Chapter 8

I toss the blanket at her and snatch another off the nearest pile.

She breaks eye contact to bury her face in the new fabric, but after a few sniffs, she lifts her head again.

"More," she snarls.

My cock pulses, and wetness seeps from my tip. I fist my shaft through the blanket and groan as her eyes flare. Need reddens her cheeks. She kneads the mound in her arms.

"Not until you start nesting, little angel," I say, shifting the fabric to mark a different section and to prevent myself from giving it to her.

She glares at me for half a second before another cramp distracts her. Before the pain ebbs, her body moves, her estrous in full force and leading her movements.

With lithe grace, she spreads the freshly scented blanket over the mattress before layering the sheet over the top. Kneeling in the center, she sticks the pillow between her legs and grinds her leaking pussy against it.

Envious beyond belief, I throw the newly marked blanket at her and snatch a pillow off the stack behind me.

As I smear precum over both sides, she fluffs the slick-covered pillow into place near the head of the bed and scrunches the third blanket near the foot.

Her constant low rumble pleases me to no end. She sinks deeper into instincts, letting out little sounds of delight as I drop item after item onto her head. After clearing two stacks—one of folded linen and the other pillows—curiosity gets the better of me and I grab the basket of odds and ends near the ladder.

I rub my scent over a doll with no face, three stuffed animals—each missing at least one limb, if not all four—a rug, and an oddly shaped cushion.

When she runs out of new things to stack, she growls and looks up from her creation.

Confusion wrinkles her brow until mirth lights her face. She bites her bottom lip before crawling to the edge of the mattress.

"More?" she asks.

Her eyes flit from my face to the objects in my arms.

"Say please," I growl.

She licks her lips. My cock jerks.

"Please?"

Without an ounce of artifice in her entire body, she steals chunks of my soul with her white hair, pale flesh, blown pupils, pert breasts, and wide hips.

"Try again, angel," I challenge.

"More, please, alpha," she says. Her fingers absently knead the nearest fabric. Slick drenches the half-formed nest underneath her.

"Almost, but not quite what I want," I rumble.

My foot inches closer without my permission, but I dare not call it back.

"Please, Port? More?"

I groan and catch the fresh spurt of seed on the cushion before tossing the toys into the center of the nest. She rushes to claim her prizes. Her gorgeous ass tempts me to drop to my knees and take her from behind, but I finish marking the rug and add it to her collection.

Needing a moment to center myself, but unwilling to put much distance between us, I stalk to the metal box attached to the wall beside the ladder, open the lid, and yank several random food pouches from the selection before stomping back to her.

The toys and cushion add lumps to the edges of the nest, but she stares down in disgust at the rug draped over the corner.

I reach down to take it, but she snatches it away with a hiss and tucks it under the mound near the makeshift footboard, ensuring we'll never touch it, but including it in her creation.

Longing fills her gaze when she glances at the nearby stacks.

I can't deny her, not with her sweet voice echoing my name in my head. After dropping the food packets beside the bed, I drench countless items in my pheromones. Curtains, quilts, rugs, toys, everything I hoarded throughout the years becomes hers. She builds us the most luxurious nest in the entire universe. I watch in awe as she works.

When she disappears between the layers and ceases her purr, I stiffen.

The silence proves daunting.

This tiny, resilient little angel already owns my heart. I have yet to knot and claim her, but there's no doubt I'm already smitten.

I'll do anything for her.

Anything.

Without prompting, she sticks her fingers out from between the layers of the nest, wiggles them, and begs.

"Please, Port? I need you."

As I climb into her cocoon, careful not to destroy it with my wide shoulders, the full bouquet of her perfume hits me in the face.

I don't know how she waited this long. On her hands and knees, slick pours down her thighs and soaks the material underneath her. She wriggles her hips and fists the pillow in desperation.

I add a note of comfort to my growl and guide her onto her back. She resists until I settle my weight over her. Her groan signals the end of my restraint.

In a flurry of dark sensuality, I explore every inch of her, my hands too rough and my mouth too hungry, but she writhes underneath me, demanding more. I cannot resist. Cannot deny her. Cannot stand to see her suffer.

I wedge my shoulders between her legs and feast on her slick, licking her clit and stroking her insides with my fingers. She flies apart under my tongue. I consume her release.

It isn't enough. Her estrous rallies and demands fulfillment.

I crawl up her body, fit my tip to her entrance, and frame her head with my hands. She writhes, testing my predatory drive, until I snarl, sink half an inch into her pussy, and nip her bottom lip. The moment she offers me her blown pupils, I surge into her with one brutal thrust until my partially inflated knot catches on her pussy lips.

Her open mouth calls to me. Neither of us needs to breathe anyway, so I join our mouths and rule her from top to bottom with my tongue and cock, syncing my invasion and retreat. Slick squelches every time I seat myself within her, and after a few strokes, her cream coats my knot and drips down my legs.

I yank my mouth away from hers and nip her earlobe.

"Are you ready for my knot, little angel?"

She shakes her head while tilting her hips, saying no, but giving me easier access to her depths.

