Oli
PACK EM UP GOSSIP COLUMN
OLI HART CONFIRMS THE EDGE ARE HER ALPHAS ON STAGE!
June 20th
T he moment I cross the threshold of the pack house, a shiver of anticipation dances up my spine.
I belong here. It’s covered in my alpha’s scents, even if they’re stale and faint.
My boots thud softly on the wooden floor, the sound cozy and intimate in the sprawling space. The room is bathed in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun filtering through the windows, casting everything in a soft, inviting light.
Dax rushes off with some of the luggage, leaving me behind with his packmates who all look after him with knowing smirks.
“Come here, little rose, I want to snuggle you on our couch and fill this place with your scent.” I let Chase pick me up and bring me to the soft couch. We sink into its grey fabric as he runs his nose along his bite mark on my neck. Sparks shoot from the spot through my entire body until converging on my clit.
“Don’t hog her,” Aiden complains, joining us on the couch and taking my right hand. “You just got to have her in the car.”
I lean in and rub my nose against his, breathing in his chocolate chip cookie scent and letting it surround me.
There’s something so relaxing and mundane about being here in their pack house. The tour bus is fun, but I can picture my life with them here.
Jack sits on my other side, rubbing his hands along my arm before gripping the back of my head and turning me to kiss him. His grip tightens when he smells my perfume, but Dax comes back into the room and stands right in front of us without sitting down.
“Are you done with whatever you ran off to do?” I ask, looking up at him with Jack’s hand still in my hair.
“Yes. Come with me,” he demands.
Dax grabs my hand and pulls me along until we reach a random door. He pushes it open, and it’s obviously the nest. The walls are soft and padded, blocking light and noise with a dark blue fabric. The entire floor is made of a mattress that already looks like it will feel like a cloud.
Oh, Dax, you’ve outdone yourself.
It is a haven crafted just for me. A masterpiece of fluff and fabric, it calls to me, promising comfort and safety. My heart does this funny little skip-and-jump routine—Dax made this nest. For me!
I step inside. Dax waits right outside the door, and I can sense anticipation and nerves pouring off him.
With a deep breath, I inhale scents of cinnamon, chocolate cookies, caramel, and coffee mixed with my own strawberries. How did he manage that?
I look around and realize, with a start, that this looks familiar. The room is full of items from my nest on the bus. Jack’s stuffed animals line the walls, and everything we bought at the store that day is here, mixed with new items.
“H-how?” I stutter in shock.
Turning around, I see Dax waiting at the door for me to invite him in, even though he’s the one who put all this work in.
“I brought everything from the bus with us. I know omegas don’t want people messing with their nest, but I thought it would be better if it were me than some random crew member. I wanted you to have your own stuff here, but this room is bigger than the bus, so I bought new blankets and pillows. If there’s anything you don’t like, it’s gone, no questions asked. I won’t be offended.”
The new blankets are plush, the kind that begs you to sink your fingers into them. And so I do, letting the softness caress my skin, a sigh escaping my lips. Each pillow and throw is perfectly curated in shades of pink and rose gold that mirror the shade of my hair—my vibrant signature.
I let my hand linger on a particularly fluffy cushion, the fabric cool and smooth beneath my touch. This was more than just picking out pretty things; this was Dax listening, paying attention to the smallest details about me. The realization sends warmth cascading through me.
“Looks like someone knows my taste better than I thought,” I say under my breath, a playful lilt to my voice.
My fingers trace a path over the satin trim of a blanket, following the elegant swirls and patterns. I’m lost in the tactile delight.
A shiver of excitement dances up my spine, and I swivel on my heel, eager to thank the man behind this masterpiece. Dax is rooted to the spot by the doorway, like a statue carved from stone and brooding thoughts. His hazel eyes are fixed on me, flickering with an unreadable blend of hope and hesitation. It’s as though he’s bracing himself for my verdict, ready to retreat at the slightest frown.
I call out, injecting every ounce of sunshine into my voice. “Come in, alpha.”
He doesn’t move at first, and I wonder if he’s second-guessing his handiwork. But that warm smile I shoot him seems to do the trick; it lights the fuse, and slowly, he inches forward. Each step carries the weight of a thousand unspoken words, his gaze never leaving mine.
