Page 99 of Ember

“Fine,” West muttered. “She was checking in with us, since we seemed so dejected.”

I growled. “Was someone rude to you while we were gone?”

“No, she wanted to make sure our alphas were treating us okay.” Ember still looked amused.

The thought was a slap in the face. I was failing them. I was trying, but I was an idiot for thinking I could make them feel better after losing their nest.

“No, oh my god.” Ember grabbed my hand as the same time West grabbed Ben’s. “Sit.”

It was a squeeze, but the four of us managed to cram onto the chaise longue. Ember put her chin on my shoulder. “You’re not failing, Alejandro.”

“I don’t know what you need,” I managed. “All I know how to do is cook.”

“I need you.” Ember touched Ben’s shoulder, who had the same guilty look on his face as I was sure I had. “Both of you. All three of you.” She looked at Rian. “I’m sorry I’m upset?—”

“Of course you are,” Rian said. “You don’t have to pretend to be happy for us.”

Ember nodded. “So if that’s okay, I need all three of you not to feel like you’re failing us by not making our sad feelings go away immediately. Just being here for us means more than you could know.”

I settled against her, some of my hackles lowering. “If you can think of anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“When I know, I’ll let you know,” Ember said.

“We didn’t ask officially,” Ben said, running his hand down West’s side. “But we’d like for all three of you to move in. If you want to get a house together, that’s fine.”

West looked at Ember, who perked up. “I was going to bring a bunch of stuff over. From the cottage. Before everything…”

“You can still do that,” Rian said. “Bring all your furniture, whatever you want. You too, Alejandro.”

“You’re sure?” West said with a warning.

“Very sure.” Ben kissed his temple. “The thought of one of you three going home somewhere else is unbearable. We’d just show up at your doorstep.”

“Like stray kittens,” Rian said. “Speaking of furniture, let’s take this home with us.”

The omegas agreed, and we left the nest store. I was driving, so while Ben paid for everything, I googled some local New Age stores. I pulled into the parking lot of Crystal Place, the building painted deep purple, and knew it was the right call when Ember’s face lit up and she quivered like a hunting dog catching the scent of prey.

“Oh, you’ve done it now,” West said with dry amusement. “We’re never getting out of here without bags of stuff.”

Ember hit his arm. “Shut up. You love it too.”

“Goodbye, beautifully curated aesthetic,” West told Rian. “I hope you like lots of color. Everywhere.”

Ben grinned. “Ember, my love, you can pick out whatever colors you’d like. I’m open to anything.”

We entered the shop and color exploded around us. Rows and rows of tables were covered with more crystals than I knew existed, and aisles of books. A massive section of tarot cards dominated the wall, and the back corner was devoted to throw rugs, blankets, and wall décor.

It looked like a flea market mixed with a garage sale, and everything smelled like incense, but strangely, it was relaxing. Ember dragged us over to the crystal section and immediately rattled off what each one did and how we had to choose two or three.

We bounced from the throw blanket section back into the tarot decks, where West tried to tell Ember she already had twenty decks, she didn’t need another, and Ben quietly slipped the deck she wanted into her pile.

I found a mosaic mirror in sea green, blue, and purples I thought looked pretty, and Rian started gathering a terrifying armload of succulents.

The real paydirt came in the housewares section. Half of the pillows were thick and stuffed, with soft texture. West grabbed two, put one back, and then grabbed three more. I nodded at Rian and he circled back for the two West set aside. Rian started happily talking about a succulent garden in the backyard and Ember talked to him about basic plant care.

Ember was bouncing around, while West added to her pile, reminded her not to forget some essential item, and then wandered off for his own bounty. Ember rotated through the store, making sure to swing by and rub her cheek against mine five or six times.

I grinned, finally settled. The omegas were happy, the burnt part of their scents mostly gone. This time I would insisted on paying.

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