Page 12 of A Pack of Cozy

I watch as Connor explains, truly appreciating his patience and the way he engages without patronizing or assuming prior knowledge on her part. His approach exemplifies the qualities I admire in him, and solidifies why I chose him as a packmate and friend. This is how a strong and harmonious pack should function, learning from one another, and continually improving together.

"An omega always has the option to reject a pack. The alphas will respect that decision," Connor says.

Those words echo in my mind, a haunting reminder of the choice that could shatter everything. Scent-sensitive rejections? It was a nightmare scenario I never thought I'd have to consider. Panic claws at my chest as I envision Cali turning away from us.

My alpha seethes with fury at the mere thought of it, the instinct to claim and protect raging within. But deep down, I know Connor's right. We'd have to honor her choice, no matter how gut-wrenching it might feel. Even if the bonds of our pack didn't bind us to Cali's decision, I couldn't force myself onto an unwilling omega. It goes against everything we stand for.

Cali takes a deep breath. "I think I understand, " she says, looking cautious.

"If you want to talk or have any questions, ask us okay?" Connor says.

She nods, a soft smile gracing her lips. Our little omega seems to lose her words under pressure, deepening my desire to understand her unspoken language. The entryway is awash in her enchanting perfume, a delicate scent that lingers. I can see how much she likes being asked what she wants, and it makes my heart stutter. I long to know everything about her.

"Would you like to go up to your room?" I ask.

She glances up at me but merely nods, not commenting on my choice of words. We make our way up the stairs from the entryway landing. On the second floor, a wide walkway curves around the stairwell and extends along the length of the house. Three doors are lined up on the right side, while one door at the end of the hall leads to the left.

Connor points at each door on the right as he leads the way. The first door belongs to him, the second to Bax, and the third is mine. He then walks to the only door on the left, opens it, and steps back to let Cali go through first.

Calliope

Theroomtheyopenfor me is bare. Based on the house's elegance, I was at least expecting some decor. But the walls, the floors, and even the bed are blank. I turn back to the men still standing in the door with a confused expression.

Seth explains. "An omega suite is something that packs fortunate enough to afford them tend to have. All packs at least provide a space for omegas to have their own nest."

An entire suite with a nest. Even before the cottage, I'd only had a standard room. Since my parents had been betas, they never dreamed they'd need a house with a nest available. And, since they decided to raise me as a beta despite my designation, they'd never gotten one.

"I have a nest-room-hybrid at the cottage," I admit. As a librarian, my salary doesn't stretch to afford a proper omega-based apartment, which tends to be pricier due to the specialized nesting spaces they require. I manage to make do. Seth wants to say something about that, but Bax returns with an armful of blankets and sheets. I hadn't even noticed he'd slipped away.

He pauses before entering the room. "Do you mind if I come in?"

I gape at him.

"It's your house," I remind him unnecessarily. He chuckles, and the sound is deep and velvety against my skin.

"This is our house, but this room is an omega suite. We combined two rooms, hoping that one day we would be honored with an omega to bond with our pack. We took this risk even though we knew there was a chance we might never find someone. While we're courting you, this is your room, and we hope you'll eventually decide to make it permanent." I struggle with what to even say to that.

"So, can we come in?" he asks again.

"Yes," I whisper, feeling heat rising in my cheeks. Bax brings in the softest blankets, and Connor grabs the pillows. Seth trails closely behind me, his warm hand resting on the small of my back, sending shivers down my spine as he guides me to the door at the far end of the room. Each step feels charged, the air thick with anticipation.

"Behind this door is the nest part of the suite. It's also blank, waiting for our omega to make it theirs." Bax explains.

I remain silent, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep over me. An entire nest suite felt excessive. These guys have to be out of their minds. There's no way they expect me to decorate a whole room in their house. But as I watch each of them—making my bed, tucking in the blankets, and arranging the pillows—they appear serious.

Seth's fingers trail in slow, deliberate circles around my lower back, each movement igniting a subtle warmth that spreads through me. It's as if he's unaware of his effect on me, and completely present simultaneously. After the bed is made, he turns to me.

"Can I hug you?" he asks, his voice low. The question catches me off guard, but they did say that the omega set the physical pace. Little touches are obviously fine since I said they could in the library but these larger steps, I realize they're always going to ask. I find myself nodding, drawn to him despite my uncertainty.

Seth leans down, enveloping me in his warm embrace. The rich scent of coffee lingers around him, grounding yet intoxicating, while a hint of cinnamon wafts up, wrapping around me like a cozy morning treat. A soft, keening sound escapes my lips, igniting a low purr from him as he pulls me closer, squeezing me tighter, sending delightful shivers through my body. When he finally pulls away, I feel a pang of disappointment echo through me, but I can't quite reconcile it in my mind. I've just met this man, yet every instinct urges me to draw him back in, to taste the electric connection that sparks between us.

I'm not disappointed for long, though. Each of the others also asks and embraces me. Bax's fire scent mixing with the cinnamon left behind by Seth, and Connor's vanilla makes me feel like I'm snuggled next to a fireplace with a hot pastry. After, they each file out the door and close it. I'm alone again. It leaves me with such a bottomless black pit in my stomach that I almost call them back.

Instead, I stuff the instinct down, like I have with every other omega instinct my entire life, and I crawl into the incredibly soft and comfortable bed.

Bax

Iwakeupeithervery late at night or early in the morning to whimpering and keening. I'd probably only fallen asleep an hour or two ago. Sleeping with my omega in the house, but not in my bed, proved difficult for me. That's how I already thought of Cali—my omega. It takes me a moment to remember what's happening.

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