Page 14 of Rebellious Harmony
Her eyes meet mine and widen.She pushes her glasses up her nose and blows her bangs out of her face, “I’m good.Why do you ask?”
“You look a little warm.”
She studies me as if assessing my words, and then smiles.“Now that you mention it, I am feeling warm.”
She looks at the ceiling and sees the fan, and her shoulders relax.Interesting.Temperature changes are the first sign of an Omega needing to nest, and nesting is the first in a long list of signs of an Omega’s oncoming heat.
I’m thankful right now for the Alpha education required of all Alphas in our house.
“Come on, let me show you my room, and then we’ll get you settled in here.We’ll hit the road soon.Vegas is our next and final stop.Then back home to San Diego.”
“Okay, although I’m not exhausted.”She looks at me, her eyes shimmering silver.
“I’m not either.I want to play some guitar and see if inspiration strikes me.”
“That sounds cool.Your dad said that you lost your muse.That must be nerve-racking.”
I narrow my eyes.My father needs to keep his mouth shut.I don’t need any undue pressure or other people knowing that I can’t seem to produce any music.Why would he even tell her that?She’s easy to talk to; it’s like she pulls others to open up, because she gives the impression of being so open herself.I find that I have a hard time holding back from her.I’m not sure if it’s an Omega thing or something unique to her.
The band needs this next album, and it’s driving me insane that I can’t write.Of all times to get writer’s block.Once we deliver the final album on our contract, we can create our own label and have a lot more creative freedom.
But first, I have to create.
“Yeah, I hope that will change tonight.Come on, let me show you my room so you know where to find me if you need me.”
We enter my private space, and I try to look at it as she might.Will she judge me from what she sees in my room?What does she see when she looks at me?I know what other women think of me, but not Ava.Would she, as an Omega, feel safe in my life?I’ve never questioned it until now.
My king-size bed sits in the center of the room with wooden cabinets and drawers along the adjacent wall where the flatscreen TV hangs.The windows showcase the night sky, but the blackout screens can be lowered at the press of a button, keeping me safe from the bright and deadly sun.My bathroom is large enough for two people, though I never let others in my space—well, until now.
Ava looks at herself in the full-length mirror and peeks into the bathroom.She runs her fingers over the comforter on my bed, another indication that her need to nest is coming on.Seeking out soft things is typical Omega nesting behavior.She glances at the oversized plush chair in the corner.
“What’s wrong, Ava?”
“Oh, um, I just have the most bizarre need to remove the pillows, climb on the chair, and get comfortable.”
I grin at her.It’s confirmed.Being around an Alpha—me—has awoken her need for comfort.
Then I frown.I hope her heat holds off until after the final show; I really don’t want to go into rut with an Omega.Uncontrollable mating isnotwhat I want...but maybe with Ava, it would be different.
No.That’s just my Alpha instincts fighting for dominance.
I can see the appeal of the chair.It’s soft and plush, with arms and the wall near it providing some security.Perfect for a pseudo-Omega nest.The second bedroom has no such place.She would need to use the bed, which isn’t bad, but for her first nest, her instincts must be riding her hard.This is just the kind of thing I don’t need on the road.Just as I get rid of Larissa and her drama, I now have an Omega in preheat to worry about.If it happens on the road, I’ll need to send her home on a jet to get her to the Sanctuary.
What’s the harm?I kind of want to see what she does.I move to my bed and remove a blanket, then place it on the chair.
“What are you doing?”she asks a little intensely.
“Well, Omegas like comfort, and they need to build nests in safe spaces.From the way you’re looking at the chair, I get the sense that you want to build a nest on this chair.”
Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head slightly in disagreement; but while she might not think she needs to nest, her body tells me otherwise.Her skin is even more pink than before, and she keeps hugging herself, wanting to enclose herself.As an Alpha, I know better than she does as a newly uncloaked Omega.
“Why are nests such a big deal for Omegas?I mean, I love a pillow fort, but it seems different.”
“It is.Omegas create safe, comfortable places to relax and center themselves, but also for mating with their Alpha.”I expect her to freak out or shut down, but her expression remains open and curious.“Alphas treat a nest as a sacred space and have to earn the right to join an Omega inside it.They need to earn the trust of their Omega.That’s what courting is for.To build the necessary bond to claim each other as mates.”
“I see.”She chuckles.“Right now, I just want to rest, not get freaky for my nonexistent Alpha mate.”
I remove some pillows from the couch and check that they’re fluffed up, then place them next to the chair.Then I grab another blanket and hand it to her.She immediately rubs the fabric along her cheek and neck with a heavy sigh.
