Chapter Five #2
I drag them deeper into the furniture section, chattering excitedly as I pick out a luxurious, dark purple velvet couch and a couple of oversized armchairs. Something about the deep, rich color feels right. It feels like me.
Jex orders the chairs and couch without hesitation, his phone out and tapping away at the logistics like the perfect overprotective Alpha he is. Meanwhile, Fox trails along behind me, tossing in the occasional sarcastic comment when I hold up something especially extravagant.
But none of them try to stop me. None of them tell me to slow down or pick something simpler or cheaper. They watch me, indulgent and patient, like this is exactly where they want to be.
Eventually, we make it to the sheet and blanket aisle, and my heart soars. Piles and piles of fluff. Soft, luxurious fabrics everywhere, just waiting to be touched.
“Alright, gentlemen,” I announce with a grin, rubbing my hands together like a cartoon villain. “Now’s the time to fear for your wallets because I am about to go feral.”
Jex lets out a deep, rumbling laugh. “You get whatever you want, sweetheart. Make it perfect.”
“Oh, I intend to.” My tone is pure sass, and I know they’re all eating it up by the way their gazes follow me.
This feels... good. Like something is starting to settle into place. And if I have to take the first steps toward building a nest with them, well, I’m going to enjoy the hell out of it.
I pause at the entrance to the sheets-and-blankets aisle, feeling a rush of excitement immediately followed by a pang of guilt.
This store is pure Omega paradise—aisles filled with lush, luxurious bedding, pillows stacked so high they might avalanche at any moment, and a rainbow of soft fabrics begging to be touched.
I glance back at the cart Jex is pushing, and bite my lip anxiously.
“Guys, we don’t have to do all this today. I mean, this is… a lot.” I gesture vaguely at the overflowing cart. “Maybe we should just get a couple things for now. You know, keep it simple.”
Fox snorts softly, crossing his arms over his chest as he leans casually against a shelf lined with thick fleece blankets. “Nice try, doll, but simple was never really our style.”
Dare gently nudges my shoulder, leaning close enough that his warm scent wraps around me. “Nope. Not backing down.”
Jex’s voice is a deep rumble behind me. “Violet.” The way he says my name makes me feel like a teenager in trouble again.
My heart does that traitorous fluttering thing again, warmth blooming in my chest. For once, the stubborn part of me doesn’t want to argue. But still, guilt niggles at the back of my mind.
“I just don’t want you guys to spend so much on me,” I mumble, avoiding their eyes as I finger a silky blanket on the nearest shelf. “It’s not like we know what’s going to happen next. Things might get worse before they get better, and I—”
Jex gently turns me to face him, his large hand cupping my cheek with surprising gentleness. “Which is exactly why you deserve this moment of peace. We know how dangerous things might get. But right now, we’re safe. You’re safe. And you deserve to enjoy this.”
I swallow, feeling emotions tightening my throat. He’s right. They’re all right. I’m standing here, worrying about hypothetical futures instead of enjoying the rare moment of peace we have.
“Okay,” I say softly, exhaling slowly. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you when we run out of closet space.”
Fox chuckles behind me, wrapping his arms around me from behind. His lips tickle when he kisses a soft spot high on my neck. His body is warm, and if I could stay in his arms forever at this point, I would. He lets me go after another squeeze. “Then we’ll build a bigger closet.”
I roll my eyes but finally let a smile break through. “Fine. But don’t complain when I spend all your money on dark, moody fabrics.”
Dare grins, tugging me gently into the aisle. “Wouldn’t have it any other way. Now come on, little Omega. Show us how to pick the perfect fluff.”
Laughing despite myself, I dive into the aisle, quickly spotting my favorite colors—deep purples, dark blues, smoky grays, and sleek blacks. My fingers eagerly brush over velvet-soft fleece, cool satin sheets, and plush, silky blankets. It’s absolute heaven.
“What about this?” Dare holds up a hot-pink blanket covered in neon kitten faces, waggling his brows dramatically. “I feel like this screams ‘Violet.’”
I groan dramatically, snatching it from him and stuffing it back onto the shelf. “Absolutely not. This would curse my nest for eternity.”
Dare chuckles, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Dark, gloomy, and mildly haunted—got it.”
“It’s called aesthetic,” I tease, tossing a dark purple velvet throw blanket into his arms. “Try to keep up.”
