Chapter 9
NINE
Another alpha would probably think a trip to the nest store is an omega’s job, but not me.
I love our local store; love the colors, the variety, the calmness.
I am ecstatic to finally be buying stuff for an omega, even if my pack and I will only be spending one heat with her.
My alpha doesn’t care; we’re both exuberant to be a part of this, ready to take everything our omega asked for and more to her place.
I practically skip down every aisle, scouring for anything my instincts tell me to pick up.
Which is a lot if I’m honest. A lot more than might be appropriate for an alpha found on Heat Seekers to buy, but I can’t help it.
Something is pulling me to pick up everything in Elsie’s favorite colors, even if it’s not something she requested specifically.
Which, to me and my pack’s dismay, wasn’t enough. I have a feeling that she hesitated to send anything at all, but with some light encouragement from Brodie, she finally told us a few things:
- Orange and brown blankets.
- A dimmed lamp or night light (overhead lights are the devil)
- Soups and salads with nuts.
She probably doesn’t need three different types of pillows shaped like a pumpkin, but selfishly I want her to have something that resembles my scent to remember me by. I don’t question why, just accept that my beast is going to make me a simp for a stranger over the next few days.
“I think that’s enough.” Raivat laughs, looking into our cart.
I scoff. “There will never be enough.”
“For right now, it is,” Brodie decides, taking us to the front. “We still need to pick up the catering of soups and salads so she can have some comfort food for the next few days. I also sent an order of other things directly to her place just in case.”
I nod, loving that Brodie and Raivat think that far ahead. From the tiny interaction Brodie had with her, we learned that this heat will be Elsie’s first, which makes each of us even more determined to make her feel as safe and comfortable as possible.
The app might not require matched alphas to provide nest materials to their omegas, but I find it to be a given.
There’s nothing that brings me more pride than being able to give an omega exactly what she wants and deserves.
And Elsie deserves everything she wants for her first heat, especially since she won’t have a proper nest to spend it in.
Unfortunately, the apartments around campus don’t provide that kind of luxury, and the ones that do are way too expensive. But even without a nest, we’re going to make this heat as smooth sailing as we can for her.
After Brodie pays the—rather extensive—bill, we head off to pick up the food.
The restaurant is decked out in Halloween decorations.
A fake skeleton stands outside, cobwebs placed strategically along its bones for dramatic effect.
Little cartoon vampires and zombies are painted on the windows, their stature more cute than scary.
When we walk inside, a bell rings above the door and the teenager behind the counter grins widely.
“Happy Halloween!” he says, then he examines us. “Did you guys get the big order to go?”
Raivat gives a polite smile. “That’s us. How did you know?”
“Well, you’re… you’re all a bit massive, so I assumed.”
A laugh escapes me and Brodie crosses his arms over his large chest. “Who says this is all for us?”
The employee’s face falls. “Oh, I didn’t mean to offend you!”
“No worries,” I say, waving him off. “Our omega is going into heat, so we’re preparing. The meals are for the whole pack.”
Brodie and Raivat both look over at me, their brows furrowed, but the employee lights up just like I wanted.
“That’s so exciting! Is it your first?”
“Yes, it is,” I confirm, puffing my chest out with pride.
“Wow.” He looks at us in awe. “Well, I think we might have something special for you guys then! I’ll be right back.”
The employee disappears and then I’m met with two stern faces.
“What?” I ask.
“What?” Raivat mocks me, his mouth moving at an angle as he mimics my voice. “She isn’t our omega.”
“I know that,” I protest. “But he doesn’t need to know that. This is still an exciting moment, and I wanted to share it with someone.”
“Others don’t need to know our business,” Brodie murmurs, a protective glint sparkling in his eye.
I put my hands up. “Hey, I’m ecstatic about this. Talking about heat cycles should be more normalized.”
“I agree with you, but maybe let’s just not say anything to anyone else.”
“He’s not going to remember this,” I argue, crossing my arms.
Then the employee comes back, our large order in hand along with a giant cake.
“What… is that?” I ask, pointing at it.
Raivat looks at Brodie and hisses, “Did you order a cake?”
“I did not order that,” he snarls.
“Oh, yeah, no one ordered it,” the employee interjects. “This is from all of us, the entire family of Sam’s Soups and Salads, to you.”
We look up to see the rest of the kitchen behind him, their lips turned up in glee. One is even jumping in place, their excitement too much to bear.
I feel my pack mates’ eyes on me before I burst out in nervous laughter. “Wow!” I rub the back of my neck. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem,” he says, completely oblivious to my friends giving me the death glare. “It’s a seasonal pumpkin-spice cake. I hope your omega likes it.”
My lips flatten. Fuck, I hope she does, too.
When we get out to the car, Brodie flicks my ear.
“Hey!”
“We can never show our faces here again,” he sneers, but there’s no real malice in it.
I cross my arms. “No one likes to be whimsical with me in this fucking pack.”
That causes both of them to laugh, and then we’re off to meet Elsie.
The bags are heavy as we take the steps up to her door. There must be three on each of our arms, but we persist, not wanting to leave the apartment once we enter it. Brodie knocks—not very well—on the door, and we wait.
A few moments later, a message comes through from the app, and Brodie looks down to read it.
“She says the doors are open and to come on in.”
I stifle the growl that wants to erupt at the thought of her door being unlocked, my alpha unreasonably anxious at the knowledge of it. Luckily, my friends don’t notice as we stroll inside, the comedic amount of heavy bags on our arms sounding with each of our movements.
When we get inside, there’s soft music playing, and I know immediately it’s to soothe the omega’s pain. My heart beats more erratically, listening to the soft voice of Stevie Nicks as we enter her home. I reach out and lock the door behind me, the tension from before easing from my body as I do.
Her apartment is an omega’s dream. Dark walls, wooden tables, a blanket found on every available surface.
We travel further in, our steps slow and cautious in an omega’s space, and we notice the song is being played on a record player, the sound full of nostalgic static.
The air permeates with the most delicious candy aroma full of spices and apples.
I look around for the candle it must be coming from, but the living room surfaces are void of any.
“Fuck—” Brodie mutters, but he’s unable to complete his thought as a sound turns our attention to the doorway.
Elsie stands there, her expression twisted with nervousness. “Hi,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
My eyes widen, my pupils dilating. She’s a dream. Her long white hair falls all the way to her waist, her hands clasped together bashfully.
Then her scent hits me, the subdued aroma that I had mistaken for a fall candle hitting me right in the face.
Holy shit. She’s my scent match.