Page 189 of Knot Baked Out For This
He leads me through the doors, and I?—
I can't.
I literally cannot process what I'm seeing.
The barn has been transformed. The rafters are wrapped in fairy lights—the warm kind, not the harsh white ones, creating a soft glow that makes everything look like a dream. The old wooden floor has been cleaned and polished until it shines.
And in the center of the space, taking up easily a third of the barn, is?—
"Is that a nest?"
"Your nest," Levi's voice comes from somewhere in the shadows, and then he's there, grinning like he's just revealed the world's best magic trick. "Do you like it?"
Like it? It's?—
The nest is enormous, easily king-sized, built on a low platform that's clearly been custom-made. Blankets layer on blankets—soft flannel, plush fleece, silk that catches the light, textures and colors chosen with such care that my chest aches. There are pillows everywhere, in every size and shape, someembroidered with little pumpkins, some in solid autumn colors, some that look like they cost more than my monthly rent.
And the scents.
Oh god, the scents.
I can smell them from here—Rowan's cedar and smoke woven into a thick wool blanket, Luca's gingerbread and dark roast soaked into what looks like his favorite flannel, Levi's honey butter saturating a collection of pillows that are definitely from the ranch house.
"You scented it," I whisper.
"Of course we scented it," Luca appears from the other side of the nest, looking pleased with himself in that quiet way he has. "It's your omega nest. It needs to smell like our pack."
"But I—I never said I wanted?—"
"You didn't have to." Rowan's thumb traces circles on my hand. "The way you arranged blankets on the couch. How you always steal my flannel. The fact that you've been sleeping with Levi's ranch hoodie for a week and think we don't notice."
My face burns.
"I was going to wash it?—"
"Don't you dare," Levi interrupts. "That hoodie's job is to smell like pack. It's fulfilling its destiny."
I'm still staring at the nest, trying to form words, when I notice the corner of the barn.
There's a kitchen setup.
An actual kitchen.
Small but perfect—a commercial-grade oven, marble countertop, shelves stocked with baking supplies, even a stand mixer in that specific shade of pink I've been stalking online but couldn't justify buying.
"What—?"
"Your own test kitchen," Luca explains, moving to stand beside it like a proud parent. "For developing new recipes.Private space where you can experiment without the pressure of the bakery or the Halloween rush."
"We named it!" Levi bounces. "Pumpkin Soul. Like the cookies but also like, you know, the soul of pumpkin. Or pumpkin with soul. Or?—"
"We named it Pumpkin Soul," Rowan interrupts gently. "Because you put your soul into every pumpkin thing you make."
I'm going to cry. Right here in my fancy dress with my curled hair, I'm going to absolutely lose it.
"There's more," Levi says, grabbing my other hand. "Come see!"
He practically drags me to the far wall where there's a bulletin board covered in?—
