Chapter 22 #2
Kind of like a den, just more comfortable and girly. I hadn’t thought about my own den in years. Traveling and hockey meant constant blockers. My delta had been all but dormant for years until she walked into our lives.
We had the space in the packhouse now for both August and I to have one, but neither of us had touched them. Once we spent time with our omega and settled into pack life, I had a feeling we’d reconnect with our deltas and our instincts.
But all of that came second to her.
Every few minutes one of the omegas rushed past carrying armfuls of blankets or pillows. I was just grateful they knew what they were doing.
Eventually, I found three oversized throw pillows in our team colors. Deep red, black, and silver. We could each claim one and scent mark it, maybe even sleep with it tonight.
A little piece of us to put in her nest.
Not wanting to interfere with whatever masterpiece the others were building, I carried my finds back to the front.
Rachel nodded approvingly as she continued sorting through the growing mountain of supplies she’d snagged. Deb added boxes of warm fairy lights and an elegant lamp that added a bit of class to the assortment.
Allie arrived last with her arms full of sheer fabrics, framed artwork, and a few little decorative pieces. Each of the tiny figurines and little decorative pieces was different and I had a feeling Dhara would love them.
She sat her things down and looked around at the pile, looking pleased. “This is perfect.”
Deb nodded as she also assessed the pile. “The paint store is next door,” she said pointedly. “You need darker walls.”
Rachel nodded. “I agree. The paint can always change later when she decides what her vibe is.”
“Exactly. And if the room is as plain as I’m imagining...” Deb trailed off, looking at me to confirm. I winced and agreed quickly.
“It’s definitely all white everything.”
“The walls will ruin the whole vibe,” she declared.
“Noted.” I found myself scribbling mental notes as fast as she talked.
“The little décor shop down the street has vines you can wrap around windows and doorways,” Allie tacked on.
“And don’t forget the omega boutique. If you know her size then you should snag her some comfy things,” Rachel said.
I slowly shook my head. “I have no idea. She’s petite, comes up to about here.” They bit back laughter as I gestured where she hit on my chest.
“You can never go wrong with cozy. If it’s a little big it’ll be more comfortable anyway. Stick to things like soft sleep shirts, though she’ll steal yours. Cute pajamas. Oversized sweaters,” Allie listed them off while she jotted notes on a paper.
“Oh, and fuzzy socks,” Deb added.
By the time they rang everything up, my head was spinning. Allie handed over the list of additional things I could get while the other two walked me out and helped me load the truck.
I didn’t expect them to stick by me through every store but they had a vision and took any ideas I had and helped weave them in. Even though they tried to refuse, I handed them each a big tip before leaving.
The back was packed so full of boxes I could barely see through the rear window. It was far more successful than I expected.
Before I could leave, Allie was by my window. I rolled it down and she passed me a business card.
“When you’re ready to decorate, call us. We close at five. We’ll douse ourselves in de-scenting spray and come help.”
I blinked. “Why?”
She smiled softly as shadows filled her eyes. “Because not every omega gets the chance to embrace their omega. I don’t need to know her story to recognize that. We just want to help give her the chance to embrace that side of her.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. Even strangers who don’t even know her name treat her with more kindness than her mother ever did.
“Thank you.”
By the time I got home, I only had enough time to unload everything before practice. I hated to walk away already and the universe seemed to be on my side.
A text came through right as I was grabbing my keys.
Coach
Emergency heat delay. Practice for today is cancelled.
Coach hated practicing without everyone present. I always felt it was a bit unrealistic but I’d never been more thankful for his stubborn outlook.
I threw on some clothes I didn’t mind getting dirty and snagged the paint supplies. I’d gone for a dark charcoal. It was just dark enough to make the room feel cozy, and the perfect neutral to let her other colors pop.
For the first time in weeks my mind was quiet. My entire focus was on something tangible and that alone was calming. Each pass of the paint roller on the walls felt like a step closer to being a pack.
Conrad and August had turned the house into a real home. One that included our omega and her little brother. Now the nest was slowly becoming something we could present to our omega with pride.
It was a space built just for her. One that was brand new and she could call the shots from the very beginning.
August and Lachlan found me still painting an hour later. Neither of them asked a single question. They simply grabbed rollers and joined me.
For the first time since we’d lost Dhara, something felt like it was going right. We were back in control again, no longer helpless and flailing.
Chris Laurant was building our case and in a few short days we’d be bringing her right here to this room.
Having the guys beside me kept me grounded. At the end of the day, a pack was only as strong as the bond between its members. As much as I hated that ours had been forged through fear and trauma, I was grateful for it.
On Laurant’s orders, we’d already filed the paperwork to be legally recognized as a pack. Everything was coming together as planned.
The Steele Pack was ready to fight for our omega.