Page 30 of Nanny Omega

“Okay,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“Good night, then,” Master Quin said, turning away.

Ersa lay there, still and silent, his body humming with unsatisfied hunger. He stared into the dark, counting the seconds. It wasn’t until hours later, when Benjn’s wailing shattered the quiet, that Master Quin rose to soothe the cub. The moment the warmth of the alpha’s presence left the bed, Ersa’s body finally relaxed, the tension ebbing away. As if it had been waiting for that exact moment, sleep finally claimed him, so deeply that he didn’t even hear when Master Quin returned.

The next morning, Ersa woke up alone. The bed felt too big, too cold without the warmth that had been there the night before. He stared at the empty space where Master Quin had slept, a strange heaviness settling in his stomach. Pushing the feeling aside, he forced himself out of bed and dove into his morning routine with Benjn.

Feeding the cub was still a battle—tiny fists flailing, little mouth stubbornly turning away—but Ersa was determined. He kept his patience, coaxing and soothing, praying that Dr. Alora’s experiment would work and that Benjn would reach a healthy weight soon. They still had a few days before the false pregnancy symptoms were supposed to start showing… at least, Ersa hoped they would.

By noon, the new bed arrived—a stark, uncomfortable reminder of the strange and delicate situation he found himself in with Master Quin. Ersa stood back, Benjn in his arms, watching Vina directing the delivery men where to set it up. The bed fit neatly against the opposite wall, but its presence made the room feel different. He kept telling himself it was practical, the right decision… so why did it feel so wrong?

“I must be going crazy,” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Once the workers had finished, Vina followed them out, her soft murmurs of thanks drifting away as the door clicked shut, leaving Ersa alone with his morbid thoughts. To stop himself from thinking, he walked to the bed and set the cub down on the new bed. Benjn’s face broke into a wide, gummy smile, and just like that, the tight knot of confusion inside Ersa eased.

“I think we should move the settee to the window,” Vina suggested, coming back into the room with an armful of fresh sheets and covers.

“Let’s give Vina some room to work,” Ersa said, scooping Benjn up from the bed and cradling him against his chest. The cub squealed happily, his tiny hands grabbing at Ersa’s shirt. With a soft chuckle, Ersa carried him over to the crib and gently set him down. As soon as his back hit the soft bedding, Benjn’s chubby fingers stretched toward the wooden stars dangling overhead, his eyes wide with wonder. The stars twirled slowly, casting playful shadows on the walls as he batted at them with soft coos.

Ersa turned back toward the bed, moving to help Vina smooth the fresh sheets and tuck in the corners. The rhythmic motion of their hands working together filled the room with a quiet calm, broken only by the occasional giggle from the crib.

“I baked some starberry crumble squares,” Vina said after a moment, her voice light and inviting. “When we’re done here, how about some tea in the backyard?”

Ersa raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Is your baking as good as your cooking?”

Vina’s lips curled into a teasing smile. “Only one way to find out,” she said, the playful challenge in her tone sparking something competitive in him.

“Okay, I’m in.”

They finished making the bed quickly, their movements efficient and easy, and soon they found themselves in the cooking station. The warm, rich scent of fresh pastries filled the air, wrapping around Ersa like a comforting blanket. Vina opened the oven and pulled out a tray of golden, crumbly squares. Steam rose from them in delicate tendrils, and the tart scent of starberries hit him first—sweet and sharp with a hint of something effervescent. The sparkling bits of fruit glistened within the soft, buttery crumble, and Ersa’s mouth watered at the sight.

Vina arranged the pastries on a tray alongside a pot of fragrant tea and delicate cups. Together, they carried everything out to the backyard. The sun was warm but gentle, casting golden light across the soft grass. Ersa had already spread a cozy blanket and scattered a few pillows, creating a perfect little haven.

As soon as Ersa set Benjn down, the cub kicked his legs excitedly, giggling as he reached for the nearest pillow. The sound was infectious, and Ersa couldn’t help but smile as he settled in beside him.

For the rest of the afternoon, they lounged in the grass, sipping tea and savoring the warm, crumbly squares. Each bite was a perfect balance of buttery sweetness and tart, fizzy starberries, the flavors bursting across his tongue in a way that felt almost magical. Laughter and easy conversation flowed between them.

As evening fell and the sky outside turned a deep shade of purple, Ersa moved through his nightly routine with practiced care. The soft glow of the room’s lights cast warm shadows as he cradled Benjn, feeding the cub until his little eyelids began to droop. Humming softly, Ersa brushed a gentle hand over the cub’s soft curls, his heart swelling with affection. Once Benjn was full and drowsy, Ersa carried him to the crib, tucking the soft blankets around his tiny frame. The cub let out a contented sigh, his tiny fingers twitching as he slipped into sleep.

Just as Ersa stood back to admire the peaceful sight, he heard it—the faint sound of movement from the next room. Master Quin’s room.

Ersa’s breath caught, his body going taut with sudden awareness. The soft rustle of clothing, the creak of floorboards—each small sound sent a spark of anticipation racing through his veins. He froze, his gaze locking onto the door that separated their rooms, his pulse pounding in his ears. He waited, every second stretching impossibly long. He could almost feel the alpha’s presence through the walls, the warmth of it brushing against his skin like an unseen touch.

But the door never opened.

The footsteps faded, and the silence that followed pressed down on Ersa like a heavy weight. The sharp pang of disappointment took him by surprise, twisting in his chest like a knife. He scowled at himself, shaking his head as if he could banish the ridiculous ache blooming inside him.

Get it together, he thought bitterly, forcing himself to focus on adjusting Benjn’s blanket one last time.

With the cub safely settled, Ersa made his way to his own bed. The sheets were cool against his skin as he slid beneath them, but the space around him felt vast and empty. He stared at the ceiling, his mind refusing to quiet. The ache of loneliness grew sharper, a hollow space inside him that seemed to widen with every breath he took.

Chapter 9

Xander

Xander’sgazedriftedtowardthe door Shiva had disappeared through moments ago, a flicker of impatience tightening his jaw as he wondered what could possibly be keeping him. He pushed to his feet, a restless energy churning within him. He didn’t know why he was nervous, why his hands felt clammy or why his heart hammered against his ribs like a drumbeat. He had thought about this a thousand times. And each time, he came to the same conclusion—this was the only solution.

If he didn’t do this, if he didn’t put distance between them, he knew exactly what would happen.

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