comforting from the start. “Yup, you’re absolutely right.”
“Look, I know this might be a stupid question, but is there such a thing as too many pillows in a nest? As we all know, Warrick likes to pretend he’s an Omega with the mountain of pillows he has on his bed. Should I take them all, save one, or what?” Gareth questioned.
We contemplated that question for a moment.
I wasn’t sure how we would even fit in the space with how the poof took up so much room in the netting.
Before any of us could react, Vili launched himself onto the bed with only a soft ooph to let us know he was fine since he was lost from sight.
The bed started to sway, but whatever Vili was doing seemed to deflate the poof somewhat.
Eventually, the bed began to take shape, and I was shocked to find how large the sleeping space was.
It could easily fit all six of us and more, but it was perfect for us to snuggle up with our Omega.
Looking like he’d just been put through the air-fluff cycle in the dryer, Vili’s hair stuck out all over the place with his glasses skewed on his face. However, the man’s giant smile had me thinking he might be making this his permanent sleeping place.
“This is magnificent,” he shared while fixing his glasses. “So cozy and very, very soft and fluffy. This perfect for our sweet little kitten.”
Ulysses chuckled and clapped me on the back. “Come on, guys, let’s gather what we need while Vili makes the hot cocoa. Oh, V, make sure you put lots of marshmallows in the cup. Rosie can never get enough of them.”
As we headed down, I glanced at my watch.
With work traffic, we had about fifteen minutes to get this set up and be downstairs to grab her.
Taking off at a jog, I hurried to my room and slid to a stop in front of the shelf that had all my hoodies folded and stacked neatly.
More than once over the years, people have commented on my particular need to keep everything in order, but I didn’t see a problem with it.
So what if I color-coordinated everything and sectioned out by season?
It gave me comfort to know I knew where everything was, so when I needed to find something in a pinch, I knew right where to look.
Instinctively, I went for my old college hoodie, the one I’ve had the longest and was worn from use.
The original navy color was a little faded, but the embroidered emblem of Monarch University of Law was damn near perfect, except for some slight fraying on the thread.
I’d been so proud to wear this crest, making me one of the few lucky enough to earn the right to wear it proudly.
The memory became slightly tarnished after finding out my near-perfect academics and glowing recommendations hadn’t been the true factor for my admittance.
The donation my father gave to the school to build the new library had.
Thankfully, I didn’t learn that until my last year so I could live with rose-colored glasses and enjoy my experience.
Brushing a finger over the flaming wings of the butterfly, I couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic.
There had been another group of men I thought I was going to call my pack, but when I announced my intention to work as a public defender in some fashion, they treated me as if I’d died.
They ignored me and never answered my calls, emails, texts—none of it.
Those assholes hadn’t wanted me for a pack brother but the connections I could provide for them.
Not a day goes by that I don’t think how lucky I was to dodge that bullet and find a pack who supported me so unequivocally.
Clearing my throat, I headed out of the closet and collected the three pillows on my bed, leaving one to sleep with if I ended up in my own bed tonight.
Sleeping as a pack the past few nights has been a new and wonderful experience I didn’t think I’d enjoy as much as I did.
At the last second, I grabbed the knitted blanket my grandmother made for me when I graduated high school.
Not only was it warm and cozy, but it wouldn’t lose its scent with how long I’ve owned it.
Back in Bailey-Rose’s room, I awkwardly tried to place the pillows around the outer edge without falling into the damn thing.
Then I unfurled the knitted blanket but paused and pulled it back out of the bed, choosing to place it to rest over the back of the couch.
That way, whenever she sat here, one of us would be close to her whether we were home or not.
Gareth stumbled into the room with a mountain of pillows in his arms, blocking his vision.
Hurtling forward, I grabbed the one that fell before he tripped over it.
“Here, let me take some of those,” I offered. “Don’t tell me these are all from Warrick’s room.”
“There’s one of mine in there somewhere,” he said, tossing the pillows into the nest, clearly not planning to spread them out.
“Okay, they’re all in, but I’m not sure we can fit more.
Well, not without losing her in there for good.
I’ll be worried the pillows will smother our little Omega as it is. ”
Ulysses arrived carrying one pillow and two blankets but paused when he saw the state of the nest. “I thought this might be a problem. Why don’t I set these to the side so if she wants to hang out on the couch or something, she has things to snuggle with there.”
With that agreed upon just in time, an alert that someone was heading down the driveway caused our phones to buzz.
The security feed showed Warrick’s bright yellow car with Bailey-Rose resting her head on his shoulder.
Even with this grainy footage, I could tell she was drained.
Whatever happened took a toll on our Omega, and I didn’t like it one bit.
I might practice civil law, but I knew criminal law just as well growing up in the house I did.
So if I wanted to commit a crime and get away with it, I knew what steps to take.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, but it would be a cold day in hell before I ever let someone mess with my Omega.
The three of us hurried down to the main floor, where Vili was already waiting with a small silver tray.
I did a double take when I saw the mug would take two hands to hold for anyone, let alone our girl.
It was also in the shape of a marshmallow with a cute little smiling cartoon face.
Taking Ulysses’ advice to heart, mini pastel-colored marshmallows were piled high to the point some fell onto the tray.
I couldn’t help but smile, seeing how fast this woman had wrapped us around her delicate fingers.
The best part was none of us gave a shit.
We were happy to do whatever it took to make her know how we felt.
This was what it meant to find the other half of your soul—you’re complete for the first time in your life.
So with that thought, I opened the front door and marched out to collect that missing piece.
Knowing she was struggling even the slightest had my protectiveness rising from vigilant to overbearing.
Everything in me needed to know she was okay and safe within our home as soon as possible.
Before my brain could catch up to what my body was doing, Bailey-Rose was in my arms, clinging to me as I nuzzled her hair, purring my reassurance.
“You’re home now, sweetheart. We’ve got you,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple.