Page 19 of The Flavor of Us

And tonight?

She’smine.

Chapter nine

CARLEEN

The soft morning light filters through the curtains, casting gentle shadows across the bedroom floor. I stretch my arms overhead, the joints in my back crackling in protest. My muscles are sore in that good way—like I actually slept, like my body finally let go of the tension it’s been carrying for months.

And yeah, I know exactly why I slept so well. I glance over at the petite Beta in my arms, the faint scent of sweet melon lingering in the air, in the pillows, and now in my clothes.MyBeta’s scent.Mygirl.

Goddess, that still feels so surreal to say.

She used to just be Ellie’s best friend and then at some point, things switched over. I’m not sure when but it doesn’t matter because Tati is now mine to protect and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Pushing to my feet, I turn to look at the nest still stuffed into the closet, Tati curled up in the middle. Her face twists up in frustration at my absence but she doesn’t wake up. Instead, she unconsciously pads around for something before pulling the pillow I slept on into her chest.

Goddess, everything about that is adorable. And her nest is cozy, colorful, chaotic—and tucked away like a secret. But that’s not gonna fly. Not inmyhouse.

I glance around her room, trying to picture where we could set something bigger up. If she’s gonna have a nest, it’s gonna be somewhere she can actuallybreathe—not shoved into a corner like some dirty little secret. The corner by the window would work. Natural light, plenty of space. I nod to myself, already mentally planning how I’m going to rearrange the furniture.

I’ll admit, finding out about this little quirk of hers threw me off at first. Tati, with her sharp tongue and stubborn streak and neon highlights,nesting?It seemed almost… out of place. But then again, it doesn’t. Not when I really thought about it.

For weeks when we were first together, I’d seen the way her face lit up when she spotted something cute in a shop window. The way her eyes softened at the sight of bright colors, how she always gravitated toward softness—whether it was a stuffed animal while shopping for Ellie’s nursery or a pastel hoodie she was stealing from my closet.

She’s always been this way. I just didn’t see it before. Hell, I’m not even sure Ellie knows about this side of her. And that just goes to show how alike Tati and I are. We’ve both been hiding little pieces of ourselves, thinking the other wouldn’t understand.

But I do.

And now? Now I’m gonna make damn sure she knows there’s no need to hide anymore.

With that decision made, I head toward the kitchen, focusing on what to prepare for breakfast. I’m halfway through mentally designing an artisan spread—poached eggs, hand-twisted pastries, fresh fruit laid out like some overpriced Instagram brunch—when I freeze.

Tati.

Her voice echoes in my head from last night, that playful little edge she always gets when she’s challenging me.“Sometimes food doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, Alpha. Sometimes it can just be… easy. Or fun.”

I huff out a small laugh, shaking my head as I move toward the pantry. Alright, fine. We’ll keep it simple. But simple doesn’t mean half-assed, not in this kitchen.

I grab a carton of eggs from the fridge, setting them gently on the counter before pulling out the loaf of fresh sourdough I baked yesterday. It’s crusty and golden, the kind of bread that fills the whole house with that warm, yeasty smell when it’s in the oven.

Eggs and toast. Simple. Easy.

I fill a pot with water, set it on the stove, and wait for it to boil before gently dropping in the eggs. Meanwhile, I slice up the sourdough before tossing a few pieces into the toaster. The sound of the water bubbling fills the kitchen and I lean against the counter, letting my mind wander as I wait.

This moment feels perfect. Domestic. Calm. Like the kind of morning I used to dream about when I thought about having someone. Not just someone to share my bed, not just someone to come home to after a long day, but someone to build something with. For years, I gave up, thinking that there wouldn’t be someone who’d understand.

Even when I thought I had found the perfect person, everything fell apart when I couldn’t give them what they needed. I tried to help them understand that it wasn’t just achoice but my entire being. They called me a liar and in return, I stuffed down my emotions and pretended it didn’t hurt.

But Tati’s not just anyone. She’s everything and I can’t fucking wait until the moment I’m ready to give it all to her.

The toaster pops and I jump slightly, laughing at myself as I grab the warm slices and set them on plates. The eggs follow shortly after. A sprinkle of salt, a little cracked pepper—done. It’s not extravagant, but it’s right. It’s what she asked for.

My phone buzzes from the counter and I glance over, expecting a text from a client or maybe even a cheeky one from Tati if she’s woken up. But instead, Ellie’s name is lighting up the screen along with an incoming video call.

I fumble to dry my hands on a dish towel before swiping the screen. “Morning, little sister.”

Ellie’s face fills the screen and even through the pixelated connection, I can see the exhaustion in her eyes. But there’s something else too—something soft and warm and content. Aria is swaddled tightly against Ellie’s chest, only a tiny tuft of dark hair peeking out from the blanket. And curled into Ellie’s side like he’s made of glass and the couch is the only thing keeping him together is Savin.

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