Page 146 of Stream Heat
I stepped all the way into the living room, expecting… what, exactly? Not what I saw. The furniture was shoved aside, opening up the space in the middle of the room. Where there had been a coffee table, there was now a huge, cushioned platform, a nest, ringed with pillows and blankets, like something out of a pack bonding fantasy.
I stopped dead. For a second, it felt like my heart just gave up and dropped into my stomach. “Is that a nest?” The words came out raspy, like I’d just run a marathon.
Malik stepped out of the group, calm as ever. “A pack nest,” he corrected, his voice gentle. “Specifically designed for group bonding.”
I was almost afraid to get closer, like if I did, it would vanish, or worse, I would wake up and realize this was all just something my brain invented as a cruel joke. But I did get closer, and the details started to come into focus: pillows arranged just the way I always did, blankets folded in the pattern I’d used for months. There was even clothing and other stuff from everyone scattered through it, all of it carrying our scents. This wasn’t thrown together. They had been paying attention.
“You built this for me?” I couldn’t get the words steady, couldn’t keep the emotion out of my voice, so I didn’t bother trying.
Reid shook his head and gave me a look that was softer than I’d ever seen from him. “For us. For the pack. But you’re at the center.”
“We noticed how much your nest regulates you,” Ash said, matter-of-fact, as if we were talking about computer specs. “So we optimized the design for maximum scent retention and comfort, based on your preferences.”
Jace, quiet as always, added, “I took notes on your patterns. Materials, arrangements, the things you collect.”
Theo bounced up and down on his heels. “And I contributed the best snuggling blankets. Tested, top-of-the-line!”
Malik’s hands were folded, his smile small but real. “The idea is for all of us to have a space for bonding. Somewhere the pack can be together without those awkward couches getting in the way.”
I circled the nest, fingers trailing over the edge of a pillow. Every part of this was something I’d needed and never commanded for myself. They had seen it anyway. They hadn’t just seen it, they’d built it.
“This is…” I stopped, because what did you even say? Thank you wasn’t big enough.
“You haven’t even tried it,” Theo said, practically vibrating. “You can’t rate it till you test the snuggle factor!”
“There’s more,” Ash pointed out, gesturing for my attention. “Adaptive controls: lighting, temp, even subtle scent diffusers, all tailored to your sensory needs.”
Jace dropped his voice, gentle but honest. “We noticed your processing issues fluctuate. This way, you can always have the best environment, no matter what’s going on with your recovery.”
I just stood there, overwhelmed, as all the things I used to hate about my body and my designation were translated into features to support me instead of cages to trap me. For a second, I couldn’t breathe around the choking swell of gratitude, the sense of being known.
“Would you like to try it?” Malik asked quietly, not pushing.
I nodded, unable to speak. At the edge of the nest, I hesitated. I didn’t know the rules for this. Did I just climb in? Did I need some kind of invitation?
Reid, as always, read me perfectly. “It’s your call. You arrange us however you want. Omega at the center, Alphas as you see fit.”
There was a shift inside me, subtle but real, like something unspooled that had been wound tight forever. I stepped in, sinking down into softness, letting the blankets and pillows mold around me. I sat for a moment, just breathing, then looked up at the five of them.
“Reid,” I said, pointing to my right. “Here.”
He moved immediately, sitting beside me so his body blocked out the whole world. His scent wrapped around me, sharp and electric.
“Theo,” I said, patting the spot to my left. “You, here.”
He scrambled in so fast he nearly took me out, but I didn’t care. His scent was sunny and bright, green tea and something ozone-sharp, it fit him. It fit next to me.
“Jace,” I nodded at the spot just above me, near my head. “Would you?”
He slid into place with almost no sound, a silent shadow. I could lean back and feel his warmth, his hand already gently combing through my hair.
“Ash,” I gestured at my feet. “Down there, please.”
He settled in without comment, big and solid and grounding. His scent, charcoal and vanilla, was the most reliable thing in the world.
“Malik,” I finished, gesturing to the last spot, across from Jace. “Complete the circle?”
He went there, of course. Instinctively, the arrangement felt perfect. The five of them framed me, their scents weaving together, each Alpha exactly where I needed them.
