38. Opaline
Opaline
"No peeking!"
"Not too tight…"
"Ready, babygirl?"
"Love you, sweetheart."
My favorite masculine voices talk over one another as Sage ties the silk blindfold over my eyes, warning me not to peek.
We're just outside of the nest that they just put their own secret, final touches on.
"You guys know we're just opening a door, right?
Is the blindfold necessary?" I ask with a bit of a soft giggle.
"Absolutely, babygirl. We're building memories, and this one's going to be perfect. We want you to always remember how it felt when the blindfold came off," Calder says, voice deep. If my heart wasn't mush already, it would be a pile of goo on the floor at that. My big alpha is such a softy.
Reaching a little blindly, I grasp his forearm, leaning into his touch and stealing a whiff of his comforting, familiar scent.
I'm drowning in their scents: happy, excited, loving, and one…
nervous? "I'm so excited to see what you've added!
" It could be almost anything, and I can promise, since it's from them, I will cherish it.
And, truly, I would. I already am and haven't even stepped inside the room yet.
I had briefly rested my ear against the door earlier and thought I heard candy or food wrappers crinkling and some hammering.
So, I'm expecting pictures and chocolate. Imagery of some of the mountain photos Everette has hanging in my room in the staff quarters comes to mind, and I would love so much to have some here for us all to adore.
"Okay, okay, okay. Enough, come on." Adrian's hands land on my waist, guiding me inside as the door quietly opens. A few shuffled steps, and I have to guess I'm somewhere in the middle of the open lounging area. "Ready?"
"Yes!" I flex my fingers at my side to stop myself from ripping the silk cloth off myself.
I don't wait long before someone else does, and I'm greeted with bookshelves.
"Oh my god!" I scurry closer to the books, eyes bouncing over everything too quickly to really land on any specific one in particular.
"I can't believe you g—" I trail off with a quiet gasp, movements slowing and homing onto a tiny figurine glowing under lights.
I know immediately who left this little guy as a gift.
Looking at Adrian, I shake my head in loving disbelief. "Sparkles? Or your forest friend from the overlook?"
Sheepishly, he rubs his neck, taking a step forward. "Either, kitten. I just thought you'd like it," he shrugs. He's where the nervous scent and energy through the bond is coming from.
Picking it up, I set it flat in one hand, my fingertip trailing over the Opal mesh of color. "You have no idea how much this means to me, love." I push every ounce of my truth towards him, through our connection, leaving it wide open on my end to feel it all.
With a little nudge, he urges me to keep exploring, clearly urgent to have the attention off of him.
Which I am all too happy to keep going. Rows and stacks of books line and dot the monstrous shelves.
A series of spines with golden lettering catches my attention next, and I realize it's a series of classic novels I've always wanted to read.
There are even movies made out of a couple of them.
I shoot a smile over my shoulder, recalling a hushed pillow-talk that Calder and I shared late one evening when we'd landed on this particular author. The wink back makes me bite my lip to hide my giddy, smitten smile.
Next, eyes wandering a couple of shelves over, I freeze, entranced by the gorgeous, elaborate frame housing what is undoubtedly my favorite photo I've ever laid eyes on. I'm pulled in, reaching to hold it inches from my face as I take in the image.
It's Everette and I at Honeybee Haven… It's…
"So beautiful," I breathe. Somehow, our packmates caught what may have been one of the most magical moments of my life.
There we are, surrounded by wildflowers and mountains, rain falling freely and soaking our skin as he kisses me senseless, holding me in his arms.
Suddenly, it's just too much. A wave of emotion nearly sweeps me away, spilling warm tears down my cheeks as my eyes stay focused on the image of us.
The longer I stare, the more detail I notice.
Finally, I land on our smiles. The happiness in the moment is radiated through the glossy paper in front of me.
I can't remember the last time I smiled like this…
so brightly and utterly free, before knowing them.
