Page 132 of Claimed By the Band

"Just wait until you see inside," I tell her, squeezing her hand. "They have everything you could possibly want for nesting."

And now, I get to share it with her.

The others pile out of the car around us, their protective alpha energy on full display. I catch Knox watching a group of young alphas heading toward the entrance, but they take one look at our marked throats and massive escorts and quickly change direction.

Smart boys.

"Ready?" Silas asks Jordan gently, offering his arm. She takes it with a small smile, and my heart soars at how naturally she accepts their care now.

The automatic doors slide open with a soft whoosh, releasing a wave of filtered air. The store uses special ventilation to keep scents from becoming overwhelming, making it comfortable for even the most sensitive omegas. And it makes sure the goods aren't covered in someone else's pheromones.

Jordan's eyes widen as we step inside, taking in the vast space before us. The first floor is dedicated entirely to bedding—blankets and pillows in every size, shape, and texture imaginable. Plush display beds showcase different arrangements in nests of all sizes and shapes.

"This is..." She trails off, clearly overwhelmed.

"Amazing, right?" I grin, already eyeing a display of weighted blankets that look incredibly soft. "Come on, let's explore!"

She gives me a wary look as I take her other arm and we proceed into the showroom. "This place is awfully quiet. Did you rent out the whole store again?"

"Guilty," I admit with a sheepish grin, but I can tell from the glimmer in her eyes she doesn't mind.

I pull her toward the blanket section, our alphas falling back to give us space. Their amusement at my enthusiasm is clear in their scents, but I don't care. This is Jordan's first time properly shopping for nesting supplies, and I want it to be perfect.

"Feel this one," I say, running my fingers over a particularly luxurious throw. The material is silky smooth under my fingertips.

Jordan reaches out hesitantly to touch it, and I watch her face light up at the sensation. “Oh,” she breathes. "That's soft."

"Perfect for sensitive skin during heat," a cheerful voice says, and we turn to find a beta sales associate smiling at us. Her name tag reads Erika. "It's our most popular omega comfort blanket. The fabric is specially designed to regulate temperature while providing maximum tactile comfort."

I can tell Jordan is a bit overwhelmed by the attention, so I take the lead. "We'll take two," I say firmly. "And you can start a tab. These guys will tell you where everything goes," I say, waving to the alphas as I lead Jordan toward another section. "We'll take it from here!"

I watch Jordan's face as she runs her fingers over two different blankets, her brow furrowed in concentration. One is a plush faux fur in deep purple that matches her dress from the concert, while the other is a silky chenille in stormy gray. Both would look perfect in our nest.

"I can't decide," she admits, glancing between them. "They're both so nice, but we really only need one more..."

"Says who?" I ask, already signaling to Erika. "We'll take both."

Jordan's eyes widen. "But?—"

"No buts," I say firmly, taking her hand. "We can swap them out whenever we want. Plus, variety is good for nesting. Different textures help ground you during heat."

She bites her lip, but I can smell how pleased she is by the idea. Her clean, floral scent grows slightly sweeter, even through the filtered air.

"You're spoiling me," she mumbles.

"Get used to it," I tell her with a grin, leading her toward the pillow section. "That's what pack is for."

The pillow display is a work of art, rows upon rows of options in every size and firmness imaginable. Jordan's eyes light up at a display of body pillows covered in the softest velvet I've ever felt.

"These are amazing," she says, running her hands over one in a deep emerald green that reminds me of Silas's eyes.

"Perfect for the outer ring of the nest," I agree. "And look, they have matching throw pillows!"

We spend the next hour testing different combinations, building little sample nests in the display beds. Jordan gradually relaxes into the experience, her initial hesitation melting away as we explore together.

"What about these?" she asks, holding up a set of firm support pillows with removable covers. "For the foundation?"

"Ooh, good thinking," I say, impressed by her instincts. "And look, the covers come in our colors!"

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