Page 57 of Nesting With My Three Alphas
The words settled in my chest like a warm ember.
We gathered around the dining table, and for the first time since arriving in Hollow Haven, I felt the deep satisfaction of being exactly where I belonged. Charlie chattered about her upcoming adventure with Aunt Emma, Reed told stories about his latest renovation project, and Micah fussed over making sure everyone had enough food.
It was domestic and comfortable and everything I'd dreamed family dinners could be.
"So tomorrow I go to Aunt Emma's," Charlie said around a bite of mac and cheese. "She said we can go to the natural history museum and see the new dinosaur exhibit."
"That sounds amazing," I said. "You'll have to tell me all about it when you get back."
"I will. And while I'm gone, you can get settled and maybe build a really good nest." Charlie's matter-of-fact mention of my approaching heat made my cheeks flush, but none of the adults seemed uncomfortable with her directness.
"Charlie," Jonah said gently, "what did we talk about regarding privacy?"
"That some things are pack business and some things are private business," Charlie recited. "But nestsarepack business because everyone contributes scent items."
The way she talked about pack dynamics, like it was as normal as brushing her teeth, reminded me how much I still had to learn about this new life I was choosing.
"Speaking of which," Reed said, standing up, "I should probably get my stuff moved over from my place."
"Tonight?" I asked.
"No time like the present," Reed said with a grin. "Besides, your heat could start any time now. Better to get settled before that happens."
My heat. The part of me I'd spent years dreading was now something I wasn't afraid to face.
"Do you need help?" Jonah asked.
"I've got it handled. Most of my important stuff is already here anyway." Reed's casual mention of having belongings at Jonah's house suggested this living arrangement had been developing gradually, naturally.
"What about you, Micah?" I asked. "When do you move in?"
"I'm already partially moved in," Micah said with a smile. "I've been keeping clothes here for weeks, and most of my personal stuff is pretty minimal. I'll just need to coordinate the bakery schedule so I can be here when you need me."
When you need me. Not if, but when. Like my needs were a certainty they were all prepared to meet.
After dinner, we settled into the living room with the comfortable ease of people who genuinely enjoyed each other's company. Charlie curled up against my side, working on a drawing of what appeared to be a very friendly triceratops, while the men coordinated tomorrow's logistics with the kind of efficiency that spoke of years of partnership.
"Aunt Emma will pick Charlie up at nine," Jonah said. "That'll give us time to get everything settled before..."
He trailed off, but we all knew what he meant. Before my heat hit and everything became about biology and bonding and the kind of intimacy that would change everything between us.
"Are you nervous?" Charlie asked quietly, apparently having followed the same train of thought.
"A little," I admitted. "But good nervous. Like Christmas morning nervous."
"That's the best kind of nervous," Charlie said sagely. "It means something good is about to happen."
Something good was about to happen.
As the evening wound down, I found myself reluctant to let it end. This feeling of belonging, of being surrounded by people who cared about my wellbeing, was still new enough to feel precious and fragile.
"I should let you get Charlie to bed," I said eventually.
"Actually," Jonah said, "Charlie wanted to ask you something."
Charlie looked up from her drawing with an expression of hope mixed with determination. "Will you read me a bedtime story? In my room? Like a real mom would?"
The phrase hit me square in the chest, both wonderful and terrifying in its implications.
