Chapter 24
Addison
Being mated to a pack full of hockey players in the middle of their season isn’t easy.
Damien has been at a string of away games, leaving me here all on my own. I hate it. I’ve gotten used to falling asleep in his arms and waking up next to him in the morning.
The best I’ve got is alternating between Carson’s and Reid’s hoodies and snuggling with FooFoo.
We do lots of Facetiming, but it’s not the same.
I want to travel with Damien when he leaves, but it would be too suspicious if I started going to all their away games out of nowhere. I’m already getting curious looks from my stepdad for my sudden interest in hockey, with all the practices and home games I’ve been going to.
This is the first time seeing Reid and Carson since my trip for New Year’s. They’ve also been traveling for away games. To avoid drawing attention to the bubblegum pink-haired girl who’s trailing after them for every game, I haven’t gone to their games.
Thankfully, they have a few days off between games and no practice this weekend. I hopped on the first flight I could get to Nashville. The sweethearts that they are, my Alphas surprised me by upgrading my ticket.
I don’t need a lavish life to be happy, but these Alphas aren’t making it easy to stay humble when they spoil me rotten.
As an Omega, though, I secretly love it.
They really meant it when they said they’d make it up to me. I wake up to fresh flowers every morning and cute, but possessive notes from Damien.
Not wanting to be one-upped by their rival, Carson and Reid had flowers delivered to the house a lot, too. As well as my favorite treats.
If I mention I’m hungry, thirty minutes later, Uber Eats is at my door with something new.
They’re trying, and showing me they’re sorry, and that's what matters to me.
We’re making this work. It’s not easy, but it will be worth it.
They’re my dream pack. My best friends. I’ll do whatever I can to make this work, and by the looks of it, so are they.
When I land in Nashville, I head to Arrivals after getting my bag. This time, I don’t look for two insanely attractive hockey players.
I find them in the same place as last time, wearing the same hats and sunglasses. Giggling, a smile splits my face as I run towards them.
They’re not looking my way, too busy talking to one another. Carson sees me first, nudging Reid’s arm and pointing to me.
Reid’s face lights up, and he opens his arms so I can throw myself at him.
“Fuck, Sweet Girl. I missed you so much.”
Wrapping my arms around him, I tuck my face into his neck and breathe in his cinnamon and sandalwood scent.
It settles around me, making me want to purr like a kitten. “I missed you, too.” I kiss him roughly, making him groan.
“As hot as this is, if you two keep going like that, we’re going to get kicked out for public sex,” Carson chuckles.
Pulling my lips from Reid’s, I grab Carson’s hoodie and pull him towards me, kissing him just as passionately, his cardamom and honey scent making me just as content and happy.
“You were saying?” Reid laughs.
“Fuck. Let’s go home. I don’t want to be here, I want to be inside our Omega.”
“Is that what we’re going to do?” I ask in amusement as Reid sets me down on my feet. “Fuck the whole weekend?”
Carson lowers his glasses just enough for me to see his eyes. “That sounds like an amazing weekend.”
“No,” Reid chuckles. “We’re not going to spend the whole weekend having sex.” Carson pouts, making me laugh. “We have some fun things planned.”
“Oh, I do love fun things.” My eyes light up, giddy excitement and joy filling me.
Once we’re in Reid’s car with the music blasting, I’m nothing but smiles as I stick my head out the window, letting the wind blow my hair all over the place. I close my eyes, enjoying the feeling of familiarity.
I miss it here, and honestly, I can’t wait to move back. I won’t tell anyone that, because I don’t want to hurt Damien’s feelings, but Nashville is my home.
I don’t even want to think about what that means for Damien. Unless he gets traded, something I don’t think he wants anytime soon, I have a feeling a lot of travel is in my future. Thankfully, non-stop flights are only four hours. I can do it. I have to.
“I thought we could swing by our place to drop your bags off,” Reid says.
“I’d like to change and freshen up, so I like that plan.”
The guys bring my luggage in and head straight upstairs. “We made a few changes since the last time you were here,” Carson says.
“Like what?”
“Well, a pack room to start.” Reid grins.
My brows jump. “You mean, a room we all share together?” My heart swells with happiness.
“It makes sense. I know none of us want to be in separate rooms when you’re here.” Reid says.
“Last time all three of us ended up in the guest bedroom with you.” Carson chuckles.
“I wasn’t complaining. I love Alpha cuddle piles.” I grin.
They take me down a hallway and open the door. It’s a big room, pretty empty but there’s a massive bed in the middle to fit all of us. “I thought next time Damien is down with you, we could all work on making it a mutual place.”
Knowing they want to include Damien makes my heart damn near burst.
“Second change.” Carson takes my hand and leads me to the room I slept in. He opens the door, and I gasp.
“Oh my god.” I laugh. Everything is pink.
“We thought you would want a room of your own,” Carson says, a proud grin on his face. “Just in case you need a break from us.” He winks.
“You guys.” My eyes start to water, unable to keep the smile off my face.
“We’re not done.”
“You’re not?” I laugh.
“Nope.” Reid takes my hand this time and pulls me deeper into the room. “This room comes with two walk-in closets. We renovated the smaller one, but if you need more space for your clothes, there are lots of rooms in the house to choose from. But this space, we thought, would be perfect.”