Fox picks up a midnight-blue satin pillowcase, thoughtfully running his thumb over the smooth fabric. “You know, Violet, at this rate, you’re going to turn us all into your gothic minions.”
I grin wickedly. “That was always the plan. Give it a week and you’ll all be wearing eyeliner.”
“Keep dreaming,” he scoffs, smirking, but adds the pillowcase to the cart anyway.
As I select more pillows—big plush ones ideal for sprawling out, smaller velvet-covered ones for comfort, and silky decorative ones in rich blacks and purples—I feel lighter, happier. For a brief moment, I allow myself to forget everything else, focusing purely on making my dream nest.
Jex suddenly holds up a dark gray throw embroidered with delicate black crescent moons, his expression serious. “What about this, sweetheart?”
I gasp dramatically, grabbing it from his hands and clutching it protectively against my chest. “I’d fight someone for this. Seriously, don’t test me.”
He smiles, eyes softening as he looks down at me. “I know you would. And you’d win.”
“Of course I would,” I say, my voice gentling at the warmth in his eyes.
Dare leans in again, his breath tickling my ear. “And we wouldn’t let anyone get close enough even to try.”
My stomach flips pleasantly. “Good answer.”
When the cart is piled high with enough bedding to make a dozen nests, Fox shakes his head, giving me an exaggeratedly wary look. “Think we’re good, or should we just buy out the entire store and save time?”
I smirk back sassily, feeling more confident now. “You’re right. Maybe I should slow down—I don’t want you three going bankrupt. Then who would spoil me?”
Fox rolls his eyes, Jex chuckles deeply, and Dare squeezes my hand affectionately. “Don’t worry about that. Just keep picking until it feels right.”
I take a deep breath, allowing myself to savor this moment. We have safety and peace right now, and I’m determined to hold onto this feeling as long as I can because deep down, I have a gut feeling things will get worse before they get better.
But not today.
Today, I’m just an Omega with three doting Alphas, a cart full of luxurious bedding, and a heart lighter than it’s felt in a long time.
Fox
May 23rd
7:42 A.M
Leaning against Violet’s omega suite doorway, I let my head fall back against the frame with a soft thunk , exhaling through my nose as my eyes drink her in.
The room is bathed in the kind of soft, quiet glow that makes you want to whisper.
Tiny star-shaped lights are threaded through sheer violet curtains draped lazily around her nest, casting gentle, dappled shadows across the walls.
The space feels sacred—hers. Like stepping into a dream spun from dark silk and late-night secrets.
And in the center of it all, curled up like some delicate, precious thing, is my mate.
She’s on her side, tucked beneath a mess of pillows and blankets in every shade of purple and blue imaginable—deep plum, indigo, stormy gray.
Her petite frame is nearly swallowed by them, but not quite.
I can still see the line of her shoulder, the faint dip of her waist. Her wild, violet curls are spread across the nest like spilled ink, and her cheek is pressed into one of the oversized cushions, mouth parted just slightly.
She’s beautiful in a way that aches.
She sighs softly in her sleep—barely a whisper of sound, but it hits me like a punch to the chest. My fingers twitch at my sides. My scent spikes, heavy and possessive, sharp enough to sting the back of my throat.
Mine.
The word echoes in my head like a drumbeat. Fierce. Absolute.
She shifts slightly, the blankets rustling, and I catch the barest sliver of her thigh where the covers have slipped. The sight nearly undoes me. That curve. That skin. So soft. So hers . My cock stirs behind the drawstring of my joggers, heat tightening low in my gut.
Down, idiot. She’s sleeping.
But fuck, she’s not just my omega. She’s the omega. The only one who’s ever stirred something deep enough in me to quiet the shadows.
I drag a hand over my face, trying to ground myself. Trying not to fall too far into the memories that always lurk at the edge of moments like this.
My childhood wasn’t the kind that makes you nostalgic.
It was the kind that leaves you with scars you forget to name because they’ve always just…
been there. Foster care wasn’t a picnic, but it gave me a shot.
And eventually, it gave me them—Kingston, Jace, Romano…
Voss. The Rosetti pack. The only people who ever made me feel like I wasn’t alone.
But there was no pull. No snap of a bond. And I thanked the fucking stars for that. Because as much as I respect them—hell, as much as I owe them—there’s only so much Voss a man can take before his sanity begins to fray. The guy is chaos with a smile. A nuclear bomb in human skin.
Still, they were my brothers in all the ways that mattered. They taught me how to build a life—taught me how to fight. How to protect.