Short sobs and sniffles break free seconds before multiple hands are on me and the guys leaning in, asking what's wrong.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Really. I'm sorry." A low growl starts, but gets interrupted quickly with an alpha stare down from Calder that I can feel at my side.
"Stop," I say, turning. "I'm just happy, I guess.
This photo is so perfect and it just made me realize again how happy you each make me.
I don't know if I'll ever be able to show you how much you mean to me," I add in a small whisper.
"We feel it, sweetheart. Trust me, we feel it.
Even without a bond." Everette smiles. "We love you and adore you just the same.
" He tucks my hair behind my ear with a soft, calming stroke that sends goosebumps skittering over my skin.
I can't help myself; I lean my face towards him for a kiss, needing physical affection from him.
I need to feel him so badly. I want more than anything to finalize our connection.
I know it's coming and will happen soon; I can feel it in my soul.
I'm just not sure I have the patience to wait much longer.
With a quick exhale, I put the picture frame back where it was on the shelf before turning to face the rest of the room.
The huge white candles fill the fireplace, flames dancing in the low, warm lights.
There are all kinds of goodies stockpiled in the kitchenette, and I'm sure that extends to the small fridge.
It's perfect. Every little touch they added was exactly them…
and exactly us. "Thank you so much for everything.
For nest shopping, being generous, and adding these sweet final touches to make the space all of ours to enjoy.
Thank you…for showing me everyday how much you care about me. " I smile, glancing between my mates.
"That actually isn't all, sweet girl. There are probably more clothes than you'd ever need waiting for you in the walk-in closet, spa and self-care stuff stocked in the bathroom, and another, larger photo collection that Ever's taken especially for you.
" My eyes widen with excitement at the mention of more of Ever's photos.
"But…" Sage emphasizes, pausing, "…we have one final surprise for you. "
Speechless and a little dazed, I easily allow him to turn me around, facing the nest. Or, at least, where the open space to the nesting area normally is. Now, there's a floor-to-ceiling curtain blocking the view.
"Close your eyes one more time?" Everette asks sweetly.
Without thinking, my eyes clamp shut, ready for round two of surprises.
The light behind my eyelids darkens and I wonder if they've turned off the lights. Just before I start to peek, Calder's voice interrupts. "Open, babygirl."
The gasp I release steals my breath completely as I cover my mouth in stunned silence.
Adrian and Calder stand in front of me, each holding a handful of curtain to the side, revealing our nesting bed.
A quick glance and darkness in my peripheral vision confirms they did, in fact, turn off the lights.
The candles shine brighter in the darkness, illuminating the corners and edges of the room with dancing shadows.
But the fireplace and the candles it houses aren't what have me fighting for air.
No. It's what's beyond the curtains that is.
“I… oh my…” I stutter, stepping closer.
My mates have somehow turned the ceiling and heights of our nesting walls into the literal night sky.
The oversized, realistic flowers and sparkling fairies dancing in their bulbs blanket the edges and hang down the walls at varying lengths, meshing perfectly with the shimmering above.
"How on earth…how did you do this?" I ask, awed at the sight.
Tiny lights that look like they're embedded in the ceiling shimmer like stars, covering every inch.
I think I've seen something like this in a luxury style magazine that one of the other omegas once brought back from a weekend excursion.
Only then, it was in an expensive car. "This is incredible!
" I laugh in disbelief, looking back at each of my mates.
"You like it?" Calder asks, arm reaching for me.
"I…are you kidding? This is something I couldn't have even conjured up in my brain enough to dream of having!
" Shaking my head, I wipe the fresh tears from my cheeks, wrapping my arms around his thick torso.
"You've given me a nest I literally couldn't have even dreamt of, love.
I can't say thank you enough." I can feel my face about to crumple, and I try my damnedest not to cry harder.
"Thank you so much…all of you," I say, making my way to each of them with similar affections. "My wildest dreams have all come true."