"I'm going to fill that sweet little pussy with my cum until you ache with it, and when you think you can't handle anymore, I'll play with your clit and pump more into you as you orgasm around me. My seed will have nowhere to go until my knot pops free, but guess what, little omega?" Her nails sink into my chest. I lick the soft flesh under her ear and nip her lobe harder. "I'll just knot you again and again until my seed takes root and you swell with my offspring." Her whimper undoes me. "Fuck, Coral, I can't wait. Take all of me like a good girl."

She does, arching and scratching, whimpering and hissing, giving me everything as I slowly work my knot deeper and deeper into her body. When her entrance finally relaxes enough, I snarl and snap my hips forward, fully seating myself. With my knot fully expanded behind her pubic bone, the spongy ring of her cervix clamps around my tip.

She screams and shatters. Her entire body seizes.

I sink my teeth into her shoulder and die a million glorious deaths. Wave after wave of bliss erupts from my balls and scorches the inside of my shaft before jettisoning from my tip. Euphoria clouds my mind as the metallic taste of her blood coats my tongue. Our bond snaps into place, not complete, but brilliant in its uniqueness.

For what feels like millennia but must only be minutes, I spill my seed straight into her womb and pour my joy into her soul.

When her orgasm ends, I lick the wound on her shoulder and cup the back of her head to guide her mouth to my chest, but she lunges upward and sinks her teeth into my flesh without prompting, covering the circular scar over my heart.

Pain and pleasure collide. Our bond glows in completion. I purr and roll onto my back, destroying our nest, but I tug the layers over us and wrap my arms around her.

She falls asleep between one breath and the next. Pride flows through me.

With unhindered access to both her body and soul, I stroke her back and bask in her feminine presence.

Even blissed out while locked on my knot and exhausted from my rutting, fear and dread linger within her.

I must erase them.

Her stomach rumbles.

I'll feed her. She won't want it, since she's in full estrous, but she needs the calories, so I'll ensure she eats.

I stop petting her and close my eyes, both to enjoy the moment of peace and to encourage my knot to deflate. With an audible pop, it slips free. She jolts awake.

I roll us over, pin her knees to her ears, bury my face between her legs, and consume the first gush of our combined essences. She wriggles and whines. I give in and ferry a mouthful to her lips. She accepts my offering with pure omega joy, humming and licking my tongue with eager little flicks.

I duck down for another taste, but stop a few inches away and enjoy the view.

"Gods, little angel, your pussy is so pretty leaking my cum." I run my thumb through the mess and push my seed back into her. "I can't wait to fill you up again." Her pussy tightens around my digit. I pull out and lower my face. She bucks and grabs my head.

I share, carrying mouthfuls to her lips until only a trickle seeps from her pussy.

Her stomach rumbles again.

I pull her onto my chest, wrap the remnants of our nest around us, and snag a food packet from the floor. She turns her head away, but I snarl and use her hair to keep her facing in the right direction.

"Just a few bites, little angel, then I'll knot you again."

She sighs, nods, and opens her mouth. I feed her from my hand, enjoying her reaction to each bite of dried fruit, nuts, and cheese.

A bubble of intimacy forms around us. More relaxed than ever before, I bask in her perfection and relish the start of our new future together.

She flushes. Her cramps return.

We spend days locked together. I cherish every moment. She spoils me with her sweetness and surprises me with flashes of feistiness. I enjoy every challenge she presents and bask in the quiet moments. When her heat breaks, I fall into a doze and hold her close.

I wake and shift her off my chest. She gives a halfhearted whine, but I tuck the filthy blankets around her and she settles back to sleep.

I wrap a sheet around my hips and climb the ladder to the outer hatch. In less than five minutes, I lock the inner door and return to my omega.

She sighs when I pull her from the nest and gather her into a cradle carry. Emotions clog my throat as she cuddles against my chest. Her trust floors me.

I shift her weight and climb one-handed up the ladder and don't stop even after I sit on the bench in the bath. She pouts at the coolness of the water, but I clean us both with quick efficiency and dress her in the cleanest dirty sleep set I have. The t-shirt and shorts dwarf her, but she pulls the collar to her nose and scents my faded pheromones.

"More?"

Her groggy voice and hazy eyes make me reconsider my decision, but her angst infects our bond too much for me to change my mind.

I whip my shirt off her head and rub the fabric over my front. She grumbles and pushes it away when I try to fit it over her head.

"More," she demands.

I smirk and stroke my cock through the fabric. She accepts it with a crooked smile.

I enjoy the weight of her eyes on me as I pull on my pants.

As though my approach jolts her awake, she snaps into awareness.

"Why are we getting dressed?"

"We're going out for a moment."

The worry tightening her features solidifies my decision. I step between her knees and pull her against my chest.

"Why?" she asks as I lift her off the counter and head toward the ladder.

"To meet someone."

She stiffens, but drops her forehead to my chest and wraps her legs around me as I climb down the ladder.

I open the inner hatch and wedge my bulk into the watertight chamber. Her fingers tremble against my nape.

"Hush, little angel. This is what's best."

She shakes her head and clings tighter to me. I sigh and release the handwheel on the outer door to fill my hands with her ass.

"What are you thinking, Coral?"