He opens the door, and I nearly burst into tears.
Carson comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me. “You said you always wanted a real nest of your own, so we built you one.”
My lower lip trembles, and tears spill down my cheeks as I look around. There’s not much in here, just a massive bed on the ground and the walls painted pink, but it’s perfect. A space, all for me. A nest. A real nest.
“We thought we could take you shopping so you can fill your nest with things, then grab something to eat. Then, when we get home, you can make it how you want, followed by cuddles—” Reid says, but gets cut off by Carson
“And sex. Lots of sex. Gotta break in that new mattress.” His lust-filled voice murmurs against my neck, making me shiver.
I huff out a laugh, spinning around in his arms and wrapping mine around his neck. I kiss him until my head spins and my pussy aches before pulling away and doing the same to Reid.
“I love it,” I kiss Reid. “I love it so much.” I kiss Carson. “Thank you.”
“Anything for our Omega.” Reid brushes the happy tears from my eyes. “Now, let's get going.”
I’m in the best mood ever as I change into something less casual and more me.
This time, I put on a pair of black shorts and a pink crop top.
I put my hair up in cute buns and leave my bangs out to frame my face.
After adding some pink eye shadow, highlighter, and some pink lipstick, I deem myself presentable and head downstairs to join the guys.
They both look over at me, and Carson groans. “Now that's just cruel."
“What is?” I laugh.
“You’re wearing shorts.”
“So?” I raise a brow.
“How am I going to tease you?” he huffs. “I think Damien had a good idea about the skirts and dresses only.”
“Come on, horn dog.” I giggle, grabbing him by the shirt and tugging him to the door. “I was promised soft and pretty things.”
“I don’t know what to choose.” My eyes light up like a Christmas tree as I look down the never-ending aisles of nesting material.
From blankets to pillows, to stuffies and all the furniture you could need, my brain goes blank.
I’ve heard of nest-specific stores before, the ones strictly for Omegas and nest building, but I’ve never been in one before. I never had the room for anything, so I didn’t need to.
Now I want it all.
“Let’s start with bedding and go from there,” Reid suggests.
“Good idea.”
We head toward the bedding aisle, and I gravitate towards the pink section. I take my time, feeling everything to make sure it’s perfect. “I’m stuck between these two.” I point to the dark pink blanket and the rose gold one. “Which one should I get?”
Carson grabs one, Reid grabs the other, and both are placed into the cart. “We get them both,” Reid says.
“Now we need sheets. Lots of them.” Carson wiggles his brows. “Waterproof to be safe.”
“Oh my god.” I giggle.
“Is he wrong?” Reid raises a sly brow.
“No, I guess not.” I bite my lower lip, loving the hungry looks my Alphas give me.
After bedding, I fill the cart with pillows, stuffies, lights, and even pick out some furniture to be delivered tomorrow.
By the time we leave, there are three carts full of things.
“I think I might have overdone it.” I stare at the full back seat and trunk.
“No such thing,” Carson says, shoving the giant pink cat out of his way with a big smile on his face. “If you want, we can go back in and order more to be delivered to the house?”
“No,” I laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t need more.”
“If you’re sure.” Reid shuts the trunk.
“What I do need is food. I’m feeling burgers and fries.”
“Reid, I think I just came in my pants.” Carson groans.
“Didn’t need to know that.” He laughs, opening the front passenger door for me.
“She likes burgers and fries. I like burgers and fries. Addie, marry me.”
My body shakes with laughter as I get into the car. “If you want, but the bite mark is enough for me.” I look at him over my shoulder. “For now.” I wink.
The look he gives me has a spark of excitement strumming through me.
We grab our food to go and head back to the house. They make me eat first, and it’s a good thing because I end up getting lost in my nest for hours, placing things just how I want them.
They sit on my bed and watch, talking to me as I do my thing.
Looking over my shoulder, I shoot my gaze between the two of them. “I’m going to need everything that smells like you that you’re willing to part with.”
The two of them look at one another and grin. “Challenge accepted,” Carson says.
They leave and come back a half hour later with arms full of things: hoodies, shirts, pillows, and blankets.
“Do you even have anything left for yourself?” I laugh as they drop them in heaps next to the door of my nest.
“We can buy new things. Take anything you want, it’s yours.”
I have to look away, the emotions are too thick to be able to process right now.
And to think I might have ended up with a pack like the one my mother tried to pawn me off on.
I would have missed out on a life filled with amazing Alphas, love, and happiness.
I’m glad she didn’t get her way. I have no idea how she’s going to take it. She doesn’t know I’m mated.
When she's home, I cover my mate marks. I hate doing it. I don’t want to hide them, but the last thing I need is drama from my mom.
She’s still trying to set me up with people, but thankfully doesn’t follow through, always being called off for work. I wish she’d just move overseas and do everyone a favor.
After I place everything where I want it, I keep one hoodie and one pair of sweatpants to wear. I’m swimming in them, but I’m surrounded by their scents, and it’s exactly what I wanted.
We settle down in the theater room and cuddle up together with all the snacks and drinks we need for a scary movie marathon.
It’s the perfect ending to an amazing day.
I hate that I only get a few days at a time with my Alphas, and I’m dreading going home and leaving them behind.
But I also miss Damien. Knowing he will be waiting for me at home when I leave makes it hurt a little less.