I tug gently, and like the tide being pulled by the moon, Dax follows, stepping into the circle of comfort he’s spun from the fabric and feathers. It’s a sacred space, and I want him enveloped in it, wrapped in the textures and warmth he thoughtfully laid out for me.
“Sit,” I urge, patting a pillow next to me. “I can’t believe you did this.”
His large frame folds onto the nest and there’s a softness to him that only I get to witness. The hand that once seemed hesitant now rests beside mine, our fingers brushing like the whisper of a shared secret.
I lean in close enough to catch the slightest shift in his scent, that cinnamon roll mixed with a hint of nerves.
The plush haven envelops us, a cocoon of comfort that seems to breathe with its own life. I let my gaze rest on Dax’s face, taking in the sharp lines softened by the gentle light from the string lights on the ceiling. “Thank you,” I whisper, the words like a melody meant only for him. “This place… it’s like you pulled it straight out of my dreams.”
His shoulders - those broad, protective walls he puts up against the world - drop a fraction, and his eyes hold mine with an intensity that speaks volumes. There’s still that shadow, that flicker of doubt that no amount of coaxing seems to completely chase away. But we’re here together at this moment, which feels like a beginning, and that’s all that matters right now.
“You like it?” he asks hesitantly.
The corner of his mouth twitches, threatening to turn into a smile. My heart leaps, watching the transformation, even if it’s as fleeting as a shooting star.
“I love it, Dax! Thank you for doing this for me.”
“I wanted your nest to be perfect for our first heat as a pack and, if it’s still what you want, for our bonding.”
I nuzzle into the warmth of the nest he’s created, the softness enveloping us in a cocoon of comfort. My head finds a spot on his shoulder, fitting perfectly like a missing puzzle piece, and I let out a contented sigh. “It’s all I want, Dax. It would make me so happy to finally be bonded with all of my alphas.”
Dax’s arm encircles me, a firm yet gentle reassurance that speaks louder than any words could. His scent—an intoxicating mix of cinnamon rolls and something uniquely him—fills my senses and amplifies this profound peace that’s settled over me. It’s like we’re in our own world, far away from the chaos of tours, crowds, and flashing cameras. This nest, his embrace, it’s where I belong.
“I want that,” Dax admits, and his voice vibrates through me. “It feels right.”
His agreement sends a wave of warmth pulsating through me, and I squeeze his hand, silently thanking every star that aligned to bring us here. At this moment, with Dax by my side, I know that no matter what life throws at us, we’ve got this unbreakable harmony between us that will see us through.
“,” he says, his voice softening, “whatever comes next… I’m glad it’s with you.”
“Me too, Dax. Me too.” I lean in, resting my head against his broad chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.
“There’s one more thing. Before we bond, you deserve a full apology. I’m so sorry I didn’t love you the way you deserved right from the start. I let all the bullshit with my past get in the way of our future. If I could go back and redo things, I would do everything differently. I would punch the idiot alpha that I was and tell him his perfect omega was right in front of him. I would make sure he never hurt you. But since I can’t do that, I promise never to hurt you again. You deserve the world, and I’m going to give it to you.”
A tear traces down my cheek, and I snuggle closer to his warm body. Everything might not have been smooth from the start, but he’s made up for it, and all I want is to restart and enjoy the life we can have together.
“Even when my omega was hurting from your rejection, I wanted you to be happy, Dax. I saw the pain in your soul, and I wanted to soothe it. Thank you for facing your past and seeing the future we can have together. You’ve been fighting for it and now, I just want to enjoy it. You’re my alpha. When Jack and Aiden bond with me, I want you to do the same. I know you said you don’t feel worthy but please don’t hold back in the moment, it will only hurt me more.”
He stares into my eyes, thinking. Those hazel depths are full of love and regret for his actions. “I won’t hold back, angel. You’ll be mine in every way, and I’ll love you until the end of time. I love you.”
“I love you too, Dax. I have for a long time now.”
I lean in and kiss him, pressing my lips to his. His mouth moves against mine before slipping his tongue in and stroking mine with it.
His fist grips my hair, holding my head at the perfect angle for him to consume me.
It’s perfect.
Now, all I need is his bond, along with Jack and Aiden’s, and I’ll feel complete.