Laying on the Couch

Carys

T he last few days have been incredibly peaceful.

I’ve had some time to doodle in my journal, but not much. My new pack has kept me pretty busy.

Swanley took me fishing, Isaac is teaching me how to knit, and Kofi’s favorite thing seems to be holding me while I nap on the couch. I snuggle up against his chest, wrapped up in his lavender and sandalwood scent as I drift off to sleep. He usually reads an old paperback, caressing my back the whole time. I tried reading one with him, but sci-fi really isn’t my thing.

At night Isaac takes a bath with me, then Kofi and Swanley take turns making me come until I pass out. I still get dizzy each time, but I haven't gotten sick once. I won’t lie and say that I don’t love my new life, but I do crave more. I want to be able to really be with them. I want us to be a real pack, with their marks on my neck.

I want their baby in my belly.

But I still haven’t produced even a drop of slick. I might never, which means it’s not very likely I’ll ever have my heat, and omegas struggle to get pregnant outside of their heat…it’s all so ridiculously depressing.

Restless, I shift, curling against Kofi’s side. A shadow moves outside the big window next to the front door. It’s probably the sun catching the leaves, but it still makes me wonder. “Alpha?” I rest my chin on Kofi’s chest. He pulls his attention away from his book, smiling when our eyes meet.

He sets his book down, turning all of his attention onto me. “Good nap?” He cups my face, letting his thumb trace my long scar.

“Do we have any neighbors?” I ask, curious about the area.

“Neighbors?” He tilts his head. “Why? Do you need to borrow a cup of sugar?”

“No.” I laugh at the very idea that Isaac’s kitchen could be lacking anything. “I’m just curious who all lives out here. Are we alone?”

He brushes my hair out of my face, tucking it behind my ear. “We own a few acres.”

“ Acres ?” I ask, making sure I heard him right. “How many?”

Kofi wraps his arms around my back, holding me to his firm chest. “Let me put it this way,” he kisses the tip of my nose, “if you want to go skinny dipping, no one but us will see you.”

“Do you own the lake ?” My mouth falls open when his smile grows. “I thought…” I stop myself before I embarrass myself. It’s rude to ask about money, but my mind keeps racing. Ms. Tacken said they were poor…or poor-ish.

“Shit!” Isaac curses as something crashes in the kitchen. “I’m okay,” he yells out with a huff.

“Let me go help him.” Kofi smacks my bottom, squeezing my cheeks before rolling me off of him.

“I can help.” I scoot to the edge of the couch, but Kofi holds up his hand, stopping me.

“Absolutely not,” he says firmly. “You will sit here and look beautiful. No shattered glass for those bare feet.” He points at my toes. I wiggle them, then lean back against the plush pillows. “Stay right there, omega.” He winks, then struts off.

Rolling onto my side, I stare at his firm ass as he walks. Something tingly stirs in my belly, and I wonder how hard it would be to convince him or Swanley to… eat me out . I cover my smile with my hand, thinking about the dirty words they use in the bedroom. I kind of like it. Both alphas talk about my pussy and tits , and while I've never found that kind of language to be appealing, there’s something about the way they say it that makes my body light up.

A soft knock on the front door makes me jerk, and I sit straight up. I stare at the pale oak wood, not sure what to do. Am I allowed to answer the door?

They knock again, and I look toward the kitchen. I can hear Kofi and Isaac talking and laughing as shards of glass fall into a dustbin.

A shadow moves on the front porch and I’m on my feet. I can see the sleeve of a dark brown shirt through the window, but nothing else. I take a few steps across the room, stepping around the other couch. I have no idea what I’m allowed to do. Ignore it? Go get an alpha? Open the door?

Maybe if I just stand here, someone will magically appear.

“Who was at the door?” Swanley's deep voice makes me jump about a foot into the air. “It’s just me.” He laughs, toweling off his still wet hair. Water drips from the tips, falling down his bare chest. “No need to be scared.” He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his freshly washed body. His aroma is mouthwatering.

“You startled me.” I press my nose to his chest, soaking up my alpha’s scent.

“Did you see who was at the door?” He presses his nose to the top of my head.

“I didn’t.” I giggle when he squeezes my bottom. Both of my alphas seem to have a thing for butts—mine and Isaac’s. Honestly, it’s done wonders for my self-esteem. I no longer feel self-conscious when they see me naked. Instead, I feel lovely. Desired.

