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She wants topurr.

I shift, nestling deeper between them. “I feel weird,” I mumble.

Dane glances down. “Weird how?”

“Like…warm. But not in a bad way. No cramps.” I exhale, letting it melt out of me. “I just feel like I’ve never been this relaxed and it’s confusing my entire system.”

“Good,” Blaise says, his voice right at my ear now. “Let yourself feel it. You don’t have to fight anymore.”

Xar doesn’t speak – just picks up the last line I hummed and sings it softly, building on the chords he’s been circling for the last hour.

It’s not perfect. But it’sours.

Dane’s fingers comb through my hair. Blaise’s hand rests just beneath my ribs, firm and safe. And Xar, across from us, sings the melody like he wrote it from my skin.

Eventually, I stop singing. I stop humming. My eyes drift closed, the warmth in my core soft and slow like honey. There’s no fear. No shame. Just this steady, rhythmic comfort I never knew I could have.

My omega purrs – quiet, steady, content.

And for the first time in my life, I fall asleep surrounded.

Held. Heard. Seen.

Safe.

DANE

The morning air is crisp as I step out of the farmhouse, shoving my hands into my jacket pockets. The storm has started to ramp up again, the wind biting, and the sky remaining an endless stretch of grey. I hike up the hill behind the house, knowing it’s the best chance I’ve got of finding a phone signal.

After a few minutes, my phone finally pings to life. I call our manager, pacing as the line rings.

“Dane! Oh my god, I was starting to think you were all dead in a ditch,”Liv answers, exasperated.

“We’re fine,” I say. I decide not to beat around the bush and get straight to the point. “Look, Liv, we’ve found our scent match.”

There’s a beat of silence before she shrieks. “Holy – Dane, that’s incredible! This is huge! We need to plan an announcement, maybe even a press?—”

“No.” I cut her off sharply. “It’s too new. Too private. I don’t want any press anywhere near this, Liv.”

She exhales, still buzzing with excitement.“Fine. Yes. Yes, of course. That makes total sense. But this is incredible, Dane. This will really help your image, you know. But the label will need some kind of update. What do you want me to tell them?”

“I don’t give a fuck about image, right now, Liv,” I growl, protectively. “Our omega is our priority. If you have to tell them anything, tell them that we’re taking heat leave.”

“Oh,”she breathes, instantly understanding.“Alright. I’ll handle it.”

“Good. I also need you to organise a delivery – the best pack-sized mattress money can buy, but I also need paint, soft furnishings, curtains and shit. Blankets, pillows, whatever you can find for a proper nest. Bathroom shit too. And I need it all here within a couple of hours.”

“Dane, it’s Christmas week?—”

“I don’t care, Liv. Make. It. Happen.”

“You got it. Anything else?”

I hesitate, then say, “Her favourite colour is pink…and she likes music and Pygmy goats.”

There’s a pause before Liv chuckles.“Got it. I’ll make it perfect. Now go look after your omega.”

“Actually, there’s one more thing you can do for me…” I murmur. I explain the rest of the plan – details I’ve barely let myself think about until now. She listens without interruption, then gives me her promise.