Page 72 of Bound By Pain
I’ve caught her off guard. Left her speechless with my unexpected request. A shy smile tilts my lips as I reach across the table to take her hand in mine. “You are my mate. I know I haven’t done the best job of acting like it. In fact, I’ve butchered my role as your Alpha up to this point. But I would like a chance to do better. To be the Fate-matched mate you deserve. And that starts by ensuring you are safe and surrounded by your Alphas.”
Bea’s teeth dig into her painted bottom lip, eyes darting around the table to check in with the others. Excluding Lex, they each offer her some form of confirmation, letting her know without words that they have already agreed.
“I- Are you sure?”
Pressing my lips to Bea’s knuckles, I let the walls around my heart drop, allowing her to see every emotion I’ve kept bottled inside. The small gasp that parts her lips settles between us. “I’ve never been more certain. It would be my honor to have my home become yours. Ours.”
Her fingers flex between my palms before they slide to wrap around my hand. “Okay. Yes. I would like that a lot.”
I must look like an idiot with how wide I smile at her, but she matches my sudden energy, beaming just as brightly. “Perfect. Then let’s go shopping.”
“Wait, what?”
“For your nest. I left it a blank slate for you to design as you wish.”
Color floods her cheeks as she stares at me. “Did an alien take over your body?”
I bark out a laugh at the unexpected question, raising my hand to flag down our server. “No, my heart, I have not been body snatched. Spoiling you is nearly as fun as taming you.”
Heat floods her expression. Color rises along her cheeks. I wink as I slip the server my card, tossing a stack of bills into the center of the table for his tip. I slip my hand in hers when she stands from her seat, leading her back to the valet where our limo awaits us.
Her lips brush against mine, the faintest brush before she’s scrambling inside. I stare up at the sky, thanking Fate for leading me here. To a future I never thought I would find again.
Sharing Bea may not be something I am fully comfortable with yet, but I won’t deny how right it feels to be part of this pack.
Knotted & Nested is New York’s premier furniture store for Omegas. Catering to singles, couples, and packs, the by-appointment shopping center ensures each customer is given the space to meet their needs. From small income nests for packless Omegas to lavish decor for celebrity packs, they have a little of everything.
Stepping inside the multi-story building, I watch as Bea’s eyes go wide. She can’t seem to focus on a single area, darting across the large space.
“Welcome! You must be the Acherley pack! My name is Julie. I’ll be your attendant for today.” A cheery Beta woman greets us, stopping at a respectful distance from our group. She has two tablets in her hands, one of which she passes to Bea, explaining that she can use it to place her order. “If you have questions, press this button here, and I will come find you.”
We’re left to ourselves, all our attention turning to our overwhelmed mate. Creed grabs a wide cart for us to use, and I take Bea’s hand, passing the tablet to Orion. “Let’s start with the basics. Cushions, wallpaper—or paint—and lighting.”
“I don’t even know what the room looks like,” she mumbles, hands shaking slightly.
Pulling out my phone, I unlock it so she can access my photo album. “I brought pictures.”
She scans through them, tongue darting out to swipe across her lip as she studies the space I created for her. The nestcomprises three parts: an enormous bathroom, the darkened main nesting room, and a mini sunroom. Floor-to-ceiling windows line the outside of my building, something I had the construction crew use in creating her space.
She has a small room to lounge in the sun, surrounded by her blankets and pillows, something I know she enjoys based on the time she spent on my balcony.
“Wow, this is…” She swallows thickly, turning to look up at me. “It’s perfect.”
Pressing my lips to her temple, I press my palm against the small of her back and urge her forward. “It will be.”
Soft cushions in silky and fluffy fabrics are chosen for the floor of both parts of the nest. The color scheme is a cotton candy dream of pastels, intertwined with the occasional white or silver. Gauzy sheer fabric gets added to the order to flow down from the ceiling, highlighted by the soft pink rose hanging lights that Bea adds to our cart.
It’s mesmerizing to watch my Omega shop. From the excited sounds she makes to the happy dance she does when she finds the perfect piece to add to the list. We’re all entranced as we follow behind her, helping to lift things into the cart so she doesn’t have to. Even Lex has made suggestions, pointing out things he somehow knew she’d love.
We’ve moved to the blankets and pillows when we hear high-pitched tinkling laughter in the next aisle. The sound makes my spine straighten, and a frown twists my lips. I would recognize that laugh anywhere. It was one I used to cherish. With my former pack.
CHAPTER 31
Knotted& Nested is amazing! Literally the stuff Omega dreams are made of! I’m still in awe as we move to the second floor to look at bedding and other cozy things.
The sound of another pack in the same area surprises me. The company is by appointment and only allows a certain number of Omegas in at a time, to give them the space they need to shop comfortably. I brush their presence off until I see Shiloh standing rigidly a few feet behind us. Dropping the blanket I was testing, I slip through Ridley and Creed to get to him.
“Shiloh?”
