Page 40 of A Pack of Cozy

Calliope

TheNestStore,whichis the actual name of the place, is the largest warehouse I've ever seen. It has everything. Throughout the three-story building, there are displays of actual nests that you can see and interact with, so you don't have to visualize how something will look. It's wild.

I'd taken the measurements for everything before we left for the store, not just for the bedroom. I'd finally opened the nest. I'd found the idea of being in there so nerve racking before, but after my confrontation at the Ice Festival it felt like walking into another part of my home. It's round in shape. In the center of the room, there's a recessed circular area designed to serve as the nest's sleeping and play space. The walls are smooth, round, and white, but I know that will need to change.

I want my bedroom to be cozy, but also light and airy. To achieve this, I start with the color scheme. I choose baby blue as the primary color, with bright white as the accent I use in the comforter and sheets. Around the room, I want various shades of cool blue for accents. The bookshelves are bright white, featuring wave-themed wallpaper backing. I pick an area rug that depicts a light blue sky with puffy white clouds in a watercolor style. I also matched side tables and accessories to the overall color scheme. Whenever I decide on an item, I scan it, and it's either brought to our cars or shipped the same day to the house if it's too large to fit in the cars. We brought both Connor's and Bax's truck. Additionally, someone would come to professionally paint the rooms according to my selections.

If my main bedroom is like a beautiful day, I want the nest to represent the night sky. I choose stunning wallpaper for the ceiling that depicts a starry night. Then, a deep blue, almost black color for the walls, adding LED strip lighting that curves around the round room, mimicking the aurora borealis. Pillows complement the contrast of the dark sky, featuring shades of pink, blue, and purple on the black and dark blue fabrics.

Seth and Connor get into a mini pillow fight in that area and try to drag me into it, but Bax is having none of it. He has me tucked under his arm almost the entire time, and both guys tease him, calling him an omega hog more than once. I'm too comfortable to care.

The blankets I choose are a Milky Way gray and plush. Lots of big, cable knit things and plush fluffy fabrics. I blush when we pick out other items for the nest, like waterproof sheets, pillow wedges to comfort certain positions, and some exciting toys. The guys pick out a few I've never seen, and I pick out a few I've always wanted to try.

"We should try some of these before your heat to double-check what you'll like," Connor says with a wide smile. I blush but nod. The heat is not a time to experiment too wildly. An omega wants what she wants. I won't be fully in charge. My omega and the guy's alphas will be at the forefront. It'll be like a hazy dream for me.

Both Seth and Connor's cars are stuffed when we leave the store, and tons of things have been slated for delivery.

We'd decided to stop by Seth's family's house. It's in Traverse City, the same place as The Nest Shop. I'm so nervous I feel like I'll shake out of my skin. What if they don't like me? What if they're toxic or upsetting? Given Seth's laid-back and thoughtful personality, it seems impossible to imagine they could be. Still, sometimes people aren't products of their raising. Instead, they're the results of them.

We arrive in front of a row of condominiums. Their brick exteriors are each identical to the ones next to them. The building is large, clearly a packhouse condo, which tends to be bigger than the average condo.

Seth helps me out of the car. The door to the condo bursts open, and a crowd of people rush out to greet us. Seth and Connor groan in unison while Bax places a protective arm around my shoulders. I reach up and hold his hand tightly.

There are so many people. One alpha female stands out above the rest. She's intimidating, taller than any of my pack with broad shoulders, and chin-length black hair with streaks of gray. Her brown, almond-shaped eyes are flecked with lines at the corners, and she wears a sleek black pantsuit. She approaches me first. Her dominance radiates from her in waves.

"Cali, this is the dominant alpha of my family's pack, Miriam," Seth says. His introduction serves as a reminder, but I'd already received the basic information about everyone in the pack before my arrival. Miriam reaches out, and I shake her hand, feeling like a child in the presence of her dominance.

"It's so nice to meet you, Cali. Our sons have told us only wonderful things about you." Her voice is smooth and luxurious, like silk gliding through soft waters. I notice how she refers to both Connor and Seth as sons, and I feel a wave of gratitude. Connor had explained how they adopted him, and I'm so glad they took him in. If they hadn't, my pack might never have existed.

"They've also told me very nice things about you. Thank you for having me over." I try to smile, but I can feel my cheeks heating up. Damn my constant blushing. Miriam smiles warmly and steps aside to let the others rush forward in a wave. Soon, I find myself shaking hands with the two male alphas of the pack. Greg, who's balding and has a pot belly, and Dan, a hulking man with long sandy blonde hair pulled back at his nape. Seth had mentioned that Dan was his biological father, but even without that information, I would've known. They look like copies of each other.

Two beta women approach me. Sara, Seth's biological mother, hugs me tightly and looks like she might cry. Trisha, the second beta, smiles warmly, trying to comfort Sara.

"She's just very excited to meet you," Trisha explains as she purrs, for Sara and holds her close. Beta purrs are softer than alpha purrs but still effective at comforting.

Lastly, a man slightly taller than me with warm, leathery skin and dark brown freckles steps forward. His name is Alejandro, the pack's omega.

"It's so nice to meet you," he says in a thick Mexican accent, shaking my hand with both of his. His presence feels like being enveloped in a cozy blanket. He's the type of omega that anyone could recognize as such, even without a scent, just from his warmth.

"It's nice to meet you. Seth told me that the hand warmers were your idea. I love them, thank you." His smile is broad, and though Dan and Sara are Seth's biological parents, I can see this man's influence over Seth's personality.

Plenty of kisses and hugs are exchanged between the guys and their parents, including Bax, who's clearly become like a part of the family. Eventually, we all make our way inside. Similar to the guys' house, the condo is designed with a larger group in mind. The living area and kitchen are part of an open space, with no walls dividing them. A long dining table stands before a row of windows, and a sliding glass door overlooks the bay. In front of a fireplace, there's a sectional couch that appears to seat ten. Seth's already informed me that the finished basement contains several guest rooms.

The table is laid out with food. Seth had told me that Dan and Alejandro love cooking, and it shows.

"I hope you don't mind things spicy," Alejandro says with a playful waggle of his eyebrows. Connor groans and rubs his hands over his face, clearly exasperated. I can see where Seth gets his sense of humor. He's chuckling behind me.

"What?" Alejandro asks, feigning innocence.

We all gather around the table, filling our plates with small bites. While it isn't a full traditional dinner, there's plenty to sample and enough to satisfy everyone's appetite. It's is a fantastic way to host someone you don't know, and I'm making a mental note to consider it for future dinner parties at my pack's house. My house. A warmth spreads deep within me at the thought.

Though Miriam delegates and ensures everything is coordinated smoothly, Alejandro is clearly the center of the emotional support for the house. He cracks jokes and makes sure everyone feels at ease. I'm at the center of the table between Bax and Seth, with Connor on Seth's other side.

"So, Cali," Dan starts, "Do your parents live around here?"

I glance at Seth. They hadn't told his family about my family. That made sense. This was the first time we were meeting.

"No, I'm from southern Indiana, and my parents still live there," I reply, leaving out that they visited just yesterday. Dan nods.

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