Page 25 of Harley

That’s going to be too much for him.

* * *

Knight carefully carries Harley into our home as the rest of us rush around as quietly as we can, switching on soft lights and turning up the heater in her new room. It’s a cold night, and the chill in the bedrooms is enough to freeze my nose off.

“We really need to look at the heater. This is not good enough,” Ace mutters to himself. I can see how much it takes out of him to be the leader of this pack. And it’s not his fault that the heater doesn’t work. We have been fine without it. Only now we have Harley here we need to fix it. It’s just gonna cost money… something we never have enough of.

I shake my head. “It’s okay, she will be warm under all the blankets we got her and the little heater we installed.” Although, I doubt Knight wants to let her go... I’m sure she’ll be more than warm enough with him holding her all night.

But if she wakes up, I think it best we have the conversation about sleeping arrangements. She might want to be on her own for the first night. We are all out of our comfort zone, having her here. We all want her to like it. Like us. Want to keep us. And there’s a bit of fear from us not knowing what to do right now.

“She has no bags...no stuff.” Ace grumbles

I run my hands through my hair and curse myself for not thinking about that. I’m pack beta. I’m supposed to have my head screwed on...not letting myself get dizzy on the omega’s scent and forgetting things like her belongings.

When we were preparing for her, we didn’t think much more than her nest.

“She can wear one of our shirts to bed, and we did get toiletries. So, we have a toothbrush and a few other female products.” Ace nods as he paces the room. He looks out the blinds and returns to pacing. I don’t think he’s going to sleep much tonight.

I look over to Jax, and he doesn’t seem any better.

Without conscious thought, I move toward Knight. He’s on the couch, stroking his hand up and down Harley’s back as she continues to sleep. His purr hasn’t stopped, and I think it’s not only calming her...but healing him. It’s strange to hear… I’ve never heard any of them purr. It’s just something that happens around omegas.

“She’s beautiful,” he whispers to me as he places a kiss to her temple. She stirs a little, and he freezes and I hold my breath. As much as I want her to wake, so I can ask her about sleeping arrangements, I want Knight to have this moment just a little longer.

“She is, and soon, we will have to wake her,” I say. “Just to see how she wants this night to go.” He grips her tighter, and she makes a small sound, which has him flooding the room with his worry. Fuck. “That’s my job, as the beta,” I add quickly. I’m not going to take her from him. I don’t want him upset, either.

“I want this night to keep on going like this...only more,” she whispers, and Knight’s purring kicks up a notch.

Ace moves in and takes a knee on the floor in front of them. He places a hand on her back, and she sighs. “More what?” he asks, and the whole room grows quiet, except for Knight’s purring, as we wait for her answer.

“Touch...I’ve been touched starved for so long. I just want to be held.” Her big brown eyes look over to me. “By all of you.”

I suck in a breath. She wasn’t just playing around and teasing me. She was serious about sharing me. I reach out and cup her jaw; her skin is silky smooth under my palm. I want to kiss her, but I know I can’t. Not yet. That’s for one of them to kiss her first. Knight will most likely be the one.

“Do you want a tour of the house? Or for us to take you to the nest?” I ask her. I’m happy with either, as long as she’s happy. I watch her eyes grow wider at the word nest. But the scent that comes from her has all the alphas, even Zayd, moving closer to her.

What did I say? I didn’t want to upset her. She can stay with Knight for ever. I just thought she might want a tour of the house.

“It’s okay,” Jax says. “We just want you to be comfortable, that is. So, if you don’t want to sleep in there...you can sleep here on Knight or in any of our rooms. We will stay out unless you need or want us. We won’t do anything you don’t want us to do. We are not ruled by our pheromones.” Jax sooths her, and I realize where my words might have been taken in the wrong way. That wasn’t my intention at all.

“I’m sorry, Harley. That came out wrong. Your nest—your room—is all yours. We won’t go in there unless you invite us in.” I brush the hair from her face again, and she gives me the sweetest smile that has my insides turning to mush.

“It’s not that,” she starts and pushes away from Knight to look around the room. Her eyes land on the kitchen, and Jax is already up.

“Would you like some water? Something to eat?” he asks her. I groan and curse myself. Food. Drink. Basic things I’m supposed to remember as the pack beta. I’m not good at this at all. I bet Gage is much better...he should be here too. It might make her feel a little more comfortable with a friendly face here. Someone she’s known for a long time.

“Water?” she asks, and Jax narrows his eyes on her.

“Would you like a beer?” he asks as he pulls one from the fridge, and her eyes widen. She nods.

“Yeah, I could go with a beer. Thanks, Jax.”

At the mention if his name, I see the tips of his ears turn pink. He likes that. He likes his name being said by this cute little omega. Oh, all the teasing we can do to him between us...

Jax’s eyes are on me, and he must know what I’m feeling. Our connection isn’t as strong as the one between the guys. But when Jax bit and claimed me, we bonded. And I can oftentimes feel him down the connection...and he can feel me the same way.

I readjust myself, after all the blood went to my cock at the thought of Harley and I sharing Jax. Which is the complete opposite of what we’re trying to do here. A safe and no sexual space for her right now.

---