Page 84 of Follow Your Instincts

Lachlan pressed his lips together. His grip tightened briefly on my shoulder before he took a deep breath. “Next time you’re going to relive a traumatic event, please don’t do it on your own,” he said tightly. “I really can’t handle you being in pain.”

I nodded quickly. “That’s a very easy promise to make.”

“I have an idea,” Lucas said after a moment. “Since you’ve decided you’re spending your heat here, I think we need to make sure your nest is ready.”

My stomach jolted with anticipation and anxiety. “Really? Like, today?”

Lucas nodded. “Today. I want you to make that space your own.”

Lachlan clapped him on the back. “Best idea you’ve ever had,” he said. “I’ll text Ben and Soren.”

Ben and Soren rushed home as soon as Lachlan mentioned my panic attack in the group chat. After hugs and reassurances that I was fully recovered, we all piled into the car.

“Where are we going?” I asked nervously.

“Omega heaven,” Ben teased.

He wasn’t exaggerating. The store was called Haven + Harbor and it was entirely dedicated to the kind of pillows, blankets, and other soft things that my inner Omega desperately wanted. It was dimly lit, with low ceilings to cater to its Omega clientele, but it went on and on for what seemed like an entire city block.

“Get whatever you want,” Lachlan said.

I shook my head, barely inside the front door. “I don’t need a ton of stuff,” I said.

Soren stepped up, slid his hand into the hair at the nape ofmy neck, and gently tugged to tilt my head back. “It’s not about need, baby girl. It’s what youwant,” he said, his eyes dark. For the second time that day, I was breathless, but this time with lust. His grapefruit scent brought him into sharper focus. I whimpered a little and clenched my thighs against the rush of wetness between my legs. “Are you going to do as your Alpha says?”

I nodded weakly, and he kissed me, quick and filthy. “Good girl,” he said simply.

A small woman cleared her throat and I flushed at the thought of her watching the exchange, but she seemed completely unfazed at the scene, or my obviously overexcited scent filling the space.

“Good afternoon,” she said, smiling. She was tiny and had dark hair parted down the middle and pulled into a sleek bun. Her eyes were dark brown and friendly. “You must be the Murray pack.”

“This is Maggie,” Lucas said, pulling me into the center. “Her heat is approaching quickly, and we need to get everything to make sure her nest is perfect.”

The woman smiled at me, genuinely warm. “I’m Letitia,” she said and held her hand out to me to shake. Her grip was firm, and I caught a whiff of her subdued lilac scent. “I can help you get everything to make a perfect nest.”

I nodded. “Thank you. I’m honestly a little overwhelmed,” I said.

“This is where we leave you guys,” Letitia said to the pack. “I’ll bring her back safe and sound.”

I looked around, my eyes wide, feeling a little betrayed. “They’re not coming?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“Trust me, it’s easier this way,” Letitia said, linking her arm with mine and pulling me deeper into the store. “They’ll just get in the way.”

“We’ll meet you back here,” Ben called after us.

“Now, your pack has already sent dimensions of the nest, along with detailed pictures and swatches of the existingfabric, but they’ve made it very clear you can make any changes you want.” Her eyes flicked to mine, and she grinned. “They also made itveryclear that your budget is unlimited, and I’m not supposed to let you see any price tags.”

I groaned in frustration and she gave me a sympathetic smile. Our first stop was a small desk and she gestured for me to sit while she pulled out a tablet.

“Where is everyone?” I asked, realizing that there was no one else in the store.

“Your pack booked the space for this afternoon,” she said. “So you would be comfortable.”

Gratitude rushed through me, tempered with a bit of disbelief. “They’re not my pack, though.”

Letitia studied me for a moment. “Hmm, maybe not yet, but they certainly see you as their Omega. So, tell me about you, Maggie,” she said, changing the subject.

“I’m not sure what I’m doing here at all,” I blurted out.

---