Chapter 47

I lay there, nestled between the solid warmth of Axel and the gentle comfort of Jin, feeling my omega side bask in the afterglow of care and connection. My instincts had taken over when Axel returned, battered and bruised, from whatever danger had found him. I had washed him, tended to his wounds, all while my heart raced with a mix of worry and embarrassment at my nudity. But now, as I came back to myself, I realized that the embarrassment was unnecessary. They had seen every inch of me during my heat, and yet, here they were, still by my side, still wanting me.

Axel’s steady breathing told me he was asleep, his head resting against mine, his arm draped protectively over my waist. Jin, on the other hand, had continued reading from the book he had picked up earlier. His voice was soft, and it washed over me in soothing waves. I felt cherished, like a precious gem they were both determined to protect.

I marveled at the differences between them. Jin was all about the little things – the way he constructed the nest, the cookies he baked, the way he read to me. It was in his gentle touch, the soft kisses he placed on my forehead, and the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the world. Axel, with his quiet strength and intense gaze, made me feel safe. He was like a fortress, his presence a shield against the outside world.

To cover my nakedness, I reached out and grabbed a shirt from the nest, pulling it over my head. It was Harlen’s, I realized, as his scent enveloped me. It was a reminder that there was another piece of this puzzle, another alpha who was part of this strange, beautiful thing we were building together. I clutched Pietro’s pillow to my chest, the combination of their scents surrounding me, comforting me.

I purred, a deep, contented sound that seemed to come from the very core of my being. I was safe here, in this nest, with these men. I was cherished, not just for what I was, but for who I was. And as I drifted off to sleep, sandwiched between Axel and Jin, I realized that I was falling in love with them, with all of them. It was a terrifying thought, but it was also exhilarating. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

The faintest whiff of something tantalizing tickled my nostrils, cutting through the sleepy haze that blanketed my mind. Before I could fully process what it was, the metallic tang of anxiety constricted my throat – they were home. My instincts screamed at me to retreat, to wrap myself in the safety of my nest, far away from the intimidating presence of Pietro and Harlen.

But then I felt it – the abrupt tension in Axel’s body as he stirred awake, his sleep-addled mind swiftly honing in on the shift in my scent. It had turned sharp, burnt, like a paper too close to an open flame, revealing my distress to anyone in the vicinity. “Shh, babe, you’re safe here,” Jin murmured, his hand drawing soothing circles on my back. Axel pressed a gentle kiss to my temple, his touch a grounding force that kept me anchored to the present.

Beneath the comforting patter of their heartbeats and the soft timbre of their voices, I could hear the sounds of Harlen and Pietro moving about the kitchen – the clinking of plates, the rustle of takeout bags. There was a restraint in their movements, a silent question hanging in the air, unvoiced yet palpable. I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath, allowing it to steady my racing heart.

“Would you like me to bring you your food, or…” Harlen’s voice trailed off, the question left hanging as he offered them a piece of normalcy amidst the unusual circumstances of our shared existence. I hesitated, my fingers tracing the hem of the shirt I had donned earlier.

A rush of warmth bloomed within me, accompanied by an unexpected surge of courage. This was my pack, my home – and I was tired of hiding. “Bring plates for all of us,” I called out, my voice steady, betraying none of the turmoil that roiled beneath the surface. Jin and Axel stilled beside me, but there was no censure in their silence, only quiet support.

Harlen appeared in the entrance, his towering form momentarily casting a shadow over our sanctuary. His eyes drifted over the nest before landing on me, the corners crinkling with a warmth that made my heart stutter. I saw the moment he recognized his shirt, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips before he banked it down. Wordlessly, he turned to fetch the plates, and I found myself admiring the way his muscles bunched and flexed beneath the fabric of his shirt.

Pietro followed close behind, his gaze lingering just a moment too long on Harlen before sweeping over me. His scent, dark and commanding, mingled with the remnants of Harlen’s, creating a blend that was as intoxicating as it was comforting. It was then that I realized they had been together, the mix of their scents rich and deep, like the most decadent Nutella.

I didn’t want to voice it to them, didn’t want to give life to the craving that had been haunting me. But the memory of that rich, decadent flavor was a relentless whisper in the back of my mind, growing louder with each passing hour. Finally, I caved, the temptation too much to bear. I sent a text to Jin, my words careful and light, as if asking for a favor of no consequence. “When you get groceries can you pick up a jar of Nutella?” I asked, trying to play it cool, to hide the desperation that simmered beneath the surface.

As he read the text on his phone, he regarded me with a look of confusion, clearly trying to fathom why I wouldn’t have simply posed the question out loud. The moment of realization dawned on him just as my face flushed with a warmth that seemed to draw every ounce of blood to my cheeks. His low chuckle and the affirming nod he gave were all the confirmation I sought. Embarrassed, I buried my face in the fabric of Harlen’s shirt, which still enveloped me. With my eyes obscured by the shirt, Jin’s laughter rang out even more boisterously.