Page 97 of Ember

I pushed the feeling of anguish away. It was going to be fine. A good day. We would go nest shopping and then come back here and eat some food.

“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling like it wasn’t enough. “It’s your home too.”

West kissed my temple. “You’re my home. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be.”

“I completely lost my shit in front of them.” I didn’t mean to say it out loud. West knew me well enough to know I was worried about that too.

“And they weren’t disgusted that you had feelings like a real person,” West said dryly. “If I thought they would react like assholes, I wouldn’t have let you stay.”

I sighed and told him about what Ben said.

“That’s stupid. He was at work.” West rolled his eyes.

I nodded, letting that be enough. West and I were together, we were safe, and we had three men waiting for us. The depth of my feelings for them only scared me, reminded me how precarious life could be.

Shoving those feelings away too, I tried to relax.

By the time breakfast was ready, I’d dressed in jeans and a light sweater. We had pancakes, bacon, fresh fruit, and scrambled eggs, but I couldn’t eat much. West mentioned nest shopping and Rian perked up, rattling off his favorite nest stores. I sent a message to my family that I was okay and didn’t have the energy to talk. Raina told me to feel better and they were ready to smother me with love when I was up to it.

We piled into Rian’s car and went shopping. I tried to muster some enthusiasm, but everything just felt blah. At least my makeshift pack didn’t act like I was a burden for not squealing with joy.

Chapter 39

Alejandro

We were in the second nest store, trying to keep Ember’s spirits up.

None of us expected her to act happy just to soothe our egos, but even West was worried. None of us were comfortable letting her out of our sight, so we trailed around her like little puppies. She looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes, and her skin was washed out and ashen.

I brought her another pillow to touch, the braided texture similar to the blanket she had in her nest. Rian talked about different textures and styles and mentioned again that she could have several nests in the house if she wanted and wouldn’t that be fun to decorate different ones.

I shot him a grateful look. I would have worried about all of the omegas feeling like their needs were met while also compromising for their new partners, but so far that was going great. I stole a quick kiss from Rian before he wandered down the pillow aisle. The nest store was massive with soft lighting and hundreds of aisles to browse.

Ben also brought West and Ember blankets based on texture, making jokes about not being sure if it matched her color scheme. Ember was amused, but nothing seemed to grab her interest. She carried around a blanket West picked out but otherwise seemed detached.

She had a trauma, I reminded myself. I was worried and wanted something to do. Shopping for nest supplies felt productive, and Ember asked to go. My alpha instincts wanted to hunt down whoever had destroyed her nest and rip them to shreds.

I stifled a growl and brushed against Ember’s side again. She didn’t seem annoyed that the four of us needed to touch her.

I showed her a blue-and-purple pillow I thought she might like based on color.

“I like it.” She touched the fringe on the sides. “We need to find some firm pillows for West too.”

“It’s fine,” West grumbled. “You’re the one with the pillow obsession.”

Ember flashed the omega a ghost of a smile. “Sorry, I meanIneed some really firm velvety pillows.”

“On it,” Rian said. “I saw some the next aisle over.”

I produced another piece of chocolate, and Ember looked amused. “How much more food do you have stashed on you?”

“Some.” I didn’t add in that Ben and Rian had also stashed snacks in their pockets as well. She didn’t eat enough at breakfast. West didn’t either.

We wandered around the nest store and my alpha instincts screamed at me to make this right. She wasn’t running around, picking things out with glee. I’d never been nest shopping before, so maybe I was wrong and basing all my assumptions on TV. But neither of them were acting like they were having fun.

If anything, they acted like they were shopping for a funeral.

I winced. In a way, they were.

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