Page 62 of The Omega Archives: Part Two

I shook myself out of the possessive thought. The guest room she was staying in was partially open. Shewasn’tinside. Her scent, however, was a gentle trail from where shemust’vebeen snooping out each of our rooms.

The thought that she wanted even the smell of us when we were gone for the day made me want to smirk with pleasure. I turned the edge of the hall to myroomwhere her sweet berry perfume lingered outsideof.

But itwasn’twhere it ended. Next to my room were the stairs up towards the attic space door. Like some of ours, the door was cracked open.

Lookedlike the little omega knew what she was looking for.

Carefully, I made my way upthe half set ofstairs, but Ididn’teven have to go past the door.

Ella stood there, frozen in front of the door. Her hair was cleanasifshe’dtaken a shower. Damp, blond waves down her back and wearing the sweats from Liamhe’dbeen laying out as if none of us had noticed him wanting to mark her even if hedidn’tseem to get any closer.

My packmate wanted her just as much as I did.

Ella’s body shook though, as if desperate to take a step forward into... into the nest.

Why hadn’t she?

I took a step closer.“Are you all right, Ella?”

She jumped nearly a foot off the ground at my voice.

Chapter

Nineteen

ELLA

“I’msorry.I’mso sorry. Ididn’trealize what was up here.I know thatI probablyshouldn’thave gone snoopingbutI got bored. I was on the phone talking to my friend, and I have this stupid habit of walking around whileI’mon the phone–”

Demetri’seyes widened as he put up a hand. Slowly, my rambling came to an end.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”he asked, genuinely confused as he looked around the room as ifin search ofsomething I broke.

“The nest…”

“The nest.”Demetri’seyes widened as he took in my words.

“I mean, I am sure you didn’t want me up here.” I shifted on my feet.

Ididn’tknow much about omega culturebutI knew enough from reading that anomega’snestwas usually seenas something precious. My goodness, I knew that my stupid bed of pillows back at my apartment was soimportantthat I made Liam go back for them even if I cared a little less about them since Cal was keeping me company most evenings.

“Ella,”Demetri said,“You are allowed togo anywhere in this house, including up here.”

“Iknow you said that, but–”

“I’m not angry.”

Was he sure?I mean,hedidn’tlook upset, but Icouldn'timagine that the nest came with good memories.Did their last omega in the house spend time up here? She probably did.

“We know youhaven’tbeen sleeping well. The idea did come up to show you the nest. Wedidn’twant to overwhelm you,”Demetri explained.

Because he was right. I was… overwhelmed. Clearly.

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath.“I’msorry.”

Slowly,Demetri’shand hovered in theair,as if making sure I noticed it before he gently touched my elbow. His thumb swiped back and forth over my skin. Asmallnoise hummed through the air before I realized what it was, and it seemed to shock Demetri just as much.

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