Page 73 of Crushes and Confections

The large bed, more than big enough to fit all of us, was draped with a fluffy yellow blanket and had even more pillows resting on top. The canopy over top made it look even more inviting and cozy, and I wanted to bury myself inside it. There were shopping bags on the couch, but I couldn’t even bring myself to peek inside. I was too overwhelmed.

“You guys did this for me?” I knew a nest when I saw one, and this was definitely the beginnings of a nest. Even Riley-esque touches added life to the room, so I knew it was a group effort.

“We did,” Vance answered as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my shoulder. “Riley did the decorations while Adrien and I set up the space. We wanted you to feel just as safe here as you did in your cottage, especially if a heat hit.”

“We didn’t want to assume you wanted our help, but regardless, I needed to know you had a safe place to ride it out if you needed,” Adrien said.

“I love it,” I said as a wave of emotion nearly knocked me to my knees. Here I’d spent years alone, pining for a pack, and this one practically fell into our laps and was pure and utter perfection.

I never had a true nest before, and yet here it was, and they all had worked together to give me something so precious without me saying a word.

“So I obviously picked the colors, there are some more blankets and soft things in the bags, but we knew you’d want to add the finishing touches.”

“I ordered some products I thought you might like so that you can pamper yourself too,” Adrien added.

I nodded, but in my head, I was already making a mental list of the things I’d confiscate from them. Vance had a throw pillow he hugged on the couch I knew would smell like him, Riley’s favorite hoodie, Adrien’s favorite blanket. All of that would add their scents.

Okay, well not Adrien’s just yet, but that was only a matter of time. I’d probably steal everything of his and make him roll around in that bed daily until his scent came back.

“It’s great, I already know what to add. I need to run home,” I said absently, fully focused on my task now. I needed to get my things and start adding them. They didn’t even argue as I hurried up the stairs and quickly grabbed my purse.

The entire ride back to the cottage, I was hyper focused on what I’d pick. Their house was only so big and though I loved the stuff I’d collected over the years, I’d need to donate some and pack away the rest for the day we had our newly built, much bigger home.

But my small mushroom and forest themed knick knacks I found at an estate sale two summers ago would go perfectly in my nest. Small pieces of my cottage in my new space to make me feel more at home.

Even coming back to the cottage had changed. It no longer felt like the same peaceful place it once had been. It was missing my pack.

Grabbing a box from the stack Riley had brought over, I started wrapping my breakables and putting them in before grabbing the cute stuffed hedgehog from the couch. He was a bit rough for the wear after years of hugs, but he belonged in my nest.

My search continued, one box easily turning into two as I spotted more and more things I knew would make the space perfect. One common thing I noticed was everything I chose was already a play on the same colors Riley had chosen for me.

The beta was far more observant than I gave him credit for.

By the time I’d finished and loaded them in the car, all I could think about was doing something sweet for them. Nothing I could come up with on the fly would be quite so thought out, but the urge to spoil them was too strong to ignore.

The idea formed quickly as I drove through town, stopping by the grocery store and the small movie rental kiosk. If they didn’t have anything to play it on, I had my laptop. The guys were all talking about the newest action movie that had come to rental this week. Even Adrien, who didn’t usually watch television all that often was interested. Apparently, the lead was a fellow Frenchman which bought him my alphas support when it came to kicking ass and saving the world. It didn’t matter if I’d rather watch something else, I knew they’d be excited.

Just as I was sliding the bags into the backseat the clicking of heels on pavement had my blood running cold. I knew they hadn’t left, and before even turning, I knew Adrien’s mother had finally cornered me.

My hands shook as I closed the door and tried to go to open my front door, but she scurried around me to lean against it.

“My son is too good for you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Your opinion means nothing to me."

“He has duties in France. He’ll be returning with us,” she said confidently. The fact this woman’s words didn’t waver for even a second meant she was either more narcissistic or delusional than I’d first thought.

“He owes you nothing. Your son is a grown man who has made his choices. He has a business here, a life. You have to accept that.”

She narrowed her pale blue eyes at me, and I couldn’t help but notice she looked nothing like her son. Maybe it was the cold eyes or her lack of smile, but it was like night and day.

“We will pay you.”

I tensed at her words. Surely I didn’t hear her correctly. But the moment she handed over a stack of papers I knew that this woman was far more vile than I could ever imagine.

My eyes scanned the page without taking it, heart stopping at all the zeros behind the number they had bolded so I couldn’t miss.

“Are you serious?” Her expression turned from mean to triumphant. Clearly she thought I was a money hungry gold digger and had accepted it that easily.

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