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“Thanks for the great night, guys,” I say, smiling at each of them in turn. “I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”
Dash grins, his eyes twinkling. “Just wait until tomorrow. We have a whole day of adventures planned.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “After work,” I tell him, solidifying that I still have to work and function as I have. Independence.
Quinn and Zane bid me goodnight from across the room, and I follow Malachi out of the den and up the back stairs. The wooden steps creak beneath our feet.
As we ascend to the second floor, the hallway is illuminated by soft, warm lighting. The walls are adorned with framed photographs, capturing moments of the pack’s history and the bonds they share. Each image tells a story, and I find myself wanting to learn more about the life they built together.
There's a warmth to the pictures, despite the rough and tough exterior these guys try to maintain. My eyes catch on a gap between two frames, a slightly lighter rectangle on the wall. Was there another photo here once? I reach out to touch the space, but Malachi’s voice makes me jump. “Right here,” he says gruffly, his eyes flickering to the empty spot before he turns away.
Malachi leads me down the hall, his presence a comforting escort. We stop in front of a door, and he turns to face me, his hand resting on the doorknob. “This will be your room,” he says, his voice low and gentle. “I hope you’ll find it comfortable.”
He opens the door, revealing a spacious bedroom bathed in soft, inviting hues. A large, plush bed dominates the center of the room, its fluffy comforter and pillows beckoning me to sink into their embrace. A cozy armchair sits in the corner, perfect for curling up with a good book. The room feels like a sanctuary, a place where I can let my guard down and simply exist without fear. It even looks like it might chase away my nightmares.
I step inside, taking in the details—the vase of fresh flowers on the nightstand, the soft rug beneath my feet, the delicate lace curtains framing the windows. Malachi has thought of everything to make me feel at home.
“It’s perfect,” I murmur, turning to face him with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Malachi, for everything.”
His eyes soften, and he takes a step closer, his hand coming up to gently tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. The gesture is intimate, sending a shiver down my spine. “You’re welcome, Aria. I want you to feel safe and comfortable with us.”
His fingers linger on my cheek for a moment, his touch featherlight yet electrifying. I lean into his caress, my eyes fluttering closed. When I open them again, his face is mere inches from mine, his gaze intense and filled with an emotion I can’t quite decipher.
“Malachi,” I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest.
He leans in, his lips brushing against my forehead in a tender kiss. “Get some rest, Aria. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
With that, he steps back, offering me one last smile before turning to leave. I watch him go.
My heart flutters as I approach the bed, fingers trailing over the soft comforter. Before I can stop myself, I’m diving onto the mattress, burying my face in the pillows. A sound escapes me, half giggle, half purr, my omega instincts reveling in the comfort and safety. I know it’s risky, but I open the door to the walk-in closet and nearly vomit.
It isn’t because it’s not perfect. It’s huge and full of spare blankets in varying softness and muted colors.
Oh no.
I turn back to the room, the pizza in my stomach turning to acid.
They didn’t.
Oh hell, they did.
They gave me a nest meant for their omega.
They think I’m a beta.
Oh, shit.
30
ARIA
Friday starts like any other day, if your definition of any other day includes waking up in a nest meant for another omega, surrounded by the scent of four alphas you’re lying to. So yeah, totally normal.
Birds chirp in their little nests, and seagulls chatter away with each other, probably plotting whom they can attack for some breadcrumbs.
And I wake in a pool of slick.
Listen, as an omega, I love slick. Honestly, I could lie in a bathtub and let that shit pour out of me, bottle it up, and sell it.