“Maybe it’s your new clothes.” Swanley moves to the front door, and I take the chance to admire his backside. His snug gym shorts hug his trim waist, thick thighs, and amazing bottom in all the right places. Butts are very nice to look at.

“Hello?” Swanley stands in the doorway, looking one way, then the other. After a moment, the red-haired alpha bends down, picking something up. I rise up onto my tiptoes, making out a few white petals and some greenery wrapped up in white paper.

“That's weird,” Swanley says, as if speaking to himself.

“What’s weird?” Kofi asks as he steps out of the kitchen.

“Lunch will be a little late.” Isaac comes up behind him, flinging a small tea towel over his shoulder. His expression brightens as he moves toward Swanley. “Those are pretty.”

“Someone delivered flowers.” Swanley turns to Kofi and my heart plummets.

It’s a bouquet, bursting with fat white jasmine . Sprigs of baby’s breath and bright green leaves surround the heavy bulbs. My pulse races and my head spins. Horrible memories of fear and pain rush me like a broken damn.

Blood .

That’s all I can see.

Dark, red blood .

It’s in my hair, in my eyes, in my mouth. It even drips off the bathroom tiles. I’m drawing in the thick, sticky substance.

Kofi and Swanley continue to talk, but I can’t make out their words. It's as if I’m trapped underwater. Panic grips me, and I take a step back. My only solace is that they are all completely oblivious to the horrors swimming around in my head.

Not sure what else to do, I turn and walk calmly down the hallway to our bedroom. I want to scream and cry and throw everything in sight, but I force my trembling hands into fists, pressing my lips into a tight line. I refuse to fall apart over a silly bundle of flowers. Because that’s all they are. They aren’t a threat or a promise of pain.

They’re just flowers.

My name is spoken out in the living room, then heavy footsteps stomp down the hall. I don’t want to see anyone. They’ll panic like I am. I only need a minute.

I think about running into the bathroom, but then my gaze settles on the bookshelf to my cove. And I move.

I grab several books off of the bookshelf, throwing them onto the floor until I find one that doesn't budge. I tug on it and something clicks. The bookshelf shifts and pops, revealing the narrow doorway.

Ducking my head, I step up onto the landing and enter the surprisingly spacious room. And just like that, every one of my senses immediately settles.

The entire floor is one giant mattress. While I think it could fit my whole pack, it would definitely be a snug fit. Glancing up, I’m greeted by the soft glow of string lights draped around the circular room and a lovely sunlight directly overhead. A pile of nesting materials sits to one side, still wrapped in their shipping plastic. And it’s all mine.

I’ve never had a proper nest before. The doctors always encouraged us to make them at Havenfield, but a bed isn’t a nest. It never felt right. But this is all mine. It’s cozy. Snug. Safe.

Shifting onto my hands and knees, I crawl to the nesting material, removing them from their plastic bags.

“Omega?” Kofi says right next to my cove’s entrance. While I can’t see his face, his big body blocks out all the light from the bedroom.

“I’m fine,” I say much more forcefully than I meant to, but I don’t like him looming right outside the door.

“Are you okay?” He pulls the door open a little wider. Then he places one foot on the steps, and my blood pressure rises. “Do you want me to?—”

“No,” I snap without meaning to, but almost immediately, I shrink back. Only bad omegas interrupt their alphas. “I’m okay,” I say in a much softer tone. “I just want to be alone here, if that's okay.”

“Of course,” he says. Thankfully, he doesn’t sound upset that I interrupted him. In fact, he almost sounds happy. I guess that makes sense. Healthy omegas nest. At least that’s what the doctors at Havenfield used to always say.

Kofi slinks back, allowing me to work, but I can still sense him nearby. In fact, I can sense all three of them sitting in the bedroom while I create my first and most precious nest. They’re silent, sneaking a few peeks as I work and smiling widely at the progress I’ve made.

My mind wonders with each passing second.

I can’t wait for this space to smell like my mates.

Fantasies of my first heat wash over me. I imagine the way they might rut me into the sheets, taking turns filling me up with their seed. I think about my belly growing big and round, and then I think about birthing them in here. None of it might happen. My body might never give me the things I’ve always craved in life. But if nothing else, I have my perfect pack, and that is real.

They’re mine.