Page 40 of The Knotty Omega

“Fuck yeah! Archie makes the best pancakes!” Ollie cheers. I try not to blush at the praise, but seeing CJ’s eyes light up in response has my heart fluttering. How is it that I can have her catch me with an alpha grinding on my ass and smirk, but the thought that she might enjoy the food I make has me feeling like my heart is going to burst?

“How did you sleep, sweetheart?” Simon asks once everyone’s plates are loaded with food.

“I couldn’t fall asleep at first, but felt much better after a midnight snack.” She smiles softly at him, which he returns.

“I think I’m the one who had a snack.” Ollie smirks, and CJ’s arm flies out to smack him in the chest. She looks almost shocked at herself for a second, her eyes wide and mouth slightly agape, but then Ollie starts laughing, a great big belly laugh, and soon we’re all joining in. Even Titus chuckles and shakes his head.

“So, what do you all have going on today?” Cady asks once the laughter dies down.

“What about a movie day?” Mattie asks, looking around the table. “It’s been too long since we’ve all spent the day together. The couches upstairs can be pushed together to make a giant couch bed.”

Everyone agrees, and Cady goes upstairs to get all her blankets and pillows to make the couch bed as nest-like as possible.

We all stare after her as she disappears, and I can’t help but let out a contented sigh. This is how things were always meant to be.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

My arms are absolutely full of pillows and blankets as I make the quick trip from the guys bedrooms to the media room. While I was gathering supplies, Ollie and Archie had pushed the couches together, and a rusty little purr comes out of my chest when I see how perfect it is. My omega is very happy with her mates for taking such good care of her.

Nevermind the fact that I haven’t allowed her to make a real nest for about five years, she is coming out with a vengeance.

I'm trying and failing not to get too attached to this house and the pack that resides in it. As evidenced by the mountains of pilfered laundry in my arms. “Is that…?” Ollie’s mouth drops open slightly when he spots me. “Is that my comforter?”

Shit. I didn’t even ask them if I could take their bedding, but I had been so caught in my omega instincts, desperate for their scents, I hadn’t even thought about it.

I’m so flustered I drop the pile in my arms, feeling my cheeks instantly go red as I bend down to pick it up. “I’m sorry,” I say quietly, “I didn’t even ask, I’ll go put it back.”

What the hell is wrong with me? When did I turn into such a simpering mess?

“Oh, Tink, no baby,” Ollie’s voice is regretful as his knees plop down next to mine. He stills my arms, turning me to look into his deep green eyes. “I was just surprised.Pleasantlysurprised, I might add. It’s an honor that you would want to have our scents in your nest. I’m distinctly aware of how much of an honor it is because of my three omega sisters. All of the guys will agree. Do you need anything else for your couch nest?”

Blinking away the stupid-ass tears that have welled in my eyes, I shake my head. “No. Not for the couch nest. But…”

“What is it? Whatever it is, it’s yours.” Ollie’s thumb catches an errant tear that made its way down my cheek. Fucking stupid omega bullshit.

“I think I know why I couldn’t sleep last night…” My voice trails off pitifully, and Ollie’s eyes flash in understanding as he slaps his hand to his forehead.

“Of course. Do you want…to go through my hamper?” My bottom lip tugs under my teeth and I shake my head, my fingers playing with the hem of his shirt that he slept in. Raising a brow, he smiles gently at me before taking his shirt off in that ridiculously hot way guys do by tugging the collar at the back of their neck and pulling themselves out of it.

He hands me the shirt and I snatch it quickly, pulling it up to my nose, my eyes nearly rolling into the back of my head at the mix of chocolate, peppermint, and alpha musk. When I open my eyes, Archie is next to him, shirtless, holding his out to me as well with an excited look on his face.

“Did you sleep in this?” I ask, raising my brow.

His face falls for a second before he nods, and I grin widely before snatching it from him and laughing maniacally before running back to my nest.

Damn these hormones are wild.

I vaguely hear Ollie say something about telling the other guys before I’m in the room, weaving their shirts into the blankets and pillows making up the inner walls.

There. But…it’s still not right. I’m missing most of my pack's scents and a pitiful omega whine leaves me. This has all my alphas racing up the stairs to see what's wrong. An omega’s whine is like a freaking distress beacon.

It’s like my omega’s completely taken over my body and actions and I’m sitting here, watching from the outside while I’m being moved around like a damn puppet.

“What’s wrong sweetheart?” Simon’s voice sounds from next to Titus, and before I know it, I’m walking on my knees over to him, pulling at the hem of his shirt. His brows shoot up, but he lets me wrangle his shirt from him and I take a big huff, nodding when I’m met with his delicious hazelnut coffee scent. By the time I’m done weaving his shirt through the bottom left corner of the nest, both Mattie and Titus are already in the room, their shirts changed and the ones they were previously wearing ready for me to take.

I surprise myself by scent marking each of them on their cheeks before weaving their clothes throughout as well. Titus looks just as surprised as I felt, while Mattie just looks downright gleeful.

By the time I crawl out of the nest, surveying my work, I finally start to come back to myself. The room smells like boozy caramel and hazelnut coffee, peppermint hot chocolate, and roasting marshmallows on the beach. My omega is content with the nest for now, and she practically preens at the fact that all of her alphas cared enough to provide an item of clothing.

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