Page 67 of Zoinks! Nice Pack, Bro

“Don’t wake her up.” An angry hiss leaves Jace’s lips as I snuggle my nose into his neck, feeling a vibration from him breathing.

God. He smells so good. Warm and safe like a campfire.

“I can sleep in my own bed,” I mutter out with a yawn slipping out. “I just need to take my hair out first.”

“Told you.” Cameron’s voice makes me smirk as I’m set down on abed. My eyes blurry as I blink the heavy feeling of sleep away to figure out what is happening.

Anthony is on his knees, taking off my shoes as Cameron moves to help start undoing my hair with his hands being extra gentle. A warm washcloth is being brushed against my face as Jace swipes off the makeup that I had put on tonight. Paxton has an armful of blankets he’s settling on the bed for me. Probably concerned about me being warm enough or thinking my omega wants to nest.

They’re working together so well that I just let them be.

My hands raise, the dress coming off as my hips come off the bed and the tights are gone from my body. I’m only in a pair of panties until one of their hoodies is pulled down over my head and Cameron smirks at me.

“You said you liked sleeping in hoodies.” I reach for him, kissing his lips softly as he tugs me back against the pillows. “Do you need anything, Sadie love?” My eyes are closing again and I’m asleep without answering.

What more could I possibly want?

My eyes snap open, heart racing as I look around trying to figure out what just woke me up. I was in such a deep sleep and now it’s like something is going on that’s causing my fight or flight to activate.

The room lights up as lightning strikes, a rumble of thunder makes me sit up, looking around the darkness like someone is going to be there.

I’m out of bed as the next bolt hits and pushes open Paxton’s door without even thinking about it.

His room smells like him, cardamom and velvetier, and as soon as the door opens I try not to get distracted by it.

He’s laying on his stomach, his hands under his pillow like he wanted to hold onto something. His back is bare on display for me to look at. He’s all strong muscles and bulk sleeping in the bunched up sheets that are around his waist but are kicked off fromhis legs. I’m almost afraid to wake him up but when the room lights up again I’m whimpering and climbing into bed without a second thought.

“Pax.” I whisper, afraid to touch him. The thunder follows and I can feel the tears in my eyes as the sound sinks my gut. “Pax, please wake up. I’m scared.” His eyes are on me instantly as he sits up in bed, pulling me against him as I curl into his body.

He’s so warm from the bed. His whole body wrapping around mine as I shiver against him. A whine of absolute fear comes out of me as I try to calm myself down.

The rain starts really coming down then. It’s bursting out of clouds and adding to my terror as all the loud noises overwhelm me. Pax tries to calm me with soft whispers of reassurance that I’m fine. His scruff rubs against my cheek as he holds me against him. He’s trying to soak me in his scent to ease some of the fear.

Then he starts to purr for me.

The way he purrs, so gentle from a big man surprises me but, I feel myself start to calm down. The rumble of his chest reminding me to breathe in and out.

“I’m afraid of storms.” I admit to the alpha. Feeling so small as he lays back down, pulling the blankets over me as I lay on his chest.

“I have you, Sadie sweetheart. Nothings going to hurt you. Such a brave girl coming to find me.” His lips hit the top of my head as I curled up against him, wanting to ask him if I could sleep with him but feeling so silly all of a sudden.

What grown woman is afraid of thunderstorms? He must think I’m an idiot.

Paxton wraps his legs over mine, his fingers in my hair as he rubs the tension in my head and I start to melt against his body.

“When I was a kid my mother was looking for a new alpha to add to the pack. We only had a small little house so if she was with him she had me play outside and would lock the door.”

The story is coming out before I can stop it, the memories washing over me like I am living it all over again, “I was the summer and so warm. I was wearing my new daisy patterned dress that I had gotten for Easter that year. I loved it so much. But it started to rain.”

I remember the feeling of cold raindrops breaking up the muggysummer heat. The moment where I felt like it was going to cool me down after being outside and sunburnt for so long.

“It got worse so I knocked on the door but my mother didn’t open up. It started getting really bad. My feet got all muddy because my flip flops wouldn’t stay on and I didn’t like how it felt so cold and squishy under my toes. And then the thunder and lightning started.”

My heart races as I close my eyes tight. Paxton’s arms squeeze around me, holding me as I try to figure out how to finish this story I’m telling. Hating how much of who I am is wrapped up in this all.

“The lightning hit the house and all of it was so bright. And then there was a fire on the roof. I started screaming for my mother. When she didn’t answer I ran to my neighbors house down the road. My feet got all cut up from the gravel but I couldn’t feel it as I asked her to call my dad. One of my dads was a firefighter and I was sure he’d come and get her to safety.” Paxton’s hand slides under my hoodie, rubbing soothing circles over my skin as I breathe.

It’s too much, telling him this and I look up at him as he stares at me, patiently waiting and just listening to my story without comment. Holding me so I know that he is here and I am safe through it all.

---