"I'm tired and don't want to go out," she mumbles against my chest.

I squeeze her ass and rumble out a warning. Her nipples pebble and slick scents the air.

She darts her head up and meets my eyes. When her nostrils flare, I understand her surprise.

"Yes, baby, you're pregnant."

She blinks. Swallows. Blinks again.

"Our first mating… my first heat…"

I chuckle and shift one hand to her nape.

"Yes, little omega. I filled you so full of my seed you had no choice. You'll birth our first offspring in a few months."

She blinks several more times before reality settles over her. Tears drip from her snowy lashes and trail down her pale cheeks.

"Then why are we leaving our den? I need—"

I end her question with a kiss and don't pull back until we're both breathless.

"This is important. Trust me?"

As she studies my expression, her apprehension grows, but she nods and tucks the side of her face against my chest. I open the outer hatch before shifting her higher and bracing my forearm under my ass. She gives a hesitant sigh and focuses on my heartbeat as I pin her head to my sternum and duck through the halls until I reach the common room.

Male pheromones linger in the space, but only two beta females sit on the cushioned bench along the far wall. They stand to greet us, but wisely keep as much distance as the room allows.

I nod, settle in the swivel chair at the end of the table, and plant my feet to keep my chest pointed toward the two women. My omega trembles, but I shift her into a cradle hold and use a finger under her chin to guide her attention across the room.

"Coral, meet Thia and Sky, the only two females on my crew."

She stiffens and swings her gaze up to mine for a quick perusal of my face before returning her attention to the women.

"Crew, as in they help run the ship?"

Thia steps forward and gives a slight bow as she speaks.

"I'm the navigation officer on Crew B, ma'am."

"And I'm the medical officer for Crew B and every female onboard. The only omega I've ever treated is currently eight years old, but if you need anything, I'll be happy to help," Sky says.

Coral stares at them as though their words bounce off her skull, but neither female fidgets. Long, tense moments pass.

Worms crawl in my belly as my omega swings her eyes up to mine. Her shrunken pupils reveal irises so grey they appear clear.

"You mean they aren't wet nurses?"

I don't understand her question. Thia shifts and Sky rubs her nape.

"What are you asking?" I need clarification. A single tear trails down my mate's face. My stomach drops through the floor. Coral pushes against my chest and stumbles to her feet, and all I can do is stare in confusion.

"I thought you were bringing me to meet the women who would raise my children!" She stomps her bare foot and clenches her fists at her sides before stepping back and wrapping her arms around her stomach. "You can't take my younglings away. They're mine! I want them with me all the time. If you—"

I surge to my feet and wrap my arms around her.

"Hush, little angel. No one will separate you from our offspring," I growl into her hair.

She thumps her fists against my sides and shakes her head. I take a deep breath, needing to settle my racing heart, and exhale on a low, soothing rumble. As my female's madness slowly abates, I smooth my hand over her hair and murmur encouraging words in her ear, needing her to see the truth in my heart.

With one final thump of her fist against my hip, she wraps her arms around my waist and hiccups into my chest. I drop my cheek to the top of her head and return her embrace.

"No one will take your younglings from you, Coral. You haven't seen our entire den yet, have you?"

She shakes her head.

"We have a second, smaller washroom, a kitchen, a living room, a gym, and two nurseries. And we can always expand, too. The compartment next to—"

Dainty fingers settle over my lips. My omega offers me a peek into her turmoil before closing her eyes. An odd tugging inside my chest makes me realize she's studying our bond.

She releases her breath and shakes her head. My lungs seize.

"I'm sorry, Port."

"No," I growl on instinct.

She huffs a half laugh before capturing my face between her hands. Emotions shine from her eyes as she traces the scar over my lips with her thumb.

"I'm sorry I doubted you," she whispers.

"What?"

The terror gripping my heart steals my ability to think.

"I'm sorry I lumped you in with other alphas. I'm sorry I compared you to The Sisters. I'm sorry I didn't trust you," she says, her voice strengthening with every word.

The band around my chest loosens.

"I love you, Port. Forgive me?"

My mind splinters. Relief gathers my thoughts and I suck down a breath to offer her a deep purr.

"I'll forgive you this time, but don't doubt me again, or I may rut you so hard neither of us recovers. Even the devil himself has limits, my little fallen angel," I snarl before dropping my face to hers.

I consume her mouth with the passion roaring through me, but when she rubs her thighs together and her scent thickens in the air, I snatch her off the ground and stomp toward our den.

I must please and pamper my pregnant omega. She'll require my seed day and night for the next few weeks, otherwise our offspring will consume her from the inside out.

Today marks the beginning of our future. With no misunderstandings between us, we drop into our filthy nest and explore each other anew. As we bask in our joining, our bond glows with joy and satisfaction.

This ethereal beauty is mine. Mine to cherish. Mine to hurt. Mine to love.

For years to come, she'll carry my offspring in her womb. She'll nurture our babes in her arms, smother them with her love, and give them a safe place to grow before they leave the nest to find their own way in the world.

She's the center of my universe. My purpose for living. The bearer of my future.

My angel. My omega. My Coral.

Mine.

Forever.