Page 26 of A Pack of Cozy

"Those were Papa's idea. The omega in the family. I called him for some advice. Hand warmers. I didn't even know what they were."

"Thank him for me," I say.

"I will. Maybe, you'll get to meet him soon." He tries to keep it casual, but I can hear the hope in his voice.

Seth goes on before I can reply."Anyway, I was so happy and secure living there when I was a kid, and, at the time, I thought I never wanted to leave. As an adult, I realize I want to create that same happiness and safety with a pack of my own." That sounds beautiful.

For a fleeting moment, I envision Seth as a child with wild, sandy hair, bright green eyes sparkling with mischief, and a broad smile lighting up his face. The child in my imagination morphs into a slightly different child, rounder, with curly locks tinged ever so slightly with red. A perfect little one who can carry the love of both of us, growing up in a world as warm and secure as Seth's memories.

"Your scent just became a waterfall, Precious. Tell me what you're thinking." He kisses the top of my head.

"I'm thinking that sounds nice," I admit.

"What about you?"

The question is vague. I can answer about my past, my future, or both.

"My parents are both pack-less betas," I tell him. It's pretty common for betas to enter into monogamous relationships. "They're good parents, nice. They always provided for me. But I'm their only child, and they didn't expect to have an omega. The only other recorded omega in the family was generations back. So, they kind of just… ignored it."

I'm glad he's behind me, and I don't have to face him because I want to tell him the truth, but I've never voiced my feelings about this to anyone.

"They've never said outright that they're disappointed in my designation, but we never really talk about anything," I continue. "They're perplexed about my need to nest. And when my heats started, and I knew that I craved more than a monogamous relationship could give me… they were horrified at the idea of their daughter being in a pack." That short but tumultuous conversation still makes me cringe when I think of it.

Seth senses my unease and gently rubs my arms, his purring resonating through the bed. The warmth of his touch pins me, grounding me in the present and reminding me that, even though there are complexities in my life, I'm not alone anymore.

"But betas do sometimes bond with packs. It's not even that rare," he points out softly. He clearly doesn't want to interrupt, but he's also confused. He's likely thinking of his own beta mothers. I don't blame him. Coming from a home that sounds as happy and supportive as his wouldn't make it easy to understand my relationship with my parents.

"Some do, but my family has been monogamous for generations. It's a long-standing tradition I was not expected to break, regardless of my status."

"I see," he says.

"When I started dating a beta, my ex-fiancé, Nick, they were just over the moon. I think I hung on way too long, even when the red flags started piling up. It was hard to break the news to them when the engagement ended. I took the coward's way out and just texted them." I wince as I think about it, curling up tighter, bracing myself for judgment. I fully expect Seth to tell me how pathetic that is. Nick's voice echoes in my head, whispering that I'm immature and foolish for not having the guts to call instead.

But Seth simply keeps rubbing my arms and purring. He kisses me on the shoulder before saying, "It's not cowardly to protect your mental health. Putting yourself in a position you know will hurt you further is not courageous. You did what you felt comfortable doing, and there's never any shame in that."

I nod but can't say anything for a long time. Knowing that something is right is one kind of validation but hearing someone say it out loud is a much stronger one. It takes my breath away that someone can understand me so well.

We lay in comfortable silence, just cuddling, for a long time. Once I've gathered myself, I finish my story of woe. "My parents eventually called, of course, and demanded to know why I broke off the engagement. They thought I should fix it somehow. They still haven't really given up on that idea." I think back to the texts and calls I've gotten over the last few weeks. "I really couldn't stand to know their reactions if they found out Nick cheated, so I just told them it didn't work out." He stops rubbing my arms.

"That absolute fucking dick. He cheated on you?" Seth's voice is murderous. I don't know what he thinks my reaction will be to his response, but I bet he isn't expecting me to laugh. I laugh and laugh and can't stop.

Eventually, I feel a laugh rumble through him. I know he can't hold out. Laughter is his natural state.

"Why are you laughing?" Seth asks, still chuckling.

"Just the absurdity of having my scent-sensitive alpha's knot deep in me while becoming outraged about an ex ever cheating on me." I burst into giggles again. "Don't get me wrong, Seth, it's very chivalrous of you, but I think I'm past the cheating at this point." The truth is, him reacting the way I've always needed someone to fills me with the relief and the peace I've been waiting for.

Seth's knot loosens enough for us to separate, and I slip on my discarded clothes. He does the same. I turn back to him to find a box on the crumpled and disheveled bed. It's wrapped in beautiful gold paper with a black bow.

"Seth, everything you've done is already too much," I say.

His expression shifts from satisfaction to intensity in an instant. He prowls around the bed, his arm snakes around my waist as he pulls me flush against him. The heat radiating from his body encircles me. His breath brushes against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

"Cali, I will give you all of the gifts, attention, dates, fill-in-the-blank, that I believe you deserve, and you will accept it, or by god, I will put you over my knee and spank you red," he promises in a husky voice that makes my knees weak. I swallow but nod.

"Promise?" I ask with a cheeky half-grin.

Seth smiles, leans over, and kisses me so roughly that I think my lips might bruise. I perfume, and he groans, his hard erection pressing into my belly. Reluctantly, he turns me towards the gift.

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