Which is probably why standing here now, staring at Violet as she sleeps in a nest we built for her , makes something inside me twist so violently I have to take a step back.
Because this isn’t just lust. Or pride. Or protectiveness. And gods help me, I’ve never had one before.
She sighs again, curling slightly into the blanket, and this time it’s sweeter. Sleepy. Soft. Her scent—lemon frosting, warm and intoxicating—rolls over me like a tide.
I feel it in my teeth.
One taste. Just one.
I cross the room before I can think better of it, sinking down onto the edge of the nest, careful not to jostle her. She doesn’t stir. I reach out, brushing the backs of my fingers against her hair. It’s like touching clouds.
My voice is nothing more than a breath when I speak.
“Don’t know how the fuck I ended up with someone like you,” I murmur, barely loud enough to be heard by the shadows. “But I swear to every god listening… I’m not letting you go.”
Not now. Not ever.
Without even fully realizing it, my feet carry me quietly into the room, closer to her.
The massive swinging bed is absolutely ridiculous, yet it’s so perfectly Violet.
She was right about it—the way she built her nest is beautiful, thoughtful, carefully constructed with comfort and safety in mind.
Just watching her create it had settled something deep inside me, calming my Alpha in a way nothing ever has.
I slowly climb onto the bed, careful not to wake her, feeling it sway gently beneath my weight. Violet’s warmth radiates outward, drawing me in like gravity. Her sweet lemon frosting scent curls around me, settling deep into my bones, easing away the lingering tension of my thoughts.
She shifts slightly, murmuring something sleepy and unintelligible, but doesn’t wake.
Unable to resist, I ease down beside her, careful to maintain just enough distance so I don’t startle her awake.
Her face is soft and peaceful in sleep, and the worry lines around her eyes are smooth and relaxed.
Without thought, my fingers reach out, brushing a loose purple curl back from her cheek.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper, voice barely audible even to myself. “I don’t deserve you, Violet, but god, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to.”
She stirs gently, still half asleep, violet curls spilling across the pillow as she stretches lazily.
A faint, teasing smile curves her lips upward.
“You keep staring like that,” she murmurs sleepily, her voice warm and soft, carrying a hint of playful sass, “and I might just have to do something about it.”
I chuckle quietly, reaching over and pulling her closer, savoring the heat of her body as she easily melts into my side. “Promises, promises, doll.”
Her blue eyes finally flutter open, and my breath catches at how stunning she looks, still flushed and relaxed from sleep.
She shifts slightly, propping herself up on one elbow, her delicate hand resting comfortably on my bare chest. Her fingertips trace lazy patterns, sparking heat beneath my skin.
She tilts her head up, her gaze finding mine, bright with amusement and something deeper—something that makes my pulse quicken. “Oh, believe me, Fox. Those are promises I fully intend to keep.”
I lift an eyebrow, smirking down at her, unable to resist the magnetic pull she has over me. I trail my fingers along her side, teasing the soft curve of her waist beneath the thin material of her sleep shirt.
“I think I might need a demonstration of exactly what you have in mind,” I murmur, my voice dipping lower, thick with anticipation.
Her eyes darken slightly, her lips parting as her breath hitches. “Be careful what you ask for, Alpha. I’m feeling adventurous today.”
My grin widens slowly as I cup her jaw, thumb brushing lightly across her bottom lip. “Then show me, sweetheart. I’m all yours.”
Violet’s eyes soften, her playful smile fading into something more tender as she leans in closer, slowly closing the space between us.
Her lips brush softly over mine—a featherlight, hesitant but inviting touch.
Warmth sparks in my chest, and I immediately relax into her gentle kiss, my hand sliding up to cup her cheek, thumb softly stroking her jaw.
She hums quietly against my lips, her body melting further against mine, the tension in her muscles easing as her confidence grows. Her fingers flex gently against my chest, and the sweet scent of lemon frosting surrounds me, deepening my hunger.
When she pulls back slightly, her blue eyes find mine, heavy-lidded and bright with trust.
“Fox,” she whispers, my name rolling softly off her tongue, making my heart race.
I tilt her chin up gently, guiding her lips back to mine. This time she kisses me with more certainty, her lips pressing firmly, eagerly, surrendering completely to the warmth building between us. I return her kiss slowly, savoring every second, deepening the bond we’ve been carefully building.
In this moment, nothing else matters but her.